[s4e5] My Monkey Grifter May 2026

Portrays Detective Blakely, who helps unravel the scam. Helen Mirren: Returns as the series' dignified host.

The "monkey," Lulu, and her human keeper are manipulating Benjamin into a scheme to steal from his wealthy father-in-law. This shift mirrors the 2012 documentary The Imposter , highlighting how a "mark" (Benjamin) will often believe something obviously false because they desperately want it to be true. Key Cast and Production Jamie Demetriou: Stars as the filmmaker Benjamin Clay. [S4E5] My Monkey Grifter

Wrote the episode, drawing on "Nigerian-prince" style scam tropes for the con artist characters. Documentary Now! Recap: Monkey Business - Vulture Portrays Detective Blakely, who helps unravel the scam

" My Monkey Grifter " is the fifth episode of the fourth season (or the "fifty-third" season in-universe) of the IFC mockumentary series . The episode, written by Seth Meyers , serves as a sharp satirical critique of the 2020 Oscar-winning documentary My Octopus Teacher , while also blending in tropes from the true-crime genre. Narrative Structure and Satire This shift mirrors the 2012 documentary The Imposter

The title "My Monkey Grifter" hints at the episode's major pivot from a nature documentary to a . As the narrative unfolds, it is revealed that Benjamin is not actually communicating with a wild animal, but is instead being systematically scammed.

The episode follows (played by Jamie Demetriou ), a filmmaker who embarks on a year-long quest to form a profound, spiritual connection with a monkey named Lulu . It mimics the "cinematic" and often self-indulgent style of modern non-fiction filmmaking—specifically the way My Octopus Teacher framed a relationship with a wild animal as a life-altering, transformative experience. Key satirical targets in the episode include:

It uses slick, overly dramatic visual touches to make mundane or questionable interactions seem "deep" and artistic. The Twist: Nature Doc to True Crime