I like returning to this every few months when someone mentions how much they like After Life, to remind myself I'm not the insane one. Another subtle but nevertheless incredibly lazy thing from Ricky I've just noticed is at 13:25 - Spudhead was what Karl's dad called someone who lived on his estate; they laugh about it on the XFM show. Literally ever minute detail in this series is recycled or ripped off from old XFM and standup.
The Office: Gervais's comedy, seen through Brent, bouncing off quality writing and acting. Extras: Gervais's comedy, seen through the people Andy encounters, bouncing of quality writing and acting. Derek/Afterlife: Gervais's comedy unconstrained, with cheesy gags, preachy messages and cliched and predictable morals.
@timothyspool1399 and also it is complete regurgitation of everything he has already broadcast on his other work and his XFM days. Its genuinely painful to watch.
"My dad used to say life was like a ride at the fair: exciting, scary, fast... and you can only go around once" Nah mate, you can just pay another three quid and go on again if you like. I used to go on the cups and saucers about five times when I went to the fair.
In a world where hysterical Ricky Gervais fanboys are scrambling around the internet comments sections to attempt hold him up as some kind of untouchable bastion of free speech, finding this review (and likeminded people in the comments) is a breath of fresh air. Afterlife was unbearable.
I'm so glad you made this. Your first two videos completely inspired me to make my own video a couple months back, because I was just so disappointed you hadn't released a video for season 3, so I figured I'd make my own and literally tried to replicate your style a little bit. Once again, chuffed you've returned. THE KING IS BACK!
It's funny how the comedy bits in Afterlife which are supposed to be cringeworthy and awkward aren't. The bits that are sincere (the quotes, the epiphanies, the serious bits) make me shudder with embarrassment.
It annoys me that I feel like I'm being a contrarian when I say AfterLife is shit. That shouldn't be an unpopular opinion, for all the reasons you've mentioned and many more. Great vid, Hal. You finally got the login details for the account, huh?
The fact is that it IS shit, it's utter, utter shit. Fans say its hilarious and beautifully poignant and yet they never seem to give examples of where the show hits those markers. They also virtually never know the names of any of the characters in this supposed "work of comedic genius" I loved the Office, absolutely loved it, rewatched it a thousand times and therfore I know the names of pretty much everyone in it. Die hard fans of Afterlife can rarely name anyone in the show apart from Tony.
@@robroy488 They like it cos it's Gervais and you're meant to like it. Imagine a new writer created this show, it would be like 3.4 on IMDB. He gets fans cos they are grieving or Gervais fans, that's it.
I think what annoys me most about Ricky is how inconsistent and shallow he is with his messaging. He’ll write these sentimental scenes where his character waxes about how it’s actually good to care about other people and try to make the world better, while also constantly making these misanthropic statements IRL about how humanity is a plague and should be wiped out. I don’t think you can earnestly believe in both those things at once, and I think it speaks to the conflicting dual needs of Ricky’s ego to feel like he’s this emotionally deep and caring guy, as well as intellectually above everyone around him.
The quote about 'old men planting trees, knowing they will never sit in the shade' has been talked about on the XFM-Ricky Gervais show, back in the early 2000s.
So was the quote about an old woman in her 90’s not technically being scarred for life It really is like Ricky ran out of good materiel in like 2006 and had just been coasting since then. Big fan of everything from back then but the creative drop off is huge
@@woutertron What's he gonna say, the truth? You have me millions for nothing, so I hired mates, shot it near my lovely house and didn't need any kind of story or character progression or anything good, cos I already have the money?
Afterlife was awful from season 1 to season 3. It was just a vehicle for Ricky to output his opinions and beliefs on camera. Atheism? Check. Animal lover? Check. Not believing in spirits and ghosts? Check. Gratuitous use of the word 'cunt'? Check. Disguised homophobia? Check. Exploiting cancer? Check. Everything about this show was just awful! Stephen Merchant's stock has just risen because it is so clear now that he was pivotal to the success of The Office and Extras. Give that man the credit he deserves!
Couldn't agree with you more. I have family and friends that love this mess with an almost cult like reverence yet I still describe it as television made to be enjoyed by utter morons. It's genuinely the worst writing, character development and general production that I've ever seen. It's honestly a mystery how it's so loved?! At work I'll get people asking "have you seen afterlife?" I reply "yes it's diabolically terrible" and they look shocked, usually saying "I thoughts it was amazing, there were funny parts but some of its really emotional, I nearly cried etc" Jesus, I can only look at them and think has this person ever felt any genuine emotion in their entire lives? Have they ever read a book? I think this is the product of of a generation that get most of their content from tik tok, they are used to 15 secs of content and so their minds are blown by this crap, seeing it as great, emotional story telling? Anyway, not a fan.
The finale of this video made me laugh harder than any of Ricky’s recent stand ups and all three series of Afterlife combined. Your timing and editing is top notch. The Frank Grimes analogy is absolutely spot on. Encapsulates how I feel when so many people seem to adore this absolute dross All three of your videos have perfectly summed up how dreadful Afterlife is. Bravo.
I also can't stand seeing tweets from Ricky's account that announce how many people have watched his stuff on Netflix. Does anyone, even his biggest fans, care?
