The Old Man is coming back to FX for its second season, and early reviews suggest it will keep the same mix of mystery and action that made Season 1 so memorable.
This show is another great addition to the action genre, similar to other movies where actors like Liam Neeson, Denzel Washington, and Aaron Eckhart have taken on new roles involving intense action scenes.
The lead in The Old Man is Jeff Bridges, who plays Dan Chase. Chase is a man living quietly with his two dogs. One night, his home is broken into, and Chase responds quickly and violently to the intruders.
Throughout Season 1, we learn about Chase’s past as a CIA agent and meet some old friends and enemies who are determined to capture him.
‘The Old Man’ Season 1: A Game of Cat and Mouse
A major plot point in Season 1 is that Chase is being chased by his former friend, Harold Harper (played by John Lithgow). Harper is now the FBI’s Assistant Director for Counterintelligence. The show reveals that Chase and Harper used to work together in the CIA on a mission in Afghanistan.
The effects of that mission are still felt today. Harper is supported by his team, including his protégé Angela Adams (Alia Shakwat), CIA officer Raymond Waters (E.J. Bonilla), and assassin Julian Carson (Gbenga Akinnagbe).
However, Harper doesn’t realize that Waters, Carson, and another agent, Mike (Echo Kellum), are working for Morgan Bote (Joel Grey), who has connections to both Chase and Harper.
Faraz Hamzad (Navid Negahban), a former Afghan warlord, is in charge of capturing Chase. Hamzad and Chase have a personal history, as Chase had fled to the U.S. with Hamzad’s wife, Belour (Leem Lubany).
Hamzad had discovered that Belour was giving information to Russian operatives during the war. When she refused to reveal the location of a valuable ore deposit, Hamzad threatened her life. Chase and Belour escaped to the U.S. with Harper’s help.
Angela Adams’ True Identity Is Revealed
Early in The Old Man, it is shown that Angela Adams is actually Chase’s daughter, Emily. Waters, Carson, and Mike try to exploit this relationship by taking Adams hostage and making a deal with Chase.
They tell Chase that if he turns himself over to Hamzad, Adams will be freed. Chase agrees to the deal, but when Carson sees suspicious figures approaching, he contacts Harper.
When Chase and Harper arrive, they find that Carson and Adams are gone, and Waters and Mike are dead. Chase then reveals that Hamzad’s obsession with him is because Belour was pregnant with Hamzad’s child, whom Chase raised as his own.
The core of The Old Man was Chase’s effort to protect his family from his past, but ultimately, the past catches up with him. Additionally, Harper is implicated in the murders of his own men, forcing him to flee with Chase.
Dan Chase Finds Love Again in ‘The Old Man’ Season 1
Aside from dealing with Harper and Hamzad, Chase spends time with Zoe McDonald (Amy Brenneman), a single mother.
Their chemistry is evident and adds depth to the story. However, Zoe eventually gets caught up in the conflict between Chase and Harper. Chase ends up giving her his dogs and saying goodbye.
Though Zoe’s fate seemed uncertain at the end of Season 1, executive producer Dan Shotz confirmed she will return for Season 2.
“Zoe will definitely be back. She’s a key piece of this story, a key connection for Dan. And Amy is such a brilliant actress and partner in this. We’re very excited about Zoe’s story going forward,” he told Deadline.
Challenges in Bringing ‘The Old Man’ to Screen
Creating The Old Man was challenging, according to showrunner Jonathan Steinberg. Season 1 was initially planned to have ten episodes but was reduced to seven due to a COVID-19 shutdown.
Additionally, Jeff Bridges faced health issues, including a cancer diagnosis and COVID-19, but he eventually returned to finish the season.
“Everybody showed such dedication and hung in. We finished it. I appreciate that,” Bridges said.
Despite these obstacles, The Old Man delivers a well-crafted spy thriller, with each episode featuring revelations and action scenes.
Bridges gives a powerful performance, and the show benefits from talented directors like Jon Watts, Greg Yaitanes, Jet Wilkinson, and Zetna Fuentes.
With strong performances and a solid novel by Thomas Perry as its base, The Old Man set a high standard in its first season. It remains to be seen if Season 2 will live up to that level of success.
The Old Man is returning for its second season on FX, continuing the blend of action and intrigue that made Season 1 popular.
The show stars Jeff Bridges as Dan Chase, a former CIA agent living quietly with his dogs until his past catches up with him.
In Season 1, Chase is pursued by his old friend Harold Harper (John Lithgow), now an FBI Assistant Director, and a team including Angela Adams (Alia Shakwat), who turns out to be Chase’s daughter.
Chase’s conflict with Harper is complicated by the involvement of Faraz Hamzad (Navid Negahban), a former Afghan warlord with a personal vendetta.
Despite behind-the-scenes challenges, including health issues for Bridges, the show delivers strong performances and action. Season 1 set a high bar, and fans are eager to see if Season 2 will continue the success.
Season 1 of The Old Man is available to stream on Hulu, and Season 2 premieres on FX on September 12.
