A Man on the Inside ending leaves door open for season 2 case for Charles

If you thought A Man on the Inside would be a one case and done series, think again! Ted Danson could very well be back on the case as Charles Nieuwendyk in A Man on the Inside season 2 based on the exciting open-ended ending of the season 1 finale.

Before diving into what the future could hold for the new series from Parks and Recreation and The Good Place creator Michael Schur, let's get into a little background. After the death of his wife from Alzheimer's complications, Charles answers a newspaper ad to work with a private investigator and go undercover in a retirement home to uncover the thief behind a missing necklace.

The eight-episode first season takes a number of twists and turns as Charles learns the ropes of sleuthing and becomes acquainted with his new friends-slash-subjects at Pacific View. An unexpectedly emotional ride as well, A Man on the Inside reveals a world and characters rife with exploration amid an espionage backdrop, and season 2 could definitely happen.

Warning: Spoilers from A Man on the Inside ahead!

A Man on the Inside season 2 possible with season 1 cliffhanger

By the season 1 finale, the main mystery of A Man on the Inside is solved and completely wrapped up. There are no loose threads or questions left hanging about the thefts at the Pacific View retirement home after Charles uncovers that Gladys had been unknowingly and not maliciously swiping items due to the decline in her mental state from Alzheimer's disease.

However, after Charles makes amends with those he hurt by going undercover and returns to his normal life, though with a new lease on that life, he receives a phone call from Julie. She has accepted a "juicy" case that offers a lot of money, and he's the only one who can pull off the job.

"Say no more," he says before dramatically hanging up... and then calling her back. "Hey, sorry. I do need you to say more. But whatever it is, I'm in."

Charles puts his spy pocket square back in the front of his coat, signaling that he's ready to take on his next undercover challenge. A second season of A Man on the Inside would feature a whole new story with a mostly new cast. We likely wouldn't see the Pacific View staff or residents again, unless Charles drops by for a visit with his friends and buddy Calbert.

Danson would obviously return to lead the series in the event of a renewal from Netflix, and we could likely count on Mary Elizabeth Ellis to be back as Charles' daughter Emily. Lilah Richcreek Estrada would surely reprise her role as Charles' private investigator boss Julie.

If the first season hadn't resolved the Pacific View theft story, or if it had evolved into a new mystery at the retirement home, A Man on the Inside could have taken an Only Murders in the Building approach, though something more anthology based seems to be in the cards.

Still, even with the tease for a second season at the end of the first season's finale, the story doesn't have to continue. It's not a cliffhanger that keeps you guessing with questions you need answered. We don't need to see Charles' next adventure to know that he's walked into his newfound confidence and will go undercover again. Thus the brilliance of an open-ended finale.

Netflix generally tracks a new series' viewership performance over the course of its first week and month of release, and that includes the completion rate. The streamer has been announcing renewals about one month after premieres, though that can vary with comedies.

While a renewal could be revealed before the end of 2024, Netflix might not announce the decision until next year. We'll be sure to keep fans in the know on the show's fate.

Watch A Man on the Inside only on Netflix.