JP's Monkey Magic Podcast: Recent Episodes
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A light hearted and affectionate look back at the classic tv series Monkey, revisiting each of the episodes of this terrific morals infused adventure, with an eye on what lessons we can take from it, in the 21st century.
With a little bit of Monkey Magic, we'll see fireworks tonight.....
Is the number 88 lucky?
Caught in a bad romance...... is my enemy's enemy my friend? And what is worse than wine going to waste... all will be revealed in the gripping conclusion of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms!
Burn the city down down down....... Alliances are made and broken easily in this state of flux in the three kingdoms as the cities are ablaze. But will our hero find the route to reuniting with an old flame?
i need to make it to the river....... Liu Bei and colleagues get off to a good start fighting alongside Tsao Tsao of the royal guard but all is not what it seems. Meanwhile at the capital we meet a new foe, Lu Pu. Are they destined to meet?
we are the champions my friend........ it is the time of the yellow turban rebellion but a declaration in the peach orchard is set to change the tide of history for the 3 kingdoms.
Don't dream it's over....... the fallout from the sham wedding is set to spell tragedy for the citizens of the palace...has the dream become a nightmare?
Love is all you need...... the star crossed lovers Bao and Miss Linn are headed for wedded bliss....or are they?
I didn't promise you a rose garden.......
Bao and Miss Lin keep missing each other - but is it deliberate? It seems other people have a vested interest in keeping them apart and all the singing in the world won't help!
Like a rolling stone....
The frail adolescent Miss Lin Daiyu is rumoured to be coming to town and not everyone is happy about it. Is there a chance however a coincidental meeting with the hero Bao-yu might make her trip worthwhile?
Lady in red, is dancing with me....
Could the listeners of episode 78, The Dynasty of Kao, with its' karaoke, provide an answer to completing the 4 great novels of China? What's the chances!
It's the final countdown...... The main army of Liang Shan Po is marching on the capital, our heroes are already there to rescue the emperor from the clutches of wicked Kao Chui who wants dominion over all China. It truly is the final countdown.
Knights of the round table we dance when ere we're able.... Lin Chung's old colleague is the only man left in the empire who can now stop him. But at the same time, if he could be turned to join the rebels, then Kao's dynasty could be over......
Money money money... it's a rich man's world!
The richest man in China is being deceived by his wife, can the heroes of Liang Shan Po make him see this, they are desperate for a new leader ahead of the impending final battle!
I'm your private dancer, a dancer for money.... The youthful Emperor of China has fallen for the most beautiful woman in the empire, there's only 1 problem - she is a concubine. Lutah and the Tattoo Dragon are sent to investigate, is this perhaps another plot by Kao Chui to gain ultimate power...
Luck be a lady tonight..... Liang Shan Po disguise themselves and infiltrate the domain of the Sengs in order to rescue Lin Chung. Might it reveal some hidden talents of our heroes?
Did you ever know you were my hero? The evil Seng family have a new offer for the rebels but want the leader of Liang Shan Po, the noble Chao Kai himself, to negotiate in person. It's a dangerous mission, should he go?
War....what is it good for - absolutely nothing, say it again! Our heroes this week give shelter to a man who knows the secret of gunpowder, and his son who is stressing about passing his exams in order to get a government job. Kao wants the secret for himself, can he offer to mark the exams?
I want you back... Kao Chui fearful of a possible invasion from Mongolia turns his attention to Lin Chung's old boss - is there a way to use him for a dual purpose and stop Liang Shan Po as well?
She's electric....... Missing Lin Chung, our heroes turn attention to their former master strategist, away training with his spiritual master who is unlikely to be in favour of letting him go. Can the rebels offer anything to secure his return?
You can go your own way......... Lin Chung, off on his solo quest, finds himself mixed up with a trio who Kao Chui views as a threat. Will Lin regret his decision to leave the safety of the marshes?
You to me are everything..... Lin Chung has departed on a solo mission just as he is most needed for the rebellion, but more importantly his absence leaves one of our heroes very sad. How can we get Lin back?
They tried to make to me go to rehab..... Lu Ta is off on a mission with a new friend but is under strict orders from Lin Chung not to drink. Is all as it seems?
And the times they are a changing...... the heroes make a brave escape from the clutches of wicked Kao Chui, but tragedy has not been averted completely.....
a return to innocence....... How can wicked Kao Chui weaken the increasingly popular revolutionists of the Water Margin whilst simultaneously engineering his own promotion? How about framing them as robbers!
