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After Life (TV series)

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This article is about the 2019–2022 British streaming television series. For other uses, see Afterlife (disambiguation).

After Life
Genre
Created byRicky Gervais
Written byRicky Gervais
Directed byRicky Gervais
Starring
ComposerAndy Burrows
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series3
No. of episodes18
Production
Executive producers
ProducerDuncan Hayes
CinematographyMartin Hawkins
EditorsJo Walker (season 1-2)
Mark Williams (season 3)
Camera setupSingle-camera
Running time25–31 minutes
Production companyDerek Productions Limited
Original release
NetworkNetflix
Release8 March 2019 (2019-03-08) –
14 January 2022 (2022-01-14)

After Life is a British black comedy-drama streaming television series created, written, produced, and directed by Ricky Gervais, who plays lead character Tony Johnson. It premiered on 8 March 2019 on Netflix. The second series premiered on 24 April 2020. The third and final series premiered on 14 January 2022.

Premise

Set in the fictional town of Tambury, After Life follows newspaper writer Tony Johnson, whose life is turned upside down after his wife dies from breast cancer. He contemplates suicide, but instead decides to spend his life punishing the world for his wife's death by saying and doing whatever he wants regardless of how it makes other people feel. Although he thinks of this as his "superpower", his plan is undermined as he realises he does care about a select few people. Over the course of the series, he stops trying to be awful and, despite never really moving on from his wife's death and remaining suicidal, decides true meaning in life comes from helping and being there for others.[1]

Cast and characters

Main

  • Ricky Gervais as Tony Johnson, head of feature stories at the local newspaper, the Tambury Gazette. Following the death of his wife, he is depressed and suicidal
  • Tom Basden as Matt Braden, Tony's brother-in-law and boss of the Tambury Gazette
  • Tony Way as Lenny, the Tambury Gazette's photographer
  • Diane Morgan as Kath, the Gazette's advert manager
  • Mandeep Dhillon as Sandy, a newly hired features journalist (series 1–2)
  • Kerry Godliman as Lisa Johnson, Tony's deceased wife, seen in flashbacks and Tony's home videos
  • Ashley Jensen as Emma, a nurse at the nursing home where Tony's dad is a resident
  • Paul Kaye as Psychiatrist, Tony's and Matt's unconventional and incompetent psychiatrist (series 1–2)
  • Penelope Wilton as Anne, a widow Tony meets at the local graveyard who dispenses sage advice for Tony's troubles
  • Joe Wilkinson as Pat ('Postman Pat'), Tony's postman
  • Roisin Conaty as Daphne/"Roxy", a sex worker who befriends Tony; a "tart with a heart". (series 1–2)
  • David Bradley as Ray Johnson, Tony's dad, who has dementia (series 1–2; guest series 3)
  • Tim Plester as Julian Kane, a drug addict hired by Matt to deliver the Tambury Gazette (series 1)
  • David Earl as Brian Gittins, a hoarder and self-professed puppeteer and stand-up comedian; above all, he wants to appear in the local newspaper (series 2–3; recurring series 1)
  • Jo Hartley as June, Lenny's girlfriend and mother to James (series 2–3; recurring series 1)
  • Ethan Lawrence as James, June's son, who does work experience at the Tambury Gazette (series 2–3; recurring series 1)
  • Colin Hoult as Ken Otley, head of the local amateur dramatics company and wannabe showbiz superstar (series 3; recurring series 2)
  • Kath Hughes as Coleen, a new hire at the Gazette to replace Sandy (series 3; guest series 1)

Recurring

  • Anti as Brandy the Dog, Tony's and Lisa's dog; Tony's best friend and reason to keep living
  • Michelle Greenidge as Valerie, the Tambury Gazette's receptionist
  • Tommy Finnegan as George Braden, son of Matt and Jill, Tony's nephew and godchild
  • Thomas Bastable as Robbie, a classmate and reformed bully of George's
  • Laura Patch as Jill Braden, Matt's wife (series 2–3; guest series 1)
  • Tracy Ann Oberman as Rebecca, a woman with whom Tony goes on a date and who later reappears at an amateur dramatics workshop (series 2; guest series 1, 3)
  • Peter Egan as Paul, the semi-retired owner of the Tambury Gazette (series 2–3)
  • Robert Woodhall as Colin, a self-made millionaire scrap metal merchant whom Kath allows to drive her around in his Rolls-Royce (series 2–3)
  • Bill Ward as Simon, Emma's new love interest, whom Tony dislikes (series 2)
  • Steve Brody as Jeff, the crematorium official (series 1) and swinger husband of Vera (series 3)

