Another murder throws Monk's life far out of balance — Dr. Kroger's cleaning lady, Teresa Mueller, ends up stabbed on the floor of his office. Believing the police's suspicions that one of his clients committed the crime, the guilt-stricken Dr. Kroger decides the time has arrived for retirement, something Monk cannot accept. Can Monk track down the criminal and get his psychiatrist back in practice?
This episode includes examples of the following tropes:
- 10-Minute Retirement: Dr. Kroger considers retiring from his work because of the murder.
- Characterization Marches On: Way back in the first episode, Dr. Kroger mentioned his son wanted Monk's autograph. If Troy is the son he was talking about, he seems to have either forgotten all about Monk or dropped any hero-worship he once had.
- Chekhov's Gunman: Harold Krenshaw originally appears in his role as Monk's Sitcom Arch-Nemesis, squabbling with him over Dr. Kroger's time and attention and stalking Kroger after he retires. However, his stalking allows him to witness the perp abducting Monk and Dr. Kroger.
- A Day in the Limelight: Dr. Kroger gets the spotlight for this episode.
- Everyone Has Standards: Monk is actually relieved to see Harold because he can help Monk and Kroger escape...but then Harold's own compulsion to arrange things take over. Both Kroger and Monk are flabbergasted.
- Exact Words: Harold says that Dr. Kroger told him "we will finish this discussion the first thing on Friday". He interpreted that to mean that he would be Dr. Kroger's first appointment on that day, not that they would finish the discussion first thing on Harold's normal Friday appointment.
- Five Stages of Grief: Monk rapidly goes through the stages of grief when his psychiatrist retires. And thanks to his OCD, he goes through them over and over again throughout the episode.
- He Knows Too Much: Teresa was killed because she accidentally stumbled upon Merrigan's stash of heroin.
- Hypocritical Humor:
- Stottlemeyer throws Monk out of the crime scene when he catches him sneaking peeks at Dr. Kroger's file on him, saying he's crossed the line...and then he begins looking at the file.
- Monk and Harold both call each other disturbed for stalking Dr. Kroger...when they see one another through the windows while standing outside the house.
- It's All My Fault: Dr. Kroger takes the murder hard, given the police's hypothesis that a disgruntled client committed the killing. Feeling that he should have known trouble was afoot, he retires.
- Mood-Swinger: Monk cycles through various emotions upon learning Kroger's decision to retire.
- Noodle Incident: Randy had a run-in with Troy Kroger before, implying that the boy was a delinquent.
- "Not So Different" Remark: While interrogating him, Monk finds common ground with Wheeler. Despite each having a different set of issues, both Monk and Wheeler hold Dr. Kroger in the highest regard and deeply regret that he retired. To drive the point home, each men is holding a teddy bear and tear them to shreds without thinking whilst describing how "bereft" they feel at the thought of losing such a great therapist.
- Restored My Faith in Humanity: What kicks off the plot is poor Dr. Kroger believing the murder of the week happened because one of his patients was dissatisfied with his services. Thus, he quits on the belief that he failed one of his patients as a therapist, assuming one of them begrudges him. Later, it turns out this was all the cover-up for a drug-hoarding operation. What's more, Harold Krenshaw literally takes a bullet for Dr. Kroger when the culprit of the week pulls a gun on him and Monk. Between this and learning none of his patients committed murder, Dr. Kroger sees fit to resume his practice for the sake of the people who still need him.
- Stalker without a Crush: Monk and Harold Krenshaw both follow Dr. Kroger home after he retires.
- Taking the Bullet: The police's original suspect, Joseph Wheeler, adamantly responds that he loved Dr. Kroger and would have taken a bullet for him. Later on, Harold Krenshaw does exactly that when the killer tries to shoot Dr. Kroger during a firefight between him and the police.