Send in the clowns........ this week the circus comes to town, but who is that mysterious bowman and what an amazing singer - even Kao Chui's bought tickets
Every rose has it's thorn....... La Ta takes centre stage this week as he encounters a travelling singer who seems very taken with him. But can this romance endure after he accidentally hits her dad just a little too hard?
I don't want your freedom......... The Honest judge remains a problem for wicked Kao Chui's regime but an order to execute him is needed from on high, a fast runner could help deliver this request. But who can run fast enough?
Hey brother, there's an endless road to rediscover......
The good judge has only been with the rebels for a week but already wants to go off on a solo mission to his home city. Maybe one of the bandits can help, his old school pals are seemingly now in positions of power there.
Happy talking talking happy talk......
The Honest Judge and Tattoo hit up a music festival and proceed to get roaringly drunk, never a good idea when there is an opportunity to be framed as kidnappers by the wicked wife of the local chief. Can Whirlwind help?
Easy like Sunday morning...... Kao, still furious at the missing treasure cajoles the Honest Judge to question the singer who tempted the leader of the rebels...but is there more to this request than what it seems?
Honey oh sugar sugar - this week the leader of the Water Margin faces a tough choice, do the day job business as usual or risk a visit to the city to seek out an old flame who is in town. Hmmmm
Hey brother, pour the wine......... Kao Chui spots an opportunity to gain access to a huge fortune and propel himself to Prime Ministership - but our heroes might be able to intercept it should the parched guards fancy a snifter!
Working 9 to 5 what a way to make a living.... this week the Water Margin looks at income tax policy in ancient China and where does art end and graffiti start
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger.... Lin Chung is free from prison, but tragedy is just around the corner.
I want to break free.... Lin Chung encounters some new heroes as he continues onto jail and muses over qualities of youth v experience in rebellious knights.
Holding out for a hero! It is a time of corruption in China, but the souls of nine dozen heroes have been released...could one such hero be Lin Chung?
Climb every mountain......... we reach the final episode, but Tripitaka is increasingly distracted, worried about events back home, which threatens the entire journey. It is the end, but has the moment been prepared for?
Please please please, let me get what I want this time............ Monkey has his heard turned by the thoughts of being in the family he always wanted.
Darken the city, night is a wire.............. you might think you can leave the wolf pack for domestic life, but when the full moon rises will the Blue Wolf curse reappear?
pappa was a rolling stone............. Monkey explains the importance of good dental health
With a burning love inside............ this week our heroes are delighted to welcome a tomboyish female to their journey. But is she all that she seems? What is her real motive?
Life had just begun, but now I've gone and thrown it away..... Our heroes this week meet a wicked matriarch terrorising a village, will political correctness however prevent them intervening?
Pictures of you pictures of me............ A stunning beauty emerges from a painting and replaces herself with Tripitaka on the canvas. Surely our pilgrims will resolve this, oh but hang on...they all fancy her!
Oh yes I'm the great pretender..... Our heroes this week face a devious band of demons who are impersonating them and sullying their good reputation with the villagers who now won't share any food. Is this the end?
You ain't nothing but a hound dog................. Our heroes encounter a middle-aged monster desperate to be liked but going about things all the wrong way. The horse might have an idea however..
With a crime of passion, lie those dreams of yesterday......... Pigsy this week considers whether the ends justify the means as he becomes a bounty hunter. But is the endeavour rigged from the start?
You can dance, you can jive............ our heroes this week encounter a married couple who are super interested in their spiritual journey to India and who want to express it through the medium of dance! But hang on, is the husband wanting to join?
Always believe in your soul............ The pilgrims meet the richest man in the world and discover his daughter's hand in marriage is available, does Pigsy stand a chance?
better the devil you know...... this week our pilgrims encounter a demon who delights in spoiling wedding parties, they attempt to find out why, and how to remedy
Forever young........... Tripitaka is left alone when the pilgrims decide to go for a refreshing swim. The pool is magic however and reverts them all to toddlers. How can Trippy restore them and continue the journey?
I see clouds from both sides now.......... it's an inter faith contest this week, and it is Tripitaka representing our heroes - but are things all that they seem? Can Monkey help?
I'm Jean Valjean...... they say a man is the sum of his memories but what if you lose them? Our heroes don't know each other, is this the end .... or can capitalism help?
Day after day alone on a hill......... This week Sandy has the big chance to become the hero, marry into royalty and leave the journey to India behind him, but will he be wise?
Like a fat out of hell............ Ever felt you can't go forward or go back? Sandy is feeling likewise stuck in this week's episode. Can the others raise the 100k required to free him?
