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Extras: Season 2
  • Network: BBC-2 , BBC Two
  • Series Premiere Date: Jul 21, 2005
  • Season #: 1 , 2 , 3
User Score
8.9 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 27 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 25 out of 27
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 27
  3. Negative: 1 out of 27

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  1. JaimeM
    Mar 30, 2007
    9
    Hilarious.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  2. MitchC
    Apr 17, 2007
    10
    Brilliant, just like the Office was, Gervais Standup is, the podcasts were and the Christmas Special of Extras will be.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  3. MattC
    Jul 22, 2007
    9
    Sounds like Dave C would prefer something like "When The Whistle Blows" so he knows when to laugh. Or he's taking advantage of internet sarcasm.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  4. JimB.
    Aug 1, 2007
    3
    I just have to support "sean w", one of the only reviewers of both professionals and public that I actually agree with. Season 2 is so far inferior it is frightening. I say frightening because up to that point everything Gervais & Merchant had done was of such a high caliber that I felt convinced they had their finger firmly on the pulse of not only what makes a comedic concept work but also of the pitfalls so typically experienced by other successful comedy creations that they seemed determined never to fall into it. That is, of fearing the loss of greater public appeal and so resorting to cheap clichéd one-joke formulas to replace genuinely intelligent and insightful comedy. But incredibly after episode 1 which actually maintains the same level of quality and intellect of all of Season 1, the rest of the Season 2 descends into committing this very crime Gervais (semi-autobiographically through Milman) identifies. Every subsequent episode features the scenario of Milman going to the next level of utter humiliation in the most extreme and absurd of circumstances. David Bowie breaking into song of the sorry state of Milman’s life to a crowded winebar, a standing ovation to the destruction of his sitcom’s toy doll at the BAFTA’s by Richard Briers followed by his ex-girlfriend, Patricia Potter’s angry award acceptance speech revealing embarrassing personal information of his sex life, ruining a stage play by running around trying to avoid the scripted gay kiss while being pushed back on stage by Ian MacKellen... sorry, am I missing something? What happened to the “write about what you know” philosophy both Gervais and Milman so passionately preached and practiced up to that point? Granted, Series 1 had its ludicrous comic scenes, but they served as moments of light relief from the weightier themes of the main plot. Series 2 on the other hand seemed to have snatches of the weightier message in a plot of nonsense. So what happened? Is this simply yet another case of the writer becoming so pressured to maintain the same level of success that rather than taking the riskier line of forcing us to see the world through his eyes, the vision actually becomes adjusted for the perspective and wider appeal of the broader audience? Or did the BBC actually do in real life to Ricky Gervais with Extras what they were doing to Andy Milman with When the Whistle Blows, that of taking the story out of his hands and making it into their own homogenized product? There certainly seems to be an uncannily striking parallel. Somehow I don't think this latter ‘conspiracy theory’ is the more realistic option as, unlike his fictitious counterpart, in real life Gervais' writing talent had been so well established from the success of The Office and Series 1 of Extras that I doubt anyone would have dared interfere with whatever idea he next concocted. A dangerous recipe. Therefore, and judging by the reviews of the great majority, it seems Gervais' work was predestined to be deemed genius by the BBC, media critics, and general public alike before anyone would ever stop to consider whether it really had any further merit. Bizarrely though, Gervais committing the very same sin that he had so consistently been condemning in Extras creates such a paradox that it transforms Extras from being a mere comedy series to being more like that of a perfect crime comparable to the one seen in the movie se7en, where self-destruction is the final stroke of genius that completes the masterpiece. Was the very self-destruction of Extras so perfectly preconceived and executed than rather than be a complete failure it is actually a work of genius? Maybe we’ll never know. In reality however I believe neither of the aforementioned scenarios are true. It appears to me that Gervais, who genuinely sees himself as just ‘the man on the street’, was so overwhelmed by the exponential growth of his overnight success that he became sidetracked from his true artistic cause to instead using his universally recognized and acclaimed profile to indulge the gratification of having his most revered celebrities act out his most wildly imaginative and ironic fantasies. He was a child in a candy store, and I suppose if any of us were to be in that position, would we be able to resist using the power of having our most enamored heroes at our mercy? Speaking for myself, very possibly not, so rather than cast the first stone, while frightened at the thought of losing one the world’s best comedy writers I will maintain my confidence in his artistic integrity, hope he comes to terms with his celebrity status, comes back down to earth and once again joins the human race, because I sure do love his take on it.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  5. PerspicaciousC.
