Inside Man
Kids say
Based on 2 reviews
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Inside Man
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Inside Man is a British crime series that revolves around a vicar (played by David Tennant) and explores the consequences of bad choices and other moral questions. Violence includes characters in peril, discussion of murder, and various threats. A character dies by suicide. A flash drive containing child pornography plays a large role in the plot, and sex and porn are discussed though nothing is shown. Language includes "s--t," "f--k," and "bastard."
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What's the Story?
An American senator visits death row to get advice from former criminology professor-now-convicted murderer Jefferson Grieff (Stanley Tucci). Meanwhile, in England, charming local vicar Harry Watling (David Tennant, Doctor Who) is keeping busy with his flock, but when a troubled parishioner pleads with Watling to hide his hard drive from a prying mother, life begins to unravel. A series of misunderstandings leads to a math tutor (Dolly Wells) being locked in a basement and the potential for further crimes. Journalist Beth Davenport (Lydia West) ties these two worlds together.
Is It Any Good?
Packed to the gills with world-class actors, this series is unfortunately a bit too on-the-nose. Inside Man can't figure out what it wants to be: a dark comedy, social satire, or soap opera. The point this series attempts to make is that a few poor decisions can change a good person into a devil instantaneously, but it's telegraphed way too broadly, leaving viewers with little sympathy. It's almost fun to watch Tucci ham it up as a Hannibal Lecter-esque killer, but his flip banter about good and evil quickly becomes tiresome and full of cliches.
The choices made by Tennant's vicar (reminiscent of William H. Macy's hapless car salesman turned-criminal in Fargo) are remarkably stupid and strain credulity, Even for viewers used to over-the-top crime capers. While the action is swift and the dialogue witty, Inside Man has an identity problem that even its great cast can't quite fix.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the tone of this series. How do you feel about how the death row murderers/sleuths are presented? Do you think comic relief is appropriate given the subject matter? Why or why not?
What do you think about the idea that everyone has a murderer inside them? How do the main characters prove or disprove this theory?
TV Details
- Premiere date: October 31, 2022
- Cast: David Tennant, Dolly Wells, Stanley Tucci
- Network: Netflix
- Genre: Drama
- TV rating: TV-MA
- Last updated: January 15, 2023
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