The essential episodes of Monk

Watch these 15 in order and you've got Monk — each pick states its reason.

1. 01

   S01E01 · Pilot · July 12, 2002 · 2h

   Mr. Monk and the Candidate8.3

   A former San Francisco police detective suffering from an extreme case of obsessive-compulsive disorder is called in to investigate an apparent assassination attempt of a mayoral candidate in which one of his bodyguards is killed.

2. 02

   S01E12 · Season 1 peak · October 18, 2002 · 1h

   Mr. Monk and the Airplane8.6

   Monk's first flight proves to be harder than he anticipated when he begins to suspect that a fellow passenger murdered his wife.

3. 03

   S02E03 · Top rated · July 11, 2003 · 1h

   Mr. Monk Goes to the Ballgame9.1

   When a powerful CEO and his wife are shot to death in a deserted parking lot, the police investigate the husband's enemies. But Monk thinks it's all about the wife and the affair she was having with a handsome young ballplayer.

4. 04

   S02E09 · Season 2 peak · August 22, 2003 · 1h

   Mr. Monk and the 12th Man9.3

   Monk tries to link the eleven victims of a serial killer before he strikes again.

5. 05

   S03E01 · Season 3 peak · June 18, 2004 · 1h

   Mr. Monk Takes Manhattan9.1

   Monk and his colleagues travel to New York City to interview someone connected to Trudy's murder. While they are waiting, Monk helps solve the murder of the Latvian ambassador.

6. 06

   S03E02 · Top rated · June 25, 2004 · 1h

   Mr. Monk and the Panic Room9.1

   Monk is called to the scene where a pet seems to be a killer: Ian Blackburn is found in his the panic room with 4 shots and his pet chimp holds the weapon. Is the animal really guilty???

7. 07

   S03E11 · Top rated · January 28, 2005 · 1h

   Mr. Monk vs. the Cobra9.0

   When an author of a book debunking the career of a popular martial-arts movie star is killed, the evidence points to the star himself, despite the fact that he has been dead for years! Monk takes the case and also gets a chance to prove to Natalie that he is not as selfish as he seems.

8. 08

   S03E16 · Top rated · March 4, 2005 · 1h

   Mr. Monk and the Kid9.0

   A severed finger turns up in the park, and Monk's only source of information is the two-year-old boy who found the finger.

9. 09

   S04E09 · Season 4 peak · December 2, 2005 · 1h

   Mr. Monk and the Secret Santa9.0

   The department flies into action after one of their own is poisoned by a secret Santa gift at their very own Christmas party.

10. 10

    S05E02 · Season 5 peak · July 14, 2006 · 1h

    Mr. Monk and the Garbage Strike8.9

    A city-wide garbage strike throws Monk completely off his game as he tries to solve the murder of a union boss.

11. 11

    S06E15 · Top rated · February 15, 2008 · 1h

    Mr. Monk Is on the Run Part I9.1

    Monk is charged with the murder of the man who killed Trudy, and manages to escape custody in order to figure out what really happened.

12. 12

    S06E16 · Season 6 peak · February 22, 2008 · 1h

    Mr. Monk Is on the Run Part II9.2

    Stottlemeyer tries to find proof against the man who framed Monk, and Natalie may ruin everything when she learns the truth.

13. 13

    S07E12 · Season 7 peak · January 23, 2009 · 1h

    Mr. Monk and the Lady Next Door9.0

    Monk's recent, transforming friendship with a neighbor feels suspicious after he's brought in to consult on two murders.

14. 14

    S08E15 · Season 8 peak · November 27, 2009 · 1h

    Mr. Monk and the End (1)9.1

    An investigation draws Monk back to the place where he first heard about Trudy's murder - but his fate has been unfortunately sealed as he retraces his steps on that fateful day.

15. 15

    S08E16 · Series finale · December 4, 2009 · 1h

    Mr. Monk and the End (2)8.0

    A videotaped clue from Trudy provides Monk with the clues he needs to solve her murder - but he has very little time to catch her killer while finding out what poisoned him.