Common Sense Media Review
By Joyce Slaton
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Cringe comedy about grief isn't easy to watch.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
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After Life
What's the Story?
After the death of his beloved wife, Tony (Ricky Gervais) is having a rough AFTER LIFE. He's miserable whether he's at home alone with his dog or toiling at the free community newspaper he runs with his grieving brother-in-law, Matt (Tom Basden), and co-worker Lenny (Tony Way). Tony hates everyone and everything. But as he slowly learns, he's not alone in his pain -- and his next battle is learning how to connect to the people left in his life.
Is It Any Good?
Mean-spirited and cringe-inducing at first, Gervais' comedy ultimately blossoms into something more heartwarming, but viewers who don't appreciate uncomfortable yuks may not be able to wait it out. In After Life's very first episode, Tony tells a young boy at his kid's school that he's not a "pedo" and "if I were, you'd be safe, you tubby little ginger c--t." He also calls a complete stranger a "fat, hairy, nosy c--ksucker" and continually greets his sweet-natured brother-in-law's attempts at friendship with utter contempt. His outlook, as he explains to his therapist: "If I become an a--hole and ... then it all gets too much, I can always kill myself. It's like a super power."
These are bitter laughs, but fans of Gervais will already know that he's able to put the tough stuff over. He may not win many new fans with After Life, though, at least not those who mind fighting through a truly crusty exterior to get to an only slightly gooey inside. On the way to Tony's ultimate redemption, he ruins lives. And yet there isn't a single stock character in the cast, and when these people connect, it's magic. One thing this show really gets right: understanding that even those who seem OK on the outside have their own hidden agony. It's nihilistic, it's painful, but with its hard-won emotional core, After Life may get to cynics most of all.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why grieving characters are relatively uncommon in movies and TV shows. Why are creators reluctant to tackle this subject? What about it is difficult or uncomfortable? Have you ever seen grief or the grieving process form the basis of a comedy before? Why or why not?
Ricky Gervais is known for telling controversial jokes in his standup act. Do you find his humor funny? If you don't, will you enjoy After Life? Why or why not? Does the character of Tony make apologies for his unkind humor? Do the characters in this show accept it, and him?
How do the characters in After Life demonstrate compassion and empathy? Why are these important character strengths?
TV Details
- Premiere date : March 8, 2019
- Cast : Ricky Gervais , Roisin Conaty , Tom Basden
- Network : Netflix
- Genre : Comedy
- Character Strengths : Compassion , Empathy
- TV rating :
- Last updated : February 15, 2023
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