Ever since his beloved wife died, Charles Nieuwendyk hasn’t known what to do with his life. His daughter challenges him to start a new hobby. This is how he responds to an ad placed by a detective agency. The former university professor of architecture will have to infiltrate a luxury retirement home, to find out who has stolen a valuable necklace. Full of doubts at first, Charles soon takes to the game. The amateur spy discovers a whole new treasure: friends, and a meaning to his life.
The spy who didn’t know enough
The story is a little slow to get going, and clearly, a retirement home isn’t the sexiest environment to attract viewers. But the touch of Michael Schur, creator of Brooklyn 99 and The Good Place, quickly works wonders : incisive dialogue, touching situations and, above all, an impeccable cast. This is an incredible line-up of comedy actors. Charles’ clumsiness makes for funny scenes, as do the whims of pensioners who, after all, have no reason to be wise. Carpe diem!
1 season, 8 episodes (30 mn), 2024 – ongoing, on Netflix
WITH : Ted Danson as Charles, Stephanie Beatriz as Didi, Mary Elizabeth Ellis as Emily, Lilah Richcreek Estrada as Julie, Eugene Cordero as Joel Piñero, Sally Struthers as Virginia Foldau, Marc Evan Jackson as Evan Cubbler, Kerry O’Malley as Megan Chagughlaight-Accourse, Margaret Avery as Florence Joanne Whistbrook, John Getz as Elliott Haverhill, Susan Ruttan as Gladys Montrose, Veronica Cartwright as Beverly Bankl, Miles Fowler as Jaylen LaMont, Clyde Kusatsu as Grant Yokohama, Stephen McKinley Henderson as Calbert Graham, Lori Tan Chinn as Susan Yang, Jama Williamson as Beatrice Vanbeck.