I'm currently learning how to write for screen and stage and I'm finding it really useful to analyse After Life. It's offering a real insight in what doesn't work and what not to do.
It's not Ricky's fall from grace, it's just evidence that Stephen Merchant was a HUGE factor in their success early on. The Office and Extras would have been as bad as Afterlife if it wasn't for Stephen Merchant. Merchant deserves a lot more credit for his contribution to The Office and Extras. Ricky's acting in those shows was fantastic but Merchant was critical in keeping Gervais in check and the writing good and grounded.
This is the only review video I revisit and rewatch every year or so, and I just had another watch through. I love it so much. I don't know why I relish so much in After Life being so shit, but it really does fascinate me. Probably because, as you point out, I feel like a crazy person when so many people think it's 'genius'. I hope so much he makes a fourth series now, just so you can do another review.
The reason people want you to do these is because we feel the world has gone batshit insane thinking that this show is quality TV. And not in the way people are usually condescending towards lowest common denominator humour that is popular. People think this is deep. Mind-blowing.
We know that Tony is a lot like Ricky so we see Ricky writing these scenarios where we think he's in the right and not being a prick then having other characters tell him how wonderful he is. It's obvious that Ricky is a similar prick in real life
Characters who argue with him are pretty much adaptations of actual tweets he gets. Hell, maybe they should be getting writers credits for this. Actually they probably were offered but found they had more dignity
He shows other characters telling Tony how funny and kind he is, because Ricky wants to be seen as funny and kind. He crowbars in philosophy quotes and sentimental shite, cos he wants to be seen as those things. Then he's put a flimsy story on the back of all this ego nonsense. The real Ricky is the prick who wants everyone silent doing what he wants.
This is a BRILLIANT analysis. It actually made me laugh unlike the dire series that was written by Gervais, produced by Gervais, directed by Gervais, edited by Gervais and starring......you guessed it Gervais. Not a narcissistic project at all.
I'd add I really think Gervais was going for the Detectorists vibe here. They seem to exist in a similar universe- but they couldn't be more different shows.
While Detectorists wasn't a laugh out loud kind of comedy, it had a lot of heart and I liked the characters because they felt like real people with flaws and foibles, not just caricatures that exist for the sake of the protagonist. Detectorists had a charm to it that After Life wants to have, but AL has a sneering, cynical subtext that I find to be a thoroughly fascinating insight into the mind of Ricky Gervais
@@kittaylor5752 spot on. The characters and subtlety of Detectorists is just brilliant. The running joke of young Hugh always having a coke until it's revealed hes actually 30 something- so the next time he's in the pub he is shown with a pint. But it's never mentioned or commented on, and we don't see the drinks being ordered or requested. I love details like that. I now really want to re-watch Detectorists.
It's funny - all the years of re-watching The Office and it never occurred to me that Tim stayed at Wernham Hogg because of Dawn. I always thought it was just his fear of change. Maybe that was me projecting as I worked in similar office roles for over a decade and always gave myself excuses to stay in them. Though, it's interesting that he stays after Dawn leaves and deliberately doesn't take the opportunity to become boss - for me that was just reflecting the conflict he has where he doesn't want to end up like Brent, but doesn't have the courage to do anything else.
@@stephenkissane4268they said it was interesting that he stayed because it wasn’t congruent with him staying because of Dawn, but speculating I’d say it could very well have been the connection. That job is his connection to her, the site of all his memories with her. Maybe he couldn’t bear to put it in the past. Then one day it’s announced that she’s coming back, and it’s like every fantasy he’s had about her returning, like finding a shiny Pokémon after a year long search.
Brilliant brilliant video. Are you planning more videos at all? I could honestly watch your critiques all day, just really great and hilarious (that ending is one of the best I've ever seen on RUclips). Thank you for all the effort you put into this and the other two vids, and I have fingers crossed you'll do more in the future.
Wait, did Ricky Gervais's character blast an airhorn at his friend who had a heart attack....while he was recovering from said heart attack? Or did he blast him before the heart attack, probably contributing to said heart attack? And we're supposed to think he's the good guy?
The worst thing about this show is how many people say they love it. I genuinely can't wrap my head around it. I find it hard to believe that ricky gervais, the man behind the office and extras made this. It almost feels like it's a wind up from him. Maybe it shows how vital Stephen merchant was to his previous work or maybe it shows Hollywood has completely changed him. Either way, I don't think I would be excited or looking forward to any new projects he has coming up. He was absolutely legendary at the Oscars and he will probably go down as the man who's made me laugh more than anyone with his early work especially but I just don't find his work funny at all anymore and I really wish this wasn't the case but it is unfortunately. You should do more reviews in general mate, everything you said was completely spot on and you clearly know what genuine comedy is. A lot of people seem to have forgotten since there's been very little over the past few years and that's being kind.. I will never lower my standards though. If that means I need to rewatch classics like both versions of the office, extras, only fools etc then so be it.
