39/46
Remake of Agent Mouse (2020)
Synopsis
Charles, a retiree, finds a new lease on life when he answers an ad for a private investigator and becomes a mole in an undercover investigation at a retirement home. Based on the Chilean documentary “El Agente Topo”. Writing a review of this show requires familiarity with the setting and content.
Having three parents dealing with the challenges of assisted living made it more enjoyable and emotional
Ted Danson plays an octogenarian widower (Charles) who struggles to establish a new routine after his wife dies due to dementia-related health issues. In a series of classic sitcom plots, Charles gets a job as an undercover detective at an assisted living facility (what used to be called a “retirement home”) to solve a jewelry heist. His boss, Lilah Richcreek Estrada as Julie, is a black-and-white, anything-goes kind of case-solving, sarcastic foil to Danson’s kind-hearted, square Charles.
The jokes and commentary about assisted living facilities and the things that go on there are also amusing
The two are quickly put at odds with the facility’s director (well-played by Stephanie Beatriz and Didi), Charles’ daughter Emily (Mary Elizabeth Ellis), and the various residents and their many wacky problems. There are several poorly conceived shticks focused on horny older women that don’t fit with the rest of the stories, and the outrageously disrespectful (and interchangeable) stories about Charles’ daughter’s three teenage sons are distracting and disposable. Charles’ slow immersion into his new community with few social connections with other residents, notably Caleb, played by Stephen McKinley Henderson.
The awkward banter between Charles and boss Julie is funny
And while her daughter Emily’s home life isn’t all that interesting, it does set up some great scenes between her and Charles in later episodes. The conclusion isn’t too hard to figure out (who stole what and what will happen to Charles), but the sentimental aspects of Charles waking up and coming to terms with his wife’s death are very There are a few small roles played by older stars (Sally Struthers, Veronica Cartwright) that might make older viewers smile, but are mostly wasted on absurd jokes about old people and sex. Overall, I recommend it, especially to viewers in their late 40s and up.
