Summary
Bad Monkeyis Apple TV+’s newest show fromTed Lassocreator Bill Lawrence, offering a memorable cast of characters mixed with a complex story. Pulled from the pages of author Carl Hiaasen’s 2013 novel of the same name, the crime comedy follows former detective Andrew Yancy (Vince Vaughn), who is given an opportunity to get his old job back after a severed arm is fished up off the coast of the Florida Keys. But everything isn’t as it seems, with Yancy getting drawn into a complex world of crime and conspiracy as he attempts to bring the perpetrators to justice.
A memorable ensemble cast fleshes out the mystery
Bad Monkeyboasts excellent performances within a complex narrative, expertly weaving together multiple character storylines that all tie into the larger mystery at play.Vaughn’s performance as Yancy is a highlight, sporting a comedically confident attitude no matter the situation. Other characters, like his former girlfriend Bonnie Witt (Michelle Monaghan) and medical examiner Rosa Campesino (Natalie Martinez), also add important perspectives to the ongoing mystery. This becomes more apparent with every new episode, pulling out to reveal how the characters around Yancy factor into the larger story.
What’s so impressive about the series is that, despite its narrative complexity, it never feels like too much is going on at once.
However, the show’s early episodes also introduce characters not directly connected to Yancy at the start, including Bahamian fisherman Neville (Ronald Peet), who is searching for a way to keep a resort from being built on his land. While he tries enlisting the help of his home island’s mysterious Dragon Queen (Jodie Turner-Smith), it’s not long before connections between the resort and Yancy’s case start to form. This leads to a winding narrative taking place on the island itself,with Turner-Smith exhibiting a standout performance that helps build new narrative elements.
What’s so impressive about the series is that, despite its narrative complexity, it never feels like too much is going on at once. Even as new, engaging characters are added to the mix, such as grieving widow Eve Stripling (Meredith Hagner) and her mysterious new boyfriend Christopher (Rob Delaney),Bad Monkeyalways keeps up the momentum of its carefully crafted story.The same can be said for its witty humor, which comes out in everything from Yancy’s snarky quips to the wild events that keep unfolding all around him.
The show sometimes veers, but it always gets back on track
Unlikeother hit Apple TV+ crime showswith ensemblecasts such asPresumed Innocent, every character story inBad Monkeyleads to a major payoff for the overarching crime being investigated. However, this strength is also the show’s biggest weakness,assome storylines take more time reaching the point than others. Monaghan’s Bonnie, for instance, has a narrative that, while compelling, doesn’t quite fit into the larger picture until around halfway into the story. Characters that are prominent early on are also occasionally sidelined for long stretches before the show loops back around to them when they’re needed.
But, even with these short narrative deviations from the main plot, everything always finds its way back to Yancy’s investigation. This often happens through a mixture of comedic and dramatic events that provide laughs while raising the stakes. This intersection helps offer some levity as surprising answers are slowly provided, peeling back layers of an intricate conspiracy. Complimenting these turns are also many overtly emotional moments,clarifying how the story is taking itself seriously between its many comedic moments.
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From comedies including Ted Lasso and Mythic Quest to dramas including Severance, there are many great TV shows available to binge-watch on Apple TV+.
Boasting a mixture of memorable comedy, complex storytelling, and a stellar cast to round out its twisting and turning mystery,Bad Monkeyis another surefire hit for Apple TV+.Even with some characters taking too long to connect to the main storyline, the show maintains a fast pace and tight storytelling where everything’s importance eventually reveals itself. A fitting adaptation of one of Hiaasen’s best novels, the series is sure to delight any fans of his work, or those of Lawrence’sother shows for the streamer likeTed Lasso.
The first two episodes ofBad Monkeyarrived August 14 on Apple TV+, followed by weekly episodes every Wednesday.
Bad Monkey
Cast
A former Miami detective turned health inspector, Andrew Yancy, discovers a severed arm while working in the Florida Keys. Determined to solve the mystery and reclaim his former position, he navigates through a web of quirky locals and corruption, all while dealing with a troublesome monkey.
