What’s it rated? TV-MA
When? 2022
Where’s it showing? Hulu
Developed by Robert Levine and Jonathan E. Steinberg based on Thomas Perry’s 2017 novel of the same name, The Old Man is the perfect showcase for Jeff Bridges, the 72-year-old heartthrob whose charisma hasn’t diminished with age. His Dan Chase is a man with secrets, and the series goes back and forth in time to the young Dan Chase (Bill Heck) working as a field operative in the Middle East, where he disobeys orders.
After the death of his beloved wife, Chase is living a quiet life in Upstate New York with his two dogs. He keeps in contact with his daughter, Emily Chase (Alia Shawkat), who understands her father’s past and knows the potential danger he could be in if found out. In the first episode, the unthinkable happens, and Chase is on the run.
Propulsive and action-packed, this is a terrific series about a changed man who has to reach back into his past to revive his deadly skills. When Chase is hand-to-hand fighting to stay alive, the audience feels his vulnerability. The series also stars John Lithgow as Raymond Waters, Chase’s former handler, who has his own secrets to protect. This is compelling stuff. (eight approximately one-hour episodes)
This article appears in Jul 14-24, 2022.