A Man on the Inside: Tinker Tailor Older Spy
November 21, 2024 6:11 PM - Season 1, Episode 1 - Subscribe
Encouraged by his daughter to try something new, widower Charles Nieuwendyk answers an ad from a private eye seeking a mole at a retirement community.
This is a Michael Schur joint.
Ted Danson!
Marc Evan Jackson!
Pillboi!
Rosa Diaz!
This is a Michael Schur joint.
Ted Danson!
Marc Evan Jackson!
Pillboi!
Rosa Diaz!
Okay, after finishing the first episode, it really does bug me that AN ENGINEER is being portrayed as being that out of it and dumb. Seriously, have you met engineers? Those guys are hella smart and observant. I don't like that Charles is written as fairly incompetent.
posted by jenfullmoon at 7:52 AM on November 22
posted by jenfullmoon at 7:52 AM on November 22
On the other hand, "absent-minded professor" is kind of a cultural trope, and I can confirm from personal experience that engineering professors are not immune from this phenomenon.
posted by AndrewInDC at 12:17 PM on November 22 [4 favorites]
posted by AndrewInDC at 12:17 PM on November 22 [4 favorites]
I'm going to do the thing I do and get too real about some of the details...
As a long-time bay area resident and with a parent in assisted living, I raise a *very* high eyebrow at the idea that what the client (Marc Evan Jackson's character) is paying out to find the necklace and the thief is worth what it cost to have Charles move into this residence, even for just a month. A place like that (esp in what I assume is a very tony part of SF – full GG bridge views and a roof deck? C'mon) would have move-in costs going into the many tens of thousands, with the monthly rent/fees probably around 9k/month. So already he's sinking a TON of money into this. Tack on the cost of moving Charles and his stuff from the house, plus whatever he's being paid to do this job, PLUS what the detective's rate is?? Like, I get that it's an expensive necklace but...I'm hoping they take all this into consideration with how the story plays out.
Also, they say Charles is an engineer so I guess maybe he became a professor of engineering later in life? Not sure how lucrative being an engineer is, esp without more details on that. Basically I'm searching for how he and his artist wife could afford that incredible home, which I assume is either in SF or Marin. Maybe they'll explain that too...orrrrr I'm overthinking it haha.
As for the engineer being absent-minded, etc. – I think it's also important to note that Charles is supposed to be close to 80 (Danson is 76) and age can change a person's personality somewhat. My dad was always sharp as a tack, but in the last ten years – especially after losing my mom – he has also become more forgetful, not as 'with it', as he once was. So that part made sense to me.
I'm a huge Schur fan so I'll keep watching regardless. And something about Stefanie Beatriz's character seems fishy...we shall see.
posted by Molasses808 at 2:23 PM on November 22 [2 favorites]
As a long-time bay area resident and with a parent in assisted living, I raise a *very* high eyebrow at the idea that what the client (Marc Evan Jackson's character) is paying out to find the necklace and the thief is worth what it cost to have Charles move into this residence, even for just a month. A place like that (esp in what I assume is a very tony part of SF – full GG bridge views and a roof deck? C'mon) would have move-in costs going into the many tens of thousands, with the monthly rent/fees probably around 9k/month. So already he's sinking a TON of money into this. Tack on the cost of moving Charles and his stuff from the house, plus whatever he's being paid to do this job, PLUS what the detective's rate is?? Like, I get that it's an expensive necklace but...I'm hoping they take all this into consideration with how the story plays out.
Also, they say Charles is an engineer so I guess maybe he became a professor of engineering later in life? Not sure how lucrative being an engineer is, esp without more details on that. Basically I'm searching for how he and his artist wife could afford that incredible home, which I assume is either in SF or Marin. Maybe they'll explain that too...orrrrr I'm overthinking it haha.
As for the engineer being absent-minded, etc. – I think it's also important to note that Charles is supposed to be close to 80 (Danson is 76) and age can change a person's personality somewhat. My dad was always sharp as a tack, but in the last ten years – especially after losing my mom – he has also become more forgetful, not as 'with it', as he once was. So that part made sense to me.
I'm a huge Schur fan so I'll keep watching regardless. And something about Stefanie Beatriz's character seems fishy...we shall see.
posted by Molasses808 at 2:23 PM on November 22 [2 favorites]
I'm pretty sure they said Charles lives in Sacramento. Also thought this sounded like a very, very expensive operation too.
posted by jenfullmoon at 3:53 PM on November 22 [1 favorite]
posted by jenfullmoon at 3:53 PM on November 22 [1 favorite]
Seriously, have you met engineers?
many!
Those guys are hella smart and observant
... doesn't always work that way
posted by trig at 1:39 AM on November 23 [4 favorites]
many!
