EntertainmentStreamingDisney Plus series The Old Man is a spy classic in the makingJeff Bridges is more than just an old dude in this Disney Plus thrillerWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
EntertainmentStreamingDisney Plus series The Old Man is a spy classic in the makingJeff Bridges is more than just an old dude in this Disney Plus thrillerWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
Jeff Bridges is more than just an old dude in this Disney Plus thriller
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Disney)
(Image credit: Disney)
The Old Man is a new seven-part limited series onDisney Plus, one of thebest streaming servicesright now. It sees Jeff Bridges (The Big Lebowski) and John Lithgow (3rd Rock From the Sun) go head-to-head in a modern-day spy thriller. It’s no Bourne or Bond but these two legends on the small screen make this a very watchable show.
What is The Old Man about?
Dan Chase is old. He struggles to put his socks on, he visits his doctor with mysterious and undiagnosed ailments, he feeds his dogs and he spends his days alone in an empty house that mirrors his internal monologue. Recovering from the death of his wife he is an image of stoic isolation, separated from the world and with only the occasional phone call from an unseen daughter as human company.
Dan chase can also kill. In fact, only when killing does Dan Chase show the true nature of his character.
(Image credit: Disney)
(Image credit: Disney)
The Old Man storyline
There is a Spanish proverb that states, ‘A restful old age is the reward for a youth well spent’ and in this we see the crux of the problem for Dan Chase. His youth was not well spent. We see a younger dan in the 80s (a fantastic Bill Heck giving his best Bridges) at war with the Soviets on behalf of the CIA. We see him fighting alongside and ultimately betraying the Afghan warlord Hamzad who he pledged to follow. We watch him kill and torture and kidnap all in the name of a nation that is unaware of his very existence.
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Running parallel to this is the story of Harold Harper (Lithgow). A CIA handler back in the 80s and now forced to hunt and kill his greatest asset and friend. A calm and calculated man with influence and reach, Harper straddles the lines of doing his duty and still after 40 years trying to protect the very man he is targeting. The relationship between the two men is complicated, fully realised and serves as a solid backbone to the show.
The rest of the ensemble cast make up what could be described as the women in Dan Chase’s life. His wife Abbey Chase, shown in sequential flashbacks (Hiam Abbass and Leem Lubany), His secret daughter Angela Adams (Alia Shawkat) and his new partner Zoe (Amy Brenneman). These characters and the time spent on them do flesh out the story but also in many ways feels like a bolt-on to what is effectively a two-man show.
Notably from episode four onwards with a change in writers, there is a greater emphasis paid to them and the merging of the women into one seemingly focused strand that instead of adding to the story seems to detract from what the viewer grew to love in the first three episodes. Less Bridges and Lithgow does not a story make.
(Image credit: Disney)
(Image credit: Disney)
Why should I watch The Old Man?
The key to The Old Man is Bridges as Dan Chase. He gives an outstanding performance as a haunted and deeply complicated man. Many have described him as being ‘fragile’ but I did not see this at all. Despite his age and physical decline, it is obvious that Chase is still lethal, cunning, determined and fully capable of doing anything and everything necessary to survive. Bridges gives Chase an air of grace, intelligence and sadness that comes from a lifetime of outstanding stage and screen work. This is his show, completely.
Lithgow, as you would expect, is perfect in his role. Solid, determined, disciplined, focused and utterly ruthless. It’s the best TV role for him since his season four role as Arthur Mitchell in Dexter and it is always great to see him, especially when bouncing against someone like Bridges.
The direction, cinematography and sound are all solid. The script, especially in the first three episodes, is sharp and well paced and the show only seems to lose focus a little after episode four, with the poor decision to delve more into the surrounding characters and some overlong flashback scenes in Afghanistan. While these do help to drive the narrative forward I could not help but feel they took away from what I really enjoyed in the show, the cat-and-mouse drama between a focused Dan Chase and a determined Harold Harper.
(Image credit: Disney)
(Image credit: Disney)
How can I watch it?
The Old Man is available now on Disney Plus in the UK and Hulu in the US. Considering the huge levels of talent on screen is well worth a watch.
Today’s best Disney+ dealsDisney+ Annual Premium$139.99/yearViewatDisney+
Today’s best Disney+ dealsDisney+ Annual Premium$139.99/yearViewatDisney+
Today’s best Disney+ dealsDisney+ Annual Premium$139.99/yearViewatDisney+
Today’s best Disney+ deals
Disney+ Annual Premium$139.99/yearViewatDisney+
Disney+ Annual Premium$139.99/yearViewatDisney+
Disney+ Annual Premium$139.99/yearViewatDisney+
Disney+ Annual Premium
Disney+ Annual Premium
$139.99/yearView
$139.99/year
$139.99/year
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atDisney+
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