What pains me the most is the people who say “I never really liked Ricky Gervais but this is my favourite show and he’s a genius.” I assume these people are watching the lowest of the low and scoffing at The Office and then when some broad as hell depression porn that gives all the cues for emotionally defunct people comes on they realise he’s great…
Gervais is actually Brent irl, just more covert with it. Proper loves presenting himself to the world as some great, regular guy who's so intelligent yet look how humble he tries to be about it and oh, he so gets comedy and people. But these shows are such drivel masquerading as deep and philosophical, always presenting Gervais as the only focus of normality. It just reeks of narcissistic egotism that's desperate to pretend it's the opposite and thinking it has something important to share with the world.
After life was something i watched because i saw all the hype around it when it released and then i said to everyone who recommended it, that it was literally the same jokes ricky does in his standup which btw i think is where he is actually bad aswell but im glad everyone here agrees i thought i was crazy
37:24. This is a rich tradition in philosophical history so far back as plato using socrates as a mouthpiece for his arguements while making Socrates opponents far less intellectually capable than they realsticlly could've been. That doesn't mean its good, but its fascinating how long this kind of textual device has been used.
I haven't watched this show or any of the other Ricky Gervais shows, but I've watched all three of these videos, very high-quality editing & interesting insights. That one clip of the wife's face photoshopped smiling like a maniac onto a swimming woman was absurd 😂 Good work, I subscribed.
Mate you’re fantastic. Lots of work here, and brilliantly reasoned. The show is tripe. And thanks to you, people have it all perfectly explained. Ps the bit where they are all going round on the merry-go-round is surely Gervais laughing at the audience, it’s so terribly cliche he simply HAS to be in on some sort of real joke.
No-one who works in a care home can just leave for a walk with a friend. Care home staff are under paid over worked. Plus as a carer if I spoke to a residents relative like she does I'd get the sack. It would have been better if Gervais stopped at season 1. By the way, when Tony gives that homeless guy money is worryingly washed over. The idea of the story is great but executed like a car crash! The most emotional part was Kath breaking down in the laughter group. By the way the groups reaction to Kath's tears was harsh but perhaps if Gervais had made more antagonistic characters throughout the series it could have been more realistic. Real life has many shades of characters why do Tony's colleagues go along with all his antics. I hate the way he speaks to the photographer who is a sweet man. In the last scene he tells the child 'looks don't matter'. Yet he humiliated his mate frequently. The representation of depression was an okay attempt but got let down by the wishy washy story line. I loved the dog the best at least he didn't swear for swearing sake. I could say more but I can't be bothered. 😔
Watched all three of these in a row. Spot on all round. Really entertaining. How about taking on the last three episodes of Only Fools and Horses. Best UK sitcom in my opinion. It's a shame it didn't end in 1997
I thought it was a shame that Ricky Gervais's character didn't see the Penelope Wilton character as a romantic prospect. There's not that much of an age difference.
Just back here to rewatch and also let you know without pressuring you that we’d all love more of these about anything. As a negative person I love the critiques but I’d just as much enjoy more assessment of The Office, maybe Fleabag or anything. Maybe something like True Detective, where each season is vastly different. Either way, I’ve had a lot of enjoyment from your 3 vids!
Holy shit! I literally just sought out your channel to give a friendly reminder to do a season 3 review and it’s just been posted a few days ago! Can’t wait for this. Gonna be interesting as, unlike season 2 (and a lot of season 1), I actually watched the whole of series 3 out my side eye whilst playing Gran Turismo 3 a few months ago. It was truly fucking terribly, especially the use of music. I assume this will be covered in the video. Ah fuck it gonna watch it now.
Oh man, this was so so good. Thank you so much! You covered basically everything, except one thing which I thought you would - the scenes where Tony totally unnecessarily plays sport with his brother in law (can't even remember his name). This was a perfect example of Ricky just wanting to show off, rather than it serving any purpose to the story. "Don't mess with RIcky Gervais". Like, what was the point in any of it? To show how superior Ricky, sorry Tony, is athletically? Just bizarre. You did touch upon the music being too on the nose, but this is the thing that really stood out to me when watching it. It was so...student film and lazy. Play sad music (overbearingly loud) to convey character is sad. Wow. Good job. And lastly, the other thing that irked me was just how basic the shooting style is. Just so many midshots and wide shots and no interesting angles or using the frame to tell the story. You did cover this in a previous review, coz you showed a clip from the office as an example. I guess I never watched the previous series enough to pick up on this, but again, it's just lazy and totally thoughtless. I find it interesting how it looks so cheap and shit when the budget was probably more than The Office or Extras cost. The Office is a documentary style so can park that, but Extras looks nice enough, felt real enough, so how did that made 17 years ago look better than this tripe? Oh and I loved your point on Afterlife feeling like something David Brent wrote. Absolutely spot on. Anyway, I really love your style on these videos. Is there anything else you can cover? I'd happily watch you slate anything.
The Office is the best thing he ever created. He was hungry, excited and had passion. I think his career is a great exercise or lesson in getting everything you want.