Those guys are hella smart and observant
... doesn't always work that way
posted by trig at 1:39 AM on November 23 [4 favorites]
I think Emily, the daughter, lives in Sacramento but Charles probably lives in Oakland or the East Bay. I'd have to pause on the letter to know for sure.
posted by fiercekitten at 7:48 AM on November 23 [1 favorite]
posted by fiercekitten at 7:48 AM on November 23 [1 favorite]
Maybe he has Engineer's Disease.
posted by Saxon Kane at 4:21 PM on November 23 [2 favorites]
posted by Saxon Kane at 4:21 PM on November 23 [2 favorites]
Yeah, not sure on Charles but later episodes do indicate she's in Sac.
posted by jenfullmoon at 10:26 PM on November 23
posted by jenfullmoon at 10:26 PM on November 23
My impression was that Charles' place is in the Oakland hills. My wife & I really enjoyed this - totally willing to suspend my disbelief on the expense of this ridiculous operation.
posted by DowBits at 8:31 AM on November 24 [1 favorite]
posted by DowBits at 8:31 AM on November 24 [1 favorite]
I'm imagining the necklace is some irreplaceable family heirloom, they have a lot of money and it's therefore worth it to him.
posted by BungaDunga at 12:27 PM on November 24 [1 favorite]
posted by BungaDunga at 12:27 PM on November 24 [1 favorite]
I pretty much binged the whole season in one go. I grabbed it for Schur & Danson.
While it's not quite The Good Place, it was fun and poignant; well worth watching.
posted by Marticus at 4:54 PM on November 24 [1 favorite]
While it's not quite The Good Place, it was fun and poignant; well worth watching.
posted by Marticus at 4:54 PM on November 24 [1 favorite]
Just chiming in re: Bay Area real estate. If he's almost 80, he may very well have bought that house (or one before it) in the 70's or early 80s for a very affordable price. Even if it wasn't that house - maybe he raised his kid in a bigger house and sold it ten years ago for easily enough to buy the one he's in now... Young people could afford homes once upon a time.
posted by tangosnail at 7:11 AM on November 25 [1 favorite]
posted by tangosnail at 7:11 AM on November 25 [1 favorite]
It's like they decided to make an entire series out of the "Michael attempts to be like people" segments from The Good Place. Big fun. Thumbs up.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 1:05 PM on November 26 [7 favorites]
posted by DirtyOldTown at 1:05 PM on November 26 [7 favorites]
Ok, this show is so sweet.
I do not care about the financial realities at all.
Stephanie Beatriz playing chipper is a little unnerving though. My early money is on her being the jewel thief.
posted by the primroses were over at 7:32 PM on November 26 [4 favorites]
I do not care about the financial realities at all.
Stephanie Beatriz playing chipper is a little unnerving though. My early money is on her being the jewel thief.
posted by the primroses were over at 7:32 PM on November 26 [4 favorites]
Oh yeah, it really throws me off that she's not Julie instead. Like WHO IS THIS PERSON WITH SHORT HAIR WHO SMILES ALL THE TIME?!?!
posted by jenfullmoon at 11:41 AM on November 27 [2 favorites]
posted by jenfullmoon at 11:41 AM on November 27 [2 favorites]
If at the end of this, Charles, perhaps on his deathbed, reveals he was Michael from The Good Place all along,...
posted by The otter lady at 7:28 PM on November 28
posted by The otter lady at 7:28 PM on November 28
Mary Elizabeth Ellis isn't ever given enough to do on It's Always Sunny, so it was nice to see her in a more prominent role.
Started watching this on my recently-widowed dad's recommendation. First Thanksgiving without my mom today, and it was a gut punch seeing Ted Danson going through his morning routine in the opening scenes. Half-empty bed, half-empty closet.
posted by emelenjr at 9:17 PM on November 28 [1 favorite]
Started watching this on my recently-widowed dad's recommendation. First Thanksgiving without my mom today, and it was a gut punch seeing Ted Danson going through his morning routine in the opening scenes. Half-empty bed, half-empty closet.
posted by emelenjr at 9:17 PM on November 28 [1 favorite]
I'm imagining the necklace is some irreplaceable family heirloom, they have a lot of money and it's therefore worth it to him.
Julie flat-out tells Charles that the necklace is an heirloom when she's briefing him on the case:
"Helen Cubbler, 86. Recently, her son Evan reported that this ruby necklace, a valuable family heirloom, has gone missing."
posted by creepygirl at 10:54 PM on December 1 [1 favorite]
Julie flat-out tells Charles that the necklace is an heirloom when she's briefing him on the case:
"Helen Cubbler, 86. Recently, her son Evan reported that this ruby necklace, a valuable family heirloom, has gone missing."
posted by creepygirl at 10:54 PM on December 1 [1 favorite]
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"They're drinking the Internet." True dat.
It throws me off to see Pillboi like...responsible n' stuff?
OH MY GOD THE PHONE TEST.
I'm...concerned that a retired college professor has zero observance skills. Um, seriously, an engineer would not be that... dumb? Seriously, y'all could call up my mom's boyfriend, he'd be a million times better :P
"Why are you always in a club?!" is a legit question.
MILLIONS OF PEACHES
"This awful feeling that you have? People do get past it."
"DO NOT TELL PEOPLE YOU ARE IN A VIDEO CLUB."
posted by jenfullmoon at 6:37 AM on November 22 [4 favorites]