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

[Lottapianos]

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?

Same too. Not a massive fan of RG but I found it honest and touching.
I watched all 3 series and cried and laughed. It dealt with life after death very openly I thought.
And let's not forget the main star....Brandy the dog!! 🙂
For those of us who have been saved by dogs, it was relatable.

Absolutely loved it, the best portrayal of grief I've ever seen.

I related to a lot of what Lisa said in her videos, I have cancer and I have worried about how my family would cope if I died. Not that I am all that but I am definitely the glue that holds us together.

I thought it showed well that grief is not linear and people are complex. The easy way would have been a happy ever after but life is rarely like that.

Reading with interest.

On the face of it, I should hate After Life.

• I really don't like RG (person or actor)
• I don't like this style of humour
• Generally dislike use of c-word
• Not mad about The Office

Many of the scenes & plot lines, as described, don't appeal to me at all. Like, yes, I found the endless pranks on his wife incredibly annoying.

BUT

I somehow loved it. Loath as I am to admit it, I think if captured the essence of grief brilliantly; RG character was incredibly moving & I laughed & cried.

I could logically point out a million flaws with it, like other posters have said. But emotionally, I loved it.

(And especially Roisin Conaty's character & Julian's storyline)

let's not forget the main star....Brandy the dog!!

Oh yes!

At least it's not as bad as Derek. Now that really was dire.

Gervais on his own leans heavily towards sentimental in my opinion. It was Merchant who gave him a bit of edge. Neither have made projects apart that are as good as their projects together.

I also make, without comment, the observation that everyone I know who loved After Life is a bit thick not as deep-thinking as they could be.

I loved it. Then again I liked gavin and Stacey too. It's just not your thing OP. I can't believe you've got to series 3 when you don't like it.. why not just switch it off? I start countless series and stop - so many choices, why keep suffering through?

lets not forget the main star....Brandy the dog!!

Oh my god yes, Brandy. What a gorgeous creature. Completely fell in love with her.

@BurnDownTheDiscoHangTheDJ

Gervais on his own leans heavily towards sentimental in my opinion. It was Merchant who gave him a bit of edge. Neither have made projects apart that are as good as their projects together.

I also make, without comment, the observation that everyone I know who loved After Life is a bit thick not as deep-thinking as they could be.

Well don’t you sound lovely.

I am not a massive RG fan but I do think he caught something about grief that just about every TV show & film has failed to capture. How it is grim, unrelenting, it doesn’t go away as life goes on and people move on and it can make you behave like a twat. It is not heroic or picturesque or solved by finding new love.

But then, I’m obviously a bit thick.

I am not a massive RG fan but I do think he caught something about grief that just about every TV show & film has failed to capture. How it is grim, unrelenting, it doesn’t go away as life goes on and people move on and it can make you behave like a twat. It is not heroic or picturesque or solved by finding new love.

That's excellently put HeadNorth. I agree & that's what came through to me from Afterlife too, despite some challenges I had with the plot / characterisation.

I also make, without comment, the observation that everyone I know who loved After Life is a bit thick not as deep-thinking as they could be.

How utterly patronising & insulting. 😡

I agree. Absolute rubbish. I only lasted, maybe the first episode? Maybe two.

I thought After Life was ok...just ok. I've never been a huge fan of RG, but I quite enjoyed series 1 - not enough to bother with series 2 or 3 though.

Gavin & Stacey is just fucking DIRE though. I hate the whole lot of them, except Gavin's moron friend who learns Welsh for the stag do. That was the only funny bit in all three series. And while we're on the subject of unfunny Welsh comedies involving Ruth 'Hilarious' Jones ,bloody, bloody Stella is just the worst ever.

My DD loves both these series, hence why I have sat through all of them.

There were both good and bad things about it, for me.

Got a bit same-y after a while.

Diane Morgan scene crying at yoga was fantastic.

Diane Morgan scene crying at yoga was fantastic.

Yes. Brilliant. Really heartbreaking.

@EarringsandLipstick

I am not a massive RG fan but I do think he caught something about grief that just about every TV show & film has failed to capture. How it is grim, unrelenting, it doesn’t go away as life goes on and people move on and it can make you behave like a twat. It is not heroic or picturesque or solved by finding new love.

That's excellently put HeadNorth. I agree & that's what came through to me from Afterlife too, despite some challenges I had with the plot / characterisation.

@HeadNorth that's just it. You have to take AL for what it is. Most of the characters aren't supposed to be like real life people, but they do all have attributes and show emotions that we all experience. Its cartoony in places, but it's supposed to be. I'm not thick, as another poster has so nicely said about fans of this show, and neither are my friends who love it too. I just enjoyed watching something that made me laugh and cry and did so in a way nothing really had before.

We enjoyed it.

We loved it. Especially the last episode of the final series. Shed a good few tears. But I could def see why some people wouldn’t! I have a love hate feeling about him - he is dry but I don’t like it when he is crude etc.

I do find a lot of it intelligent writing though.

Also totally admire him for his work with animal welfare in real life!!

Just turn it off if you don’t like him/it and find something else

It’s annoying because there is the odd episode that is brilliant. Penelope Wilton is excellent, and there were some scenes in series one that really got me, either because they were very funny or very moving. The scenes in the old people’s home are usually good.

But then there’ll be the coarse, misogynistic stuff (the therapist and his mates, for example) and I just can’t bear it. Also agree about the flashbacks of his wife. Why did they film everything? And what’s with the air horn? So not funny or cute.

I wish it was all as good as the good bits.

I like Ricky Gervais a lot! He’s my mind of celeb, loves animals, is not fake. But…I could not get on board with After Life. Watched the first few episodes and my review is the same as yours. Hate it!

Penelope Wilton is excellent

Funnily enough, although I really like her normally, I didn't in AL, and also found her scenes with RG irritating. Tho did like that in those scenes we saw a kinder, sweeter RG, in a reflective mode.

@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 💕

You couldn't be more wrong. The Office is my favourite thing that's ever been on telly. I watch it in its entirety every year and think it is a masterpiece. Also love Extras.

I quite liked it. I’m someone living with cancer myself so it was an interesting lens through which to view it.

However, I too hated the psychiatrist/therapist bloke (and his mates when they appeared), but I saw it as lampooning that type of toxic, inadequate man and his misogyny.

The character that actually got under my skin was Kath (Diane Morgan).

Someone above mentioned the Yoga scene where she just breaks down. Her brittle loneliness and desperation to keep it hidden hits home. I think it plays to the shame many single women feel of being lonely, of feeling isolated, at not having close family or friends or ‘someone’.