There are very few creators whose name is synonymous with trustworthy on our TV screens. Mike Schur is one of those writers and now, A Man on the Inside is one of those shows. Sharp, hilarious, and brilliantly wholesome, the series shines a gorgeous lens on a demographic that rarely gets the spotlight. Place an unbeatable star like Ted Danson at the center, and the show’s sure to be a winner, which A Man on the Inside Season 1 surely is.
At this point, we know that going into a Mike Schur production will be full of twists and turns, but never once will it feel misplaced or vicious. Instead, it always feels profoundly human, raw, and, simply put—lovely. Right from the start, A Man on the Inside delivers a wide range of emotional beats, starting with a profoundly telling montage that features Yusuf/Cat Stevens’ “The Wind.” And anyone who knows me knows that song is always bait for me—it’s what also makes The Holdovers a holiday must-watch.
What’s also clear from the beginning is that this will be yet another award-worthy performance from Danson, who’s truly otherworldly when it comes to character embodiments. I’m often floored by his ability to easily make me forget the last role I watched him in because I’m so absorbed into the current character’s life. With this, Charles Nieuwendyk becomes the type of nuanced character whose journey is easy to invest in and care about. Plus, the show’s ability to make us laugh one minute and cry the next through seamless shifts in the narrative is a true gift.
The series also stars Lilah Richcreek Estrada, Mary Elizabeth Ellis, Stephanie Beatriz, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Sally Struthers, John Getz, Margaret Avery, Susan Ruttan, Clyde Kusatsu, Jama Williamson, and more, with each actor giving us something worthy to hold onto with these characters. It makes A Man on the Inside feel that much more intimate and profoundly moving in the stories it tells. Simultaneously, it feels like it’s giving us a glimpse into the lives of our parents and grandparents, allowing us to understand them from a different perspective and the one we know them through.
The series’ premise provides a riveting means to explore espionage through a surprisingly wholesome approach that adds humor and makes it palatable for those who generally don’t like the genre. It’s light where it needs to be, heavy in some areas, yet entirely warm from beginning to end. And that’s where so much of the appeal comes from. This is a story about friendships; it’s a story about fathers and their kids. It’s a story about strangers becoming friends, heartaches, reunions, and a beautiful display of the tumultuous pain and confusion dementia brings.
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In a sense, this might be the part that could trigger some viewers, yet it’s important to note how warmly the series takes every narrative on. These stories can sometimes be too traumatic, but Schur and the entire team ensure that it feels comforting somehow. It allows us to understand the intricacies that make up human beings a little more intimately. The people who have the best stories are those who have the privilege to live long and full lives—characters in The Man on the Inside are a treasure trove of breathtaking stories that are funny, messy, lovely, wild, and, at times, even, indescribable.
A Man on the Inside Season 1 is now streaming on Netflix.
First Featured Image Credit: ©Netflix