Guest

  • Annette Crosbie as Rosemary, a 100-year-old woman whom Tony interviews after she receives a telegram from the Queen (series 2)
  • Holli Dempsey as Plastic Surgery Woman, a woman addicted to plastic surgery (series 2)
  • Jo Enright as Vera, a woman who goes swinging with her husband (series 3)
  • Kate Robbins as Penny (series 3)

Episodes

SeriesEpisodesOriginally released
168 March 2019 (2019-03-08)
2624 April 2020 (2020-04-24)
3614 January 2022 (2022-01-14)

Production

Development

On 9 May 2018, it was announced Netflix had given the production a series order for a first season consisting of six episodes. The series was created and directed by Ricky Gervais, who is also executive producer, alongside Charlie Hanson.[1][2][3][4] On 14 January 2019, it was announced the series would premiere on 8 March 2019. It was further announced Duncan Hayes would serve as an additional executive producer and that Hanson would actually serve as a producer.[5] On 3 April 2019, it was announced the series was renewed for a second season, which premiered on 24 April 2020.[6] On 6 May 2020, the show was renewed for a third season, the first time a fiction series created by Gervais had (excluding special episodes) been extended beyond two seasons.[7][8]

Hanson was suspended from his position in the show during filming for the third season, due to eleven women saying he had committed sexual misconduct and assault against them between 2008 and 2015. Netflix said: "Whilst the allegations are unrelated to his time on the show, we immediately removed him from the production and referred the matter to the police." Gervais commented he was "shocked and appalled" to learn of the allegations, and Hanson claimed they were "demonstrably false" from the information given to him.[9][10]

Casting

Alongside the series order announcement, it was confirmed Gervais would star in the show.[1] On 5 July 2018, it was announced Penelope Wilton, David Bradley, Ashley Jensen, Tom Basden, Tony Way, David Earl, Joe Wilkinson, Kerry Godliman, Mandeep Dhillon, Jo Hartley, Roisin Conaty, and Diane Morgan had joined the cast.[11]

Filming

Principal photography for the first series reportedly began by July 2018 in London.[11] The series was filmed in Hampstead, Hemel Hempstead, The Royal Standard of England pub in and around Beaconsfield, and Camber Sands in East Sussex.[12]

The third series of After Life began production in April 2021 and wrapped in June 2021.[13]

Use of Aboriginal painting

After the release of season 1, it was revealed that a copy of a 1987 painting by the Aboriginal Australian artist Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri, which had been made by an artist commissioned to do so for a props company in 1999, had been prominently displayed in several scenes. Gervais's company agreed to pay compensation for using the copy of the work, entitled Tingarri Dreaming, as well as a fee for ongoing use of the work in season 2.[14]

Reception

Critical response

Critical response of After Life
SeasonRotten TomatoesMetacritic
173% (45 reviews)[15]59 (15 reviews)[16]
277% (31 reviews)[17]62 (6 reviews)[18]
362% (13 reviews)[19]44 (7 reviews)[20]

Series 1

The first series received mixed to positive reviews upon its release. On Rotten Tomatoes, it has an overall approval rating of 73% with an average score of 6.6/10 based on 45 reviews. The site's critical consensus reads: "After Life's first season teeters tonally between dark comedy and affecting drama, but Ricky Gervais' poignant performance illuminates new sides of the actor's talent".[15] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the first series a score of 59 out of 100 based on 15 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[16]

Merrill Barr from Forbes said of the series, "Overall, After Life is one hundred percent a series to check out. It's the Ricky Gervais project people have been begging for, for a long time."[21] Josh Modell of AV Club states that After Life is a "dreary, sarcastic self-pity party that also manages—in a magic trick perhaps only Gervais is capable of pulling off—to constantly point out its protagonist's intellectual superiority" and that "as a meaningful meditation on grief, is dead on arrival".[22]

