As a seasoned viewer of this thrilling show, I must say that the latest episode was a rollercoaster ride of emotions. The shootout scene had me on the edge of my seat, and it seems like our characters are finally closing in on the elusive Striplings. It’s both heartening to see Yancy get his badge back and frustrating to learn that the Feds aren’t prioritizing their capture.
This week, it seems that the narrative arc of “Bad Monkey” deviated slightly from our expectations. I’m not referring to the mysterious island or the intriguing character interactions, but rather the absence of insightful flashbacks that flesh out characters and surprise us with their depth. While we did catch a glimpse of Yancy’s past at the Miami PD, pushing Bonnie’s abusive husband into the ocean, and even an entire episode delving into Eve and Nick’s unpleasant beginnings as a couple, this week focused heavily on the backstory of Gracie, now known as the Dragon Queen. The revelations about her past are heartbreaking.
In this week’s installment, the storyteller deliberately uses Gracie, her personal name, instead of the queen title. Although he has used this name casually in previous mentions, particularly when describing their beachside gossip session with Asia, he consistently sticks to it here. As the narrative unfolds, we gather that Gracie’s struggle with her identity might be a lifelong battle, hinting at its origins since birth. The episode opens with a flashback to Gracie’s childhood, where Ya-Ya is an ever-present figure by her side. When Gracie loses her mother, Ya-Ya endeavors to teach her the mystical traditions of their family. Despite being a comforting and loving influence, Ya-Ya appears to be nudging her granddaughter towards a life that may not align with her wishes.
The flashback sequence is almost painful to watch. A young Gracie rebels, sneaking out to kiss a dipshit white boy from the mainland, and he subsequently breaks her heart when he basically tells her she was just a fun part of his vacation. She curses him, hoping he chokes to death. And then he does. No great loss. (Note: The dipshit’s death is not explicitly discussed in this episode but was mentioned by Ya-Ya back in the second episode. Doubting her power, Gracie chalks it up to coincidence, but we all know what’s really up.)
Gracie sees her heartache as an indication that it’s time for her to advance further. Ya-Ya tutors her using a Miyagi-like approach during the initial stage of her training. For a complete year, she is only allowed to communicate with Ya-Ya. She must dress in white and avoid sunlight. This solitary lifestyle is challenging for a young woman, causing the community to form various opinions about her. The solitude is what Gracie recalls most vividly as she glances through Eve’s old trunk, reflecting on her life.
Following Gracie’s release, she discovers that Eve and Nick were responsible for her abduction – Rob Delaney delivers a humorous line as he reads, “Who’s got one thumb and can still kidnap the living daylights out of women?” This revelation leads to a conversation between Gracie and Eve. At first, Gracie makes threats towards Eve, but Eve responds with a warning of her own – suggesting that Gracie inquire about the fate of those who cross her, yet all of them are no longer around. This chilling response leaves Gracie understanding the gravity of her mistake. Not long after, Gracie decides to sell her land to Eve and Nick. This decision seems to compromise her character’s moral integrity slightly, but it hints that Gracie has never truly felt freedom, and she believes this money will aid her in confronting some of her inner struggles.
Instead of Ya-Ya, L. Scott Caldwell has been subtly biding her time, ready to bring intense moments to life in this episode. When Ya-Ya challenges her granddaughter about the deception regarding the land, Caldwell taps into a wellspring of regret and sorrow, reflecting a caregiver’s remorse over past choices and attempts to warn of impending peril that the granddaughter seems unable to comprehend due to her resentment. Ya-Ya makes it clear to her, “You have walked headlong into your own curse! That will be extremely challenging to reverse!” She then delivers a chilling prediction, “Let me make this clear, if you don’t alter course immediately, it could very well cost you your life.
In simpler terms, Gracie acts like many rebellious kids by not heeding advice. She makes a questionable deal with an unsuccessful actress and a one-armed man, yet she’s torn about the situation. When she reaches out to her friend Asia, she discovers that Asia has been listening to Drea, the daughter of the man whose land Gracie sold. Asia was the only person who stood by Gracie throughout her year of magical training, but now she’s upset because Gracie has betrayed a deceased man. Gracie confronts Asia, claiming that she is no longer the same Gracie and has become the Dragon Queen. Jodie Turner-Smith delivers this scene with deep, multilayered significance, her gaze intense yet her lips quivering slightly. Gracie isn’t fully prepared to embrace her imposing Dragon Queen character – in fact, she’s grappling with the decision to abandon her life on Andros entirely – but she uses it here to scare Asia away. And it works.