Gervais really peaked with The Office. Since then, most of what he has done would not have been possible if The Office didn't happen. His movies have mostly been awful, extras was pretty good, Derek and Afterlife have had good bits, but they're not great. He also lacks the acting skills to really portray someone who is suicidal. You can tell that Gervais ran out of ideas for the third series, as there are way more "Ricky messing around and cackling like a maniac" scenes, which don't really work outside of The Office.
the office is by far the best thing Ricky has done. whether it's trying to appeal to an international audience or the lack of Stephen Merchant, I'm not sure the reason why his other stuff is so far behind. Ricky's 'Sunday Sermon' during lockdown was more enjoyable than a lot of the shows he's written. I think I just watch them because how much I appreciated the office, almost like I owe him.
The perfect couple parts are actually ok. Nobody films the arguments after all. After all when someone has died you will romanticise your relationship.
I don't want to think this show is poor, the basic premise is the most appealing thing about it and if done well I think could have the greatness of The Office, but yes through these things it does lack the greatness of former shows like The Office & Extras, especially just him shoehorning calling people a C and the rather simplistic caricatures all the supporting characters are, it's more like Brassic than Gervais material in a way, there is no insight into why these characters have the stories they do, they are just there this time. The potential love story doesn't really go anywhere either.
I couldnt get past the first episode of afterlife, but its funny that all the things I hated about extras ( lol this respected person is being rude, the cancer patient kid, everyone in the world is dumb but andy), popped up again in afterlife. That is why extras is that bit worse than the office, where as in the office it was a sane world with a couple of crazy characters, extras made it a sane man in a world gone mad. Blackadder does that too, but they chuck in times where blackadder is bested or matched, andy millman never really was, except greg. Luckily that show had mechant to stop it going completely downhill, but it seems afterlife is extras without celebrity cameos and steve.
I love how Ricky, sorry, Andy Millman becomes Jesus at the end. That's Ricky's opinion of himself. There goes Ricky Gervais, I must remember to thank him. I had to let him go in the end, he was rubbish.
By the way I've realized Gervais also ripped off a comment made by Steve Coogan whilst playing Partridge. During an interview with Clive Anderson, Partridge remarks about coping his dress sense from the golfer Ian Woosnam. Gervais (as Brent) made a similar comment about 'Ian Botham' as the only person to have done 'that' to the system.
he came in to drop hate 1 time on each season of Afterlife then vanished without another word, what a legend
I heard Gervais silenced him before he could release his 5 hour Derek review
Rickey spews criticism of everyone and mocks everyone. He simply can not take anyone turning the tables. Many people think he's just a nasty fat man.
The comment sections to these vids of yours feel like finding home after having been lost in a strange land. I'm finally among my own kind here.
I feel like a conspiracy theorist when I’m talking about how shite After Life is
I like returning to this every few months when someone mentions how much they like After Life, to remind myself I'm not the insane one. Another subtle but nevertheless incredibly lazy thing from Ricky I've just noticed is at 13:25 - Spudhead was what Karl's dad called someone who lived on his estate; they laugh about it on the XFM show. Literally ever minute detail in this series is recycled or ripped off from old XFM and standup.
Gervais' career since extras has been an exercise in demonstrating the worth of Stephen Merchant.
The Office: Gervais's comedy, seen through Brent, bouncing off quality writing and acting.
Extras: Gervais's comedy, seen through the people Andy encounters, bouncing of quality writing and acting.
Derek/Afterlife: Gervais's comedy unconstrained, with cheesy gags, preachy messages and cliched and predictable morals.
Well put!
@timothyspool1399 and also it is complete regurgitation of everything he has already broadcast on his other work and his XFM days. Its genuinely painful to watch.
Old woman unrealistically sits on bench forever and gives out inspirational quotes
I can't tell you how happy I am you've used Limmy to accentuate that particular point. RIP Benny Harvey, miss you big man.
Benny Harvey?was he in the Shawshank Redemption?
You're a toilet.
@@darrenstopper1806no, he wasn’t, but he was surprisingly down to earth and very funny
The cut after 12:10 comparing bench woman's quotes and david brent was class
So good isn’t it.
"My dad used to say life was like a ride at the fair: exciting, scary, fast... and you can only go around once"
Nah mate, you can just pay another three quid and go on again if you like. I used to go on the cups and saucers about five times when I went to the fair.
Very good point.
In a world where hysterical Ricky Gervais fanboys are scrambling around the internet comments sections to attempt hold him up as some kind of untouchable bastion of free speech, finding this review (and likeminded people in the comments) is a breath of fresh air. Afterlife was unbearable.
I'm so glad you made this. Your first two videos completely inspired me to make my own video a couple months back, because I was just so disappointed you hadn't released a video for season 3, so I figured I'd make my own and literally tried to replicate your style a little bit.
Once again, chuffed you've returned. THE KING IS BACK!
Haha I just watched your video earlier today and I think the algorithm sent me here!
Most of the bits about Gervais being annoyed with people in shops, pubs etc are ripped straight from the podcasts and what Karl said.
It's funny how the comedy bits in Afterlife which are supposed to be cringeworthy and awkward aren't. The bits that are sincere (the quotes, the epiphanies, the serious bits) make me shudder with embarrassment.
Mate,you are the best. I Hope the algorithm will reward you
It annoys me that I feel like I'm being a contrarian when I say AfterLife is shit. That shouldn't be an unpopular opinion, for all the reasons you've mentioned and many more.
Great vid, Hal. You finally got the login details for the account, huh?