Series 2

The second series received generally positive reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, it has a certified fresh approval rating of 77% with an average score of 6.8/10, based on 31 reviews. The site's critical consensus reads: "Though After Life's second season struggles to affirm its existence, it's a solid entry for anyone aching for a little more contemplative gallows humor."[17] Metacritic assigned the second series a score of 62 out of 100 based on 6 critics, indicating "generally favourable reviews".[18] The BBC reported mixed responses from critics.[23] Ed Cumming from The Independent wrote: "all I see is a series constantly looking for easy solutions" and that "the script has a habit of using swearing where a joke ought to be".[24]

Series 3

The third series received mixed reviews. On Rotten Tomatoes, it has 58% positive reviews with an average rating of 6 from 12 critics.[19] Metacritic assigned the third series a score of 44 out of 100 based on 7 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[20] Louis Chilton for The Independent gave the series 2/5 stars, adding that it was "bogged down by sentimentality".[25] Brian Lowry for CNN called the series "admirable" and "quirky", but felt "in the final analysis, the show never wholly [advances] beyond the initial appeal of its premise".[26] The Radio Times gave it 3/5 stars[27] and NME gave it a 4/5 star rating, adding that the series had ended "on a high"; the review's writer, James McMahon, felt that the series' final scene was "moving and poignant [...] among its creator's greatest works."[28]

Accolades

Accolades received by After Life
Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
AACTA International Awards 8 December 2021 International Award for Best Comedy Series After Life Nominated [29]
National Film Awards UK 1 July 2021 Best Screenplay in a TV Series After Life Won [30]
[31]
Best Actor in a TV Series Ricky Gervais Nominated
Best Actress in a TV Series Mandeep Dhillon Nominated
National Television Awards 9 September 2021 Best Comedy After Life Won [32]
Satellite Awards 15 February 2021 Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy Ricky Gervais Nominated [33]
National Television Awards 13 October 2022 Best Comedy After Life Won [34]

Benches

Netflix has collaborated with suicide prevention charity Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) in a mental health initiative installing park benches all about the UK.[35][36]

A bench is the setting across all three series where Anne, played by Penelope Wilton, sits beside Gervais's character, Tony.

Ricky Gervais is originally from Reading, where a bench has been installed at Henley Road Cemetery.[37]

We hope the benches will create a lasting legacy for After Life, as well as become a place for people to visit.

— Ricky Gervais, January 2022 interview
Site Location
Victoria Park Ashford
Sydney Gardens Bath
Cofton Park Birmingham
Ashton Court Bristol
Parc Ceff Onn Cardiff
Victoria Park Cardiff
Calton Hill Edinburgh
Gyllngdune Gardens Falmouth
Glasgow Green Glasgow
Stanley Park Liverpool
Woolton Walled Gardens Liverpool
Highgate Wood London
Parliament Hill London
Queens Park London
Ravenscourt Park London
Rookery Gardens & Woodland London
York House Gardens London
Wythenshawe Park Manchester
Blenheim Gardens Minehead
Exhibition Park Newcastle
Aboretum Nottingham
Highfields Park Nottingham
Henley Road Cemetery Reading
Lightwater Country Park Surrey Heath
Vivary Park Taunton

