S01.E02: The Man Who Knew Too Much About Bridges

[AnimeMania]

Charles charms his fellow residents at happy hour while finding his footing as a sleuth. But will a mysterious warning end the case before it even begins?

Premiere Date: November 21, 2024   Netflix   

[lucindabelle]

Loving this more and more. It’s a bit more sad than I wanted but not overwhelmingly so. The little dog is interesting and now he pats it. Love the three kids being more human at the end. 

[chaifan]

I am really liking this show.  A fun, new premise.  A perfect use of Ted Danson's dry comedy skills.  The cast of older actors is fabulous.  I don't know when I last saw Sally Struthers in something, but I'm loving her here.  And the scene of them all getting high was hilarious.  

The B plot with the daughter and her family isn't too bad, but it also seems a bit unnecessary.  I'd rather have more time devoted to the "mystery" than on her home life.  

[SunnyBeBe]

Loving this series!  Just discovered it. 

[shapeshifter]

On 11/23/2024 at 12:08 PM, chaifan said:

The B plot with the daughter and her family isn't too bad, but it also seems a bit unnecessary.  I'd rather have more time devoted to the "mystery" than on her home life.  

Yeah. Why not just have his daughter live a few hours away?

[chaifan]

10 hours ago, shapeshifter said:

Yeah. Why not just have his daughter live a few hours away?

I think she did live 2 hours away.  I should rephrase, though... I liked Emily and Charles together, I just didn't need the plot involving her home life - the husband and sons. 

[shapeshifter]

3 hours ago, chaifan said:

I think she did live 2 hours away.  I should rephrase, though... I liked Emily and Charles together, I just didn't need the plot involving her home life - the husband and sons. 

Yes. I agree, and I should have typed that she should live a plane flight away. 

I guess Emily and her family serve to tell us that Charles is not living a tragic lonely life apart from his detective shenanigans at the facility? Just that her busy family (3 kids with broken bones in one week!!! IRL CPS would be paying them a visit!) explains why she's not more involved in his life?

I'm about to start episode 6, and it's definitely written well enough that I assume Emily and her family will have some greater purpose even if it's just to tie it up like a bow. 

But still: It seems like the grandsons are old enough that they could have visited Charles and "helped" with the investigation rather than being sidelined with broken bones. 

 

BTW: The main characters in the assisted living facility are played by actors in their mid 70s, including Ted Danson. IRL they'd be 10 years older.

[Raja]

On 11/23/2024 at 9:08 AM, chaifan said:

I am really liking this show.  A fun, new premise.  A perfect use of Ted Danson's dry comedy skills.  The cast of older actors is fabulous.  I don't know when I last saw Sally Struthers in something, but I'm loving her here.  And the scene of them all getting high was hilarious.

I'm getting a kick out seeing the where are they now since the 70s-80s cast. Only really knowing her as Detective Diaz, Stephanie Beatriz falls into that category as Didi

While the Professor might not know about being a spy jumping in as the bartender was as worthy as Michael Weston of Burn Notice.

On 12/1/2024 at 10:21 AM, shapeshifter said:

Just that her busy family (3 kids with broken bones in one week!!! IRL CPS would be paying them a visit!) explains why she's not more involved in his life?

I was thinking adding the same before I opened the thread.

Edited December 3, 2024 by Raja

[Bastet]

On 12/1/2024 at 10:21 AM, shapeshifter said:

(3 kids with broken bones in one week!!! IRL CPS would be paying them a visit!)

It was at the same time, in the same trampoline incident.  Doctors would have no need to contact CPS for that.

My favorite part of this one was seeing the actors playing the other residents of the home.  Florence was Shug from The Color Purple!  It took me a minute to place where I recognized Elliot from, but then it came to me he was Robert's priest friend on Grace and Frankie.  Grant I recognized right away from an episode of Remington Steele.  And, of course, Sally Struthers, Susan Ruttan, and Veronica Cartwright.

[chediavolo]

On 12/1/2024 at 1:21 PM, shapeshifter said:

Yes. I agree, and I should have typed that she should live a plane flight away. 

I guess Emily and her family serve to tell us that Charles is not living a tragic lonely life apart from his detective shenanigans at the facility? Just that her busy family (3 kids with broken bones in one week!!! IRL CPS would be paying them a visit!) explains why she's not more involved in his life?

I'm about to start episode 6, and it's definitely written well enough that I assume Emily and her family will have some greater purpose even if it's just to tie it up like a bow. 

But still: It seems like the grandsons are old enough that they could have visited Charles and "helped" with the investigation rather than being sidelined with broken bones. 

 

BTW: The main characters in the assisted living facility are played by actors in their mid 70s, including Ted Danson. IRL they'd be 10 years older.

Not really. It’s more like a continuing care retirement home. 

[EtheltoTillie]

Looking at IMDB, so no spoilers but many of the names are hysterical.  Sam Ailmintz.   Matteo Torte Al formaggio.   

I suspect someone from the memory care unit may be involved. That would be a good cover. 

[Bastet]

I'm re-watching to revisit the little things I loved but forgot about by the end because of binge watching. 

The scene at breakfast where walking into the dining room as a new resident was just liking walking into the cafeteria as a new student was fantastically done.  That little move where he acted like he'd forgotten something and that's why he was leaving was the perfect touch.

I also crack up at the times -- happy hour is at 3:00, and 8:19 PM is an "after party".

[Bastet]

Another thing I love about this episode is how Virginia is  handled.  We know she's happy to see any new handsome, active man join the residents, but here I'm relieved to see she's not a caricature of being desperate to snag one of those men -- she's interested in Charles, but when he tells her he's not ready to date, she tells him about how long it took her after her husband's death ("and I didn't even like him all that much!") and says she understands.  That's it; she accepts it and invites him to stay and have dinner as friends.

I also like the shot of Florence helping her take down the updo she'd spent so much time on due to her bursitis.

Edited January 14 by Bastet