After Life - Netflix

Stevecw · 22-03-2019 1:36am

Finished it there earlier, i loved it. Like others who posted here, I wouldn't be his biggest fan but this was a great watch.
Had a bit of everything really, and makes you feel all sorts of emotions watching it. Surprised me how good it was, as I wasn't expecting much at all.

the whole year inn · 22-03-2019 1:12pm

Really enjoying this and Ricky annoys me, I think the globes was the only thing I liked him in bar a few bits in extras.

Joe_ Public · 22-03-2019 1:16pm

Have got as far as E4. Enjoying it but, as of yet, i wouldn’t have it ahead of any of Office, Extras or Derek. Do feel like it is taking me somewhere very interesting, though, so that evaluation may well change subsequently. Not full of lol moments for me, but that’s not a big problem, it has a lot of other charms.

Tombo2001 · 26-03-2019 12:01pm

killbillvol2 wrote: »

I don't particularly like Ricky Gervais but this is really excellent. So many well written characters.

As a matter of interest - why do you not like Ricky Gervais? he has made two absolutely outstanding TV shows, up there arguably with the best ever made. He is an extremely funny guy. Also he is very, very insightful.

Whats not to like? I sometimes think its his appearance that puts people off - that he is a slightly overweight middle aged guy who doesnt especially seem to care about his appearance (no offence Ricky)......

Tombo2001 · 26-03-2019 12:03pm

Acosta wrote: »

Enjoyed it. When it was funny it was VERY funny. I generally don't like drama and sentimentality mixed in when I'm watching comedy, but it didn't bother me too much in this. Other than..
The overdose was a bit off though. Thought he would have felt worse about enabling the guy to kill himself. The show didn't need it.

Id agree a bit with that; overall I really enjoyed it, it was a brave effort.

However, I did thing his evolution was a bit rushed - could have been ten episodes instead of six.

Brian201888 · 26-03-2019 3:10pm

Tombo2001 wrote: »

As a matter of interest - why do you not like Ricky Gervais? he has made two absolutely outstanding TV shows, up there arguably with the best ever made. He is an extremely funny guy. Also he is very, very insightful.

Whats not to like? I sometimes think its his appearance that puts people off - that he is a slightly overweight middle aged guy who doesnt especially seem to care about his appearance (no offence Ricky)......

He's not insightful in the slightest, he's an overgrown 1st year Philosophy student

Penn · 26-03-2019 3:43pm

Brian201888 wrote: »

He's not insightful in the slightest, he's an overgrown 1st year Philosophy student

Agreed. Half the points he makes are almost identical to what others have said. The big one that stuck out for me was when the

red-haired woman with the glasses (Philomena Cunk, forget her name in the show) just randomly asks him if he doesn't believe in God why doesn't he kill and rape as many people as he wants, and he says he does, because the amount of people he wants to kill and rape is zero. That's almost verbatim something Penn Jillette (from Penn & Teller) said years ago. Difference being, Penn didn't then purposefully give a drug addict money to buy enough drugs to kill himself half an episode later.

Gervais has his moments, but "insightful" he is not.

De Bhál · 27-03-2019 10:39am

it was good, bit preachy towards the end, very like the last episode of Extras.
Good characters. He was pushing buttons for tears all over the place, like every second scene.

To me Gervais best work was The Office and I doubt he will ever beat that.

If you like this show, with it's small country town England feel to it, then check out The Dectectorists. Like Ricky's show it's full of humour and likeable charaters without so much of the dark side.

It's also on Netflix

27-03-2019 12:28pm

De Bhál wrote: »

it was good, bit preachy towards the end, very like the last episode of Extras.
Good characters. He was pushing buttons for tears all over the place, like every second scene.

To me Gervais best work was The Office and I doubt he will ever beat that.

If you like this show, with it's small country town England feel to it, then check out The Dectecorists. Like Ricky's show it's full of humour and likeable charaters without so much of the dark side.

It's also on Netflix

+1

Morpheus · 29-03-2019 10:17am

For anyone out there who's lost someone or who lives with someone suffering from mental illness.

We were granted both in 2016 - we lost Mum to cancer and Dad was diagnosed with dementia at the same time, at one point she was undergoing chemotherapy in The Mater and he was ill with kidney failure in Beaumont and for 4 horrible weeks, my younger sister and I were running from her hospital to his taking turns at visiting them, Mum knew Dad was very sick but thankfully, by some miracle, they got out of their respective hospitals (she checked herself out) and we all spent a special final weekend together at home before her condition worsened and she was moved to a respite center, the rest is as they say, history.

