30/25
Remake of The Mole Agent (2020)
Chronology
Charles, a retired man, gets a new lease on life when he answers an ad for a private investigator and becomes a mole in a secret investigation 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 documentary “The Mole Agent” is powerful because it makes people feel something remarkably similar at any age, ethnicity or gender, and I would describe that feeling in a very reductive way as, “I have to call my mom.” In our show, we try to do something similar with the tone: Basically, does our show contribute to that feeling of making us want to call our moms? Ted Danson, about 76, stars as Charles, a retired engineering professor living in San Francisco. He is also a producer on this series that sets itself apart from most by avoiding the foul language so common in the dialogue.
He is healthy, but perhaps bored with his daily routine
In fact, it is very clean and, as a result, more enjoyable. In the story, his wife had died perhaps a year ago from the effects of Alzheimer’s. He has a habit of reading newspapers and magazines and often clips out an interesting one to send to his married daughter in Sacramento. One day, through a cut-out hole, he catches a glimpse of a short little ad.
Charles will be the key
Someone between 75 and 85 years old is wanted for a specific job. This leads him to a private investigator hired by a man whose mother is in some sort of luxury nursing home in San Francisco, some significant jewelry was stolen from her, and the son wants the thief caught. So, he is hired to check out the place and observe and report as the person to expose what is going on. Ted Danson is simply perfect in this role which he plays with plenty of humor.
My wife and I enjoyed the series, streaming it
Soon, the story becomes less about who the thief was and more about the relationships. The cast of characters is played by a group of good actors, many of them old favorites we have come to know from the last 50 years or so. After watching the first three episodes in one night, we watched the last five episodes in one sitting after our usual Saturday night steak and wine dinner. The ending sets up for a sequel, I hope they make it.