The fact is that it IS shit, it's utter, utter shit. Fans say its hilarious and beautifully poignant and yet they never seem to give examples of where the show hits those markers. They also virtually never know the names of any of the characters in this supposed "work of comedic genius"
I loved the Office, absolutely loved it, rewatched it a thousand times and therfore I know the names of pretty much everyone in it. Die hard fans of Afterlife can rarely name anyone in the show apart from Tony.
@@robroy488 They like it cos it's Gervais and you're meant to like it. Imagine a new writer created this show, it would be like 3.4 on IMDB. He gets fans cos they are grieving or Gervais fans, that's it.
I think what annoys me most about Ricky is how inconsistent and shallow he is with his messaging. He’ll write these sentimental scenes where his character waxes about how it’s actually good to care about other people and try to make the world better, while also constantly making these misanthropic statements IRL about how humanity is a plague and should be wiped out. I don’t think you can earnestly believe in both those things at once, and I think it speaks to the conflicting dual needs of Ricky’s ego to feel like he’s this emotionally deep and caring guy, as well as intellectually above everyone around him.
The quote about 'old men planting trees, knowing they will never sit in the shade' has been talked about on the XFM-Ricky Gervais show, back in the early 2000s.
yeah I think it was part of Karl's Educating Ricky. Amazing how much he ripped off Karl and others.
@@jbri1 yup most of his jokes are ripped from xfm days from karl and steve
So was the quote about an old woman in her 90’s not technically being scarred for life
It really is like Ricky ran out of good materiel in like 2006 and had just been coasting since then. Big fan of everything from back then but the creative drop off is huge
Plus she delivered so badly… we’re meant to believe that wasn’t someone remembering their lines from the script?
He stole the quote about planting the tree from "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel." I recognised it right away.
“It’s me again.”
“Oh, good.”
Made me laugh more than anything in 3 series of Afterlife did 😂
"Ohhhh, he's done you again Rick!"
And he's not even there!
This show is so fucking bad oh my god. I hope there’s a 4th season just for another one of these videos.
Could you do one of these for Derek?
The answer to all this is that Gervais doesnt give a single shit about the quality of the show. He is lazily cashing in on the Netflix money
Hasn't he said he thinks this is the best work he's ever done?
@@woutertron What's he gonna say, the truth? You have me millions for nothing, so I hired mates, shot it near my lovely house and didn't need any kind of story or character progression or anything good, cos I already have the money?
@@footiegambler1347 Shows how the TV masses will put up with shallow knob gags and insist it genius.
Afterlife was awful from season 1 to season 3. It was just a vehicle for Ricky to output his opinions and beliefs on camera.
Atheism? Check.
Animal lover? Check.
Not believing in spirits and ghosts? Check.
Gratuitous use of the word 'cunt'? Check.
Disguised homophobia? Check.
Exploiting cancer? Check.
Everything about this show was just awful! Stephen Merchant's stock has just risen because it is so clear now that he was pivotal to the success of The Office and Extras. Give that man the credit he deserves!
Couldn't agree with you more. I have family and friends that love this mess with an almost cult like reverence yet I still describe it as television made to be enjoyed by utter morons. It's genuinely the worst writing, character development and general production that I've ever seen. It's honestly a mystery how it's so loved?! At work I'll get people asking "have you seen afterlife?" I reply "yes it's diabolically terrible" and they look shocked, usually saying "I thoughts it was amazing, there were funny parts but some of its really emotional, I nearly cried etc" Jesus, I can only look at them and think has this person ever felt any genuine emotion in their entire lives? Have they ever read a book? I think this is the product of of a generation that get most of their content from tik tok, they are used to 15 secs of content and so their minds are blown by this crap, seeing it as great, emotional story telling? Anyway, not a fan.
The whole show is a Ricky Gervais power fantasy
The finale of this video made me laugh harder than any of Ricky’s recent stand ups and all three series of Afterlife combined.
Your timing and editing is top notch.
The Frank Grimes analogy is absolutely spot on. Encapsulates how I feel when so many people seem to adore this absolute dross
All three of your videos have perfectly summed up how dreadful Afterlife is.
Bravo.
Thank you for making this, it makes me feel more sane
I also can't stand seeing tweets from Ricky's account that announce how many people have watched his stuff on Netflix. Does anyone, even his biggest fans, care?
Ugh thats so cringe. Like how Seinfeld likes to drop how many people watched the finale of Seinfeld when someone says they didn't like/watch it
I'm currently learning how to write for screen and stage and I'm finding it really useful to analyse After Life. It's offering a real insight in what doesn't work and what not to do.
The smash cut of him being complimented before clips of him being himself was so fucking funny
Again I agreed with all your points. It's a shame to see Ricky's fall from "grace". Also, that final bit made me laugh.
It's not Ricky's fall from grace, it's just evidence that Stephen Merchant was a HUGE factor in their success early on. The Office and Extras would have been as bad as Afterlife if it wasn't for Stephen Merchant. Merchant deserves a lot more credit for his contribution to The Office and Extras. Ricky's acting in those shows was fantastic but Merchant was critical in keeping Gervais in check and the writing good and grounded.
