As a longtime fan of this captivating series, I can’t help but feel a mix of emotions as we reach the finale of “Bad Monkey.” The dramatic turn of events, the sense of closure for some characters, and the tantalizing hints of what’s to come if Apple renews us for another season – it all leaves me on the edge of my seat!
Years ago, a college professor shared with me that rain in stories often symbolizes change. This idea has stayed with me since then. Although it’s not always a strict rule, I noticed an abundance of rain at the end of the “Bad Monkey” novel, which certainly marked a significant turning point for all the unique characters – leading to acceptance, loss, and letting go.
The story begins by delivering a shocking blow right from the start. We were anticipating a fierce confrontation last week between the strong Dragon Queen and the enraged Eve, but their encounter concludes unexpectedly swiftly. Amidst the tempest, Eve is left reeling from Gracie’s deception. The queen insists that Eve depart the island and return the land she seized. Reluctantly, Eve complies, revealing her belief that there are too many “others” on the island (we had a feeling she was prejudiced). However, lightning strikes, hitting the “crazy” tree mentioned in the last episode by Ya-Ya and Lulu, causing a large branch to fall behind Gracie. Seizing the moment, Eve pushes her adversary towards the branch, impaling her abdomen and condemning her to a prolonged, agonizing demise. The island appears to have found its offering.
It’s an unexpected and heartbreaking twist. The first time I watched this episode, I sobbed uncontrollably as I watched Gracie’s spirit visit Ya-Ya, Egg, and Lulu like in some kind of reverse Christmas Carol as she lay dying in the graveyard: Ya-Ya was her past, Egg was her present, and Lulu is the future of the island. Even while dying, Gracie communicates that she’s at peace, knowing her sacrifice was what it took to make things right on her island. Her magic was real. And if there were any lingering doubts about that, her last words solidify her power. She croaks, “I hope you choke on your lies.” And that’s just what Eve does … later in the episode.
After the hurricane has moved on, Andros starts to put things back together, while Yancy and Neville brainstorm a plan and engage in lively conversations. Ronald Peet has been terrific in providing a contrast to Vince Vaughn’s rapid-fire dialogue, offering witty one-liners that momentarily silence him. If the series gets renewed for another season (come on, Apple!), I really hope they manage to incorporate Neville more into the plot.
With Charles and Claspers’ assistance, Neville and Yancy locate the gun that Rosa discarded following her shooting of Egg. To gain an advantage from the Federal authorities, Yancy makes a request and manages to get Director Rhodes to issue a misleading alert to the Striplings, claiming their funds would be frozen by day’s end. Rhodes deceives further by stating that Yancy is with her in Miami, ensuring Eve and Nick are unconcerned about his investigations. Nick orders Eve to visit the bank for cash, allowing them to flee to Nassau and then London (since London has an extradition treaty with the U.S., but still). True to form, Eve complies, and Yancy and Neville are waiting outside when she exits with her funds in hand.
Regrettably, Claspers’ fondness for fritters jeopardized the entire mission when Egg spotted him at the fritter shop – the second instance of Claspers inadvertently thwarting Yancy’s attempt to capture the Striplings. Alerted by Claspers, Egg and Eve orchestrated a sting operation at the bank, apprehending Yancy for shooting Egg and impaling Nick with a fishing rod – actions he did not commit himself but was implicated in. The scene played out with a chaotic, almost comedic feel as Neville recklessly drove Dawnie’s red convertible into another car during the melee. Amidst the confusion, Yancy attempted to hijack a police cruiser for an emergency exit while Neville struggled to join him, flipping off the corrupt officers as they made their escape.
After Yancy and Neville reorganize themselves, Eve decides to return home. Prior to visiting the bank, she examined Nick’s stab wound and concluded that it was indeed infected. His condition was also deteriorating quickly. Interestingly, he is now utilizing one of the scooters he once used fraudulently against insurance companies – perhaps the same one Ya-Ya returned – and his future appears to involve a permanent spinal injury. When Eve expresses hope that they can heal Nick in London, Egg responds sarcastically, “Yes, that’s how it typically goes with spinal injuries. They gradually improve day by day.” This remark makes Eve ponder.
When Eve comes back from the bank and finds that she can no longer rely on Nick to assist her in escaping, and he’s only going to slow her down, she does what a cold-hearted person might do. She simulates pushing her husband towards the getaway yacht, but at the last moment, changes direction. The duplicitous couple exchanges a few final words, and Rob Delaney delivers an emotional performance as a man who is seeing his life pass before him, and he’s not pleased with what he recalls. His angry tone isn’t aimed at Eve; it’s directed towards himself for making this choice. He chose physical attraction over his daughter, and now he’s suffering the consequences. Unremorseful Eve heartlessly discards her now-useless husband overboard, and his only functioning limb floats in the sea as he drowns. In the end, Nick meets a gruesome fate by being devoured by a shark.
