Warning: Spoilers ahead for Bad Monkey season 1, episode 9, “You Really Don’t Want to Kill This Scrumptious Little Puppy.“Jodie Turner-Smith’sBad Monkeycharacter is one of the Apple TV+ show’s most enigmatic figures, and there’s only one remaining season 1 episode in which one of the biggest questions about her can be answered. Holding a unique place in theBad Monkeycast, Turner-Smith’s Dragon Queen is neither hero nor villain - although she’s much more the former than the latter. Known as Gracie by those close to her,the Dragon Queen harbors a mysterious aura the show has encouraged. The ambiguity about a specific part of her character has made her incredibly compelling, but the finale must clarify things.
Theending ofBad Monkeyseason 1, episode 9, “You Really Don’t Want to Kill This Scrumptious Little Puppy,” doubles down on what the show has done throughout: adds extra layers to Turner-Smith’s character. AlthoughBad Monkeywas shot entirely in Florida, the Vince Vaughn-led comedy does an excellent job of making the Dragon Queen seem like the unofficial leader of her Bahamian island. Hopefully, the season 1 finale will finally reveal just how much power she really has.
Gracie’s powers seem real one moment, then fake the next
Apple TV+’s crime dramedy has done a terrific job of not confirming or denying whether Gracie has actual magical powers, or whether her inherited Dragon Queen moniker is simply to allow her to run an elaborate (and profitable) scam.Some moments make it seem almost obvious that Gracie is just a regular personwith a practiced routine, whereas certain occurrences seem directly related to the curse or spell she’s claimed to have cast. The latter, admittedly, could just be coincidences, but they could signify Gracie’s possibly supernatural abilities. Hopefully, the coming season 1 finale gives a more definite answer.
Bad Monkeyis based on a 2013 novel by Carl Hiaasen.
Bad Monkeyis largely quite a grounded story, albeit with flashes of dark, slightly irreverent comedy. Away from Gracie’s story, magic doesn’t factor into the plot. So, if it turns out that the show’s universe does feature genuine magic, then that would be a massive game-changer. Whilethere is some merit to leaving the authenticity of the Dragon Queen’s magic unconfirmed, it would be more satisfying for the show to commit one way or the other.Bad Monkeyseason 1 has just one episode left in which to do this, and there’s no guarantee that a second season will happen.
Gracie speaking with her late mother is the biggest clue yet
There have been scenes where the Dragon Queen’s magic is essentially proven not to be real, but they leave just enough doubt so that the possibility of it being genuine can remain. However,Bad Monkeyseason 1’s penultimate episode includes a moment that is a little tougher to shrug off as mere deception. Deep in the throes of doubt about her magic and while waiting for the storm to pass so she can leave her island behind,Gracie is visited by an apparition of her late mother. Grace doesn’t know it’s her mother initially, which leads to an emotional reveal.
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Of course,Bad Monkeywouldn’t be so bold as to let this be a solid piece of evidence about Gracie’s magicbeing real or not. The disillusioned Dragon Queen is clearly in distress, and it could be that her mother is simply a psychological manifestation to help Gracie through such a difficult period. No one else speaks to or acknowledges Gracie’s mother in any way, so it’s difficult to confidently use her presence as proof of her daughter’s power. That being said, Gracie is led to her mother’s grave by the ghost - not the other way around.
Apple TV+’s potential Razor Girl adaptation may have to factor magic into its plot
Hiaasen’s 2013Bad Monkeynovel is a standalone story, and Apple TV+ appears to be adapting it in a single season. So, althoughBad Monkeyseason 2 may not happen,Hiaasen wrote another novel with Andrew Yancy as the main character. 2016’sRazor Girlis also a largely standalone book, despite being set in the same world.Bad Monkeyshowrunner Bill Lawrence confirmed in an interview withMSNthat Apple TV+ also has the rights toRazor Girl, so adapting that is a possibility. However, the soft sequel could be negatively affected without establishing Gracie’s power or lack thereof.
“The first season is Bad Monkey, which Carl wrote with a beginning, middle, and end. But Carl was my favorite author as a kid, and he wrote a sequel to Bad Monkey called Razor Girl that we also have. I don’t want to get caught in the thing where you’re like, ‘It’s okay that there’s no other book! We’ll do another year, and it’ll be great!'”
MostBad Monkeycharacters don’t return inRazor Girl, despite both being set in Florida. So, although Apple TV+ could make changes to aRazor Girladaptation so Turner-Smith’s character can carry over into the sequel, it’s also possible that her story ends in theBad Monkeyseason 1 finale. If so, and the show hasn’t established whether magic actually exists and that Gracie wields it,the mystery would hang over the entirety ofRazor Girl’s story. Every unanswered question could be explained away with fantastical answers. As such,Bad Monkey’s upcoming finale has a responsibility to avoid that issue.
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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.
Lawrence has said he plans to adapt Razor Girl if Bad Monkey does well. If Gracie’s magic remains vague, it could hang over the next adaptation as it’s part of the same universe. It RG seems largely unrelated to BM, so Gracie probably won’t return.
