Bill Lawrence’s Bad Monkey, the Showrunner of Ted Lasso, Shifts to Thriller with a Carl Hiaasen Adaptation

Mixing genres is very complicated. And doing it in a simple, entertaining, and unpretentious way is even harder. But when it comes to comedic thrillers, it’s an even finer line… One tone can completely kill the other. If it leans too much toward comedy, it loses the strength of the issue it’s trying to expose. On the other hand, if it’s less comedic, you’re left with a dry thriller.

But sometimes, there are exceptions where everything falls into place beautifully. AppleTV+ has already succeeded with projects like the diverse series The Afterparty or Bad Sisters, and now it’s once again blending genres with Bad Monkey. Veteran Bill Lawrence leads this project based on Carl Hiaasen’s novels.

The series’ protagonist is Andrew Yancy, a troubled former Florida cop who’s been kicked off the force. That’s when a friend asks him to help with a mysterious case: a bodyless arm appears. Who does it belong to? Where’s the rest of the body? What secrets are hidden? Parallel to this, we follow the story of Neville Stafford, a young islander whose peaceful life and cabin are threatened when a real estate developer comes to disrupt the island’s status quo. What is the connection between these two stories? The narrative follows the characters and their allies as they uncover a subworld of scams and ruthless people while trying to survive the obstacles thrown their way.

At times, you wonder if the series has enough dramatic material to sustain a 10-episode season. But the writing team has managed to maintain the pace and present a logical progression of conflicts, all connected through the web of plots and subplots. It’s refreshing to see there’s still room for old-school storytelling, with all its complexity, on streaming platforms.

And if this project reminds us of anything, it’s a Caribbean-style procedural like Death in Paradise. Just like in those series, everything depends on the characters. You come for the case, but at the end of the day, you stay for them. Though the protagonist here is far from the brilliant deduction archetype of the detective, they make up for it with a roguish, street-smart charisma that makes you want to spend time with him.

Additionally, the universe developed here is quite interesting and human. The series has a signature feel-good tone that’s much needed in these cynical times. Every once in a while, a bit of honest kindness, people you’d feel comfortable having a drink with… All of Lawrence’s productions are based on making comfort series when no one else is doing so. And he manages to convince even the biggest skeptic of this type of project.

In this case, though, he also delivers a fairly intricate thriller plot with plenty of twists, but without sacrificing narrative coherence. An experienced viewer will see many of the twists coming, but that’s not really the point. In any case, the plot and script have been meticulously crafted. It plays with certain clichés, some of which work and others that fall flat. But it’s a show that’s determined to get everything right, and that effort deserves recognition.

The direction, on the other hand, is functional. It takes full advantage of the exotic setting and includes sequences of nature that are aesthetically refined, but it’s not a show that will transcend because of this aspect. The directors focus on telling the story in the most efficient way possible, and they succeed in that goal. Many shows start from this point and fail to pull it off with the same ease, so it’s a good job.

As already mentioned, the characters are the heart of the show. They’ve crafted some very fresh and dynamic ones. While they start with certain archetypes, they end up with a lot of personality and depth. The cast is led by Vince Vaughn, who is as charismatic and funny as ever. After his foray into drama with excellent results, he’s back in a more lighthearted, pure comedy role, which is something to celebrate. He’s joined by names like Rob Delaney, who you may have recently seen alongside Deadpool, Meredith Hagner — watch out for her sublime performance as someone who masks all her cruelty with frivolity — Roland Peet, Natalie Martinez, Michelle Monaghan, Jodie Turner-Smith, and Scott Glenn. It’s a superb cast of veterans along with less experienced actors who don’t waste the opportunity to prove their great talent.

Bad Monkey is a change of direction for Bill Lawrence, who seems to have firmly established himself at AppleTV+. A refreshing and charming series that feels like a good mojito on a warm summer day. Sometimes that’s all you need.

P.S.: Applause for the groundbreaking way they handle episode recaps through a weary narrator. A big round of applause.