After Life: Season 1

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Mixed or average reviews based on 15 Critic Reviews

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Universal acclaim based on 109 Ratings

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8.1	User Score Universal acclaim based on 109 Ratings

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After Life: Season 2

Now Playing: After Life: Season 2

Season Details & Credits

Netflix | Season Premiere Date: March 8, 2019

Summary: After the death of his wife, Tony (Ricky Gervais) contemplated suicide before deciding to say and do anything he wants, no matter the consequences, to punish the world in this dark comedy created, directed and produced by Gervais.

Genre(s): Comedy

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Season 1 Episodes

No episode information is currently available for this season

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Terry Terrones

Mar 4, 2019

Throughout the six-episode season, we see Tony slowly cope with his pain. The process is done so organically that it feels authentic. But what makes this series truly memorable is how brilliantly Ricky Gervais injects humor into such complex subject matter. Touching, poignant and humorous, this is some of the comedian’s best work yet. Read full review

Kristen Baldwin

Feb 26, 2019

Gervais has sketched a predictable arc for his character, but Tony’s transition over the course of After Life’s six episodes is nonetheless heartfelt and moving. Read full review

Matt Roush

Feb 28, 2019

Unexpectedly moving. [4-17 Mar 2019, p.11]

Caroline Framke

Mar 6, 2019

There’s something to the idea here of accepting how all consuming grief can be, but that message gets lost when the show indulges Tony’s aggressive unpleasantness as much as it does. The turning point comes when someone finally goes ahead and calls Tony out to his face. ... The show and Tony alike turn a welcome corner--but it’s still impossible to tell how self-aware this evolution is on Gervais’ part. Read full review

Dan Fienberg

Mar 7, 2019

After Life finds its own pulse mostly when Gervais is doing riffs that wouldn't be at all out of place in his standup, podcast or other performative routines. ... It's harder to feel much in the repetitive loops of Tony lamenting the squalor of his life, meandering around town criticizing people for mundane behavior or staring at the endless movies that his wife left him so that, in the afterlife, she could be remembered as a plot device and not a character of her own. Read full review

Mark A. Perigard

Mar 4, 2019

After Life plays like an odd vanity project. Read full review

Josh Modell

Mar 6, 2019

As a meaningful meditation on grief, After Life is dead on arrival. As a comedy, it’s good only for a few passing chuckles. It wants so badly to be both comedy and drama--to be both funny and touching--that it fails pretty spectacularly at both. Read full review

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8.1

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User Reviews

exitplanet

Mar 10, 2019

The reviewers who gave it a negative review must be on heroin. Literally, the best thing he has done in years perfectly nails grief. Had me in tears.

7 of 11 users found this helpful74

Planetvibz

Apr 18, 2019

Brilliant, brave and barely disguised meditation on the turmoil in Ricky Gervais's own inner self - hardly a 'vanity' project (as misconceived by several critics). Rather, it plays as an intimate study of the struggle between the misanthropic, selfish (and self-loathing) tendencies of theBrilliant, brave and barely disguised meditation on the turmoil in Ricky Gervais's own inner self - hardly a 'vanity' project (as misconceived by several critics). Rather, it plays as an intimate study of the struggle between the misanthropic, selfish (and self-loathing) tendencies of the human condition and its battle with the gnawing uncomfortable proposition that true 'happiness' may come from embracing opposite tendencies. British audiences may more easily appreciate the 'twee' setting and nuanced cocktail of pathos and searing humour. Less self-aware U.S. viewers will possibly be challenged by the messy authenticity on display - there is no moral signalling here, just an existential proposition that you can take or leave.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

raphaela28

Apr 3, 2019

Utterly brilliant in every respect. The writing is superb, the acting is phenomenal -- from Gervais and his incredibly touching portrayal of Tony, seared with grief and wanting to hurt everyone around him so he can feel better for just one minute, to every other actor in this fabulousUtterly brilliant in every respect. The writing is superb, the acting is phenomenal -- from Gervais and his incredibly touching portrayal of Tony, seared with grief and wanting to hurt everyone around him so he can feel better for just one minute, to every other actor in this fabulous ensemble cast (including the ones that just show up for a line or two), to the story, to the music chosen for every episode. One of the best series I have ever seen, on Netflix or otherwise, and another example of what a genius Gervais is when it comes to understanding the human spirit and what is really important. Hope we get a season 2, although it is hard to see where he would go with it from here, as it is so perfectly complete on its own. Well done, Ricky. I will be watching this over and over, and can definitely see why Netflix gives you the big money!… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

everett

Mar 31, 2019

I know everything is about taste and what we bring to a show, including bias against some actors; but there's something about Ricky Gervais that rings true to me. This show is intelligent, perceptive and often quite funny, with characters that are richly drawn. And the central conflict -I know everything is about taste and what we bring to a show, including bias against some actors; but there's something about Ricky Gervais that rings true to me. This show is intelligent, perceptive and often quite funny, with characters that are richly drawn. And the central conflict - which is more about Tony's struggle with himself than his more obvious struggle with everyone else - contains a real arc. In other words: Perfectly acted, and directed, but the primary accomplishment here is the writing.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

SabbathMaiden

Mar 15, 2019

This is touching and funny. That rare blend of a character drama/comedy. Ricky Gervais does it again!

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

Evilkermit

Mar 18, 2019

Simple, brutal, beautiful.

Poignant comedy that calls a spade a spade.

In the same vein as Derek, but more polished.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

Marilyn23

Mar 22, 2019

What a load of rubbish! It was appalling. We only watched 2 episodes and both were torture. We only watched the second episode since someone had recommended the series - in fact we ditched it before finishing part 2. It is typical Gervais - not funny, not entertaining. Overuse of the c wordWhat a load of rubbish! It was appalling. We only watched 2 episodes and both were torture. We only watched the second episode since someone had recommended the series - in fact we ditched it before finishing part 2. It is typical Gervais - not funny, not entertaining. Overuse of the c word adds to the disappointment - we are not narrow-minded when it comes to swearing and in fact use swear words quite a lot but several characters were using the c word in almost every sentence which suggests a lack of story, imagination and reality.… Expand

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

SEE ALL 39 REVIEWS

Seasons & Episodes

60

Series Overview
Season 2

62
- Season 2 Overview
  Air Date: April 24, 2020
Season 1

59
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: March 8, 2019
- No episode information is currently available for this season