Evildoers beware. A brand new wave of sleuths has set forth to solve the onslaught of fictional crimes that flooded streaming services as of late. From teen investigators looking for extra credit to classic comic characters in new adventures, these self-appointed detectives are part of a new wave of vigilante do-gooders looking to make streaming a safer place to wander. But are they worth watching? Parent’s take note — “Bad Monkey” and “A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder” are rated TV-MA and intended for mature audiences, and “Batman: Caped Crusader” is rated TV-14.
‘Bad Monkey’ (AppleTV+)
Mostly known for its tourist-filled beaches, intrusive gator population, mugshots of colorful locals, and large assortment of family friendly theme parks, Florida is also a veritable hotbed for seedy criminal activity, at least according to primetime and cable. In the ’80s, the Sunshine State boasted popular fictional and fashionable vice squads while more modern series offered vigilante serial killers and forensics shows. And now Apple TV+’s new dark comedy offers its take on Florida and those who dwell there. Based on Carl Hiaasen’s cult favorite tome, “Bad Monkey” spotlights greed, corruption and a mystery of missing limbs.
Vince Vaughn steps into the (gum)shoes of curmudgeon Andrew Yancy, a former homicide detective forced to work as a health inspector in the Keys, but hasn’t quite embraced his new role as he still investigates a previous case. After a severed arm is fished out of the harbor, Yancy’s fate becomes a chain reaction of events, one more ludicrous than the next, as each oddball character in his life steps up to the plate for a moment to shine in a bizarre mystery surrounding the detached arm, which may or may not involve a homicide.
Among the kooks who occupy a spot on Yancy’s short list of possible suspects are Eve Stripling (Meredith Hagner), the arm’s widow who isn’t too bent out of shape about the overall condition of her deceased husband Nick, and Caitlin (Charlotte Lawrence), Nick’s daughter who despises both her father and his choice in wives. Mix in his kinda-sorta girlfriend with a hidden backstory (Michelle Monaghan), a sarcastic coroner (Natalie Martinez), a vexed Bahamian local displaced by Eve and her new beau (Ronald Peet), a real estate bro with no moral compass (Alex Moffat), a voodoo queen (Jodie Turner-Smith), and the titular bad monkey, and the series offers a veritable crockpot of oddballs, eccentrics and outsiders to keep audiences on their toes.
Though the mystery of the arm quickly unravels with few surprises, the curious collection of deviants who populate this little corner of Florida, as well as Vaughn’s trademark snark — a skill he’s been perfecting since his “Swingers” days — is what makes the series so engrossing. The result is an easy-breezy, well-written jaunt filled with enough off-the-wall moments to hold the attention of even the most persnickety viewer. “Bad Monkey” emphasizes Vaughn’s comedy chops and what he can do with fun material as the series places him firmly back to leading man status.
‘Batman: Caped Crusader’ (Prime Video)
Before he became the scowl with a growl in a cowl on the prowl for Gotham’s foul, Batman was a vigilante crime fighter who was viewed as a menace to both law enforcement and lawbreakers. The terror of the night, Batman was an enigma before Gotham City Police Commissioner Jim Gordon learned to trust him as the “World’s Greatest Detective.” And in “Batman: Caped Crusader,” the Dark Knight gets a cultural reset to the golden age as the animated period piece embraces its noir roots to give the bat a proper playground.
Executive produced by titans of geekdom Bruce Timm, J.J. Abrams and Matt Reeves, “Caped Crusader” continues the long tradition of allowing the toon versions of the Dark Knight to out-gloom his live-action counterparts. Boasting a retro look that harkens back to Bob Kane’s original aesthetic from the Detective Comics era and Max Fleischer’s “Superman” series from the ‘40s, “Caped Crusader” attempts to follow in the large footprints of the much beloved “Batman: The Animated Series” by giving audiences that they want: A brooding Bat with a lively Rogues Gallery, but with a few new twists to keep things intriguing.
Overhauling classic characters gives the series the ability to explore and create new aspects of their personality and lore. Barbara Gordon is reborn as a headstrong defense attorney while Dr. Harleen Quinzel has kept her medical degree and uses it to her crooked advantage. Oswalda Cobblepot is now a maniacal mama and mob boss, and attorney Harvey Dent is, well, still a jerk. Some things never change.
Hamish Linklater is the latest voice actor to slip on the cape, bringing a proper amount of gravitas to both the Caped Crusader and the man whose millions fund his nighttime proclivities, Bruce Wayne. But the show spares no expense with the rest of the spirited voice cast, including Christina Ricci as Selina Kyle, Diedrich Bader as Dent and Minnie Driver as the Penguin.
“Caped Crusader” digs deep into the shadows of Batman’s history to create fastidiously crafted, slightly macabre stories that both lean into its heritage while retconning the mythology. And while not every episode is a grand slam — there are a few misses here and there — the core stories should appeal to longtime fans looking for new Batman adventures.
‘A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder’ (Netflix)
Five years ago, the small village of Little Kilton, Buckinghamshire, was rocked to its core by the murder of Andie Bell (India Lillie Davies), a popular high school student who was killed by her boyfriend Sal (Rahul Pattni), who then took his own life due to the guilt. But thanks to a meddling kid with an ambitious school project, Andie’s case isn’t quite as open and shut as it once was.
Welcome to “A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder,” based on the book series by Holly Jackson. The “Good Girl” in question is 17-year-old Pippa “Pip” Fitz-Amobi (Emma Myers), a true crime enthusiast with a soft spot for Andie’s ex, and thus a reason to prove him innocent. Pip means to solve Andie’s case and find her true killer, regardless of the fact that few others want her to investigate.
“A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder” combines teen drama with crime procedurals to create a riveting series made endearing by solid performances from its young cast. Though not the most complex character to ever emerge in the teen gumshoe space, Pip is definitely charming. Compelled to always tell the truth no matter what and curious to the point of self-peril, Pip makes an admirable Nancy Drew 2.0 for the Gen Z sect. Part Encyclopedia Brown, part modern-day Velma without the horrific revision from Kelly Kapoor, Myers carries the series and manages to stay amiable despite her constant prying.
The mystery series is perfect for the young at heart who love a good teen whodunit, but a bit juvenile for those looking to feed their need for the usual foreboding murder show. Myers and her cohorts share an authentic chemistry while she pesters her way through Andie’s former friend group to find the answers she requires, making them equally annoyed and angry, and perhaps even dangerous. The series is overall a bit too sugary-sweet to truly scratch the itch for any true crime junkie looking for a fix. But for fans of teen dramas who like their saccharine entertainment with a hint of darkness, “A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder” can satisfy that sweet tooth.
Published August 21, 2024
