From the creators of "The Good Place" and "Parks and Recreation" comes a story that brings humor, mystery and emotional depth to a topic that touches millions: life after loss due to Alzheimer's disease.

Created by Michael Schur and starring Emmy-winning actor Ted Danson, "A Man on the Inside" is a Netflix original series inspired by the acclaimed Chilean documentary "The Mole Agent." The show follows Charles Nieuwendyk (Danson), a grieving widower whose wife died with Alzheimer's. After his daughter, Emily, urges him to find something to do with this time, Charles is hired by a private investigator to go undercover at a senior living facility. His assignment: observe and report on an alleged theft.

But the mission quickly becomes personal. As he adjusts to life inside the facility, Charles confronts the emotional weight of his grief and forms unexpected bonds with fellow residents — especially Gladys Montrose, a woman showing signs of cognitive decline.

Feeling seen

Danson credits the show's emotional power to its thoughtful writing and depth of its performances, including a standout role by Susan Ruttan as Gladys, a resident showing signs of cognitive decline and entering a specialized memory care facility. Her portrayal, he says, grounds the series in truth.

"If Susan had hit a false note, the audience would've gone, 'Oh, you're exploiting a serious condition just to tell a story,'" Danson said. "But she didn't. She was so spot-on and moving."

Opening conversations about aging

For Schur, part of the show's purpose is to normalize aging — and to foster open dialogue about the complexities that come with it.

"Aging is what happens if you're lucky," Schur said. "It doesn't make a lot of sense to me that we shy away from discussing it — in all its glory and all its difficulties."

The series also raises awareness about signs that are not a normal part of aging. Understanding what may be early signs of Alzheimer's is critical. Early detection and an accurate diagnosis offers families the best opportunity for access to new treatments and time to plan for care.

A multigenerational view of loss

A Man on the Inside" also explores grief through the lens of different generations, showing how one family processes shared loss in different ways.

"They shared a trauma. Emily lost her mom. Charles lost his wife," Schur said. "That needed to be a big part of the story."

He added: "In TV, the covenant you make with people is, if you invite us into your home, we'll tell a story that is worth telling — a story that will affect you in some way, will say something about the world, will have a point, a message, a meaning."

That meaning and purpose includes connecting with multiple generations of family members, addressing topics that families often find difficult to discuss.

The dream is to do all of that for everyone in the home, not just one generation or one aspect of the family, but the whole family," added Shur. 

Reducing stigma, one story at a time

When actors portray Alzheimer's accurately, with empathy and respect, it can break down barriers for families to have honest conversations.

"It's what I'd like to do with the rest of my career," Danson said. "Put things out in the world that are purposeful."

"A Man on the Inside" is now streaming on Netflix.

Editor's note: The Alzheimer's Association participated in a special awards screening event at the Motion Picture & Television Fund as part of Netflix's FYSEE LA Emmy Festival. Quotes in this article are shared with permission from the event's Q&A moderated by Variety's Michael Schneider.