It is written and starring Ricky Gervais.
I know this type of show is not for everyone.
But we loved it.
At first, I thought, where is this going? It was so dark, yet funny.
You see his wife, the love of his life, has died from cancer.
You see him at the beginning watching her from her hospital bed telling him how to go on via video on his laptop. You see him crying.
He goes to kill himself but realizes he has to feed the dog and the dog is the 2nd love of his life and he can't do that to the dog.
He really believes that life can not get any worse so he just decides to punish the world for this happening to him.
He does and says whatever the hell he wishes to do and say because he just doesn't care. He is broken.
Being mugged, he says, go ahead. He freaks people out.
He is mean with his anger and at times his meanness is damn funny.
A few times I thought, oh to be able to say this out loud.
Over time you see his warm heart as he visits his father in a nursing home.
But I admit it sure takes a few episodes to get all of this.
He warms over time but not easily or often nicely.
But at the same time, it doesn't wrap it all up in a nice bow which I also liked.
I watched the first 2 and thought, hmmm, do I wish to continue?
But Rick wanted to plow through so I continued to watch it with him.
(Rick made me promise while watching that I can't go first, we can do it together he said. He's a funny boy)
I liked it, a lot. I know it isn't for everyone but I thought it was brilliant.
It is probably a very real way some deal with the death of a loved one.
There were times both Rick and I were crying & next thing you know having a belly laugh.
His meanness made you sad because you understood where it was coming from but it sure was funny more often than not.
Then at the cemetery, while visiting his wife's grave he meets a widow who is much older. She is visiting her husbands grave.
She gives him small pearls of wisdom and makes him smile.
I loved those moments on the bench at the cemetery.
If you can deal with this type of topic and you have the patience to get past the shock of the first couple of episodes I think you will like this.
If you like Ricky Gervais as I do then I know you'll like it. If not his fan, then this is not for you.
In other news.
Yes, I am.
16 comments:
All the interesting things seem to be on Netflix. Don't have it, don't even know how one goes about getting it.
Jean, www.netflix.com
😊
I don't get Netflix either but I do love Ricky Gervais. I don't sign up for Netflix, Hulu and such for I can't find time to watch all the network shows I like and record. Then when baseball season starts, that takes care of my viewing time. I know I am missing some good stuff. So many shows, so little time.
Patti, I understand this. I don't have anything but Netflix, but I've been watching spring training games. How pathetic am I? :-)
I'm a Netflix junkie since I found it. I love Ricky Gervais and I saw the entire show called " After Life " I wish it was a longer show. I totally enjoyed the show with all the wonderful characters especially the older lady who sits on the bench and helps him with going on with his life.
Cruisin Paul
Paul, I felt the same. It wasn't long enough and the woman on the bench opened his heart ever so slightly it was nice to watch. Sometimes you guys in Canada don't get the same things we do so I'm glad to see you got this show. Ricky G is so wonderful to me in all he does.
Ooh, thanks for this! It looks like something the hubs and I would enjoy, and I bet Ricky Gervais is great in it.
Abby, oh he is very good. He is heartbreaking.
Abby, we needed closed captions. Not because of hearing but the accents were a bit harder for us to understand at times. Just thought I'd let you know. My niece (28) told me they had to use them too and I was glad to hear I was not the only one. I understand Ricky but some others were a bit more difficult. You may be better at the accent than me, but thought I'd share.
I LOVED it!! After the first episode I thought well, this is certainly going to be a dark comedy and it was, but lightened up slowly as he moves through the grieving process. I wondered if other people enjoyed it as much as me. I binged it all at once (I'm bad about that). I don't have any problems understanding any of the characters but I watch a ton of Brit shows. I'd love to know where they filmed it, it looked so lovely! I wonder if there will be a 2nd series. Cheers!
Pippa, I sure hope there is a 2nd season! we binged it all at once as well. He was brilliant!
Actually this looks exactly like my kind of show.
I haven't seen that one. I'm currently watching Little House On The Prairie lol
Margaret, I've just been watching "After Life" on Netflix and am enjoying it tremendously. I've always been a fan of Ricky Gervais and think you can clearly see his sense of humor in the dialog of the film. I watched the credits and he is writing for this wonderful offbeat offering. The lady in the cemetery is non other than Dame Penelope Wilton who played Isobel Gray in Downton Abby. Another great Dame who I enjoy watching like Judie Dench. They are just terrific. This is superb and I think very honest. The lead says outrageous things - things we would all love to say but usually hold back. I always tell my husband: "If you could only see what the cartoon balloon over my head is thinking!" You know what you're really thinking when you're angry but don't say out loud.
Regina, you hit the nail on the head. I so loved this show. It was only 6 episodes but so so good.
When the woman on the bench makes him smile it melted my heart. He was so hurt and broken by his wife's death that he took it out on the world. But as you can see he was losing some of that hardness by the end. I can't wait until season 2. He is writing that now he said on Instagram. :-)
Margaret, thanks for passing on the info re season 2. I finished season 1 last night & was longing to see more so I'm happy it will return. I hadn't read that anywhere just yet. We use Roku and order whatever package we prefer; e.g. BritBox, Netflix, Amazon prime.... It works wonderfully & is so less expensive. The only downside is always waiting for the follow-up seasons. Too long between seasons.
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