After almost eight full seasons and 123 episodes, the two-part finale of Monk has finally arrived, and it’s nothing like I had imagined it would be. The show is ending with Adrian Monk (Tony Shalhoub) fighting for his life after being targeted by the same man that killed his wife, Trudy (Melora Hardin), so many years ago. Will Monk die or will the suspect be identified in time to save his life?

The episode begins with flashbacks of Trudy’s death. Monk misses her more than ever. It’s been 12 long years and he isn’t any closer to solving her murder than he was in the beginning, or is he? Monk doesn’t realize just how close he really is, but Trudy’s killer, Judge Ethan Rickover (Craig T.

Nelson), does. Rickover takes drastic measures to keep Monk from cracking the case. He decides to take Monk out by hiring a hitman named Joe Kazarinski to poison him.

Monk seems at peace with his pending death knowing that he could be reunited with his beautiful wife in a matter of hours. The story takes a dramatic turn after Monk decides to open the Christmas present his wife gave him right before her tragic death. Monk is surprised to find that the beautifully wrapped box he has kept for all these years contains a video tape revealing secrets of Trudy’s death. Could this be the missing link that will finally lead to an arrest? I guess we’ll have to wait until next week to find out, but my guess is yes.

I really enjoyed this episode of Monk. Lacking its usual comedic element, this episode was perhaps the most serious of any I’ve seen in the past eight years. I’m looking forward to next week’s final episode as I’m curious to see exactly how the writers will reveal Trudy’s killer.  I’m sure it will be a memorable event for all of Monk’s loyal fans, including me.