Summary
Apple’s new crime comedy seriesBad Monkeyfeatures a wild twist at the end of its third episode. Thefirst two episodes ofBad Monkeyshowcase the interwoven narratives of several main characters. Vince Vaughn leads thecast ofBad Monkeyas a former Miami detective trying to get his job back after being demoted to a health inspector.Bad Monkeyis one of the many shows created by prolific television producer Bill Lawrence, whose other works includeTed Lasso(2020-2023),Shrinking(2023- ),Cougar Town(2009-2015), andScrubs(2001-2010).
Scrubsalum Zach Braff makes a guest appearance inBad Monkeyepisode 3 as the drug-addled doctor named Israel O’Peele. He becomes a point of interest for Vaughn’s Andrew Yancy and his impromptu sidekick Rosa, a coroner who has taken a similar interest as Yancy in the suspicious death of Nick Stripling. ThroughoutBad Monkeyepisode 3, Yancy tries to piece together the mystery surrounding Eve Stripling’s newly acquired $5 million insurance policy due to her husband Nick’s death. He has yet to meet her new boyfriendChristopher, who revealed his shocking true identity to his daughter Caitlinin the final scene ofBad Monkeyepisode 3.
The first 3 of 10 episodes ofBad Monkeyare now streaming exclusively on Apple TV+.
Caitlin Discovers Her Father Nick Stripling Is Alive Under The Alias Christopher
Nick is hiding in plain sight under the fake name Christopher
At the climax ofBad Monkeyepisode 3, Caitlin, Nick Stripling’s daughter, arrives at Eve’s home and pulls a gun on her, accusing her of killing her father. With her back against the wall, Eve firmly holds her stance that she did not kill Caitlin’s dad. Caitlin is moments away from shooting Eve as payback for her father’s murder when Christopher suddenly appears behind her. Rather than taking Caitlin out to silence another loose end of their apparent insurance fraud scheme,Christopher looks happy to see Caitlin, who recognizes Christopher as her father, Nick Stripling.
Both Eve and Caitlin can finally relax now that the truth about Nick is revealed. Nick hugs his daughter with one arm as the final shot of Bad Monkey episode 3 reveals that his left arm, the one that was planted in the ocean and found on a fishing boat, is missing from his body. This major twist reveals that Christopher is not a real person and Rob Delaney is playing the ominous victim, Nick Stripling. It also confirms that Nick and Eve went to outrageous lengths to collect Nick’s $5 million life insurance policy.Now that Caitlin has learned the truth, she’ll likely join forces with her dad and step-mom.
Why Nick Is Missing His Left Arm & Using A Fake Name
Nick likely hired Israel to surgically remove his arm
Yancy had already suspected foul play on Eve’s part, believing that she either killed or was behind the death of Nick Stripling. Earlier inBad Monkeyepisode 3,Yancy visits Caitlin at her apartment to disclose that he had discovered Nick’s bone shardsin a shower drain in Eve’s house, which he believes is full-blown evidence that Eve is behind the whole ordeal. This is enough to convince Catlin of Eve’s guilt as well, which is why she shows up with a handgun at Eve’s house. It’s not exactly clear how Caitlin got her hands on a gun but she seemed quite determined to take Eve out before her dad showed up.
Rather than Eve killing Nick to collect the insurance money, it’s now evident that Nick faked his death with Eve’s help to cash in his own $5 million insurance policy. While Eve and Nick clearly orchestrated the whole scheme, they relied on the cooperation and assistance of several other loose ends, two of which are now dead. Israel O’Peele, a surgeon, was likely hired by Eve and Nick to surgically remove Nick’s arm, as wild as that sounds, in exchange for a cut of the $5 million prize.Madeline’s boyfriend was likely also in on it and staged the arm on the end of the fishing hook, making it convincingly look as though Nick had drowned or was killed.
Christopher/Nick Killed Israel O’Peele To Cover Up A Loose End
Israel was going to reveal the truth to Yancy
When Yancy and Rosa make an unannounced visit to Israel’s apartment, he is stunned to learn that the kid who found Nick’s arm on the fishing boat has been shot dead. Nick’s demeanor entirely changes and he refuses to talk to Yancy and Rosa any further when initially he was like an open book. Suddenly realizing that the situation has rapidly become very serious,Israel calls Eve after Yancy and Rosa leave and has a panic attack. While Israel is battling substance abuse and alcoholism, he is still able to detect that his life may be in danger now that someone he knew was killed.
Israel reveals on the phone with Eve that he had Nick’s arm and gave it to Madeline’s boyfriend, which is why he is really freaking out. Rosa deduces with Yancy that Israel removed Nick’s arm since he was a surgeon and was in on the scam, which Yancy thinks is brilliant and is a solid lead. Israel was about to talk to Yancy and come clean, texting him to come back over to his apartment, which was an interesting choice rather than going straight to the police himself. Regardless, as Yancy is walking towards Israel’s apartment, he hears a gunshot and finds Israel’s dead body moments later.Although the background is blurred, it’s pretty obvious that Christopher took Israel out.
What Was Neville Looking For In Christopher’s Office?
Neville was likely looking for some dirt on Christopher
Neville visits the Dragon Queen frustrated that the curse he hired her to put on Christopher doesn’t seem to be working. Throughout Bad Monkey episode 3, Neville has to give up with monkey Driggs to the Dragon Queen and has to continue to fend for himself as he is now homeless. In an act of separation, Neville breaks into Christopher’s office and searches through his private files, although it’s not entirely clear what exactly he is looking for.He ends up finding a thumb drive that could prove to be of use right as he is caught by Egg. Neville pulls out a janky pistol and is able to escape with the drive, giving Egg a solid hit in the face as payback for beating up Charles.
Is Christopher Really Trying To Kill Madeline?
With Christopher’s track record, Madeline is probably in danger
Yancy calls up his ex-police partner Rogelio because he has a hunch that Madeleine could be in danger. Although he ends up being wrong, it makes sense that she would be the next in Christopher/Nick’s line of loose ends to silence.Madeline clearly knows something since she constantly runs from Yancybut that could just be because she’s afraid of the law for other reasons. With Christopher’s track record, Madeline is probably in danger considering what happened to her boyfriend, but she may not be fully aware of how deep it goes or else she might have already been dead by now. Yancy will likely follow the lead on Christopher from Israel’s brochure inBad Monkeyepisode 4.
Bad Monkey
Cast
A former Miami detective turned health inspector, Andrew Yancy, discovers a severed arm while working in the Florida Keys. Determined to solve the mystery and reclaim his former position, he navigates through a web of quirky locals and corruption, all while dealing with a troublesome monkey.