References

  1. ^ a b c Petski, Denise (9 May 2018). "Ricky Gervais Comedy 'After Life' Gets Series Order at Netflix". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 27 April 2019. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  2. ^ Goldberg, Lesley (9 May 2018). "Ricky Gervais to Create, Star in Netflix Scripted Comedy Series 'After Life'". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 9 May 2018. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  3. ^ Ausiello, Michael (9 May 2018). "Ricky Gervais Comedy After Life Snags 6-Episode Series Order at Netflix". TVLine. Archived from the original on 3 April 2019. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  4. ^ Baysinger, Tim (9 May 2018). "Netflix Orders Ricky Gervais Sitcom 'After Life'". The Wrap. Archived from the original on 3 April 2019. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  5. ^ Petski, Denise (14 January 2019). "Ricky Gervais' Netflix Series 'After Life' Sets March Premiere Date". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 3 February 2019. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
  6. ^ Goldberg, Lesley (3 April 2019). "'After Life,' Starring Ricky Gervais, Renewed for Season 2 at Netflix". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 3 April 2019. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  7. ^ White, Peter (6 May 2020). "Ricky Gervais Strikes Overall Deal With Netflix As 'After Life' Comes Back For Season 3". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 7 May 2020. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  8. ^ Goldberg, Lesley (6 May 2020). "Ricky Gervais Inks Netflix Overall Deal; 'After Life' Renewed for Season 3 (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 8 May 2020. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  9. ^ "Charlie Hanson: Bafta suspends producer over sexual misconduct allegations". BBC. 29 May 2021. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  10. ^ "TV producer Charlie Hanson faces sex predator allegations". The Times. 29 May 2021. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  11. ^ a b Wiseman, Andreas (5 July 2018). "'Downton Abbey' & 'Game Of Thrones' Stars Join Ricky Gervais in His New Netflix Comedy 'After Life', Shoot Under Way". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 5 July 2018. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  12. ^ Moon, Ra. "Where is After Life filmed? Tambury Filming Location of Ricky Gervais Netflix series". Atlas of Wonders. Archived from the original on 14 May 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  13. ^ "'After Life' Season 3: Netflix release date & what to expect". What's on Netflix. 12 November 2021.
  14. ^ Thomas, Sarah (29 October 2019). "Ricky Gervais's company to pay Aboriginal artist for use of 'fake' work in Netflix's After Life". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  15. ^ a b "After Life: Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  16. ^ a b "After Life: Season 1". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  17. ^ a b "After Life: Season 2". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  18. ^ a b "After Life: Season 2". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  19. ^ a b "After Life: Season 3". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  20. ^ a b "After Life: Season 3". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  21. ^ Barr, Merrill. "'After Life' Review: A Show About Depression That Is Surprisingly Entertaining". Forbes. Archived from the original on 22 March 2019. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
  22. ^ Modell, Josh (6 March 2019). "Ricky Gervais' dour new Netflix series belongs on the Hallmark Channel". TV Club. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
  23. ^ "After Life returns: But is it heavenly or hellish?". BBC News. 24 April 2020. Archived from the original on 26 April 2020. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  24. ^ "After Life season 2 review: Ricky Gervais can do so much better". The Independent. 24 April 2020. Archived from the original on 25 April 2020. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  25. ^ Chilton, Louis (14 January 2022). "After Life, season three review: Enjoyably cynical comedy bogged down by sentimentality". The Independent. Archived from the original on 14 January 2022. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  26. ^ Lowry, Brian (13 January 2022). "'After Life' brings the bittersweet Ricky Gervais comedy about grief to an end". CNN. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  27. ^ "After Life season 3 review: Its greatest strength is also its biggest weakness". Radio Times. 14 January 2022. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  28. ^ McMahon, James (14 January 2022). "'After Life' season three review: Ricky Gervais' humanist hit goes out on a high". NME. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  29. ^ Vlessing, Etan (6 March 2021). "AACTA International Awards: 'Promising Young Woman' Wins Top Prize". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  30. ^ Cooper, Lucy (25 May 2021). "The 7th edition of the National Film Awards returns on the 1st of July 2021". National Film Awards. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  31. ^ Barbosa, Alessa (1 July 2021). "Rowan Atkinson, Louis Ashbourne Serkis, Ricky Gervais, Kate Beckinsale, Matthew Horne, are among the big winners at the 6th annual National Film Awards UK". National Film Awards. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  32. ^ "National Television Awards 2021: Ant and Dec 'overwhelmed' by 20th win". BBC News. 9 September 2021. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  33. ^ "2020 Winners". International Press Academy. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  34. ^ "After Life wins at National Television Awards 2022". comedy.co.uk. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
  35. ^ "After Life on Netflix: Locations of donated 'Hope is Everything' benches around the UK". In Your Area. 23 January 2022.
  36. ^ Phipps, Amy (20 January 2022). "After Life benches inspired by Ricky Gervais show installed". BBC.
  37. ^ "After Life bench inspired by Ricky Gervais show installed in Reading". BBC. 25 March 2022. Henley Road Cemetery, Reading
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