It’s more of a treatise on how to spend your twilight years than it is a gripping mystery, but it’s enjoyable all the same!
What it's about
Widower Charles Nieuwendyk (Ted Danson) checks into a retirement home as an undercover spy looking for a missing necklace. But the more he bonds with the residents, the more complex his initial mission becomes.
The take
Man on the Inside may be a detective show, but at its core, it’s a series about the beauty and pain of aging. It follows recently widowed Charles as he befriends the residents at a nursing home he’s secretly investigating for thievery. Despite himself, Charles opens up, which complicates the case but gives the story all of its heart. Not a lot of shows are willing to sift through the realities of old age, and even when they do they tend to focus (understandably) on the painful aspects of it--death, grief, sickness. Man on the Inside is a welcome reminder that there’s more to it too. There’s the freedom to be who you are, and family and friendships to strengthen. Man on the Inside won’t be the sharpest mystery you’ll see anytime soon, but it just might be one of the most poignant and heartwarming ones you’ll watch. It might also get you to call up an elderly loved one and check in on them, finally.
What stands out
While cute, the multiple The Good Place references can be distracting. We get it, he’s The Architect! He hasn’t transformed enough face- and costume-wise for us to forget!
Comments
Add a comment
Your name
Your comment
UP NEXT
UP NEXT
UP NEXT
More like this in
Say Nothing
A powerful take on the Northern Ireland conflict that smartly shows all sides
8.5
Caliphate
A psychological thriller that provides insight on what drove so many young people to ISIS.
8.9
Pretend it’s a City
A wildly entertaining series of interviews with a New York legend
9.2
Occupied
Norway's most expensive show ever is a timely thrill ride with a grim geopolitical premise.
8.7
Escape at Dannemora
Based on a true prison escape story, this slow-burn suspense thriller features once-in-a-lifetime performances by a star-studded cast
9.3
Unorthodox
A well-acted fact-based thriller about untangling the grip of a close-knit community
8.5
Wild Wild Country
Almost too outrageous to be true – this captivating true crime docuseries tells the unlikely story of an Indian cult in America
9.8
The Looming Tower
A well-written thriller miniseries about the rivalry between the CIA and the FBI and how they failed to prevent 9/11.
8.1
The Good Fight
Like Suits or The Good Wife, but sharper
9.1
Unbelievable
Critics lauded the angle and feminist edge of this grim true crime miniseries.