Laughed more at your 'hate' comment section at the end, then ALL of Afterlife.... once again Thank You. Excellent vid
This is the only review video I revisit and rewatch every year or so, and I just had another watch through. I love it so much. I don't know why I relish so much in After Life being so shit, but it really does fascinate me. Probably because, as you point out, I feel like a crazy person when so many people think it's 'genius'.
I hope so much he makes a fourth series now, just so you can do another review.
Same!!! Rewatching for the fourth time after someone mentioned how much they liked the show and then I unleashed a diatribe.
The reason people want you to do these is because we feel the world has gone batshit insane thinking that this show is quality TV.
And not in the way people are usually condescending towards lowest common denominator humour that is popular. People think this is deep. Mind-blowing.
i saw a lot of ppl who had lost a loved-one respond well to these series. and i'm glad it gave them some comfort. but i can't see why.
@@jbri1 I believe them, but it doesn't make it immune from criticism.
We know that Tony is a lot like Ricky so we see Ricky writing these scenarios where we think he's in the right and not being a prick then having other characters tell him how wonderful he is. It's obvious that Ricky is a similar prick in real life
Characters who argue with him are pretty much adaptations of actual tweets he gets. Hell, maybe they should be getting writers credits for this.
Actually they probably were offered but found they had more dignity
He shows other characters telling Tony how funny and kind he is, because Ricky wants to be seen as funny and kind. He crowbars in philosophy quotes and sentimental shite, cos he wants to be seen as those things. Then he's put a flimsy story on the back of all this ego nonsense. The real Ricky is the prick who wants everyone silent doing what he wants.
Yeah, I've just had one of those self realisation moments.
@@Globaldave1970 q
This is a BRILLIANT analysis. It actually made me laugh unlike the dire series that was written by Gervais, produced by Gervais, directed by Gervais, edited by Gervais and starring......you guessed it Gervais. Not a narcissistic project at all.
So good. Genuine fanboy moment when my comment featured at the beginning. I’m sort of gutted there won’t be a season 4 purely for these videos.
i loved this review! the script at 20:30 was so fucking funny lmao. i’d love to see you review other shows in the same style
I'd add I really think Gervais was going for the Detectorists vibe here. They seem to exist in a similar universe- but they couldn't be more different shows.
I didn't love that show but it was so much better, the characters actually felt like people for the most part.
He probably didn't watch detectorists tbh. It was so much better.
Totally agree. Brilliant show @@user-zy9yg2eu5t
While Detectorists wasn't a laugh out loud kind of comedy, it had a lot of heart and I liked the characters because they felt like real people with flaws and foibles, not just caricatures that exist for the sake of the protagonist. Detectorists had a charm to it that After Life wants to have, but AL has a sneering, cynical subtext that I find to be a thoroughly fascinating insight into the mind of Ricky Gervais
@@kittaylor5752 spot on. The characters and subtlety of Detectorists is just brilliant. The running joke of young Hugh always having a coke until it's revealed hes actually 30 something- so the next time he's in the pub he is shown with a pint. But it's never mentioned or commented on, and we don't see the drinks being ordered or requested. I love details like that. I now really want to re-watch Detectorists.
Let's hope there's a fourth season, so we can enjoy it being ripped apart.
The return of the king
It's funny - all the years of re-watching The Office and it never occurred to me that Tim stayed at Wernham Hogg because of Dawn. I always thought it was just his fear of change. Maybe that was me projecting as I worked in similar office roles for over a decade and always gave myself excuses to stay in them. Though, it's interesting that he stays after Dawn leaves and deliberately doesn't take the opportunity to become boss - for me that was just reflecting the conflict he has where he doesn't want to end up like Brent, but doesn't have the courage to do anything else.
But why didn't he leave when Dawn went to florida
@@stephenkissane4268they said it was interesting that he stayed because it wasn’t congruent with him staying because of Dawn, but speculating I’d say it could very well have been the connection. That job is his connection to her, the site of all his memories with her. Maybe he couldn’t bear to put it in the past. Then one day it’s announced that she’s coming back, and it’s like every fantasy he’s had about her returning, like finding a shiny Pokémon after a year long search.
I do wonder what Xfm era Gervais would make of After Life era Gervais.
This has been a long time coming. Nice one mate.
Brilliant brilliant video. Are you planning more videos at all? I could honestly watch your critiques all day, just really great and hilarious (that ending is one of the best I've ever seen on RUclips). Thank you for all the effort you put into this and the other two vids, and I have fingers crossed you'll do more in the future.
Wait, did Ricky Gervais's character blast an airhorn at his friend who had a heart attack....while he was recovering from said heart attack? Or did he blast him before the heart attack, probably contributing to said heart attack? And we're supposed to think he's the good guy?
Yes, I saw that on some doc. Who was the guy? Gervais was obsessively annoying to that guy he shared a hotel with.
The worst thing about this show is how many people say they love it. I genuinely can't wrap my head around it. I find it hard to believe that ricky gervais, the man behind the office and extras made this. It almost feels like it's a wind up from him. Maybe it shows how vital Stephen merchant was to his previous work or maybe it shows Hollywood has completely changed him. Either way, I don't think I would be excited or looking forward to any new projects he has coming up. He was absolutely legendary at the Oscars and he will probably go down as the man who's made me laugh more than anyone with his early work especially but I just don't find his work funny at all anymore and I really wish this wasn't the case but it is unfortunately.
