One of the best shows I’ve watched in 2024 is Netflix’s A Man on the Inside. It’s a half-hour ensemble comedy about a man (Ted Danson) who enters a retirement home.
Similar to producer Michael Schur’s other shows Parks & Rec, The Good Place, and Brooklyn 99, A Man on the Inside is both very funny and very moving. The comedy ranges from big set pieces to small lines of dialogue and familiarity with the characters.
The show really shines when it delves into deeper topics like grief, memory, loneliness, and family dynamics. Every episode has powerful moments, but episode 6 in particular had me crying for almost the entire episode and beyond. That’s a lot for a lunch show, so bewarned…but it is absolutely worth watching anyway.
Also, there’s a solid mystery running through the show (Ted Danson’s character is hired to enter the retirement home to find a thief). It’s a nice connective string that keeps you guessing, but the comedy, heart, and characters are so strong that they end up outshining the mystery.
I highly recommend A Man on the Inside, and I look forward to hearing your thoughts if you give it a try.
