31/48

After recovering, the series returned to production

Narrative

A retired CIA agent is haunted by both the agency he worked for and his own nightmares when an unknown man pays him an unexpected visit after nearly three decades. Production was halted in March 2020 due to government restrictions. During that time, Jeff Bridges was diagnosed with and treated for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Bridges referred to the return as a “long weekend” on a podcast in July 2022.

In 6 months, Jeff Bridges will turn 73

He appeared at the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards (2024). In fact, he is an old man. His character makes those grunts from the effort of getting up in the morning, and you also hear a very sporadic stream of urine in the middle of the night. It all starts with Peter Bogdanovich’s seminal work, “The Last Picture Show.” Bridges has built an enviable career from a variety of carefully crafted roles, each truly unique and most of them more memorable than the last.

John Lithgow will be 77 in 4 months

He finally won the long-awaited Best Actor Oscar for “Crazy Heart” a few years ago, and last year we almost lost him to COVID-19. But he’s back as an aging ex-spy, and he’s perfect for the final complex chapter. Also an old man by the narrowest definition. Is he the obvious villain of the story, or perhaps he’s the hero?

Not to be missed

You can never be sure about a Lithgow character, and this one is no exception. The supporting roles of longtime pros like Amy Brenneman and Joel Grey are also well written and, of course, superbly executed. But make no mistake: this miniseries belongs entirely to the one and only Jeff Bridges. And, more broadly, to all of us who remain longtime fans more than half a century later. 9/10.