Watching this show opened so many old feelings and wounds, the anger and frustration, sense of loss, deep love and unanswered questions, the grief for the things that never will be , she'll never see us marry or hold grandchildren etc, the fear of the gradual loss of a second parent as the illness slowly eats their mind, will he forget us, will he forget her, this show brought on tears, helped me further come to terms with her loss, struck a deep resonance in me but ultimately gave me some serious laughs.

I've never been a huge fan of Gervais, but for this show I will be eternally grateful to him.

GalwayGrrrrrl · 30-03-2019 10:21pm

The thing I really loved about this show is how the dog saved him in each of the first few episodes. Dog food can vs mugger was brilliant.

Really enjoyed Roisin connagty’s character. Didn’t like the excessive use of strong language. It seemed over the top and spoiled the show a bit for me. It was almost as if Ricky knew he was allowed 3 C words and two F words per episode and made sure to include them.

drunkmonkey · 31-03-2019 11:56pm

Can understand why some posters don't get it at all. There the lucky ones.
Only a few episodes in, hope it ends well. It's taken me on a bit of journey so far.

bnt · 02-04-2019 3:48pm

ziedth wrote: »

The actor who plays his dad has been around a long time

That's David Bradley, who's been in the business nearly fifty years now. He was in all the Harry Potter films, but his most iconic role has to be in Game of Thrones as Walder Frey, possibly the most despicable character in a series teeming with despicable characters. :eek:

Frank O. Pinion · 02-04-2019 4:56pm

bnt wrote: »

That's David Bradley, who's been in the business nearly fifty years now. He was in all the Harry Potter films, but his most iconic role has to be in Game of Thrones as Walder Frey, possibly the most despicable character in a series teeming with despicable characters. :eek:

Yeah, but then he played a lovely old man hunting Nazi vampires on The Strain.

gmisk · 03-04-2019 6:37pm

https://www.joe.ie/movies-tv/official-netflix-renew-664284
Season 2
I will definitely watch, but not sure it's necessary the first series seemed pretty complete

03-04-2019 6:40pm

gmisk wrote: »

https://www.joe.ie/movies-tv/official-netflix-renew-664284
Season 2
I will definitely watch, but not sure it's necessary the first series seemed pretty complete

Agree! Less is more!

Hector Savage · 21-06-2019 3:22pm

a bit pathetic when he said "Thank You" with his voice breaking when she said yes to the date ?
In the real world no one would appreciate that ...

budhabob · 20-07-2019 1:02pm

Just after watching this over the last 2 days, thought it was lovely, genuine TV. Not a fan of Gervais at all, but this was excellent.

peteeeed · 13-02-2020 6:09pm

https://twitter.com/netflixuk/status/1227985801008623618?s=21

JP Liz V1 · 26-04-2020 6:45pm

Afterlife the no. 1 show on Netflix currently

Annette Crosbie is great in this series

Happy4all · 26-04-2020 6:46pm

Reviews are terrible.

Charlie19 · 26-04-2020 6:52pm

Not as good as the 1st season but that's uderstandable and it did take an episode to get going but it was still enjoyable all the same.

Lyan · 26-04-2020 6:59pm

There is a quality to this show that I just can't quite describe properly. It's sort of like the script was written by a slightly intelligent yet untalented 16 year old who is attempting to be deep and intellectual and outputs workable but ultimately cringe and shallow material. Except the 16 year old is in this case a 50 year old industry respected man with a massive budget. I get this feeling with any of Gervais' "serious" shows. I managed to watch half of the first season out of fascination, and the last half out of a stubborn need to finish what I started. Now I am just annoyed I am seeing advertisements on Netflix for season two.

Lisha · 26-04-2020 7:26pm

I loved the first series. Thought it was clever, honest and raw.
Am enjoying second series too
I do find faults think somethings are overdone. But all In all I’m a fan of afterlife

Sleeper12 · 26-04-2020 7:35pm

Blitzed the 2nd season today. Very enjoyable

Heres Johnny · 26-04-2020 7:38pm

I watched in 1 sitting. Doesn't develop the story at all and it's pretty much the same as series 1 but it's very enjoyable TV.

Mongfinder General · 26-04-2020 7:43pm

Tony seems to regress in this series. There's a couple of characters that I loved hating. The psychologist and the yoga instructor. Two absolute dick heads who offer nothing except their own self importance.

