A Man on the Inside Review: Ted Danson is Delightful in this New Netflix Comedy

Ted Danson is an undercover spy in a retirement community on A Man on the Inside, a new Netflix comedy that fills the void The Good Place left when it ended.

Based on the documentary The Mole Agent, A Man on the Inside is witty, endearing, and laugh-out-loud funny, which isn’t a surprise considering the series comes from Michael Schur and boasts an incredible cast.

Alongside Ted Danson are Mary Elizabeth Ellis, Lilah Richcreek Estrada, Stephanie Beatriz, Sally Struthers, and Marc Evan Jackson, among others.

Ted Danson plays Charles, a retired engineering professor who seems bored and listless now that his wife has passed away. His daughter, who doesn’t live close, suggests that he find a hobby and a way to meet new people. Meanwhile, the universe already has a plan in motion for him.

A private detective agency needs to hire someone to be their “man on the inside” to help solve a case in a retirement community. Charles responds to the ad and winds up being the perfect choice for the position. His delight over the details of becoming a spy is enough to make anyone fall in love with the series.

He’s tickled over things like spy glasses and being able to share voice memos each day. There are so many fun details in the way Charles has to conduct himself.

It’s all very elaborate, too. For instance, the investigator who hires him must pretend to be his daughter, which causes some interesting conflict along the way. 

Ted Danson himself is obviously having a blast as well, and it shows. Everything about the way he plays this character is fun to watch.

The case he’s there to solve is simple enough. A ruby necklace has been stolen, and it’s Charles’ job to help figure out who took it.

In fact, it’s so simple, that the lengths they go through to put Charles in the retirement community in the first place could seem downright silly. But instead, there’s a perfect balance of humor and emotion that makes this show anything but.

The premise, after all, begins with the fact that Charles is still coping with the death of his wife. And what he doesn’t plan on is that he gets more out of the experience of working as a spy than simply having a fun new hobby to keep him busy.

He’s thrust into a life where he meets new people and has a chance to find a sense of community that he didn’t have before.

That’s thanks in large part to two of the women there who refer to him fondly as “the professor” and help him see how fun a retirement community can be.

He even has the chance to help some of the residents, offer advice, and learn some new things about himself along the way. While this is one of the funniest shows I’ve seen in a while, it’s also one that requires some extra tissues. 

Have you had the chance to watch A Man on the Inside? Share your thoughts on the series in the comments below!

Critic Rating:

User Rating:

 

A Man on the Inside is currently streaming on Netflix. 

Follow us on X and on Instagram!

Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!