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Mike Schur makes sitcom magic. The brainchild behind beloved comedies like Parks and Recreation, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and The Good Place, he brought some of that magic to Netflix with his latest series, A Man on the Inside, starring Good Place star Ted Danson. With such a track record under his belt and a solid reception for the first season, would the second season be able to keep that spark going? Although it doesn’t hit the same emotional highs as the first season, A Man on the Inside Season 2 remains a charming mystery comedy that showcases Danson’s comedic chops. Its warm characters and new collegiate location provide a different kind of cozy atmosphere as Charles sinks his teeth into a new puzzle that will keep him on his toes.
What Is ‘A Man on the Inside’ Season 2 About?
Charles Nieuwendyk is back on the case in A Man on the Inside Season 2. After solving the mystery of the missing ruby necklace, he continues to work with Julie Kovalenko (Lilah Richcreek Estrada) on cases at her private investigation agency. When the president of Wheeler College, Jack Berenger (Max Greenfield), loses his $400 million laptop, Charles gets another opportunity to go undercover, this time as a professor. His latest investigation tangles him with the likes of the faculty and the college’s most renowned graduate, billionaire Brad Vinick, played by Gary Cole.
College is often viewed as the place where young adults prepare for adulthood and discover who they are and what they want their lives to be. However, A Man on the Inside Season 2 makes a case that self-discovery can be found at any age. After graduating from Pacific View Retirement Community, so to speak, Wheeler College provides a unique setting for Charles to continue to explore life after the loss of his wife, Victoria; he, too, is like a freshman, hoping to discover who he will become over the course of this new undercover case. His circle of community continues to deepen, and that’s no small part due to familiar faces from Pacific View, his daughter Emily (Mary Elizabeth Ellis), and the Wheeler College staff.
Mary Steenburgen Is a Welcome Addition to ‘A Man on the Inside’ Season 2
One of the new faces joining A Man on the Inside‘s world is Mary Steenburgen as Mona, an unfettered music teacher at Wheeler. Despite how long they’ve been together, real-life couple Danson and Steenburgen have rarely starred opposite each other — so it was a delightful surprise when it was announced Steenburgen would be joining the cast as Charles’ romantic interest for Season 2. Together, Danson and Steenburgen channel their real-life chemistry for Charles and Mona, playing off each other well and capturing a lovely “later in life” romance onscreen.
Besides the sparks in this relationship, Mona is a catalyst for change for those around her, particularly Charles and Emily. The grief of losing Victoria is never going to leave them, but Mona gives them opportunities to change. After spending time trying to keep their heads above water and survive, Season 2 marks the chapter where they get to live again. Mona is also a delightful agent of chaos, particularly in Season 2, Episode 5, “Thanksgiving Break.” This type of difference in personality is, at times, a shock to Charles, but it helps him grow more into this new phase of his life. Overall, Steenburgen slips right into the series and ultimately stands out as a fun, new presence in Charles’ life.
‘A Man on the Inside’ Fails To Naturally Work Its Season 1 Characters Into a New Story
What made A Man on the Inside Season 1 so charming was its location and characters. Alongside Charles, viewers discovered community at Pacific View, putting a spotlight on emotionally rich characters with deeply relatable storylines. Even though Charles goes back undercover on a college campus, his relationships with the friends he made at Pacific View still continue. Unfortunately, Season 2 doesn’t justify most of these characters’ involvement. Rather than feeling organic, their presence distracts from the new plot, getting in the way of Wheeler’s professors and their depth. As hilarious as Virginia (Sally Struthers) and Elliott (John Getz) continue to be, they ultimately slow down the season’s momentum.
This can also be said of Stephanie Beatriz’s Didi. Another collaborator of Schur’s, Beatriz brought an earnestness and compassion to the heavier themes of aging, memory loss, and death. Didi still brings that, but her Season 2 arc is tied more to Julie, and much of her personal development stagnates as a result. Unlike other pairings and relationships in the series, the pacing of the season, as well as Beatriz’s limited screentime, works against these two women. There’s definitely space for more of Julie and Didi in a future third season, and it has potential to grow into a compelling dynamic, but in Season 2, it’s not earned the same way.
“We’re Falling in Love”: Ted Danson Opens up About Working With His Real-Life Wife on ‘Man on the Inside’ Season 2
It’s not the first time they’ve worked together either!
The only Season 1 character who does successfully add to the new season is Calbert Graham, played by Stephen McKinley Henderson. Calbert became a meaningful friend to Charles last season, and their dynamic continues to deepen in Season 2. When Charles starts to have feelings for Mona, he confides first to his friend over a game of backgammon. When Calbert faces his share of health concerns, Charles is by his side. Calbert even comes over to Charles’ house for Thanksgiving festivities. These two men have come to be significant in each other’s lives, and they’re a testament to the importance of friendship.
‘A Man on the Inside’ Season 2 Is a Heartfelt Love Letter To Family
Season 1’s retirement community setting was charming and endearing, and Season 2’s collegiate backdrop carries the same inviting atmosphere. Like Pacific View, the faculty at Wheeler College are in their sixties and seventies, teaching at the school for decades. From the pretentious Dr. Cole (David Strathairn) to the frazzled Provost, Holly Bodgemark (Jill Talley), they are all bound by their love of higher education. When Wheeler’s future is threatened because of this missing laptop, they rally for the school and for each other. Family, both biological and chosen, is also at the heart of A Man on the Inside. As Charles and Emily continue to connect and figure out their father-daughter relationship without Victoria, Julie begins to confront her contentious relationship with her mother, Vanessa (Constance Marie). Season 2 really takes the time to peel back Julie’s hardened layers with her mom, as she is initially resistant to letting her back into her life. Julie and Vanessa are given nuance and space to figure out what they can mean to each other moving forward, and it largely works.
A Man on the Inside Season 2 mostly succeeds in delivering another solid installment of this delightfully cozy mystery series. While the overarching mystery is a bit more predictable, Season 2 makes up for it with smart humor, emotional character development, and an emphasis on community. With its autumnal aesthetic, A Man on the Inside‘s return makes for the perfect watch during Thanksgiving, with Charles Nieuwendyk and his pocket square worth going back to for seconds.
A Man on the Inside Season 2 premieres November 20 on Netflix.
