Episode 1 of "Bad Monkey" kicks off under the scorching Florida sun, painting a vivid portrait of a man at peace, casting his line into the shimmering waters. But what he reels in is far from the catch of the day—a severed arm, its middle finger defiantly raised, a macabre sight indeed.
Andrew Yancy, a former detective, chooses to drown out the incessant buzzing of his phone, basking in the solitude of the moment. However, this idyllic tranquility is abruptly shattered by the rumble of a construction truck encroaching on his neighbor's property.
Yancy's life has taken a detour, suspended from the police force due to a confrontation with his captain, whose motives we'll soon unravel. Enter his trusty old partner, Ro, who offers him a glimmer of hope—a chance to redeem himself by transporting this mysterious appendage to Miami. The arm, belonging to a middle-aged white male named Nick, holds a sinister secret, its posture hinting at a ghastly tale of foul play, not the mundane explanation of a shark attack as initially conjectured.
With the wrist bearing telltale indentations suggesting the removal of a watch, Yancy races to Miami PD, his heart heavy with suspicion. He presents the arm to Dr. Rosa Campesino, his words tumbling out in a flurry as he pleads his case. Yet, she remains steadfast, declining to delve deeper into the mystery, as it lies outside her jurisdiction.
Frustrated by the dead end, Ro proposes a macabre solution—disposing of the arm in the jaws of Florida's crocodiles. Yancy hesitates, torn between his instincts that scream of foul play and the desire to reclaim his former life as a detective. His path back to the force is fraught with obstacles, chief among them being Cliff, a detective who discovered Yancy's illicit affair with Bonnie. Matters are further complicated by Yancy's impulsive act of pushing Cliff's golf cart into the water, leading to a legal quagmire where Bonnie's testimony hangs in the balance. Yet, Yancy's affair with Bonnie continues, a testament to the tumultuous web of emotions and secrets that weave through the story's intricate fabric.
Cliff's divorce from her remains a distant specter as Yancy orchestrates a mischievous evening with Bonnie, aiming to lure her into a wild night and, subtly, plead for his reinstatement. However, their plans take a macabre turn when Bonnie, upon opening the fridge, stumbles upon a ghastly sight—a severed arm lying within, sending her fleeing in sheer horror.
Meanwhile, in the serene backdrop of the Bahamas, we encounter Neville Stafford, a youthful soul accompanied by his faithful pet monkey, Driggs, a well-mannered primate reminiscent of the iconic sidekick from the Pirates of the Caribbean tales. The idyllic serenity is disrupted by the ambitions of an American named Christopher, who's embarked on a relentless quest to transform the landscape, including Neville's humble shack, into a glitzy resort dubbed Curly Tail Lane.
In defiance, Neville, fueled by discontent, resorts to a mischievous act, urinating in the gas tanks of the construction equipment. As the dust settles from his mischievous stunt, Neville's mind churns with ideas to safeguard his beloved home. Inspired by folklore whispers of the enigmatic Dragon Queen, he embarks on a quest to seek her counsel, armed with the necessary funds and a personal item belonging to Christopher, his adversary. With the looming threat of dire consequences, Neville hastens his steps, eager to enact his plan.
Back in the Keys, Yancy's encounter with his neighbor Chuck serves as a brief interlude, where Chuck discovers a deceitfully placed dead raccoon within his abode, while Yancy feigns innocence with a masterful display of ignorance. This chance meeting inadvertently sets the stage for Ro's return, her purpose clear—a woman, Eve Stripling, has made a distressing claim. She seeks the return of the severed arm, a haunting reminder of her late husband, who was meant to embark on a Bahamian adventure with her. The threads of fate begin to intertwine, weaving a tapestry of mystery and intrigue.
Eve's recognition of the arm unravels a shocking revelation: her husband, Nick, had a daughter named Caitlin, who's descending for the funeral service on Saturday. As Yancy observes, Eve attempts to summon tears, but her facade betrays a falseness that's palpable. Undaunted, Yancy renews his conversation with Rosa, sharing his discoveries and making a gentle advance, only to be politely, yet firmly, rejected. Undeterred, he remains steadfast in his quest to uncover the truth behind Nick's demise.
Despite his earlier suspension, Yancy's reappearance at the precinct earns him not just a scolding but a stern dismissal from Captain Sonny for his insubordination. The punishment is severe; he's not merely suspended but outright fired, with the added indignity of losing his car. Yet, this setback fails to dampen Yancy's determination. He finds himself at Nick's funeral, where tensions simmer between Caitlin and Eve, their animosity palpable.
Yancy's vigilance doesn't go unnoticed; he spies two enigmatic figures in sunglasses lurking in the shadows, suspecting them to be federal agents. In a candid exchange with Caitlin, he discovers a crucial detail: the wedding ring adorning Nick's finger had been surreptitiously switched—from platinum to 14-karat yellow gold. The animosity between Caitlin and Eve runs deep, with Caitlin harboring a damning accusation: that Eve is responsible for Nick's death. Though evidence is scarce, the suspicion lingers thickly, particularly considering the bizarre discovery of Bonnethead shark teeth affixed to the severed arm, an improbable means of inflicting such a gruesome injury.
Further delving into the mystery, Yancy gleans from the boat captain that Phinney, his assistant, had recently come into unexpected wealth. Pressing Phinney for answers regarding the funds, he's met with a sudden coldness and a hasty retreat. But fate intervenes brutally as Phinney, mere moments later, falls victim to a ruthless assassination by a motorcycle-riding assassin who speeds away into the distance, leaving Yancy to ponder the deeper implications of this sudden turn of events.
