Bad Monkey Series-Premiere Recap: A Tale of Two Beaches

As someone who spent a fair share of my days in the sun-kissed islands of the Caribbean, I must say that Formros has managed to capture the vibrant spirit and quirky charm of these tropical paradises like no other show. The characters, from Neville and his mischievous monkey Driggs to the enigmatic Dragon Queen, are as colorful as the sunsets over the Keys, each one bringing a unique flavor to the narrative.


Midway through the debut episode of Apple TV+’s latest series, Bad Monkey, the narrator (Tom Nowicki) urges us to exercise patience, hinting that everything will become clear eventually. However, I wonder if clarity is truly what matters most. After all, the soothing words are welcome, but isn’t it the thrill of the ride itself that makes a show like this captivating? With an impressive ensemble cast, an outstanding soundtrack, and countless moments guaranteed to make you laugh out loud, it seems as though this series offers an adventure where the journey is its own reward.

The show “Bad Monkey” is based on Carl Hiaasen’s popular novel and follows a comedic, intricate mystery set in Miami, Key West, and the Bahamian island of Andros. In the spirit of two successful Apple TV+ series (“Ted Lasso” and “Shrinking”), creator Bill Lawrence takes on the task of adapting it for streaming. From the looks of the first episode, he seems to have a knack for transferring the written word to the screen. The show employs an omniscient narrator to capture Hiaasen’s unique style and inject humor into the narrative through keen insights into the quirky characters. So far, I am finding the show quite entertaining.

At the heart of the story lies the character of Andrew Yancy, a detective with a dry, humorous demeanor, portrayed by Vince Vaughn. It’s no secret that Vaughn has made a name for himself playing such characters, and his personality fits seamlessly with Yancy. While some might not be entirely fond of Vaughn’s signature style, I find it enjoyable.

At the start, Yancy encounters Rogelio, his former partner, who presents an unusual task: Transport a severed arm to Miami and leave it with the coroner. Intrigued, Yancy accepts, as he’s used to taking on less-than-desirable tasks while suspended, but it’s also a chance to return to his familiar territory. He travels to Miami, visits the morgue, and begins flirting heavily with the attractive coroner, Dr. Rosa Campesino. Yancy finds himself drawn to nearly everyone he meets, but there’s something unique about this connection. By episode’s end, they share mango popsicles while standing near decaying body parts, creating an eerie feeling of a twisted soulmate situation. Rosa mentions having a boyfriend, but who knows what the future may hold in the upcoming nine episodes?

Rosa swiftly tells Yancy that Miami PD isn’t on the lookout for an arm from a white male, instead, she finds herself intrigued. She carefully retrieves what seems like miniature shark teeth from the injury site and notices a missing watch on the wrist too. Her curiosity piqued but time-bound, she sends Yancy and his injured limb back to Key West. During their return journey, Rogelio proposes discarding the arm in a marsh, but Yancy, being a dedicated officer with an invested interest in this peculiar case, chooses not to abandon the arm to the alligators at this stage.

It’s fortunate that he stores it in the freezer with his leftovers as a woman called Eve Stripling (Meredith Hagner) appears to claim it the following day. Yancy is tasked with delivering it to her in an anonymous parking lot, which certainly feels like a drug transaction. I find it peculiar that she didn’t need to go to the station to retrieve it and fill out paperwork. At least, one would expect some formalities. However, let’s move on. The secretive pickup provides an amusing dialogue between Yancy and Eve in her car, where he senses her secrecy, and also gets a chuckle from her revealing that her husband, Nick, named his boat “Summer’s Eve” after her. Perhaps the unappealing nature of the name was what made Nick lose balance on his boat?

