All our burning questions about the murder mystery in Apple TV+’s Bad Monkey have been unexpectedly answered before the season’s midpoint. The end of Episode 3 left us stunned with a big revelation: the alleged murder victim Nick Stripling and private developer Christopher (Rob Delaney) are actually the same person.
Episode 4 takes a break from Andrew Yancy’s (Vince Vaughn) and Rosa’s (Natalie Martinez) intense investigation to look into the past, specifically Nick’s past. This changes how we view the events in the present timeline. But knowing what happened in the past does not mean the investigation is over.
Episode 4, titled “Nothing’s Wrong With It, I Just Don’t Need It Anymore,” ends on a shocking note that places our loud but endearing former detective in a dangerous situation on multiple fronts.
‘Bad Monkey’ Episode 4’s Flashbacks Expose Past Crimes
Episode 4 of Bad Monkey dives straight into a long flashback, starting from the night Nick took his daughter, Caitlin (Charlotte Lawrence), to a party. Caitlin was there to meet people who could help her modeling career, but instead, Nick met Eve (Meredith Hagner).
Eve was a struggling actress with just a commercial to her name and a history of getting fired from other jobs for not crying on cue — a skill that almost got her caught by Yancy. Nick recognized Eve from the commercial and tried to flirt with her. They connected when Nick promised her a luxurious life.
During this time, Caitlin’s issues with alcohol and drugs began. The flashback then moves to the couple’s wedding, where Nick is deeply in love with Eve. Caitlin, who is not sober, leaves the wedding, causing a rift between her and her father.
Next, we see Nick with his friend, Dr. Israel O’Peele (Zach Braff), as they start the ghost patient scam through Midwest Mobile Medical. Eve knows about the scam and encourages Nick to dream bigger, pushing for a Miami beachside mall to be part of their plans.
We also see Neville (Ronald Peet), the Dragon Queen (Jodie Turner-Smith), and Ya-ya (Scott L. Caldwell) becoming more concerned about Nick’s presence on the coast. This draws the attention of federal agents, threatening Nick with 20 years in prison.
He pretends to be disorganized with his paperwork to buy some time and rushes to Eve for advice. After her angry reaction, he decides to fake his own death, even considering severing his arm to make the deception convincing.
Who’s the Real Villain in ‘Bad Monkey?’
In this flashback, Nick/Christopher is far from the villain we first thought he was. Before Eve, he was a proud father and a goofy friend to Israel, involved only in a small-time scam, not a major criminal empire. Eve, on the other hand, emerges as the true villain. Her eyes gleam maniacally when Nick suggests cutting off his arm, revealing her manipulative and psychopathic nature.
Israel performs the arm amputation with Eve reluctantly helping him, ensuring she takes Nick’s expensive watch. Israel then hides the clean cut by smashing the edges, causing bone fragments to fall into the shower drain, which Yancy and Rosa find in the show’s premiere.
He also tricks a tourist into thinking they found a severed limb and possibly manipulated the arm’s fingers into a rude gesture. Although Israel had a brief role on the show, he played a key part in Nick’s scam and moral downfall. He began to have doubts about their scheme.
When Phinney starts demanding more money from Nick, Eve encourages him to eliminate Phinney, leading to his murder. Her obsession with wealth and her psychopathic traits gradually corrupt Nick, who also ends up killing Israel after discovering he wants to confess to Yancy.
Nick has a meltdown in a parking garage, accusing Eve of not being involved. Heather with the Weather (Lauren Buglioli) overhears this, leading to her death at Eve’s hands.
Returning to the present, Nick tries to reconnect with Caitlin and is horrified by Eve’s insinuations that Caitlin might expose their secrets. He accuses Eve of plotting Caitlin’s murder, but Eve’s convincing performance, including shedding a single tear, manipulates Nick back to her side.
Romance Is Brewing Between Yancy and Rosa on ‘Bad Monkey’
This episode also develops Yancy’s love life, showing his first meeting with Bonnie (Michelle Monaghan). Yancy, newly transferred to the Keys, is having an ice cream date with his partner, Rogelio (John Ortiz). When Rogelio steps away, Bonnie catches Yancy’s eye.
Despite briefly flashing her wedding ring, Bonnie leaves a strong impression on Yancy. Later, we learn Bonnie was abused by her husband. Yancy, unwilling to file a formal report, runs into the husband’s golf cart, causing him to fall into the pier. This explains why Yancy was suspended from the force when we first met him.
In the present, Yancy is developing a romance with Rosa. They share a heartfelt moment in the morgue where Rosa talks about misjudging her ex-fiance. Yancy’s honesty impresses Rosa, even though she knows his impulsive actions might not be good for her. The scene becomes steamy as Rosa and Yancy get close on a steel table.
Yancy Is In Deep Trouble in ‘Bad Monkey’
Episode 4’s flashback also reveals why Yancy cannot return to work as a detective in Miami. He discovered corruption in the police force, specifically involving Officer Mendez (Gonzalo Menendez), who was encouraging people to call in about already solved cases for free money.
Yancy exposed Mendez, but his sarcastic behavior led to his transfer to the Keys and a confrontation with Mendez. This rivalry sets up trouble when Mendez talks to a witness who saw Yancy leaving Israel’s apartment shortly after the murder.
The episode ends with Yancy in a difficult situation. He looks out at a three-legged deer he saved and thinks about Rosa’s story. Yancy realizes a person can live without one arm, suggesting that the severed arm might not mean the owner is dead.
He connects the dots about Eve’s new partner and suspects Nick is Christopher. However, this revelation comes with a brutal hit on Yancy’s head. He falls unconscious with Nick standing over him, more desperate and dangerous than ever.
Episode 4 of Bad Monkey deepens the intrigue with its intense revelations and shifting character dynamics. The flashbacks reveal Nick’s troubled past and Eve’s true nature, turning her from a struggling actress into the mastermind behind a chilling scam.
Yancy’s growing romance with Rosa contrasts sharply with the dark events unfolding around him, highlighting the personal stakes in his investigation. The episode not only uncovers critical secrets but also sets up future conflicts, leaving viewers eager for the next twist.
As Nick faces dire consequences and Yancy’s situation grows increasingly precarious, the layers of deception and betrayal continue to unravel. The compelling mix of personal drama and criminal intrigue ensures that Bad Monkey keeps its audience hooked, making every new revelation more gripping than the last.
