There are times when Adrian Monk goes too far, or rather that the show "Monk" lets him go too far. He is a quirky and disturbed character, but generally very likable and sympathetic. Usually if he does something callous or inconsiderate, especially to his assistant Natalie, it is played for laughs. In the last episode, "Mr. Monk on Wheels," he pushes her one step too far and walks over the edge of weirdly funny to straight out jerk. Monk was not enjoyable to watch, but the show got back on track after acknowledging what a fine line the writers have to walk between 'eccentric' and 'annoying.'

Natalie accidentally helps a thief get away after he takes a bike belonging to a scientist. She feels guilty and insists that Monk help solve the case, even calling in Stottlemeyer and the police for an 'emergency.' They are all about as thrilled as you can imagine. Monk admires the scientist, Dean Berry, because he is bioengineering vegetables and makes a perfect square tomato. Berry is working on a very serious experiment with corn seeds that can sprout after only twenty minutes. This invention could help starvation all around the world and improve agriculture in general. Naturally, any fan who watches this show can hear the ringing of Important Plot Point.

Monk and Natalie manage to find the thief from police mugshots, and they go to his house, where Monk promptly gets shot in the leg. Now if anyone saw the earlier episode "Mr. Monk Stays In Bed," they will remember that he is a horrible patient. He whines and cries and makes everyone around him as miserable as he is. Misery loves company is Monk's motto. He has to be in a wheelchair for three weeks, and Natalie is so overcome with guilt that she allows Monk to treat her like a modern day Cinderella. She is not allowed to go home, sleep, eat, do anything other than serve his every whim. These are the times that Sharona is deeply missed on the show; she would have never taken this from Monk. She would have slapped him upside the head, told him to get over it, and he would be better for it. Natalie neglects her own health and her child because of this ... it makes her seem like a weaker and more annoying character for it.

Stottlemeyer and Disher go after the thief and manage to get from his roommate that he was paid to steal that bike. They also find him dead in a cemetery the next day with strange small tire tracks all around him. It is here when Monk screams at Natalie in Stottlemeyer's hearing, and he insists on a private word with his friend. He then very calmly and heroically explains to Monk that he is going to lose Natalie as a friend and assistant if he keeps being such a jerk. He draws parallel's to how he treated his own family, but you're still our number one, Captain. Stottlemeyer takes care of Monk, he protects Natalie, he even lets Disher stay around, and he always does the right thing. He really is the secret hero of this show.

The bike is finally found, missing only the lock, and Natalie brings it back to Dean Berry. He is thankful for that, but sad that apparently his super seeds did not work and the investors walked out on him. Natalie finally succumbs to her exhaustion and Monk realizes how horribly he has treated her over the episode. He genuinely apologizes, and then manages to solve the case. Karma gets Monk back for his treatment of everyone, however, by ending up with both legs injured. It is impossible to feel sorry for him at that point.

This was a very interesting episode of "Monk" because it is not often that a show will let their character get that obnoxious. They bring him back, of course, but it is important to note that Monk is not exactly a good guy, per se. He likes solving cases, but he is a mess in his personal life outside of his grief for Trudy. Adrian Monk is kind of a jerk ... but we love him anyway. In the next episode of "Monk" he befriends a nice old lady who helps him solve his next case.

Watch "Monk" Friday on USA at 9 PM EST!

Monk cast: Tony Shalhoub / Bitty Schram / Ted Levine / Jason Gray-Stanford / More

Story by Chelsea 'Dee' Doyle

Starpulse contributing writer