Summary
Ted Lassocreator Bill Lawrence has launched a new comedy series on Apple TV+ – the wacky crime caperBad Monkey– and it’s gotten even better reviews than his previous shows. Lawrence was a widely renowned creator and showrunner long before the runaway success ofTed Lasso. He previously createdSpin City,Scrubs,Clone High, andCougar Town. But afterTed Lassopremiered in 2020, it became his biggest success by far. It was a global phenomenon, and it pioneered a whole new brand of feel-good comedy that emphasized niceness and optimism in a landscape of cynicism.
It would seem as though the success ofTed Lassowould be tough to beat. With a massive fan base that spans across the world and crosses cultural barriers (namely, the intercontinental definitions of the word “football”),Ted Lassoachieved the kind of success that most showrunners can’t imagine accomplishing in their wildest dreams. Butwithhis latest series,Bad Monkey, Lawrence has somehow managed to outdo himself. Even thoughTed Lassowas met with widespread critical acclaim throughout its entire run – even in its shaky third season –Bad Monkeyhas been met with even more positive reviews.
Lawrence’s new twisted crime comedy seriesBad Monkeyhas debuted on Rotten Tomatoes with a perfect score of 100%. That meansthere wasn’t a single certifiable TV critic who gaveBad Monkeya negative review. None of them said a bad word about it; they all enjoyed it. Based on the 2013 Carl Hiaasen novel,Bad Monkeystars Vince Vaughnas Andrew Yancy, a former police detective who now works as a restaurant inspector in Southern Florida. After a tourist discovers a severed arm, Yancy is drawn back into the world of crime and corruption for a darkly hilarious investigation.
In an age when streamers are trying to pump out as much content as they can as quickly as possible, it’s rare that a TV show arrives fully formed. A lot of new shows are half-baked and underdeveloped, because they had to meet a tight deadline. But based onBad Monkey’s universally positive reviews, it seems as though Apple has given Lawrence and co. plenty of time to get it right.
Lawrence is scoring the best reviews of his career
The perfect 100% Rotten Tomatoes score ofBad Monkeywould be impressive enough on its own. But it’s also the best RT score met by any of Lawrence’s Apple TV+ shows. Nothing else that Lawrence has done for Apple has been quite as widely acclaimed as his new show.Bad Monkey’s score has beaten outShrinking, the dramedy series that Lawrence co-created with Jason Segel andTed Lasso’s Roy Kent actor Brett Goldstein. And, more impressively, it’s even beaten out every single season ofTed Lasso.
Beating season 3 makes sense –the third season ofTed Lassowas very bloated, disjointed, and underwhelming – but seasons 1 and 2 are some of the most beloved television of the past few years. With the darts scene, the Rick Astley eulogy, and Roy hugging Jamie,Ted Lassoseasons 1 and 2 are as close to perfect as TV can get.IfBad Monkeyhas been deemed even better than those first two seasons ofTed Lasso, then it’s worth taking note, because it could be something really special.
The universally positive reviews forBad Monkeyhave lauded just about every aspect of the show. Vaughn’s performance in the lead role has been widely praised. He’s as effortlessly funny and charming as always in the absurd comedic situations, but the character also draws on his surprising dramatic capabilities as he goes through his own personal struggles. Critics are saying thatBad Monkeybrings back Vaughn’s classically confident and outgoing screen presence fromSwingers, but also plays on the darker dramatic qualities of his performances inTrue DetectiveandBrawl in Cell Block 99– it’s the perfect performative middle ground.
The reviews have praisedBad Monkeyfor balancing its tones spectacularly:it’s compulsive viewing as a crime drama, but it’s also endlessly enjoyable as a biting, sharp-witted comedy. They’ve lauded Lawrence and his team of writers for keeping the story compelling, for digging deep into their characters, and for capturing the craziness of Florida in a really fun and authentic way.Bad Monkeysets a unique tone that works brilliantly: it takes its crime story seriously, just like any TV mystery, but its characters are all eccentric oddballs with sitcom personalities.
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.
