Not all reviews were positive. David Bianculli, writing in the "New York Daily News", stated that the idea of putting Monk in New York "soundgreat" on paper but it did not take advantage of what could be "a delightful study in contrasts." Bianculli called it a "misstep", criticizing its premise and how it was not able to keep the balance between comedy and drama that made it "too outrageous." A review for "The Beaver County Times" considered it a "stunt episode" and its humor "uncharacteristically forced", saying it "really doesn't do justice to the show's considerable charms." Steve Johnson of the "Chicago Tribune" affirmed that while the premise is funny, "the writers go out of their way to play the city against his condition." He continued by saying it "wouldn't be so bad" if he went to solve crimes "but Friday's first case is a real stretch." Although excited for the episode's premise prior to its broadcast, Austin Smith of the "New York Post" was very critical of it. Smith said in this episode "the producers have him [Monk crossing that fine line between genius and insanity, transforming our hero into a full-blown mental patient." He also criticized the "Mr. Monk vs. the City of New York" scenes as they do not further the episode's plot. Smith's co-worker, Linda Stasi also panned the episode, considering Monk's reactions "caricature". Stasi wrote, "It's one thing to be an obsessive/compulsive ex-detective who lines up the pins on the murder map and it's another to act like you've got a pin in your brain." As did Smith, Kay McFadden of "The Seattle Times" called the jokes "predictable" and said, "If you aren't a "Monk" fan, these devices may strike you as altogether shopworn."