[star rating=”5″] AFTER LIFE SEASON 3. Ricky Gervais. Netflix.
MEGAN CHORITZ reviews
I loved the first season of After Life. I found it profound, and revolting, and hilarious and disturbing. Also, I thought Ricky Gervais captured the inconsolable bleakness of a man in mourning brilliantly. So good it was hard to watch. The second season was watchable but unsettling in its repetitiveness, and it also ended anti-climactically, so I thought, well, that’s that then.
I was unconvinced when I heard that there was a third and final season 3, but last night, I found myself in the mood, and before I knew it, I had watched all six short episodes and I had laughed and sighed and howled my eyes out.
Something slowly happens …
This season follows the exact same formula as the other two, usually opening with a video of Tony’s late wife in some hilarious situation, then Tony and his dog, a scene with his cemetery friend, stuff with his work colleagues, a visit to a random person, or people, who want to be in the local newspaper. Oh, and of course, there is the visit to his not girlfriend at the old people’s home where she is a nurse. It really is more of the same, only in this season something slowly happens to this grieving, rude, dysfunctional man and he becomes more outward looking. It is a relief.
Ricky Gervais is a masterful writer of the bleak and hilarious human condition. His dreary and boring character is real and complex, and irritating and slightly loveable. His support cast is extraordinary, from the new assistant at work, to the completely gross hoarder obsessed with the damage his ex caused him, to the gorgeous German Shepherd who is his faithful companion.
Small town mundanities mix with the greater meaning of life here and it is so utterly moving. I will probably make a habit of watching it again. And I never ever do that.
What: After Life Season 3
Where: Netflix
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