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A Man on the Inside

7.5/ 10

28 min

Comments

BlackBiker • 30 November 2024, 14:00

What a fun series!

A very funny story of a widower who doesn't really know what to do with his life and then, via a newspaper advertisement, goes undercover for a private detective in a nursing home. A piece of jewelry has disappeared there and the son of the person who was robbed wants to see it solved. And Charles is the man who has to do that.

Ted Danson plays Charles Nieuwedyk, the Man on the Inside. And he does it with verve. He has lost none of his comedic timing. But to praise him alone is to discredit the rest of the cast. Each and every one of them also delivers a very good performance and brings wonderful characters to life.
Despite the occasional heavy subject matter, such as the death of a beloved character, the worsening dementia of others, and the sometimes difficult relationships within family, this series maintains an optimistic, fun tone with the occasional appropriate drama.

During the season you started to empathize with the residents of the nursing home. There seems to be a good chance of a second season although this has not yet been announced. There is a hook in the last episode, but the question is whether that will take place in the same place. If not, then we have to invest in a lot of new characters again. But if that goes as easily as in this season, then that will be fine.

3Translated from Dutch.

BlackBiker • Saturday 22 November, 14:50

And the second season is another hit. I was so happy that all the episodes were released at once. I watched them all in one sitting.
This time, the setting is completely different: a school instead of a nursing home. But here too, there are some great characters, although in my opinion, they're less developed than in season 1. The good news is that the best characters from season 1 also made appearances in season 2. There are also some very good supporting roles from well-known actors like Mary Steenbruggen, Gary Cole, and David Strathairn.
This season, we learn more about Charles's boss, Julie. We see more about her background, which gives her character some depth.

All in all I enjoyed it again and hope for a third season.

2Translated from Dutch.

Futsudo • Saturday 22 November, 19:30

I had a slightly different experience. I didn't enjoy season 2 as much as the first. Season 1 had that fresh, original vibe of Charles finding himself in a completely new world, and I completely missed that feeling this time. Furthermore, too many new characters were introduced this season, which diluted the dynamic between the characters that made the first season so strong. But despite that, I still found it entertaining to watch, and I'm definitely looking forward to a possible sequel.

1Translated from Dutch.

BlackBiker • Sunday 23 November, 13:51

Well, it's understandable that the PI world isn't new to Charles anymore. So it seems perfectly normal that this season feels different in that respect. I would have found it odd if he were still awkward and clumsy.
What remains is his open and pleasant interaction with the characters he encounters and his disarming enthusiasm for investigating.

1Translated from Dutch.

Futsudo • Sunday 23 November, 15:06

True, it's logical that that initial sense of wonder can't be recreated, I understand that. My main concern is that it does take away some of the charm of season 1. The new setting and the many new characters diluted the established dynamic for me. Charles certainly remains pleasant and disarming, but I felt this season lacked a bit more focus and warmth. That doesn't change the fact that I still enjoyed watching it and am curious to see how they'll pick up on it in a potential sequel.

1Translated from Dutch.