ScribbledBabbling.com

*Author’s Note: Originally posted on http://miaka.blog-city.com on Thursday, 22 January 2004.

One of the shows that I enjoy watching is Monk, the story of an obssessive-compulsive but brilliant former San Francisco detective. He was taken out of active duty after he developed phobias from almost everything after his wife died.

I’ve always enjoyed watching Tony Shalhoub, who plays the title character in the series. He has a very distinct look about him yet he has the ability to play an Arab (The Siege), an Italian (Wings), etc. He’s a versatile actor with the ability to do comedy, drama and action. In addition to his Ian Stark character (Stark Raving Mad) and his character in The Siege, Adrian Monk is my most beloved.

It is easy enough to make fun of the title character with his quirks. Some people were concerned that it will make fun of the people afflicted with the illness.

Underneath all of the physical manifestations of his illness lies a certain vulnarability that the audience can empathize with. Monk is a broken man because he is suffering through the loss of the love of his life as well as the job that he loves. Other than being obssessive-compulsive, Monk also developed phobias on germs among other things thus the wet wipes. He tries his best to function in the manner that we deem “normal.” With the help of his assistant/associate Sharona, he tries to get on with his daily life. As he says, the only way that he can honor the memory of his wife is to be the same person that she was when she was alive.

One of the sad things about Monk is that he has been unable to relate to other people because of his phobias. Every time that he meets somebody and shakes that person’s hand, he needs a wet wipe for his hands. Sharona has accused him several times of being insensitive to other people’s needs, of being selfish. This is also the reason why despite still being able to solve cases, his boss Capt Stottlemeyer cannot endorse his reinstatement to the force.

The show is able to show that obssessive-compulsives can still be the best in what they do. It shows them to be fully-functional at their jobs despite their illness. However, the thing they have lost is their ability to relate to other people just like the rest of us.

I am not claiming to be OC though I do exhibit some behavior at times especially when it comes to the arrangement of my cube at the office. My former boss in my former company would kick my pedestal (in jest) every time I open it since he’d be so infuriated at how everything had its own place. Some of my former officemates were subject to jokes because of their “OC” behavior: always cleaning up, making itemized lists of daily tasks, etc. We make jokes about obssessive-compulsives without really realizing how it is for those who truly are.