Natalie vs. Sharona | Monk

I love how Natalie wasn't just "Sharona's replacement", she brought a whole new dynamic to her partnership with Adrian. It was even brought up during the first episode that Natalie became his assistant, with him constantly moaning and complaining about how "Sharona did X better/different" before finally warming up to Natalie.

This episode shows it. They are two different people, with different approaches to assisting Adrian in his daily life, even if, when you get down to brass tacks, they're both probably the best assistants he could have ever hoped for.

Hands down one of my favorite episodes from the show.

was watching that silly detective for Sharona… :(

Mr. Monk cheating is wrong lol

Me encanta Sharona ❤

I love them but if I had to choose it be Natalie which I didn't realise was an unpopular opinion 😅 Natalie didn't need to be his friend, she was a good assistant and good to Monk. She was kind and sweet and really cared about Monk even though she's "just " his assistant. Again, love them both ❤

When they introduced Natalie, I appreciate how she wasn't just a shoddy clone of Sharona, instead creating a whole new dynamic with Monk.

sharona was much better as a sidekick, i felt like they really screwed up the later seasons with Natalie

Sharona > Natalie

I think this is the only show the replacement was cool as the original I think because they didn’t try to replace Sharona with a new actress instead adding a new character!

I just loved both of them. They each had their own way of handling problems. Both actresses were great!

Sharona is og nurse that's why she's pushing Mr. Monk to overcome things

“Im talking too much. Am I still talking now? Oh god I’m still talking……….”

I love both of them❤😊

Sharona was the best i stopped watching when she left . Natalie is a good actress but she cant't touch Bitty Schram . Patricia NYC

I still prefer Natalie

I am team Natalie. Sharona is obnoxious.

Why haven't I heard of this episode????? I've seen the shole series except this one...

It’d be great if Bitty Schram did a small cameo appearance in the upcoming Monk movie. I mean, she did end up being with Randy and living together in New Jersey where he’s the chief of police.

I like Natalie and think the actress is excellent. She did a great job and I don't like comparing the two because they were both excellent and it was the writers dictating the material they had to work with.

So - without comparing - I absolutely adore Sharona. Her role had more depth than Natalie's and she showed what an incredibly talented actress Bitty Schram is. The Golden Globes felt the same and nominated her.

I got the impression that besides any contract issues & sexist refusal to pay Bitty Schram more as she deserved, she IMO was starting to outshine Monk as a character. No one could replace him but she quickly became this captivating presence on the screen. She got to act with more range & depth than Monk because he was stuck in this OCD role.

I noticed that after Bitty was gone that Monk had scenes displaying a lot more depth and emotion. I don't think this is a coincidence. IMO the writing went downhill, too, and Monk was often acting silly and annoying. Scenes went on too long that weren't good to begin with.

If there is any truth in the male show creators & writers claim that they wanted to take the show in a different creative direction without Bitty Schram it was because she was TOO good - TOO talented. They wanted a replacement for her that would never outshine Tony Shalhoub. Which is silly because they were amazing together. So they made certain that Natalie was likeable but not ever outshine Monk.

Keep that woman in her place!!

If those writers, creators and USA network could see beyond their ingrained misogyny they would have kept her on the show, paid her more, and let Monk have more depth, as well. OR have spun off a show starring Bitty Schram as a female detective in New Jersey. That would have been amazing. It still could be. Fingers crossed!

I missed Bitty Schram and this episode came in time, I like them both Actresses Sharona is Wild, Spontaneous and shows the American women wild spirit while Natalie is the classy Lady like Sophisticated Version, Nice , friendly, polite and less Hostile or intimidating and Has a Fun loving soul showing more of a Canadian French Quebec Spirit. To me Sharona is the Best wife I can ever have while Natalie is the best Friend to hang out with. I don't know, I love them both Characters 😂 Also I'm thankful Tony wasn't born in Lebanon, if he did he wouldn't have gotten anywhere 😢
And Captain Leeland...every time I play RDR2 I see Arthur Morgan as Leeland, if they made RDR2 movie Leeland will make the best Arthur Morgan ❤

Lol they both pull his arm, "Mr Monk always takes the stairs" "Yeah, well sometimes he needs to take a risk, he should take the elevator" Lol also "Hi Adrian" "What year is it?"

Well, can't blame Sharona for leaving. Monk was a mental case, and he would often irritate her. That's what happens when the detective's assistant leaves, he/she gets replaced. Deep down she really did care about Monk.

