A Man on the Inside Season 1 Review

A Man on the Inside (2024-)
Season 1 - 8 episodes (2024 November 21)

Watch A Man on the Inside on Netflix
Created by: Michael Schur
Based on: The Mole Agent by Maite Alberdi
Starring: Ted Danson, Mary Elizabeth Ellis, Lilah Richcreek Estrada, Stephanie Beatriz, Sally Struthers
Rated: TV-14
Watch the trailer

Plot
Charles, a retired professor, gets a new purpose in life when he answers an ad from a private investigator and becomes a mole in a secret investigation inside a nursing home.

Verdict
It's funny, but also overwhelmingly heartfelt. If you can't relate to getting older or trying to make friends at a new life stage, you can probably relate to caring for a relative. While Charles embarks on a mission as a spy, he ends up confronting the loss of his wife and making friends along the way. He finds where he belongs, and helps several people while he's there. This does a great job balancing the tone while also providing a satisfying conclusion.
Watch It.

Review
Season 2 has yet to be confirmed.

It's a funny premise, taking down a nursing home. Even in the first episode, this is comedic but has touching moments. Charles (Ted Danson) lost his wife recently who had Alzheimer's. He's hesitant to even enter the retirement home due to confronting those feelings and memories related to his wife. Danson does a great job, balancing both emotions.

Ted Danson plays Charles

Charles is trying to be a spy while also blending in. He's not great at either, but he's the best option the detective agency has. Like Schur's previous series The Good Place, this is comedy and drama in equal measure. There are more women than men at the place, and Charles generates plenty of interest. On top of that the director Didi (Stephanie Beatriz)  is involved and caring which is great for the retirement home but causes difficulty for Charles who must proceed with caution.

Charles is making friends, and half way in I began to wonder if he'll want to stay. This is helping him move past his wife's death and giving him purpose. We've seen that his life is regimented and simple with little interaction. The retirement home provides what his life had been missing.

Stephanie Beatriz, Mary Elizabeth Ellis play Didi, Emily

Amidst the comedy this explores growing older, from a first person perspective or that of the children. Charles and his daughter Emily (Mary Elizabeth Ellis) work through their relationship; what it is and what they want it to be. This also looks at the difficulty of making friends and what makes it work. Charles makes a genuine friend in Calbert, though we know Charle's charade will be an issue.

This is such a touching story that explores common but important elements. This is parents and children, friendship, and finding a place. Few shows can balance comedy and drama so well. It's a fulfilling conclusion to the season while leaving the possibility of a second season open.