Monkcould have lost its way midway through season 3, were it not for the show’s most underrated character. While the departure of Sharona Fleming was a major loss to the series, Natalie Teeger’s arrival unexpectedly filled the void, by bringing a fresh dynamic to the show. Sharona wasn’t just Adrian Monk’s assistant; she was effectively his career counselor and life coach, providing incomparable support that allowed Monk to be his best self. Sharona’s exit left Natalie with massive shoes to fill, yet she lived up to expectations, in her own inimitable style.
The dynamic between Adrian and his two assistants underpinned most ofMonk’s best episodes. Both Sharona and Natalie played a role in their boss’ personal and professional life which sets the series apart from the rest of detective fiction. When Sharona leftMonkin season 3, many viewers doubted that anyone could be a worthy replacement.Natalie proved everyone wrong, however, and not by simply imitating Sharona’s approach to supporting Adrian Monk. Indeed, in Sharona’s absence, it was Natalie who effectively savedMonk, and hercasting inMr. Monk’s Last Casemade the movie the success it was.
Natalie Deserves More Love For Helping Save Monk After Sharona Left
She Rescued The Show From A Major Loss While Ensuring Adrian Got The Support He Needed
It’s quite telling that most ofTony Shalhoub’s favoriteMonkepisodesare from Traylor Howard’s stint on the show as Natalie Teeger. As great as Sharona was, Howard’s character slotted seamlessly intoMonkfrom season 3 onwards, just by being herself. More than anybody else in the series,Natalie allowed Adrian Monk to shine by quietly going about her work, generally keeping him out of harm’s way and gently providing the reassurance he needed.
If Natalie hadn’t been such a great fit,Monkmight have collapsed afterSharona actor Bitty Schram exitedthe series. What’s more, Natalie saved Adrian Monk himself from the negative toll Sharona’s departure could have taken on his psychological well-being. Although the pair didn’t hit it off straight away, given Monk’s very particular way of doing things,Natalie had proven by the end of season 3 that she was exactly what Adrian needed.
Monk Made The Right Call By Not Replacing Sharona With A Similar Character
There’s Only One Sharona, But There’s Only One Natalie, Too
Sharona Fleming was ultimately irreplaceable as a character, and anyone attempting to act as a like-for-like replacement for her would inevitably have come up short. The team behind Monk did the right thing in casting Monk’s new assistant, by introducing a character who could have been more different from Sharona. Apart from the obviousdifference that Sharona began as Adrian Monk’s nurse, she and Natalie had contrasting approaches to serving as his assistant.
Natalie began herMonktenure by setting professional boundaries in relation to expenses and overtime that Sharona had never enforced. On the other hand, when managing Adrian’s neuroses during cases,she took a softer, more empathetic approach than Sharona, and avoided pushing him as far out of his comfort zone.
The Comedy & Drama That Arose From Them Working Together Deserved More Than 1 Episode
Nevertheless, since they were playing the same role inMonk, directcomparisons between Sharona and Natalie as Adrian Monk’s assistantwere only natural. It was only when the two characters appeared in the same episode together, duringMonk’s eighth and final season, that the considerable differences between them were clear for all to see.
At the same time,Sharona and Natalie helping Monk solve a casemade us wish we could see more of them together. There wasso much more unrealized comic and dramatic potential, both in the initial tension between the two assistants and their resolution to team up at the end of the episode.
“Mr. Monk and Sharona” was the only time we saw Natalie and Sharona starring alongside each other.
“Mr. Monk and Sharona” was the only time we saw Natalie and Sharona starring alongside each other in the series, but anotherMonkmovie would be missing a trick by not having them both return. The one risk in this scenario would be that, between them, the two assistants invariably steal the show from Adrian Monk himself.
