The quality of the iTunes episodes is pretty poor. They're designed to be shown on a video iPod, so they are shown in a really tiny window. You can blow it up, but you really lose detail that way. Plus, the iTunes version is typically pan-and-scan. I know all of this, because I recently bought the fifth season of Alias through iTunes. It was watchable, but only just. Of course, it's cheaper than the DVDs. But, if you want it to watch on your TV, the best bet is to either NetFlix the series, or buy the Monk: The Obsessive Compulsive box set. It collects seasons one through four in a discounted single package.
That's true. The quality will be lower because the resolution of the video from iTunes is designed mostly for the iPod's small screen, but it scales up decently on a computer screen. Good enough for watching anyhow. I've never been big on high fidelity audio or video. Being more of a reader, the story and dialog is more important than being able to make out every pore on a person's face.
For the sake of trying it out yourself LouAvul, go ahead and download the iTunes software and then go to the Music Store. Click on TV Shows, and then look for the free download. This time it is the first episode of Three Moons Over Milford. You can see if the resolution works for you. I watch iTunes on my 12" laptop's screen and it is more than clear enough, about the same as watching a 12" television set.