Gold....always believe in your soul ! The pilgrims this week meet the richest man in the world...... but with such wealth do you really ever have true friends?
These dreams go on when I close my eyes............Tripitaka's recurring nightmares leads the pilgrims in the land of demon hell, will they ever find the way out?
They call it the rising sun...... Monkey and Tripitaka this week look at the risk and reward factors with the real estate market. Location, Location, Location!
Morning has broken............ we arrive to a cursed land where it is perpetual daylight. An agent of Buddha was dispatched 500 yrs ago to defeat the villainous vulture demon but what happened to him, could a pretty girl be the answer?
Two divided by zero , zero, zero....... this week our heroes encounter a demon with a flair for maths, what lessons can Pigsy learn?
On a warm summer's evening................ This week our heroes encounter a town where gambling is out of control. Can Monkey help?
Doctor, Doctor, can't you see I'm burning, burning................... this week the pilgrims visit a plague-ridden village and encounter a mysterious doctor -but is everything as it seems?
All the single ladies............. The pilgrims are on strike after finding out they are only at the halfway point, but is the grass always greener?
And now, the end is near........ The pilgrims can see the end of their journey lies tantalisingly on the horizon, can they make it and what will they learn if they do?
These dreams go on ..... The pilgrims enter a land of nightmares where they must demonstrate magic to cross - who will impress, and how will Tripitaka cope?
Burn baby burn, disco inferno! This week our heroes swelter in the roasting land of the Queen of Fire, a foe who is hot by name and hot by nature. Can strawberries help?
All that she wants, is another baby! This week Tripitaka visits a country populated by women only, where Sandy and Pigsy are in for a big surprise.
Live and Let Die ! This week our heroes encounter undead zombies. Sandy and Pigsy fall prey to their alcoholic bribes much to the disgust of Monkey who recognises it is just fool's gold.
King for a day! Pigsy honoured in the land of the Red Hog in spite of Tripitaka's microaggressions. Sandy meanwhile discovers the risks of importing goods rather than prioritising energy independence.
Oh I wanna dance with somebody! This week Pigsy suffers corruption in a 'random' draw whilst Tripitaka is on full holiday mode with wine, women and song aplenty.
Love bites ! Tripitaka is arrested on suspicion of murder despite being bed ridden by Tibetan flu , whilst Sandy ponders written v unwritten constitutions.
She's a killer queen....... This week Monkey encounters a female boss who has smashed through the glass ceiling only to lift the ladder up, as Pigsy & Sandy face some anti swine prejudice.
Hand in Glove! This week Tripitaka faces a dilemma on whether telling white lies to senior citizens is ever acceptable, whilst Sandy ponders if hypnotism is real or not.
Devil woman! This week we meet a Unicorn utterly besotted with a single mother who is playing him like a piano and constantly demanding gifts for her son. Can Tripitaka help bring him to his senses?
Digging your scene! This week Monkey uncovers the difficulty of achieving transformative innovation when colleagues are stuck in dysfunctional 'it's always been done that way' mindsets.
Catfish on the table, gospel in the air!
You are the detective this week, one of our heroes is a fake......but who is it?
Saltwater wells in my eyes... Pigsy goes off on a mission to find a missing girl only to find out she's married to a slimy husband leading a double life, and she herself is a total bunny boiler
Here we go round the Mulberry Bush! This week Monkey discovers an ancient form of Brexit and reviews the impact of leaving the single market and incurring trade new barriers to the once prosperous land of Codslow.
Love is in the air! Or is it?
Pigsy finally gets the girl only to find out she is a vampire, whilst poor Monkey suffers heartbreak when he discovers the girl he has fallen for has a boyfriend.
I just want to wish you well!
Pigsy channels David Brent's dancing after being tricked by Monkey whilst Tripitaka warns about the dangers of allowing magicians around your wife.
Who let the dogs out?
This week Monkey encounters the dangers of stray dogs in China whilst Tripitaka faces a choice of marriage or being on the menu.
Long Black Veil - This week Pigsy encounters something far worse than demons, unrequited love. But he isn't the only one this time!
Monkey encounters the danger of identity politics on hiring decisions, as Sandy enjoys some Chinese karaoke
Devil in me
This week Monkey explores the benefits/drawbacks of proportional representation v first past the post voting systems.
Monkey was a terrific tv series from Japan.
Revisit the journey of our heroes Tripitaka, Monkey, Pigsy and Sandy to India, fighting the demons and giving life lessons for the 21st century!