User Reviews

After Life is a wonderful series because it understands something very difficult: grief does not automatically turn anyone into a good person. Tony is destroyed by the death of his wife, but he is also full of anger, selfishness, cruelty and a dangerous freedom to say anything he wants. Ricky Gervais builds a character who can be a bastard, yes, but he never reduces him to that. Beneath every attack, every brutal line and every unpleasant gesture, there is the enormous emptiness of someone who no longer knows how to stay **** mix of drama and comedy works because Gervais does not fully separate one from the other. In After Life, you laugh at savage lines, uncomfortable situations, absurd people and characters who are pathetic and tender at the same time. But then the series turns slightly, a video of Lisa appears, or a conversation in the cemetery, or the dog looking at Tony, or a simple sentence, and it destroys you. That is its strength: it moves from cruelty to tears without asking permission.Ricky Gervais is enormous here. He is one of the great comedians working today, probably the sharpest when it comes to dismantling hypocrisy, fake sentimentality and social stupidity. But here he adds something else: real vulnerability. Tony uses sarcasm as a shield, as a weapon and as an excuse. He hurts people because he is broken, and although that does not justify him, it does help us understand him. The series does not try to turn him into a saint; it shows a broken man slowly learning not to destroy everything he still has **** best thing is that After Life talks about grief without turning it into a clean lesson. Grief here is repetitive, unfair, vulgar, ridiculous and cruel. One day it seems you can breathe, and the next day you are back in the hole. The series captures very well that absurd coexistence between the ordinary and the unbearable: going to work, talking to idiots, feeding the dog, visiting a grave, watching old videos and pretending the world has not ended when, for you, it **** is also true that the series has flaws. Sometimes it underlines its ideas too much, some supporting characters work more as moral mirrors for Tony than as complete characters, and certain lines feel written to be shared. But even that is part of its nature. After Life is not looking for perfect subtlety; it is trying to touch a very specific nerve. And it does. Many **** the end, what remains is not only Gervais’s sharpness or his brutal humor. What remains is love. Lost love, remembered love, love that still hurts because it has nowhere to go. After Life makes you laugh, makes you uncomfortable and ends up making you cry over everything: Lisa, Tony, the dog, lonely people, small gestures of kindness. A beautiful series about continuing to live when all you want is to stay still beside what you have lost.

Heart-wrenching and tear-jerking. I probably shouldn't be watching it in my current state of mind, but it's SO engaging. I find myself shocked by how good RG's acting is. Even though it's fully in his wheelhouse, because it IS straight-up Ricky Gervais, I still find the quality of his acting quite surprising. I hope I don't run into him, because I'm afraid I'll smack him. So much gut-twisting pain, so many tears he's causing me, but the show is too engaging to give it up. The newspaper interviews are weird & funny, and there is some very dry humor, but it is very emotional, and it's not an RG stand-up routine, so be prepared.

I find this series one of the best series of the last 10 years. It's comedy gold, so well-written and acted, and one of the saddest series I have ever watched. Multiple episodes had me in full tears, and more had me with that thick feeling in your throat of pure sadness. This is the only show that I would say is nearly perfect, from episode 1 to the ending, the show is excellent. The Critic score of 57 is criminally low, and proves to me that critic reviews mean absolutely nothing.

A touching blend of grief and humor, After Life is heartfelt, raw, and beautifully acted.

En serio, como pueden darle 57, menuda gentuza los críticos, seguro que les sigue doliendo el discurso de Ricky

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

Came to the show after watching Cunk on Earth, and found it to be surprisingly touching and funny. Wouldn't have considered myself a huge fan of Gervais prior to watching After Life, but he won me over. The lessons are superficial, but Ricky is bold enough to risk offending the audience in ways that really pay off. Those who are triggered by his persona are likely to fume at this material, but there is some genuine humanity here.