Monk always holds a special place in my heart because aside from the mysteries, at the time it was originally airing, I could relate to the personal side. I struggled in school as a teen and still do in some areas, and in school I had an assistant. She helped me not only with my work but to take a step more for myself bit by bit. My family went with the obvious pun - she was My Sharona. Then after a couple of years she left, and when I was told a few weeks in advance, I was devastated, spending a couple of days thinking I'll not survive the next couple of years in school and being sad to lose a friend. I got a new assistant, who had her own style and sometimes pushed me harder than before, and... was blonde. Season 3 was airing at this point in time, and my family did not miss a trick. Now I had a Natalie.

So, yeah, there is no choice for me. We're all on the same side.

Sharona 95%, her character felt more real and natural, and she's like apartner/assistant/ friend and she cared about Monk.
On the other hand, Natalie 5% her character felt forced, cringed worthy character most of the time and Monk appeared like a baby and her a mother than a boss/ assistant 😮

It’s interesting how Sharona and Natalie don’t seem to have met before now. Or at least had any interactions before now by phone call. Back when Monk went into hiding and everyone thought she was dead. She and her son where gonna fly in for the service but when it was revealed he wasn’t did she basically completely cancel the trip. Or how she wasn’t interviewed in the 100 case. Just find it interesting how she and Monk didn’t have any interactions in any form it seems for about 6 years.

Natalie is quite pleasant and easier on the eyes, but Sharona had a spunk about her that complemented Monk's paranoia, OCD, and other odd behavioral characteristics.

Natalie.

The last scene had me cracking up, especially when Monk decided to leave! 😂

I prefer Natalie. Not because Sharona was assertive, she often needed to be with Monk. And anyone would get exasperated with Monk, dealing with all his inconvenient quirks all the time. But I don’t like Sharona because she often got angry with Monk for doing his job and actually solving murders. Usually because one of the murder suspects was a cute guy that she was interested in, and she always refused to listen to Monk when he tried to warn her that the guy was a psychopath. Even though Monk was always right, which makes Sharona kind of a gullible idiot. She sometimes put her own personal interests over actually solving a murder case, which I found annoying. Once her own son witnessed a murder, and she wouldn’t even believe him because the case was interrupting her vacation. There were episodes where she was basically AWOL as his assistant, even though that was her entire job.

Natalie all day every day 💯

I like Sherona better because she called him "Adrian" while Natalie called him still "Mr. Monk."

I agree with Sharona. She not being mean she actually treating Monk like and adult and not babying him like Natalie does. Yes Natalie is more kind but lets be real if Sharona didn't push Monk you think he would of been the person he is now?

Sharona And Trudy Were , Are And Always Will Be Adrian's Beautiful And Modest Friend And Wife.

Natalie Was , Is And Always Will Be Mr Monk's Greedy And Ugly Servant Girl.

-D.S.

I like them both, but I'd marry Natalie.

And then Monk did the one thing he could do, go to Trudy’s grave
😭😭😭😭

This is the show that I re-watch again and again to re-live those good days.

Natalie is better!

And now I'm kind of glad they're going to bring back the original cast from Monk in the movie kind of I'm excited I hope that's include I really hope you bring back Sharona 🙏👍💯

To be honest it was really nice to see sharona I miss her I just can't how much which one is the best assistant for Monk 👈❤️💯. I did love Natalie she's great but I think sometimes it's really hard to choose but I really love both I think they both of them did great assistant Monk

people who say "Sharona was too mean with Adrian... THATS WHERE THE GENIUS IS!!! Sharona imo represents the best period of the show, season 2 being a big favorite of mine.

Sharona the more tough NJ girl personality, mixed with Monks personality made for amazing comedic moments between the two. They were like a buddy cop movie inside of a procedural cop show. That chemistry between Tony and Bitty Schram was one of the pillars of the earlier Monk seasons. I never quite felt the same when Sharona left and Natalie took over. Bitty Schram
never getting any Emmy love for that show was a travesty!

Natali me encantaba como actuaba

Sherona is the best, Natalie didn't do it for me.

Natalie is annoying. I miss Sharona

Though Natalie was good, my favourite was Sherona..😍😍😍

I just finished watching the whole series for the first time. Monk really became a comfort show for me. I was so happy to see Bitty/Sharona return for a final appearance!

Shronna is my fave

Honestly I found Sharona insufferable in this episode: all she cared about was the money!

"Sometimes a wipe is just a wipe."

I remember this episode so much and using that line for a while afterwards.

Natalie did baby monk lol