Written by Nikhita Kumar
Netflix’s new series, A Man on the Inside (released in late November 2024) is based on the 2020 documentary The Mole Agent. The series stars Ted Danson as Charles Nieuwendyk, a retiree grieving his recently-passed wife who suffered from dementia. He is recruited by private investigator Julie Kovalenko (Lilah Richcreek Estrada, Chicago Med) as the “man on the inside” for a private investigation of theft in a retirement community. As Charles interacts with the members of the community and makes progress in the case, he learns many uplifting lessons about grief and life as a whole.
The characters are all charming and interesting to watch, helped by the excellent performances of the cast. Charles is silly and overly obsessed with architecture, but is also kind and perceptive in a way that disarms those around him. Sharp Julie’s deadpan sense of humor makes her moments memorable. Charles’s daughter Emily (Mary Elizabeth Ellis, Red One) is frustrated with her father’s shenanigans at times, but remains supportive of his efforts to solve the case.
Of the seniors in the retirement community, there’s the warm Florence (Margaret Avery, The Color Purple), a comforting presence who encourages Charles to pick up new hobbies. Her close friend Virginia (Sally Struthers, Gilmore Girls) initially comes on a bit strong, but is joyful and sweet. Gladys (Susan Ruttan, L.A. Law) is an expert in fashion design, but experiences memory issues. There’s also the tactless Elliott (John Getz, The Social Network), whose rude exterior conceals a passably good heart. Then, there’s witty backgammon expert Calbert (Stephen McKinley Henderson, Fences), who quickly forms a deep friendship with Charles. Finally, there’s Didi (Stephanie Beatriz, Encanto), director of the retirement community. While she is a capable and comforting presence for the members of the community, she has struggles of her own. There are many other characters who impact or are impacted by Charles.
The deep and insightful interactions Charles has with these individuals are what truly make the show. Whether Charles is comforting Emily about the struggles of parenting, or Didi is reassuring Charles about his efforts to go outside of his comfort zone, the show is filled with so many moments of emotional depth. The show also tackles the heavy topic of dementia with grace and empathy for both the victims of dementia and their loved ones. As Charles spends his days learning about the other residents, he also learns how to better handle his grief over his wife. The show makes the point that grief should never be suffered in isolation, which is extremely relevant to audiences today.
While the show focuses more on Charles’s relationships with his family and the members of the retirement community, the investigation plotline is very well-paced. Conflicting clues are given to the audience every episode. Episodes seem to point to one member of the community being the perpetrator, only for the show to flip and point the audience in another direction. Until the thief is finally revealed, members of the audience are kept on their toes.
The show is also filled with many witty, comedic moments that contribute to the show’s warmth. From Charles’s spy hijinks to residents mocking Elliott’s crass attitude, there is plenty to entertain viewers. The comedic moments are perfectly placed and never take away from the more serious scenes in the show. The nice balance of comedic and emotional moments make A Man on the Inside as heartfelt and charming as it is.
In short, A Man on the Inside is a heartwarming show with plenty of witty and entertaining moments to balance the more emotional ones. For readers who have yet to watch A Man on the Inside on Netflix, this reviewer strongly urges you to open up Netflix and watch it right now (with a box of tissues in hand).