    Jan 1, 2008
    8
    Despite conflicting Metacritic user ratings, I think we can at least all agree on one thing Ricky Gervais did right: end Extras at Season 2.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  6. BobN
    Jan 21, 2007
    9
    Honestly the best TV show I've seen in a number of years. Better than The Office (which is saying a lot). It's like an upgraded version of Curb Your Enthusiasm, mixed with a little Entourage, and a pinch of Arrested Development with a British twist. Highly recommended.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  7. LennyT
    Feb 1, 2007
    10
    Gervais and Merchant cannot go wrong. This is a perfect comedy.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  8. seanw
    Feb 14, 2007
    6
    I know that I am in the minority, but Season 1 was much better. The characters are not complex enough in Season 2--all they do is make fools of themselves or Andy, seemingly attempting to piss off people, like me, who actually have a brain. Maggie, who used to be a nice compliment to underdog, average-Joe Andy, is now irrelevant. When Andy ceased being an extra, the show ceased being very good. We get it already--Andy's sitcom is a terrible half-hour long catch-phrase. "Extras" is becoming that way as well, with no heart and soul, and just a miserable profile of a new celebrity.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  9. MarkD
    Apr 10, 2007
    8
    Yes, it's better than the first series and no it isn't as good as The Office. So now i've got the obvious out the way the first thing that strikes me is how Gervais now seems to be overshadowed by his co-stars. Ashley Jensen and Stephen Merchant are little stars. Will Gervais ever be as funny as he was as David Brent? Can he write anything other then squirm inducing situation comedy with a hint of pathos? No matter because he's the master at it and this is bloody funny!… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  10. DaveC
    May 6, 2007
    6
    This show isn't too bad but I find it difficult to know when to laugh when there's no canned laughter. For example, 'Everybody Loves Raymond' is one of my favourite shows because they use a laughter track that let's the viewer know the funny bits, and makes the show seem even more funnier. Watching 'Extras' sometimes doesn't even feel like it's a comedy due to this glaring oversight. Give me Ray anytime.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  11. EricC.
    Jul 11, 2007
    10
    Wow. I don't even know what to say to Dave C. You need a laugh track to know what's funny? My god. No wonder you don't like this show. It slaughters people who need laugh tracks (you must be like Andy's fans in the bar). Oh well. So anyway... For people who have never watched Extras, it follows the same basics as The Office; create a character, and torture him with struggles to succeed and uncomfortable situations. They do it perfectly with a great cast (Merchant is awesome in a starring role this time, not just a cameo like in The Office) and a relatable storyline of a man who is held back from his dream by self centered, conformist snobs who run the film industry. He also screws things up for himself a lot, though. The second season is undeniably superior to the first, in that the characters develop some depth and a steady storyline forms (Andy's tv show). I have to admit, though, that the crown jewel of the show, it's celebrity cameos, are not as insanely funny as in the first season. No actor here can match Ben Stiller trying to become a respected director or Patrick Stewart telling Andy about his screenplay, but a few come close. Amazing show that makes losing Arrested Development a little easier by reassuring us that there is such a thing as an intelligent comedy still out there.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  12. emilyw.
    Jul 1, 2007
    10
    Please tell me Dave C is joking. I could see someone writing that as a joke but, seriously? If you are freely admitting that you need a laugh track in order to know that it's funny, well that's just sad. "Everybody Loves Raymond" is one of the stupidest, most overrated comedies ever, and will never forgive the Emmy's for choosing "Raymond" over "Arrested Development" season 2 as best comedy. Extras, like Arrested, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and the crown Jewel of them all, The British version of "The Office," doesn't need a laugh track to remind people what's funny. People should be intelligent enough to figure that out on their own. Like the critics have noted, this season is much better than the mixed first season, which went from classic (kate winslet) to disappointing (Samuel L. Jackson). A great show for people who have enough of a brain to know when something is funny on their own, not with the help of a laughter track.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  13. KevK.
    Sep 19, 2007
    10
    As with the other comments, I am amazed by Dave C's comments. Everybody loves Raymond? 'You havin' a laugh!?'. Season 2 of Extras ups the ante of the already brilliant first and bears up to numerous re-viewings. Massively funny, genius scripting.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  14. GlenH.
    Mar 8, 2008
    10
    The funniest sitcom since Seinfeld, this show is absolutely imperative watching. Really makes the audience take a second look at how we view celebs, I think this is a very important production by the best comedy duo since Larry and Jerry. Hilarious cameos, great stories, amazing physical comedy from Merchant. Extras has it all, though it might not be for everyone (ie. if you love Raymond, King of Queens, etc.) There's no laugh track, the jokes aren't written like that and a studio audience would ruin the subtle awkward moments that you'll be laughing at anyway.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  15. Michael
    Jan 16, 2007
    10
    Alot better than first series by a mile. Good actors making guest apperrances. The only tv programme to make me laugh as much as this was fools and horse's, that says it all !
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  16. matta
    Jan 24, 2007
    10
    This is the best show on tv. I've already seen this entire season and it is way better than the first, which was pretty uneven (Kate Winslet, Patrick Stewart episodes-hilarious; the rest-pretty mixed). The David Bowie, Chris Martin, and Daniel Radcliffe episodes are better or on par with any Curb Your Enthusiasm or British Office episode. Still slightly under British Office as my favorite show of all time, but this season is pretty close to reaching that level of greatness.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  17. OfficeFan
    Feb 14, 2007
    10
    I can't wait for the next series. These guys only produce pure gold.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  18. MarkB.
    Sep 19, 2008
    9
    I can't believe Dave C. Laugh tracks? His comment needs a laugh track. He's either an astronomical genius (effecting in the reader that disorienting feeling of a missed punchline in order to illustrate his point about the necessity of a laugh track) or...well...I just don't know...Regarding the show: brilliant.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
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