[s3e3] The Blackout Review

In the episode ( Season 3, Episode 3 ), a mysterious blackout hits San Francisco, and Adrian Monk is called in to investigate whether it was an act of sabotage. Summary of the Episode

Monk famously wears night vision goggles in his apartment during the blackout, only to realize he can still see perfectly once the power comes back on.

The investigation leads Stottlemeyer and Monk to Alby Drake, a former associate of Brenner who is living in a tree as a protest. Drake is later killed when a bulldozer knocks the tree down during the night.

During a second blackout intended to disrupt a televised Willie Nelson concert, Monk realizes that the "terrorist" attacks are a cover for a different crime. He eventually solves the case, proving that the real culprit was using the blackouts as a distraction for their own agenda. Notable Moments

Encouraged by Sharona, Monk goes on a date with Michelle Rivas, a publicist for the power company. The date is a disaster due to Monk's phobias; he refuses to use the elevator and forces her to climb 52 flights of stairs to a rooftop restaurant.