Best line was "I got bummed by the ghost of Liberace".

KaneToad · 26-04-2020 7:45pm

Lyan wrote: »

There is a quality to this show that I just can't quite describe properly. It's sort of like the script was written by a slightly intelligent yet untalented 16 year old who is attempting to be deep and intellectual and outputs workable but ultimately cringe and shallow material. Except the 16 year old is in this case a 50 year old industry respected man with a massive budget. I get this feeling with any of Gervais' "serious" shows. I managed to watch half of the first season out of fascination, and the last half out of a stubborn need to finish what I started. Now I am just annoyed I am seeing advertisements on Netflix for season two.

He's nearly 60!

anewme · 26-04-2020 8:26pm

Watched it all last night.

Loved the first one and loved this as well.

Laughter and tears.

26-04-2020 8:29pm

Lyan wrote: »

There is a quality to this show that I just can't quite describe properly. It's sort of like the script was written by a slightly intelligent yet untalented 16 year old who is attempting to be deep and intellectual and outputs workable but ultimately cringe and shallow material. Except the 16 year old is in this case a 50 year old industry respected man with a massive budget. I get this feeling with any of Gervais' "serious" shows. I managed to watch half of the first season out of fascination, and the last half out of a stubborn need to finish what I started. Now I am just annoyed I am seeing advertisements on Netflix for season two.

I think that it captures the different stages of grief perfectly.

drunkmonkey · 26-04-2020 8:44pm

Deleted User wrote: »

I think that it captures the different stages of grief perfectly.

The first series definitely helped me and the album Post Traumatic by Mike Shinoda, he wrote it after losing his pal Chester Bennington.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okgm0jpKjwI

TCP/IP · 26-04-2020 9:01pm

Watched S02 this weekend and absolutely loved it, what a wonderful show really hope there will be a series 3.

sydthebeat · 26-04-2020 10:02pm

while its not perfect, it definitely hits the right emotional tones for me to again say that this is gervais' best work.
Seasons 2 is actually a little less morbid than season 1, but in the right manner, It hasnt gone all 'aliens 2' on it.
There are plenty of uplifting moments to buffer and light shine onto the hard ones.
You can always feel the love Tony has for Lisa.
He sees her in every ordinary mundane aspect of his life, and in every corner of his town.

The poorer aspects is the paper thin resolution

to matt and his estranged wifes Jills' problems. Just because Matt was getting other female attention was enough for them to be back arm in arm???

Pat and Roxys

fledgling romance is cute

, but both characters are

very much over the top, the 'hooker with a heart' trope and the homeless scruffball (who happens to have a civil service job?) who both care for Tony.

but its in it quieter sadder moments that it is so good. I defy even the hardest of hearts not to melt

at his dads eulogy

. Myself and my better half watched it all on sunday morning, and i can honestly say there was plenty of tears shed through the six episodes.

gormdubhgorm · 26-04-2020 10:06pm

Shelga wrote: »

Couldn’t see a thread on this- binge watched yesterday. I was a blubbering wreck throughout. I think it will really touch a nerve with anyone who has experienced grief.

It’s also very funny. It’s overly sentimental and ‘lesson-y’, especially towards the end, but I thought overall it was really well put together, funny and touching.

I have watched the previous season last year, and I have watched the first one of the second season. Plan to watch it in a drip, drip fashion.
It is a fantastic television, well written with a sense of ordinariness. Very intelligently done.

anewme · 26-04-2020 10:17pm

I've a Dad in nursing home at the moment and I was bawling at this.

The characters are supposed to be caricatures.

Laughing at the concert and then crying 2 mins later.

And the soundtrack is great too.

Basq · 26-04-2020 10:26pm

Just finished it there... was very good but definitely not a patch on the first series IMO.

Ricky is getting better at writing emotional scenes but didn't find the comedy as sharp this time around.

siblers · 26-04-2020 11:00pm

Basq wrote: »

Just finished it there... was very good but definitely not a patch on the first series IMO.

Ricky is getting better at writing emotional scenes but didn't find the comedy as sharp this time around.

Without Merchant he is nowhere near as funny or dark, he's incredibly sentimantel but his work lacks the edge or dark humour of The Office or Extras, even Life's Too Short is hilarious in places

After Life is enjoyable just think he overlays the sentimantel aspect of it and like another poster said, he can be quite preachy

Basq · 26-04-2020 11:02pm

siblers wrote: »

Without Merchant he is nowhere near as funny or dark, he's incredibly sentimantel but his work lacks the edge or dark humour of The Office or Extras, even Life's Too Short is hilarious in place

Gotta disagree.

