The latest AppleTV+ drama, Bad Monkey, is a compelling murder mystery with a darkly humorous twist. Vince Vaughn stars as Andrew Yancy, a disgraced detective who unofficially investigates a case in the Florida Keys. Suspended after a golf cart incident involving his lover’s shady husband, Yancy finds solace in his simple pleasures at home, like trying to block the sale of the mansion next door and relaxing with a drink by the waves.
Yancy’s quiet life is upended when a severed arm appears on his doorstep, retrieved from the Keys by a honeymooner. Delivered by Yancy’s former police partner, Rogelio (John Ortiz), the arm comes with no takers for the paperwork—the police and morgue both refuse it. Rogelio hopes the arm will lure Yancy back into detective work. Yancy’s attempt to offload the arm to Miami forensic pathologist Rosa Campesino (Natalie Martinez) fails, leading him to stash it in his freezer.
Questions arise about the arm: Why was a watch removed but not the platinum wedding ring? Why hasn’t anyone reported the owner missing? Could this be more than an accident? Despite Ro’s suggestion to discard the arm, Yancy’s drive for answers pushes him to dig deeper, even if it means disrupting his own life.
In his personal life, Yancy is entangled in an affair with Bonnie (Michelle Monaghan), a married woman. Suspended for assaulting Bonnie’s husband, Cliff, Yancy wants the charges dropped so he can return to work, but Bonnie is unable or unwilling to persuade Cliff.
A subplot features Neville Stafford (Ronald Peet), a laid-back Bahamian who enjoys life with his pet monkey, Driggs, until he learns his half-sister sold their land for a luxury resort. His storyline primarily serves to bring him to Key West, where he will eventually meet Yancy.
In episode two, with Cliff dropping the assault charges, Yancy must complete a probationary stint as a restaurant inspector before he can return to his job. He informs Rosa and Caitlin that he’s stepping away from the Nick Stripling case, but his resolve is short-lived.
The episode shifts focus to character development, showing Neville’s reduced role and deeper exploration of the ensemble. By the end, Yancy and Rosa visit Neville’s sister’s restaurant, setting the stage for their eventual convergence. Although they don’t yet realize they’re intertwined, Bad Monkey is progressing quickly, ensuring we won’t have to wait long for the next developments.
