Warning: This article discusses topics of mental health and death.
Monkis a brilliant and hilarious detective TV show, but there are plenty of other similar titles worth watching.The hit show follows Tony Shalhoub as Adrian Monk, a private detective with obsessive-compulsive disorder who assists the San Francisco Police Department with its ongoing criminal investigations.The best episodes ofMonkfrom season 1 to season 8, and the 2023 TV movieMr. Monk’s Last Case, center on the titular character’s attempts to solve a bizarre mystery, but his oddities and unusual behavior are often the biggest obstacles in his search for the truth.
There are plenty of TV shows that are aperfect replacement forMonk,and each offers similar qualities or characters that are just as engaging and entertaining.Even thoughMonkis rather unique, several incredible murder mystery shows match the same standardsof the iconic show. Many viewers still missMonkand hope for a sequel toMr. Monk’s Last Case, but until that happens, these equally powerful and funny TV shows are ideal additions to the watch queue.
Psych
Cast
Shawn Spencer happens to possess some uncanny powers of observation thanks to his father, Henry, a former police officer who taught his son to remember even the smallest details of his surroundings. When Shawn is accused of committing a crime that he actually solved, he convinces the cops that he’s a psychic – and with the reluctant help of his best friend, Gus, Shawn starts solving cases for a skeptical but increasingly impressed police force.
Psychis a great alternate show forMonkbecause both titles brilliantly use humor and mystery and are led by a quirky lead character.Psych’s Shawn Spencer is a fake psychic with stellar observation skills, and while Adrian Monk doesn’t have any fantastical talents, both of them are good at figuring out the truth about crimes pretty quickly. Shawn’s hilarious back and forth with his best friend, Gus, is amazing and offers some heartwarming moments throughoutPsych.The way Shawn bluffs his way into many ludicrous escapades is funny and often absurd,but it adds to his charm.
Psychis a TV show that can easily be compared toMonk, but with even more central figures for audiences to fall in love with.Shawn’s nicknames for Gus inPsychare amazingly comical,and his constant attempts to woo his romantic interest, Juliet, and his boss, Detective Carlton Lassiter, also contribute to some of the funniest moments throughout the show.Psych’s 8 seasons and 3 sequel moviesmean that there are plenty of installments for new viewers to binge, which will help scratch theMonkitch.
iZombie
After being turned into a zombie, medical resident Liv must periodically feast on human brains to keep the appearance of being human and takes a job at a morgue to sate her hunger. When she discovers that eating a corpse’s brain gives her temporary access to their skills, traits, and memories, Liv decides to use her talent to help solve murders.
iZombie’s premise initially seems quite ridiculous, but its execution is stellar. The show follows Liv Moore, who manages to gather clues and information about ongoing cases by eating the brains of murder victims. While this concept seems to be rather cheesy,the use of comedy and suspense pays off and makesiZombiean overall enjoyable watch.
Liv’s backstory and the dynamic she has with her colleagues are very interesting, and while she can be stand-offish at times, she generally has a solid rapport with them. LikeMonk,iZombielooks at difficult themes but offsets them with a more lighthearted tone.iZombie’s success is due to how it highlights the topics of identity and death, whereasMonkdelves into the day-to-day of someone with obsessive-compulsive disorder.
It’s a shame that the show is now over, especially asiZombieseason 6 could improve the series
Neither show mocks these subjects but rather presents them realistically, which normalizes them. It’s a shame that the show is now over, especially asiZombieseason 6 could improve the series, but seasons 1 to 5 are still worth catching up on.
House
House is a medical mystery drama in which the villain is typically a difficult-to-diagnose medical malady. It follows Dr. Gregory House (Hugh Laurie), a world-renowned disabled diagnostician with a notorious substance abuse issue. With his team of world-class doctors, House has built a reputation as one of the most brilliant doctors in the world - an especially impressive feat when taking into account that he rarely actually sees his patients.
