Mr Inbetween

Bits of unsuspected violence are cut with moments of utter absurdity. It’s surprising and intriguing, but Nash Edgerton’s unassuming vision is also a thoughtful evaluation of an ugly world where violence is the accepted norm.

There’s a bit of an imbalance in Mr. Inbetween in that it feels like Ryan and Edgerton are way more interested in Ray’s violent world than his domestic one, although that alone makes it unusual as most of these shows focus on "rehabbing" their bad guys more than this one does. The show comes to life most often when Ray finds himself in dangerous situations.

Ryan is great, but Mr. Inbetween never manages to land on one side of the fence or the other as far as whether Ray is actually the force of justice that he seems to think himself to be. ... But given how trim it is, Mr. Inbetween is charming enough, and Ryan’s performance shouldn’t be missed.

The balance between dread and deadpan laughs is adroitly maintained, and there’s an appealingly casual, improvisatory vibe.

The killer with a heart of gold isn’t a new trope. ... But Mr. Inbetween gives it a fresh and funny going over.

Mr. Inbetween functions less as a thriller than a character study, often enough as a comedy, and occasionally as a critique of toxic masculinity. Indeed, it comes most alive in scenes where nothing much is happening, in a way that nevertheless holds your interest.

Mr Inbetween is a modest time killer as those go these days. The entire season clocks in at under three hours, divided into efficient half-hour segments, two of which debuted last week. Its shortened length in no way shortchanges the viewer, though (Purveyors of extended hour-long episodic bloat, please take note). That said, whether you love Mr Inbetween or are turned off by it hinges upon Ryan’s rendering of Ray.

It doesn’t mine that “inbetween” state as much as it could, relying on Ryan’s deft performance to do most of the work. ... Mr. Inbetween lacks a particular plot arc or a central dilemma to sustain its story. What it offers instead is a conundrum, complicated by Ryan’s charisma and the woeful state of the men who surround Ray.

Indecisiveness puts Mr Inbetween a notch below Barry and Killing Eve, but it’s an entertaining--and mercifully concise--watch.