WARNING: This article contains spoilers.
AppleTV+ dropped the first two episodes of “Bad Monkey” on Wednesday, and it is the best show of the year so far. Seriously.
Vince Vaughn stars in this Bill Lawrence (“Ted Lasso,” “Shrinking”) adaptation of the exquisite Carl Hiaasen novel “Bad Monkey,” and it is, as predicted, his greatest role yet. Unless you’re already a die-hard fan of Hiaasen’s storytelling style, the premiere episodes of the show might have felt like an absolutely wild ride. But y’all ain’t seen nothing yet.
Between Vaughn’s ability for improv, Lawrence’s dry-comic writing style and Hiaasen’s ability to cultivate the most unhinged characters, it’s hard to know where to begin in this absolute circus of a show. The story follows Vaughn’s character, Andrew Yancy, as he claws his way back into his career as a homicide detective. The only thing he has to do is stick with his demotion to restaurant inspector for a little while and absolutely not investigate the mysterious arm he’s tasked with transporting over Miami and the Florida Keys. (RELATED: Jason Segel Is Back As The Terrible Therapist We All Deserve In ‘Shrinking’ Season 2)
With side stories containing two love interests, a douchebag realtor and his day-job, you wouldn’t think Yancy has time to look into the potential murder of a man named Nick Stripling. But wouldn’t ya know, he finds it!
At the same time, a man named Neville (Ronald Peet), living on the island of Andros in the Bahamas, fights to save his home from destruction. A developer has bought the land, intending to rip apart paradise to build one of those godless resorts so many of you seem to love. But what does this have to do with Yancy and a dead man’s arm?
Like the narrator (Tom Nowicki) explains, “It will all make sense eventually.”
The biggest surprise from the series is Rob Delaney as Christopher. It’s weird watching him play the bad guy, especially one of Hiaasen’s invention. But part of me thinks, even with only seeing the first two episodes, this might also be Delaney’s greatest role to date too.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – AUGUST 12: (L-R) Bill Lawrence, L. Scott Caldwell, Alex Moffat, Charlotte Lawrence, Natalie Martinez, Vince Vaughn, Meredith Hagner, Michelle Monaghan, Zach Braff, Rob Delaney, Ronald Peet, Carl Hiaasen, and Ashley Nicole Black attend the premiere for Apple TV+’s series “Bad Monkey” at Billy Wilder Theater at The Hammer Museum on August 12, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – AUGUST 12: (L-R) Charlotte Lawrence, Natalie Martinez, Vince Vaughn, Meredith Hagner, Michelle Monaghan, Zach Braff and Rob Delaney attend the premiere for Apple TV+’s series “Bad Monkey” at Billy Wilder Theater at The Hammer Museum on August 12, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – AUGUST 12: Carl Hiaasen attends the Premiere For Apple TV+’s Series “Bad Monkey” at Billy Wilder Theater at The Hammer Museum on August 12, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Tommaso Boddi/WireImage)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – AUGUST 12: Bill Lawrence attend the Premiere For Apple TV+’s Series “Bad Monkey” at Billy Wilder Theater at The Hammer Museum on August 12, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Tommaso Boddi/WireImage)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – AUGUST 12: Ronald Peet attends the Premiere For Apple TV+’s Series “Bad Monkey” at Billy Wilder Theater at The Hammer Museum on August 12, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Tommaso Boddi/WireImage)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – AUGUST 12: Rob Delaney attends premiere for Apple TV+’s series “Bad Monkey” at Billy Wilder Theater at The Hammer Museum on August 12, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Momodu Mansaray/FilmMagic)
There seriously isn’t a weak link in the characters, writing or production value of “Bad Monkey.” It is an exceptionally well-done show. (RELATED: AppleTV+ May Have Unwittingly Created The Ultimate Trad Wife TV Show)
If I could, I would give Lawrence 15 out of 5 stars for “Bad Monkey” so far. I pray he and Vaughn are able to take on every single other of Hiaasen’s novels and bring them to the small screen.