You should do more reviews in general mate, everything you said was completely spot on and you clearly know what genuine comedy is. A lot of people seem to have forgotten since there's been very little over the past few years and that's being kind.. I will never lower my standards though. If that means I need to rewatch classics like both versions of the office, extras, only fools etc then so be it.
STRONGLY RECOMMEND Veep as a modern comedy that's not shit!
What pains me the most is the people who say “I never really liked Ricky Gervais but this is my favourite show and he’s a genius.”
I assume these people are watching the lowest of the low and scoffing at The Office and then when some broad as hell depression porn that gives all the cues for emotionally defunct people comes on they realise he’s great…
that first comment at the end had me fucking dying lmfao
Gervais is actually Brent irl, just more covert with it. Proper loves presenting himself to the world as some great, regular guy who's so intelligent yet look how humble he tries to be about it and oh, he so gets comedy and people. But these shows are such drivel masquerading as deep and philosophical, always presenting Gervais as the only focus of normality. It just reeks of narcissistic egotism that's desperate to pretend it's the opposite and thinking it has something important to share with the world.
it's great how old comedians' shows these days devolve into them sitting in restaurants and cafes whining
Yes! It’s the only place they interact with the public
@@121schmam curb has the same issue
Ive been waiting so long for this; will get stuck in later.
After life was something i watched because i saw all the hype around it when it released and then i said to everyone who recommended it, that it was literally the same jokes ricky does in his standup which btw i think is where he is actually bad aswell but im glad everyone here agrees i thought i was crazy
YES!! I was hoping you'd do one for season 3. Look forward to watching this.
Happy to find this video. I was so disappointed in AfterLife
37:24. This is a rich tradition in philosophical history so far back as plato using socrates as a mouthpiece for his arguements while making Socrates opponents far less intellectually capable than they realsticlly could've been. That doesn't mean its good, but its fascinating how long this kind of textual device has been used.
This was excellent, as always. Thanks!
Fuck me that was good ,cheers
Is it just me, or did his brother in law's wife and kid completely disappear at some point? Great vid.
The quote about trees and shade is ripped straight from XFM - it's a quote Ricky reads to Karl and asks him to interpret.
Great work, once again mate. I often refer back to your reviews of series 1 and 2 just to remind myself that I'm not going insane.
I haven't watched this show or any of the other Ricky Gervais shows, but I've watched all three of these videos, very high-quality editing & interesting insights. That one clip of the wife's face photoshopped smiling like a maniac onto a swimming woman was absurd 😂
Good work, I subscribed.
"ramblings of a madman' such a clever reference!
Mate you’re fantastic. Lots of work here, and brilliantly reasoned. The show is tripe. And thanks to you, people have it all perfectly explained. Ps the bit where they are all going round on the merry-go-round is surely Gervais laughing at the audience, it’s so terribly cliche he simply HAS to be in on some sort of real joke.
I thought the man identified as an 8 year old girl scene was absolutely pathetic
It’s based on a true story but still agree
Ah didn't know that
27:17 "Tony" trying to look humble whilst being told "you're my angel Tony" and "you're good Tony" THIS SHOW IS DIABOLICALLY TERRIBLE
The script at 20:30 is amazing 😆
No-one who works in a care home can just leave for a walk with a friend. Care home staff are under paid over worked. Plus as a carer if I spoke to a residents relative like she does I'd get the sack.
It would have been better if Gervais stopped at season 1. By the way, when Tony gives that homeless guy money is worryingly washed over. The idea of the story is great but executed like a car crash! The most emotional part was Kath breaking down in the laughter group. By the way the groups reaction to Kath's tears was harsh but perhaps if Gervais had made more antagonistic characters throughout the series it could have been more realistic. Real life has many shades of characters why do Tony's colleagues go along with all his antics. I hate the way he speaks to the photographer who is a sweet man. In the last scene he tells the child 'looks don't matter'. Yet he humiliated his mate frequently. The representation of depression was an okay attempt but got let down by the wishy washy story line. I loved the dog the best at least he didn't swear for swearing sake. I could say more but I can't be bothered. 😔
Good review, pretty much agree with all of it.
33:56 'The Posotives?'
Watched all three of these in a row. Spot on all round. Really entertaining.
How about taking on the last three episodes of Only Fools and Horses. Best UK sitcom in my opinion. It's a shame it didn't end in 1997
I ALWAYS DO THIS LINE from The Simpsons when Burns hugs Homer "Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you"
Now that comment at the end, that WAS comic genius!
Love the Frank Grimes comparison btw.
I thought it was a shame that Ricky Gervais's character didn't see the Penelope Wilton character as a romantic prospect. There's not that much of an age difference.
i watched three years of this series and just realized....his wife died?
Just back here to rewatch and also let you know without pressuring you that we’d all love more of these about anything. As a negative person I love the critiques but I’d just as much enjoy more assessment of The Office, maybe Fleabag or anything.
Maybe something like True Detective, where each season is vastly different.
