Adrian Monk’s Journey Through Phobias, OCD, and Genius

The show “Monk” follows a pattern similar to many detective series, especially ones like “Sherlock Holmes.” The characters all go back to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s original creation. But it’s not just the consulting detective part that they share. They also share quirks and unusual habits.

By design, these characters have extraordinary skills that are extremely useful. They pick up details missed by neurotypical people. Even smart and skillful detectives could use a second pair of eyes when assessing a crime scene. And two heads are better than one, especially when it comes to applying obscure and arcane knowledge (a typical requirement for any character who will fill this role). They make unusual connections that will eventually solve the crime. Another typical requirement is that behind those eyes is something that is not typical. Possibly extreme intelligence at a genius level, an eidetic memory, savant syndrome, or maybe a combination of all of the above. Adrian Monk fits the bill.

 

Monk deals with intense anxiety and fear of going outside, called agoraphobia. But he doesn’t seem to realize how his behavior looks to others. At one point, he even denies having agoraphobia because he had left his house twice in three years. Early in the series, he only leaves his home more often because he usually has his nurse with him.

After giving in to his OCD and reorganizing pins on a map without permission, he is yelled at and awkwardly bumps the board while diverting his eyes. Part of his reaction is because of his discomfort at being in a room full of people he doesn't know, which is a symptom of agoraphobia. But his struggle in any social situation is also a characteristic challenge of some individuals on the autism spectrum. When Monk bumps the board, all the pins fall to the floor, and he exhibits the savant behavior of having an eidetic memory by recreating all the pins on the board precisely. This prompts him to be labeled a "Rainman," furthering the comparison of him with someone who is autistic.

In the first season, the police send Monk to an asylum instead of arresting him for trespassing in his late wife’s apartment. While he was there, the director diagnosed him as bipolar, delusional, and paranoid. The traits that helped Monk solve crimes, like his focus and attention to detail, were seen as mental health issues in this new setting. All the things that bothered him, like loud noises or bright lights, felt even worse away from home. Instead of being helpful, his behaviors seemed more disturbing.

Also, his therapy appointments with the institute's director were not as benign as when the audience had seen Monk with his other personal therapist. He was compared to other patients with different mental health conditions, and his behaviors, in this context, appeared mentally unhealthy and dysfunctional and not an asset to his individuality. His heightened focus made him appear manic rather than detail-oriented. His traits were useful in finding clues and details that others did not seem more like paranoia than reason. It was touch and go there for a while, and it was not clear whether Monk would ever be released (spoiler alert: he was being severely gaslighted by the bad guy), but in the end, Monk solved what was real and what was not. It was a very uncomfortable episode in many ways, as the audience saw the seriousness of some mental conditions.

The creators of “Monk” didn’t set out to make Monk a character with autism. Instead, they wanted to show his OCD and phobias in a humorous way. Unlike serious shows like “The Good Doctor,” “Monk” balances drama and comedy. Monk’s OCD and phobias often get in the way of investigations, which can be funny but also touching. For example, his fear of germs and the need to count things sometimes make him act in ways that seem odd at crime scenes. Once, he even let a criminal escape because he was too scared of heights to chase them.

While "Monk" strikes a balance between humor and respect for his struggles, there are moments when he feels more like the clumsy Inspector Clouseau from "The Pink Panther" than the sharp Sherlock Holmes. This is intentional, though, because the show was designed as a dramedy—a mix of both drama and comedy—rather than a straightforward crime series.

Twenty years after the series ended, "Mr. Monk’s Last Case: A Monk Movie" debuted on Peacock, created by the original showrunner. Tony Shalhoub returned as Monk, with all his familiar quirks, but the film took on a noticeably darker tone. The movie focused on the toll that long-term mental health struggles can have on someone, and while it ended on a hopeful note for Monk, it also tackled heavy topics like suicide. This contrast could spark important conversations about how mental health and neurodiversity are portrayed in today’s media.