Afterward, Gracie returns to her home and destroys the ancient altar that she and Ya-Ya had tended for years. Egg encounters her there, and they reconnect. At this instance, it seems as though Ya-Ya’s words hold truth, and Gracie is embarking on a dangerous journey with no way to reverse course.
While I could chat endlessly about Ya-Ya and Gracie, there were other events in this episode as well. Regrettably, the Bonnie storyline persists, eating up valuable screen time that could have been utilized to deepen the mystery of Andros, or to keep up the amusing conflict between Evan Shook and Yancy, or simply anything else except more monotonous sex-offender subplots. In the end, Bonnie goes back to Key West, with Yancy guiding her to make amends for her wrongdoings through his “pickle speech.” Upon discovering a camera in her storage unit, she surrenders herself to the authorities when they arrive to take her back to Oklahoma. Meanwhile, Cody and Scott Glenn (whose name is Jim, though I’ll still call him Scott Glenn) make their way to Yancy’s place.
Today has been quite an eventful day for Yancy. He, along with Rogelio, kept watch outside the vet where Mendez’s cherished cat was being examined. Despite being a man without children, Mendez holds a deep affection for this cat and made an unexpected appearance to check on it, even while on the run. Yancy and Rogelio apprehended him, but the resourceful Mendez managed to unlock his handcuffs using Rogelio’s daughter’s unicorn hair clip and snatched a gun in the process. A shootout ensued, leaving Rogelio wounded in the leg and Donald with an arm injury. In the end, Yancy was able to subdue Mendez. As recognition for this capture and the intel Neville provided on the Striplings, Yancy regained his police badge.
It’s all he’s ever wanted, and he also has Rosa by his side. Rosa has a heavy moment in this episode when she goes back to work and finds the cadaver of a six-year-old child on her table: the parents got drunk at a BBQ and forgot he was in the pool. As the camera lingers on the tiny hands and feet, it’s a depressing beat that feels a bit out of step with the playful tone of the rest of the show, but it does get Rosa thinking about finding a new job.
As Yancy converses with federal officials, Director Rhodes emerges from a black SUV to brief him. They know the Striplings are hiding in Andros and suspect them of murdering several individuals before fleeing. Their focus is on insurance fraud – after all, the government values corporations over citizens – but they’re not actively working to bring back these mass murderers at this moment. This situation is both comprehensible and maddening. The Striplings have shown they won’t hesitate to take lives if needed, and Neville has tipped them off about their plans to disrupt the society, economy, and environment of Andros entirely. It appears they still pose a significant threat, but since they’re not causing trouble on U.S. soil, it seems they’re not considered a priority.
Yancy feels furious, yet it appears there’s little he can accomplish, so he heads home to cuddle on the couch with Rosa. However, the tranquility is short-lived as Cody and Scott Glenn arrive, followed by some unwelcome guests who lurk around, their firearms outlines visible against the shadows.
Has Evan Shook reached the point of insanity now? Was the Striplings’ expenditure substantial enough to permanently take out Yancy? Did Mendez make use of his connections among friends following his arrest by his competitor? With so many adversaries, it remains a mystery who Yancy’s assailant is; we’ll have to wait until next week to find out. (paraphrased)
Monkeying Around
One humorous instance from the episode occurs when Yancy humorously remarks that the Stripling situation was painless, prompting Rogelio to sarcastically retort, “I was shot.” This leads Neville to echo the same statement, “Me too.” The Striplings are certainly stirring up a storm!
Prior to reinstating Yancy’s badge, he conducts one final food inspection at the rat-infested eatery favored by Sonny. The conditions are appalling and he’s ready to close the place down, with the owner admitting that the thriving rat population in the kitchen is far from ideal. However, Madeline and Pestov plead with him to leave it open for Phinney’s memorial service. It’s intriguing to witness their partnership, and amusing to contemplate that yet another person might fall ill due to food poisoning at this wretched restaurant that refuses to be shut down.
It’s a mystery why the speech is known as the “pickle speech,” possibly due to needing contemplation when in a tricky situation. However, it appears reminiscent of a quote from “The Good Place” TV show, and I appreciate its wisdom. “When you make mistakes, the simplest response is to deceive, but this strategy never succeeds because the self-perception you develop during those moments stays with you for life.
Instead of focusing on the skincare regimen Eve repeatedly suggests, it’s Gracie’s eye shadow selections that have me intrigued – I really want to discover the shade range she uses!
In this episode, we’ve got two notable cover versions of Tom Petty’s songs. These include “Supernatural Radio” by GoldFord and “Don’t Fade on Me” sung by Chiiild.
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2024-09-18 17:54