Heartbreaking, hilarious, honest, & reflective. I've lost loved ones - my dog, who happened to be my best friend & love of my life. And although it's been years now past, the pain & overwhelming heartache feels like it was just yesterday. They say, the sorrow reflects the great love of the heart - & I'll forever gratefully accept it for the time I had with her but it will always hurt nonetheless. Ricky Gervais as Tony, with his best friend Brandy the Dog, shows that intrinsic connection of honesty & compassion that those of us who are/were lucky enough to have experienced. After Life is real life in every shape & form. From the oddities, strangeness, peculiar, lost, compassionate, complex characters & their time spent together however fleeting or the Tambury Gazette articles written about them - Ricky Gervais has created one of the absolute best poignant shows of all time & I'm greatly grateful for it. Thank you Ricky Gervais, After Life is truly one of a kind.

Rarely does a TV show make me want to reevaluate my life. But, as Joni Mitchell sings “Both Sides Now,” I watched the series finale of the most profoundly moving “After Life, ” in tears. Rarely has a TV series (or even a movie, actually) encompass grief and loss with the sublime possibility of hope, juxtaposed with joy, empathy, and humanity (and laughter at the most inappropriate circumstances) as palpable or as moving or as richly as this brilliant show. The cast is splendid, and Ricky Gervais - genius, creator, writer and director - has created a hauntingly beautiful - and painfully funny, tone poem. It’s on Netflix, and you really need to watch it. It just might have you reevaluating YOUR own life.

Series 1: -7/10- Great character building. Gervais makes a seemingly boring town an interesting place for the series. Seres 2: -8/10- Nothing really changes but it's still an enjoyable show with likeable characters.

I was intrigued at the beginning to see where the story would go: it goes nowhere. Literally nowhere, the characters have literally no purpose, no interest, no growth, no depth, and the backstory is just miserable. It's like watching paint drying for hours and then suddenly, touching it, and it's dry. Or it's like a dog chewing up his own leg. It's like the epitome of nothingness, real pathetic.

Ricky seemed to have learned from the first two seasons and added more character development -however hasty and aimless that was. The other characters seem to exist only to give Tony pep talks, reminding him that he's a good guy. We the viewers don't see the proof of this til the last episode where he is sappy and In my opinion, uncharacteristically giving. If Gervais wanted to prove he could write or direct or star in something other than a comedy, then he has. I Just don't understand the need to do all at once, with such heavy handed sentimentalism. I finished the show, but Good Grief, I'm glad it's over.

Laughed and cried. And then it ended and cried more. The depression and views are also very relatable. A potentially biased review, but it actually made me create an account on this website, even. Worth it.

When I started watching After Life on Netflix, I had no idea that it would take a special place in my heart, and Ricky Gervais did it. Now I’m crying after the last episode of After Life 3, truly masterpiece. So poignant and I will cherish the show for ever! Thank you, Ricky ️

I loved this series most for its characters, all so distinctly drawn, and for its insistence on pulling no punches emotionally. There's a courage to that in a world as cynical as ours, with the danger of being judged as sentimental and "uncool." Well, to me it was very cool indeed, and refreshing, to watch a sense of humanity in almost every character, and a sense of wondering what it all means even as Tony does. The only flaw, in my opinion, is in "almost" every character. There's a ridiculously inappropriate macho therapist who pops up far too much; artistically it's redundant (we get the idea!), but more than that, it made me uncomfortable to have this much-needed profession portrayed so very negatively. Other than that, however, I have nothing but admiration and appreciation for Ricky Gervais in writing and directing this. It's beautifully cast, with concise and honest writing, and punctuated by a range of gorgeous songs. This show is unafraid to ask the most universal questions, and in doing so, it's ultimately so very HUMAN. Thank you, Mr. Gervais. I hate to see it end, but you're right: Life does go on. (sigh ...)

Series 1 is excellent throughout. Series 2 starts and ends well but the middle episodes are somewhat pointless. Series 3 has a few great moments but is mostly offensive and rudderless

It is an amalgam of feelings spread over each of the episodes. A journey of thoughts, memories and experiences that only Ricky can tell in his own way.

A brilliant show with great writing and acting by the main character. You will laugh, cry and cringe throughout the entire season and at the end you will want more.