Even After Life or Derek at it's worst was 100 times better than Life's Too Short - which I thought was utter dreck. A massive misfire for Gervais and Merchant.

JoeExotic81 · 27-04-2020 11:26am

Surprised by the positivity here. I loved season 1 and found the second season an awkward, unfunny, pointless, OTT mess.

27-04-2020 11:30am

I enjoy it as a whole but its all very forced. I feel like ricky is playing himself and talking directly to the audience most of the time. At least in the office that was genuinely true as he looked at the camera.

Penn · 27-04-2020 12:22pm

Thought the first series was okay, but not great. Was curious how they'd get a second series out of it given that Ricky's character started to move on from his wife's death, was starting to date the nurse and resolved to be a better person.

Watched the first episode of the new series. They just went "Yeah, forget about all that, he's miserable and calling everyone a c*nt again"

It's also another case of making up arguments (like the yoga teacher snorting and slurping his tea) that are so overly comedic and designed just to make his character angry enough to f*ck people off that it jars with the tone of the rest of the show.

It's just all over the place as a show. It's completely unbalanced and doesn't seem to know what it wants to be. I'll belt on with it but I don't hold out much hope.

27-04-2020 1:23pm

A big plus is that the episodes are only 25 mins. Sometimes committing to a full hour of something else is off putting.

Glebee · 27-04-2020 11:00pm

I really enjoyed that. Fair depressing though.

NIMAN · 27-04-2020 11:37pm

Dennis Pennis, sorry Paul Kay, steals the show so far (2 episodes in).

I'd agree with the post above that said S1 ended on a cheery note, we thought he was going to move on etc but start of S2 he's just like the character from start of S1.

Better Than Christ · 28-04-2020 4:14am

I didn't think it was great, but it had enough genuinely funny moments to make it worth watching. Annette Crosbie was fantastic as the sweary 100-year-old. As an Ever Decreasing Circles fan, it was pleasing to see Penelope Wilton and Peter Egan reunited as Ann and Paul. And Roisín Conaty was great too as the prostitute sex worker.

Mike Litoris · 28-04-2020 7:25am

I didn't think it was as funny or had the emotional impact of the first season. Some of it felt a bit forced. I whinged multiple times during the first and not once with season 2. There were still some hilarious moment though. The show!!

drunkmonkey · 28-04-2020 7:58am

Glebee wrote: »

I really enjoyed that. Fair depressing though.

If your trying to deal with grief it's a rollercoaster, it's nice to see someone in your own shoes and taking it to the extreme. I found it therapeutic, catches a lot of what people go through on that journey, your fit to cry but the laughs bring you back smiling again.

gormdubhgorm · 30-04-2020 1:15pm

I finished it now. Enjoyed most of it, but I got to be honest I think the ending would have been a lot better if Tony killed himself. Like the heroin fella in season 1. Tony dies, dog is barking, Nurse rings doorbell and walks away. Then montage of all the others, getting on with thier lives. Making the best of things.

Plus the whinging of Tony started to grate on me after a while; Lisa this, Lisa that. Felt like shaking him and saying cop yourself on. I mean if you remember in season 1: Lisa tells Tony to find someone else.

But that is just me I don't like constant whinging and naval gazing, and prefer to look at the positive in situations. Which many of the other characters do. Or at the very least many adapt, and find a coping mechanism. I really enjoyed that aspect of it. The way most of the characters had a resolve, an inner strength and kept going no matter what thier situation.

But one of the characters really annoyed me towards the end. The psychiatrist - the spiel stopped being funny after a while. Paul Kaye seemed to be playing just a slightly less violent version of the Millwall fan he played in 'lillyhammer'. Why did Matt (Tony's in-law) not tell him to feck off way earlier?

But overall it was very good. It definitely gets reactions from people and plays with emotions etc. Nice bits of quirky comedy as well. Gervais himself said he found many people grieving seemed to relate to it.

completedit · 30-04-2020 1:16pm

Not very funny but decent enough

De Bhál · 30-04-2020 8:50pm

Ah twas grand, same as first season , hasn't moved on in many ways.
The psychiatrist was too over the top really which kind of ruined the show for me.

After Life - Netflix

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