A Man on the Inside

Writing a review of this show requires familiarity with the context and content. Having three parents dealing with the challenges of assisted living made this more enjoyable and more affecting.

Ted Danson plays an octogenarian widower (Charles) who is struggling with establishing a new routine after the passing of his wife due to dementia related health issues.

Through a series of classic sitcom plot devices, Charles secures a job as an undercover detective in an assisted living facility (what used to be referred to as an 'old folks home') to solve a jewelry theft. His boss, Lilah Richcreek Estrada as Julie, is a black and white, anything goes to solve the case, sarcastic foil for Danson's kind hearted and square Charles.

The two are quickly put at odds with the facility's director (well played by Stephanie Beatriz as Didi), Charles' daughter Emily (Mary Elizabeth Ellis) and the various residents and their many goofy issues.

There are several poorly conceived shticks focused around older women being randy that don't fit the rest of the stories, and the outrageously disrespectful (and interchangeable) three teenage sons of Charles's daughter are distracting and throwaway.

The best parts are Charles's slow immersion in his new community with a few social connections with other residents, especially Caleb, played by Stephen McKinley Henderson. Also fun are the dead on jokes and commentary on assisted living and the things that happen there.

The awkward banter between Charles and boss Julie is funny. And while daughter Emily's home life is not all that interesting, it sets up a couple of great scenes between her and Charles in the later episodes.

The wrap up isn't terribly hard to figure out (who stole what, and what will happen to Charles), but the sentimental parts of Charles's reawakening and acceptance of his wife's death are very worthwhile.

There are some small parts played by old stars (Sally Struthers, Veronica Cartwright) that might make older viewers smile, but are mostly wasted on nonsense jokes about old people and sex.

All in all I recommend it, especially to viewers in their late forties and older.

**PERSONAL SIDE NOTE **

After four months of encouraging my FIL (he's86) to sign up for Netflix and watch this he finally did. This is a guy who doesn't watch much TV and almost no movies. AND he goes to bed at 6:30. Lost his wife to vascular dementia, retired architect, buttoned down retiree like Danson's character, and a daughter (my wife) who has been the one keeping him together.

We stayed and watched the first episode with him. My wife bet me he'd watch another episode after we left.

At 9:30(!) he texted to say he'd watched FOUR episodes.

The next morning he texted to say he'd watched the last four by 10.

Said he couldn't stop laughing or wiping tears from his eyes.

Thanked us and asked when season two was coming out.

My MIL has been gone for about a month and it was a salve for him to have this series to watch.

Ted Danson plays Charles, one of the nicest grandpas you'll ever meet. He is recruited by a private investigator, named Julie, to help her find the culprit who stole a valuable necklace. That might be the hook of the show, but in truth the show lives and dies by the charm of the characters.

The show is less about mystery or comedy, and more about the characters and setting. It has a very cozy optimism about it. Don't misunderstand, there are some very sad parts to the show. But it is shared in a way that encourages audiences to enjoy the time they have, as opposed to dreading the end. Get inside and watch it.

I am 67 years old and it was so wonderful to see so many of our generation of actors and their great comedic styles. These actors only get better with age and are wonderfully cast in this sweet Comedy Series! The script gets a little lost trying to solve the mystery and gets more in depth with the character's storylines. That's ok because you have a pretty good idea who is the culprit about half way through. You don't mind that it isn't really a mystery because you are just having a fun time watching these golden oldies work and show their stuff. It's really no mystery. Just a tribute to how brave you have to be an older citizen and still active and feel seen in our youth oriented society. What a sweet tribute to those who support and help us navigate the minefields of getting old this series was. Thank you for giving me a great Saturday of binge watching this series!

Loved this show. It's just a good watch. The plot might seem cliché but it unexpectedly surprised me with the depth they managed to put in this show. It explores the experience of old age via exploration of many issues related to it like loneliness, friendships, grief/loss, death, and dementia. I was incredibly impressed they managed to balance the humor of solving the case and the seriousness of these heavier topics.

Besides that, the characters are super likable and the episodes are on the shorter side so it's a pretty easy watch. The acting is pretty good, they capture cringe comedy well (in a good way). You could watch this as a family with older kids (tween and above).

I'm honestly pretty excited for the next season, one of a kind show for sure. You should give it a watch!

I'm not a binge watcher, but we smashed the whole season on the first night.

It's got that right mix of warm, funny, sad, deep with a story line that keeps you plugging away.

Ted Danson of course is great, but Stephanie Beatriz (Diaz in '99) is awesome and her character is somebody you'd want to spend all your time with.

It's set in San Francisco which of course helps with my rating but above all, whilst it is very sad at times, it is a comedy and it gives you hope for the future as we all get a little older.

A solid eight out of ten for me, one for all ages and who knows, hopefully another season.