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Ricky Gervais' 'After Life' on Netflix is truly awful

142 replies

Lottapianos · 18/04/2022 17:15

I'm halfway through series 3 - you can't say I haven't done my research ☺️ I'm hypnotised by the awfulness. I think it's the most overrated load of claptrap since Gavin and Stacey. There's the odd very funny line and some great performances but dear god 🤦🏻

Main problems with it:

  • obviously just a vehicle for Ricky Gervais' misanthropic worldview
  • trite and sentimental
  • doesn't go anywhere, same scenes repeated endlessly (sitting on couch getting pissed, lying in bed watching old clips on laptop)
  • non stop misogyny - endless c-words and some truly vile lines from one character about how badly women stink and graphic sexual stuff
  • he and his wife (seen in flashback) are bloody annoying, always honking with laughter at his tedious antics. Nothing like any couple I have ever come across ever
  • lots of pointless characters seemingly there just to create a short role for Gervais' mates

I could go on! And yes of course I could just switch the damn thing off, but indulge me. Anyone else just not get it?

OP posts:
FourTeaFallOut · 18/04/2022 18:49

I don't mind RG, or any amount of swearing, it was just a series of episodes of him mooning-on making all the women around him do all the emotional labour for him. I kept waiting for anything to happen and hung on longer than I would normally because it was well received by others.

CapMarvel · 18/04/2022 18:45

Gervais is a massive twat, so I don't watch anything he is in.

Why would you give it any more headspace than that?

Boxowine · 18/04/2022 18:44

@Progess2019
Wtf is wrong with you, who are you to call someone a cunt? I'd say the same about you but you seem to lack both the beauty and the depth.

FourTeaFallOut · 18/04/2022 18:43

If I was Penelope Wilton I'd have my husband dug up and re-buried somewhere quiet.

SoothingAvy · 18/04/2022 18:41

I agree with you. I saw the first series and absolutely hated it. None of the characters made any sense and some of them had nothing to do apart from laughing at Gervais's jokes. I like some of RG's stuff but I think he needs Stephen Merchant to be any good.

Progress2019 · 18/04/2022 18:39

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bitchymcbitch · 18/04/2022 18:37

I loved it.

DragonOverTheMoon · 18/04/2022 18:36

I loved it but I like Ricky Gervais's humour.

Pumperthepumper · 18/04/2022 18:35

Back to Life was brilliant, I loved the mum and dad!

Gowithme · 18/04/2022 18:34

I started watching it and couldn't get past the first five minutes, enjoyed The Office (at the time, seems cringey now), Extras and the one where he works in the supermarket.

Bloody love Gavin and Stacey though.

ghostyslovesheets · 18/04/2022 18:32

It was okay but you are right they misogyny was grating - Back To Life on BBC 1 was much better

Neverreturntoathread · 18/04/2022 18:31

Eh? The Ricky Gervais show turns out to be a vehicle for Ricky Gervais? 😱

Maybe read the programme descriptions a bit more closely before you watch.

Blossomtoes · 18/04/2022 18:30

@StrictlyAFemaleFemale

Well tedious awful people still grieve. Grief does funny things and frankly its the most realistic depiction of grief Ive seen on screen. Everything else is totallyunrealistic hysterical wailing. Surely the whole point is that hes awful? Quite a lot of people are. RG is also quite open and unapologetic about going to the edge of what people think is acceptable and challenging boundaries with comedy. I think ots actually beautifully observed.
I agree. I loved it. Beautifully observed sums it up perfectly.
BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 18/04/2022 18:30

What comedies do you like OP?

Babyroobs · 18/04/2022 18:27

Loved first series but agree I'm thoroughly fed up with all the swearing etc by the third series.

Browniegal13 · 18/04/2022 18:26

I was widowed at 37. The first series really does show the utter insanity of loosing your partner so early in life. The lack of filter, telling people about it in completely inappropriate situations, doing mad, out of character things. All very relatable. The second and third series did not reflect things so well. Xx

TwoWayMirror · 18/04/2022 18:25

I’m really enjoying it, but then i’m currently grieving after recently losing someone to suicide so it hits different I suppose.

Can’t stand the therapist though but I think that’s the point.

TheDuchessOfMN · 18/04/2022 18:25

I didn’t mean to refer to Lisa as ex wife. That was a mistake and thoughtless of me

DomesticatedZombie · 18/04/2022 18:24

Agree, OP. I watched one or two episodes and quit. Sentimental and tedious, and under the impression using 'cunt' is the absolute ne plus ultra of comedy.

Feather12 · 18/04/2022 18:24

I love Ricky Gervais, but I am not that keen on After Life. It isn’t as clever as The Office, or as touching and insightful as Derek. I think it is a bit bland and clearly has an American audience in mind.

Fireblanket · 18/04/2022 18:24

Goodness, I thought I was the only one!
Series 1 was ok, but the following two were simply rehashing the same old stuff. RG's character didn't move on or develop. I felt it was just a vehicle for RG's stupendous ego.

Bootothegoose · 18/04/2022 18:23

First series was really good and I personally felt really encapsulated grief quite well. The sheer hopelessness of it all.

However, as the series progressed it became monotonous and repetitive. He was only excusably and arse for so long. I think the first 3/4 of series one are brilliant. After that it drops it's quality significantly.

I also agree his relationship with Lisa is irritating. I think it's to show how different he was pre and post her death. Always laughing vs suicidal.

SScoobiedoo · 18/04/2022 18:23

I mostly just watch series 1 of a prog - some are good some are not - but series 3 of anything is either a completely different set of actors and story line and often not nearly as good or if it's the same actors it's boring.

Boxowine · 18/04/2022 18:20

What kind of person gives a suicidal addict enough money to kill themselves and then act like it was no big deal, I wouldn't feel that way about a stray dog that was dying of natural causes that had to be put down. The character is a psychopath and his wife was probably glad to die to get away from him.

pennycrayon45 · 18/04/2022 18:18

@Grandmum1

Absolutely fantastic series . Ricky is a genius - you either get him or you don’t . You clearly don’t so would suggest you don’t watch anything else he’s done as you won’t like that either . Love him 💕
Disagree with this completely. I loved Derek and I would go as far as to say The Office is one of my favourite series of all time. Such clever writing, hilariously cringeworthy moments and characters that I was deeply invested in. It felt real whereas Afterlife just seems contrived and lazy. It's totally possible to like some of his work and dislike others Confused