The Old Man (2022) * * * 1/2 (on FX/Hulu)

 

Starring:  Jeff Bridges, John Lithgow, Amy Brenneman, Bill Heck, Christopher Redman, E.J. Bonilla

If the first two episodes of FX's new series The Old Man are any indication, this will be a humdinger of a show.    The opening scenes show an old man waking up at various times during the night to weakly urinate.   We then learn this is all part of a recurring nightmare featuring his late wife.   His phone calls to his daughter ominously refer to a past which he would rather keep hidden.   Doctor visits and walking two large, loyal Rottweilers are part of his routine, which is soon shattered when a man breaks into his home in the middle of the night.   The man shoots the intruder, who is armed with a gun with a silencer, and then flees after police ask too many questions about what seems to be a home invasion.

The man is Dan Chase (Bridges), who we learn was once a CIA operative who has killed many people many years ago.   Chase isn't his real name, but we suspect the latest in a long line of aliases used by a man in hiding for thirty years.   Chase calls his daughter to let her know he's on the run again and we figure this is not the first time they've had this conversation.   Then Chase receives another call from a friend from the CIA days, Harold Harper (Lithgow), who warns Chase the feds are closing in on him, likely at the behest of an Afghan warlord who did business with Chase and Harper many years back.  Harper and Chase have a respect and a history, both of which would rather have it buried, but it is now seeing the light of day.   

Harper offers Chase a chance to disappear.  If he doesn't, Harper will find Chase's daughter and put the screws to her as a way of bringing Chase into the light.   Chase refuses, which isn't the answer Harper was looking for.   Harper simply wants to return to his home and tend to his grieving grandchild who recently lost his parents.   The phone call sets up the entire story and the complex relationship between Chase and Harper.   Neither wants to be in this predicament, but each must act according to their natures.   Flashbacks in the second episode have Chase played by Bill Heck and Harper played by Christopher Redman.  Each captures the spirit and behaviors of their older selves as younger men.  

Chase can certainly defend himself, as we witness during a long, tiring fight with a younger agent tasked with capturing him.   Chase is no John Wick.   He is not indefatigable or immune to pain.  When the fight is over, Chase finds another place to hide to heal and figure out his next move.   Another fight like that may kill him.   It exhausted me just watching it.   Chase rents out a room from a lonely, troubled divorcee (Brenneman) with her own troubles.   It is here where Chase's sensitive nature takes over, consoling her while showing off his culinary skills.   A romance will likely take place, which wouldn't be in either person's best interests.  

What we sense from watching The Old Man is the personal stakes involved.   Bridges and Lithgow both expertly handle the nuances and dimensions of their characters, with many more to come now that events of the past rear their ugly heads.   They do things they don't necessarily want to do, but must to protect what they value most.   For Chase, it's his daughter.   For Harper, it's to avoid having to explain his actions from decades ago involving the warlord.   At the end of episode two, we see just how far Harper will go to keep his secrets.   

The Old Man isn't simply about one old man, but two, both with their pasts and both trying to forge a path forward as their worlds prepare to crush them.   Bridges and Lithgow are wonderful actors with a history of award-winning performances between them.   We may be seeing a couple more here in this riveting new series.