It’s widely considered that Hugh Laurie’s Gregory House inHouseis an alternative interpretation of Sherlock Holmes, Arthur Conan Doyle’s famous literary detective.Housefollows the abrupt and rude titular character, with every episode focusing on a new medical mystery for him to solve.Like Adrian Monk, House rubs people the wrong way regularly,although the actions ofMonk’s lead are undoubtedly less intentional.
Even though House isn’t the easiest character to feel sorry for at times, his ongoing issues with mental health and drug addiction make him very compelling.While there are differences between criminal and healthcare investigations, both House and Monk approach them in a very similar way.
20 Best House Episodes, Ranked
The House M.D. series wrapped over a decade ago, but the show is still one of the best medical dramas around, these are the best episodes.
The two characters are straightforward and throw themselves straight into the intricate details of their respective enigmas, and they both make a name for themselves by being able to find a solution in the span of an episode.The best episodes ofHousealso use dark humor likeMonkdoes,but another common element the two shows share is the ability to draw audiences in with somber and profound storylines when needed.
Veronica Mars
Veronica Mars is a drama mystery series that stars Kristen Bell as the titular teen detective who learns the ropes from her father, a California police sheriff. Following a “crime-of-the-week” episode format, each episode sees Veronica tackling new cases while carrying on her High School life, with a more significant, overarching plot carrying between episodes. Veronica’s side career begins following the death of her best friend, which sets off a chain of events leading to several smaller cases.
Veronica Marsis a fantasticelder emo TV showthat doesn’t seem to share much withMonk, but upon a closer look, the two titles do share some common qualities. Kristin Bell’s performance as the titular character is very strong. Her journey from a high-schooler seeking answers to a professional private investigator throughoutthe best episodes ofVeronica Marsacross four seasons, as well as the 2014 movie, is absolutely impeccable.Veronica Marsis a TV show that isa great recommendation for viewers looking for a combination ofMonkandBuffy the Vampire Slayer.
The comedic tone ofVeronica Marsdiffers from that ofMonk, but both shows use intelligent humor well.Veronica MarsandMonkare both known for including snappy and insightful dialogue,which shines a light on the complexities and flaws of their respective characters. Kristin Bell’s renowned murder mystery show isn’t a story-of-the-week format likeMonk, either, butVeronica Marsstill has plenty of intriguing mysteries spanning across seasons that audiences can easily sink their teeth into.
Only Murders in the Building
Only Murders in the Building is a mystery-comedy series following three strangers, portrayed by Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez, who bond over their shared obsession with true crime. Set in a Manhattan apartment building, the trio becomes embroiled in a real murder mystery within their residence.
Only Murders in the BuildingandMonkare immediatelycomparable because eccentric and flawed detectives lead the two shows.The hit Disney show features the hilarious Steve Martin as Charles-Haden Savage, Selena Gomez as Mabel Mora, and Martin Short as Oliver Putnam, three people from wildly different backgrounds who find themselves thrown into the madness and chaos of murder investigations. Although the three don’t work for any form of law enforcement as Adrian Monk does, he only returns to his original role after the death of his wife because a friend brings him in.
Therefore, Monk is only in his position because of a chain of coincidental events, much like theOnly Murders in the Buildingcast.Only Murders in the Building’s hilarious premise about a crime podcast is a fascinating twist on typical murder mysteries. Oliver is similar to Adrian Monk in a few ways; they’re both eccentric with massive egos.There are also common links between Monk and Charles, such as their shared ability to appear cold at timesand being overly self-aware.Only Murders in the Buildingseason 5is already confirmed, so it’s an ideal title to invest in now.
Murderville
Based on the BBC series Murder in Successville, Murderville is a murder-mystery series in which cast members improvise most of their lines. Each episode welcomes a new celebrity guest star, with Arrested Development and Bojack Horseman’s Will Arnett starring as senior detective Terry Seattle in each of the show’s episodes.
Murdervilletackles murder mysteries and uses humor in very different ways fromMonk. However, after watchingMurderville, it’s easy to appreciate that the two TV shows create a very similar response in viewers.Murdervillestars Will Arnett as Senior Detective Terry Seattle.In every episode, he is joined by aspecialMurdervillecelebrity guestas a rookie colleague to solve a new case.