Yancy is dismissed from the police force following his inquiry into Eve’s actions, but he remains unsettled after Mrs. Stripling’s peculiar behavior. Consequently, he attends Nick’s funeral and engages in a bit of investigation. Not only does he cross paths with two FBI agents during this visit, but he also comes across Caitlin (played by Charlotte Lawrence), Nick’s fiery, uncompromising daughter. Caitlin harbors the belief that Eve was responsible for Nick’s death, although she lacks concrete evidence. Furthermore, she has not communicated with her father in over a year. To Eve, who is known for her catty and superficial nature, Caitlin likely seems like the epitome of a difficult stepdaughter, and she may prefer that Caitlin keeps her nose out of her affairs.

In this captivating installment, I found myself navigating between two enthralling narratives, with the enigmatic Eve being the common thread. As she grapples with the tragic loss of Nick, her path crosses with an eccentric fellow named Neville (Ronald Peet), who resides in a picturesque fishing shack on the idyllic island of Andros, slated for demolition. The impending destruction of his home is due to the treacherous actions of his half-sister, who has sold the property to a developer named Christopher, aiming to construct a glitzy resort. Determined to preserve his piece of paradise, Neville embarks on a desperate quest, brainstorming ways to halt the demolition. Alas, Nevill’s creative prowess leaves much to be desired, leading him to contemplate a rather unorthodox solution – tampering with the construction crew’s gas tank by urine.

Afterward, he joins his friends for drinks, and one of them suggests he seek advice from the Dragon Queen, known for her ancient Obeah practices, traditional curses, and magic spells. Initially hesitant, as his mother didn’t believe in Obeah, Neville eventually visits the queen. Intrigued by her spell, Neville finds himself captivated, much like myself. Indeed, Neville, indeed.

As a dedicated cinephile, let me tell you that Jodie Turner-Smith commands the screen as the Dragon Queen. Her presence radiates strength, and she effortlessly dominates any space she’s in. It seems like she has a subtle yet significant influence over her Ya-Ya (the remarkable L. Scott Caldwell), swiftly dismissing her when Neville arrives. Following his friend’s advice, Neville presents the queen with money, a bottle of liquor, and an item of the developer Christopher’s clothing. The Dragon Queen then circles him seductively, allowing us to fully admire her striking red eyeliner, flirts with him, and dismisses him like a bothersome fly without revealing her plans for his predicament. Her power is truly inspiring, and I find myself already in awe of her.

That evening, Neville observes the return of the developer from America. He’s a man in an orange raincoat, the same individual who Yancy witnessed committing murder – the killing of one of the few witnesses when the arm was retrieved from the sea and onto a tourist fishing boat. It seems absurd that someone would wear an orange raincoat to carry out a drive-by shooting, but it helps us recognize him in the climactic scenes of the episode. The narrator assures us that he’s been telling the same story throughout, though this promise lacks the intended dramatic impact because it’s uncertain why we should be invested in the developer character. However, with its intriguing murder-mystery ambiance and abundant humor, the show maintains my interest as long as it keeps delivering this level of energy.

Monkeying Around

Wasn’t it as if the show was hinting at a connection with Dexter when Yancy mentioned taking the arm to Miami, saying “…where finding dismembered arms is commonplace.” Given that Dexter was known for disposing of countless body parts in the Miami waters, one might wonder if he could have been the one responsible for this particular victim as well. Could there be a chance for these two characters’ stories to intertwine? What an intriguing thought!

In this episode, Yancy discusses the significance of the red lights with two locals from Key West. It doesn’t take long (about 17 minutes) in the Keys before someone shares information about the area’s turtles, along with stories about Ernest Hemingway and his cats. Since Evan and Madeline are residents, they would have been familiar with the reason for the lights, making these scenes more for the viewers’ understanding. Could we witness baby turtles hatching at a crucial moment in the storyline? I certainly hope so!

Despite Yancy’s quick wit and banter, what truly made me chuckle was the visual joke: his bicycle gradually falling into the water from the pier.

In this episode, you may have recognized that it was filled with the melodious tunes of Tom Petty’s music. The show starts off with “American Girl” by Tom Petty himself, followed by two cover versions – “Room at the Top” by Eddie Vedder and “Even the Losers” by Fitz and the Tantrums, who put their own spin on these classic tracks.

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2024-08-14 17:57