


28/24
A remake of "El agente topo" (2020)
Charles, who has retired, gets a new lease on life when he answers a private investigator’s ad and goes undercover at a nursing home. Michael Schur was inspired to create "A Man On the Inside" after watching the Chilean documentary "The Mole Agent", he says, "The Mole Agent" documentary is powerful because it makes people feel something incredibly similar, regardless of age, ethnicity, or gender, and I would describe that feeling in a very reductive way: “I have to call my mom.” We tried to do a similar thing with our show’s tone: basically, does our show contribute to that feeling of wanting to call my mom? In order to write a review of this show, you need to be familiar with the context and content.
Having three parents dealing with the challenges of assisted living made it more enjoyable and more impactful
Ted Danson plays an octogenarian widower (Charles) who is struggling to establish a new routine after his wife’s death due to dementia-related health issues. A series of classic sitcom plot devices, Charles secures a job as an undercover detective at a assisted living facility (formerly known as a “home for the elderly”) to solve a jewelry theft. His boss, Lilah Richcreek Estrada, as Julie, is a black-and-white, anything-goes, sarcastic quip to Danson’s good-natured and square Charles.
Charles’ daughter’s sons are distracting and lost
The two quickly clash with the facility’s director (played well by Stephanie Beatriz as Didi), Charles’ daughter Emily (Mary Elizabeth Ellis), and the various residents and their many silly problems. There are some poorly conceived antics aimed at older women that don’t fit the rest of the story, and the three teenagers are incredibly irreverent (and changeable). The best parts are Charles’ slow immersion in his new community and the few social interactions he has with the other residents, especially Caleb, played by Stephen McKinley.
The awkward banter between Charles and his boss Julie is hilarious
Henderson. The deadpan jokes and comments about assisted living and the things that go on there are also fun. And while daughter Emily’s life at home isn’t as interesting, there are some great scenes between her and Charles in later episodes.
Overall, I recommend it, especially for viewers in their forties and older
The plot isn’t too hard to figure out (who stole what and what’s going to happen to Charles), but the sentimental parts about Charles waking up and accepting his wife’s death are very worthwhile. There are a few small parts by older stars (Sally Struthers, Veronica Cartwright) that might bring a smile to older viewers, but are mostly wasted on pointless jokes about old people and sex.
https://comfoclogs.com/2024/12/04/weirdo-weirdo-old-swap-to-sand-the-sandbox/