I started watching this with extreme skepticism, as I'm not into dark and gloomy existential shows. I was wrong. Even though it is a bit dark on the surface, it uses an extremely clever and witty writing to bring up life, love, hope and joy. Congrats on all the people involved in it's creation.

It's a complete tv show with characters not so deepers but such interesting, a nice looking about the duel, depression and the sadness but it can make you laugh. High Recommended.

After Life is one of my favourite Ricky Gervais performances. He shows that he can do both comedy and drama acting and combine them into a lovely mix.

Ricky Gervais wrote this series, and that's evident from every moment of it. If you're a fan of Gervais, that's a good thing. But it's just too evident that he made it, at the end of the day.

Deep and touching mixed with strambotic humor makes it something very original. But don't be fouled, the human drama behind its far more important and it leaves amazing life leasons. Give yourself time to watch this and you won't regret it.

One of the best shows I've ever watched - it's dark; it's funny; it's sad; it's heart-breaking. All in one - made by the magnificent Ricky Gervais. Awesome cast. Nothing to complain about. Actually - I cried a bit too much. But that's nothing.

At moments hilarious, and at moments poignant, After Life is thoroughly enjoyable, especially if you're already a fan of Gervais. The first few episodes of season one mainly consisted of Gervais' characteristic snark (almost entirely delivered by Gervais as Tony), and there were a few moments where it felt too cynical for my taste, but the laughs kept me watching. Thankfully, he added a dose of humanity towards the end of season one that elevated the series. Season two was great. The blend of cynicism and poignancy felt more balanced than season one. I have to say that seeing Tony cry just pushed me over the edge; when he finally stopped hiding behind the anger and cynicism and let some real, human moments come through... oh, man, it got to me. If you dislike Gervais' brand of humor, you'll dislike this show. But if you're a fan, do yourself a favor and watch.

Ricky Gervais is one of the few writers who can make you laugh so hard that can't breathe one minute then 2 minutes later have you in tears. He is also great at recognising talent in others, which shows in the truly brilliant cast. Every character is used to their best potential, resulting in yet another fantastic series to add to his incredibly impressive body of work.

One of the best shows I’ve seen in a long time!! Takes you through a range of emotions!

The subject is difficult. There is no way you can always touch every one at heart. This program made me cry. The is the England I love and miss. Ricky Gervais is a genius.

I absolutely love this show. It´s dark, hilarious and emotional. It´s in my eyes perfection. It is definitely worth a watch, but you really have to be a fan of Ricky´s because it oozes of him in it =D

Tears at any cost. After Life is ridiculously heavy handed. Walking around, head hanging low with over sad despondent poor me face is not a profound insight into grief. Drug dealers, prostitutes and fellow grievers shoehorned in to a middle class village whenever the character needs to evolve a smidge at a time is crass at best. Like Gervais says everybody has had someone to grieve for, no-one that has grieved does it with a wide spectrum of colourful overwritten strangers. There were signs from the start of Gervais leaning towards cheap tears over laughs. It was indulged hugely in Derek, a show an unknown could not have made with their own money, nor should it have been, to this contrived point scoring for tears melodrama. Gervais is a comedy actor that knows he can wring no further mileage from Brentisms, but should not delude himself into thinking that moving the line towards his broad-stroke emotional drama makes him a credible dramatic actor. Try something subtle Mr Gervais with no prostitutes hanging around a common in the middle of the day, no quirky endearing smack dealers that will conveniently die for main character development, no second tier cast members with late on reveals of comparable hidden tear-jerking life problems. Brent was at his zenith when we first saw him, unexplainable how he ever got there, but as time proved was self deluded enough to not cling to the windfall that landed in his lap. After life is the dramatic next chapter of When the whistle blows.

I thought the storyline was weak, as well as being irresponsible & naive. Apparently, according to Ricky Gervais, grief & depression is wallowing if it goes on for more than a few weeks & the way to get over mental anguish is to simply stop being a selfish, whiny **** & start doing good deeds for people. This is the answer! And all from someone who has said several times publicly that he doesn’t know what depression feels like.