A Man on the Inside: A Heartfelt Comedy

A combination of comedy and drama, A Man on the Inside is an examination of aging, loneliness and grief, framed through a mystery of a stolen necklace. Although the show’s mystery is never all it wants to be, the heartfelt look at life in a retirement community is charming, funny, and a great way to spend a few hours.

Ted Danson is Charles, a retired professor and recent widower searching for meaning in his life. Challenged by his daughter Emily (Mary Elizabeth Ellis) to find a hobby or job, he answers an ad for an investigative assistant. Now, working for private investigator Julie (Lilah Richcreek Estrada), Charles goes undercover at the Pacific View Retirement Community and begins to investigate the employees and residents.

Created by Mike Schur, A Man on the Inside is reminiscent of his other shows like Brooklyn Nine Nine, The Good Place, or Parks and Rec. While never as biting or clever as those shows, the same balance of humour and heart is stamped all over it. It finds laughs and drama in the everyday interactions between its characters, feeling genuine and never forced.

The first half of the show’s 8 episodes focus on the comedy and the mystery of the missing necklace. The comedy is found in Charles’ lack of skill as an investigator, combined with his enthusiasm for solving the puzzle. His efforts to integrate with the residents, while maintaining his cover, provides many laughs as well. While the humour is often of the lightly chuckling variety, there are several moments where I was heartily laughing out loud (mush more so than I imagined).

The latter half of the show, while still funny, pushes more towards the drama as Charles finds himself a new purpose, and a sincere desire to help others enjoy their lives. This also leads to a desire to better connect with his daughter and grandsons. But there is pain and grief, as some residents pass away, and others suffer from illness. The mystery takes a back seat at this point as well, and the switch in tone was a little jarring. Still, A Man on the Inside hits all the right beats, and the show takes on an unexpected, but certainly welcome, poignancy.

I love Ted Danson, and he is wonderful in this. He has a natural charm, and his comedic timing and delivery is stellar. His portrayal of Charles is genuine, capturing his grief and loneliness, as well as his overwhelming desire to be useful, even when he may not have all the skills necessary. It’s perfect casting. Whether he’s bumbling things as a detective, or creating connections with the residents, his performance is both touching and funny.

The rest of the cast is quite good as well. As Julie, Estrada provides a nice counterbalance to Charles’ enthusiasm, and their interactions are some of the strongest comedic moments in the show. The staff (led by Stephanie Beatriz) and residents of the retirement community are played by a host of good actors, many of whom you will likely recognize even if the names don’t jump immediately to mind. It’s a great ensemble cast, bringing a sense of realness and vibrancy to the daily life of the retirement community.

I was hoping for a little more from the central mystery of the show. While it was never going to be a great thriller, it was disappointing to see it fade away in the latter half of the series, only to be resolved quickly towards the end (but at least it was resolved). As well, the show does feel overstuffed with characters. Trying to provide character arcs for so many keeps the show from being as focused as it could be, leading to some pacing issues. But these are minor complaints. Overall, it is a wonderful show.

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from A Man on the Inside but found it to be quite enjoyable. It can be light and breezy at times, and at others, offering a poignant view of life, loss and the search for purpose. With Ted Danson’s performance leading the way, it is a very engaging show, and at only 8 episodes, it is perfect for binging. While it may not appeal to everyone, fans who like their humour mixed with genuine emotions should certainly give A Man on the Inside a look.

Have you seen A Man on the Inside? Are you planning to? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.