What’s so absurd aboutMurderville, however, is that the story is roughly planned out, but the execution of each episode is improvised, which makes it even funnier. WhileMurdervilledoesn’t take itself as seriously asMonkdoes, the show thrives on ironic humor.Monkis often unpredictable, as isMurderville, but in very different ways.
Is Murderville Entirely Improvised? What’s Really Happening
Murderville has Will Arnett and guest stars trying to solve murder mysteries, but is the entire show actually improvised? Here’s how it works.
The show’s new mystery with every episode is absurd and frequently nonsensical, butMurderville’s commitment to making each enigma as in-depth and convoluted as possible is always apparent.Terry Seattle isn’t half the detective Monk is, granted, but he is plagued by his past traumas, which is the main link between the two characters.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine
From the creative minds of Dan Goor and Michael Schur comes Brooklyn Nine-Nine, a police comedy series set in the NYPD’s fictional 99th precinct. Headed by the comedically serious Captain Raymond Holt and protagonist Jake Peralta, the detectives of the 99 deal with burglaries, drug deals, and oddities in New York City, occasionally steering into real-world issues surrounding police perception and social concerns in the 2010s and earlier. Each detective has their own unique personality that makes them stand out, creating endearing dynamics that helped the show thrive for eight seasons.
Brooklyn Nine-Nineis one ofthe best sitcoms of all time. While comedy takes precedence and is at the forefront of the show, the intricate details of criminal proceedings are also crucial to its success. The ensemble cast are all unique and layered personalities, buteach ofBrooklyn Nine-Nine’s characters can be compared to Adrian Monk in different ways.For example, Amy Santiago’s obsessiveness and dedication to her work, Captain Holt’s observation skills, Jake’s enthusiasm, and Rosa’s bluntness are all qualities that Monk would regard as highly valuable.
One brilliantly funnyBrooklyn Nine-Ninecharacter that Monk would absolutely befriend is Charles Boyle because the two have a long list of phobias and fears. Although humor is the most important part of bothBrooklyn Nine-NineandMonk, the two shows are also remembered for tackling deeper issues head-on.
Although humor is the most important part of bothBrooklyn Nine-NineandMonk, the two shows are also remembered for tackling deeper issues head-on.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine’s approach to social issues and personal traumas is fantastic throughout and is praised for being realistic, somethingMonkis also often applauded for.The funniest scenes inBrooklyn Nine-Nineshare a similar tone toMonk,and if anything, the titular detective would appreciate the NYPD’s wild antics.
LIttle Monk
Little Monk (2009) is a prequel to the popular series Monk, focusing on the early adventures of a young Adrian Monk as he solves crimes in his junior high school, offering insights into the development of his unique detective skills and character traits.
Little Monkis a web series prequel about Adrian Monk’s childhood, which follows the events that make him the character viewers know him as inMonk. Young Adrian’s adventures in middle school, which often include his older brother, Ambrose, are fabulous.
Although the mysteries that Adrian and Ambrose solve aren’t as morbid or dangerous as the cases inMonk, the overall atmosphere of the show is still prominent in the spin-off.Little Monkdelves into the emotional turmoil and trauma that the titular character faces growing upand how his OCD develops.
Chris Lizardi also played Danny inThe Hustler(2009)
This narrative is interwoven with genuinely enthralling investigations,and the approach to such a topic, especially in the context of a child, is perfectly executed. ConsideringLittle Monkis simply a light-hearted addition to theMonkseries, it’s surprising how profound and warming the show is.Little Monkprovides some amazing context about the character and a great backstory for the entire Monk family, and becausethe 2023 TV movieMr. Monk’s Last Caseis the most famous continuation, it’s a title many aren’t aware of.
Monk
Starring Tony Shalhoub as Adrian Monk, Monk follows the titular detective, a private investigator with OCD who helps solve crimes with the San Francisco Police. On the side, he also investigates the death of his wife, who was killed by a car bomb. Bitty Schram, Traylor Howard, Ted Levine, and Jason Gray-Stanford also star.