Either way, I’ve had a lot of enjoyment from your 3 vids!
Damn the comment part at the end reminded me of an IMDB movie view
Holy shit! I literally just sought out your channel to give a friendly reminder to do a season 3 review and it’s just been posted a few days ago! Can’t wait for this. Gonna be interesting as, unlike season 2 (and a lot of season 1), I actually watched the whole of series 3 out my side eye whilst playing Gran Turismo 3 a few months ago. It was truly fucking terribly, especially the use of music. I assume this will be covered in the video. Ah fuck it gonna watch it now.
Oh man, this was so so good. Thank you so much! You covered basically everything, except one thing which I thought you would - the scenes where Tony totally unnecessarily plays sport with his brother in law (can't even remember his name). This was a perfect example of Ricky just wanting to show off, rather than it serving any purpose to the story. "Don't mess with RIcky Gervais". Like, what was the point in any of it? To show how superior Ricky, sorry Tony, is athletically? Just bizarre.
You did touch upon the music being too on the nose, but this is the thing that really stood out to me when watching it. It was so...student film and lazy. Play sad music (overbearingly loud) to convey character is sad. Wow. Good job.
And lastly, the other thing that irked me was just how basic the shooting style is. Just so many midshots and wide shots and no interesting angles or using the frame to tell the story. You did cover this in a previous review, coz you showed a clip from the office as an example. I guess I never watched the previous series enough to pick up on this, but again, it's just lazy and totally thoughtless. I find it interesting how it looks so cheap and shit when the budget was probably more than The Office or Extras cost. The Office is a documentary style so can park that, but Extras looks nice enough, felt real enough, so how did that made 17 years ago look better than this tripe?
Oh and I loved your point on Afterlife feeling like something David Brent wrote. Absolutely spot on.
Anyway, I really love your style on these videos. Is there anything else you can cover? I'd happily watch you slate anything.
New to the channel glad this came up in my recommendations. Going to watch this one then go back and watch the other two Vids
I think the Inbetweeners comparison is really on point.
The Office is the best thing he ever created. He was hungry, excited and had passion. I think his career is a great exercise or lesson in getting everything you want.
I hope you decide to make more content. Your analysis is excellent and very funny.
So why did he and Merchant stop working together? Are they still friends?
Gervais really peaked with The Office. Since then, most of what he has done would not have been possible if The Office didn't happen. His movies have mostly been awful, extras was pretty good, Derek and Afterlife have had good bits, but they're not great. He also lacks the acting skills to really portray someone who is suicidal.
You can tell that Gervais ran out of ideas for the third series, as there are way more "Ricky messing around and cackling like a maniac" scenes, which don't really work outside of The Office.
I want him to make another series just for you to criticize it.
26:47 to be fair ive always wanted to do that to cars that just wizz past zebra crossings haha
Thanks for this! Great review as always.
I liked it, but it's so completely dog obsessed. I couldn't bear it towards the end.
Been waiting for this. Nice one
the office is by far the best thing Ricky has done. whether it's trying to appeal to an international audience or the lack of Stephen Merchant, I'm not sure the reason why his other stuff is so far behind.
Ricky's 'Sunday Sermon' during lockdown was more enjoyable than a lot of the shows he's written. I think I just watch them because how much I appreciated the office, almost like I owe him.
The perfect couple parts are actually ok. Nobody films the arguments after all. After all when someone has died you will romanticise your relationship.
The end of this video is beautiful, i want to get that comment tattooed on my body
Its also illegal to not stop at zebra crossings... people should be able to cross wirhout fear of being hit.
I don't want to think this show is poor, the basic premise is the most appealing thing about it and if done well I think could have the greatness of The Office, but yes through these things it does lack the greatness of former shows like The Office & Extras, especially just him shoehorning calling people a C and the rather simplistic caricatures all the supporting characters are, it's more like Brassic than Gervais material in a way, there is no insight into why these characters have the stories they do, they are just there this time. The potential love story doesn't really go anywhere either.
It kind of reminds me of the room in some ways 🤣
I couldnt get past the first episode of afterlife, but its funny that all the things I hated about extras ( lol this respected person is being rude, the cancer patient kid, everyone in the world is dumb but andy), popped up again in afterlife. That is why extras is that bit worse than the office, where as in the office it was a sane world with a couple of crazy characters, extras made it a sane man in a world gone mad. Blackadder does that too, but they chuck in times where blackadder is bested or matched, andy millman never really was, except greg. Luckily that show had mechant to stop it going completely downhill, but it seems afterlife is extras without celebrity cameos and steve.
Great series, thank you!
I fucking love hating this show.
Make more videos!
I love how Ricky, sorry, Andy Millman becomes Jesus at the end. That's Ricky's opinion of himself. There goes Ricky Gervais, I must remember to thank him. I had to let him go in the end, he was rubbish.
By the way I've realized Gervais also ripped off a comment made by Steve Coogan whilst playing Partridge. During an interview with Clive Anderson, Partridge remarks about coping his dress sense from the golfer Ian Woosnam. Gervais (as Brent) made a similar comment about 'Ian Botham' as the only person to have done 'that' to the system.
the hawkeye bit is brilliant
Do a review for Derek!