Eve jumps aboard the boat and finds Egg tenderly carrying her small dog Tilly. She appears unfazed by her recent actions and instead gushes over the sight of large Egg holding her cherished, fluffy pet. When Egg inquires about Nick’s whereabouts – it’s astonishing that this violent man doesn’t suspect Eve of murdering her husband despite all he’s witnessed – she claims it was too warm for her to shove him. With a stack of money and a grin, she orders Egg to give her the keys and fetch Nick. She manages to set the boat in motion at the last minute. As Neville and Yancy show up to watch her flee, Yancy jumps into the water, latching onto one of the unsecured docking ropes Eve neglected. He persists in holding on, despite his intentions remaining unclear, but eventually releases his grip when it seems he might perish. As water fills his lungs, he hears Neville shouting for him to “let go,” a command echoing advice given by many others, including his father Rogelio and Rosa, over the years. Consequently, Yancy relents and allows the villain to escape.
However, there’s a positive resolution ahead, the story assures us. In truth, numerous uplifting conclusions unfold as the series comes to an end. Neville manages to land his largest catch ever – a 200-pound fish, or should I say, ‘a 200-pound nuisance’. When we view Nick’s swollen form from above, his expensive watch is missing, but later, Neville and Driggs show it to Dawnie. They plan to sell it and use the funds to reconstruct Nick’s home on his property. How sweet. Simultaneously, Dawnie’s daughter Lulu has become a regular companion for Ya-Ya, and while Ya-Ya continues to miss her granddaughter, she understands that her spirit remains on the island.
Regarding Eve, it turns out she obtained everything she desired following her exit from Andros. Subsequently, we discover that she’s residing in a luxurious penthouse in Portugal, accompanied by Tilly, who stands beside her. Dressed in a voluminous red blouse, snug black trousers, and adorned with jeweled platform shoes, Eve resembles a formidable villain as she gazes over the world below. However, her moments of triumph are short-lived: Upon taking a bite from one of her favorite baby carrots, she suddenly chokes, just as foretold by the Dragon Queen. With no assistance nearby, she staggers towards the edge or perhaps was drawn there by some enigmatic force. She plunges down multiple stories and meets her demise upon impact. Such an end is fitting for a villain of her caliber, but I must admit, a part of me regrets that she didn’t endure more torment. After all, she was responsible for the deaths of five innocent people! It seems appropriate that her little dog prancing in her blood serves as a gruesome exclamation point to this grim scenario.
In the final scenes, it’s uncertain if any of the gang learns about Eve’s death, but there’s a sense that cosmic harmony has been restored. As the episode concludes, we see a series of wrap-ups as we catch up on Yancy’s relationships. Madeline and Petrov decide to move in next door, intent on tearing down Evan Shook’s monstrous mansion and constructing a tiny house instead. Bonnie calls from a tropical location, while Rosa visits for what seems like a farewell rendezvous. It’s almost as if each of these encounters could serve as a fitting finale for the show, yet they also leave potential stories open if the series is renewed for another season. (Please, Apple.)
Towards the end, it appears there’s still more to unfold. Rogelio and Yancy spend some time sipping drinks and appreciating the scenery from Yancy’s backyard. They discuss how everyone but Yancy seems to be on a path of change, with Yancy seemingly being the instigator for others but not himself. This observation seems accurate – even though Yancy eventually let go of Eve, he holds on tighter than Elsa – yet we wonder if we truly want him to alter. When Rogelio suggests Yancy check something in his car, it doesn’t take long before Yancy is intrigued. And let me tell you, when Yancy said, “What’s in the car, man,” and the credits started rolling, I couldn’t help but leap from my seat and applaud. Yes, I clapped!
Let’s all hope Apple does what’s right and renews Bad Monkey for another season. We all deserve joy in our lives, and I think we can agree that this show is a dose of much-needed fun for everyone. Thanks for following along with me this season, and I hope to meet you back on Yancy’s teal Adirondack chairs by the ocean someday in the future. I’ll bring extra glasses.
Monkeying Around
It seems oddly ironic that a hurricane-themed finale will be aired on the very night when Hurricane Milton is forecasted to make landfall along Florida’s western coast. As I write this, Milton is growing in intensity, so I extend my well wishes for safety and good health to all Floridians as the storm nears.
It’s uncertain if Gracie would have perished due to tiny Eve pushing her onto a fallen log, even though it was sharp, but alright. Perhaps the island required a sacrifice in some way?
Could it be that Neville and Yancy’s entire chat about Vegas was a tribute to the movie “Swingers“? I find myself leaning towards that assumption.
As a dedicated film and music enthusiast, let me share my thoughts on this episode: Three captivating covers grace our screens in this installment, culminating in a heart-pounding rendition of Tom Petty’s “The Waiting” by Marcus King, which beautifully underscores the poignant farewell sequence of Gracie’s soulful departure. The somber, almost funeral-like version of “Breakdown,” sung by Waz, accompanies the chilling moment when Eve pushes Nick towards his fate. Sharon Van Etten’s contemplative cover of “I Won’t Back Down” resonates deeply as Yancy grapples with letting go, trying to catch Eve in the act. And the grand finale delivers a powerful burst of Petty’s “Learning to Fly,” celebrating the peaceful resolutions of secondary characters like Donald joining the FBI and Mel finding love with the Claspers. This show continues to captivate us all!
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2024-10-09 11:57