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After Life (TV series)

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This article is about the 2019 British comedy-drama television show. For other uses, see Afterlife (disambiguation).

After Life
GenreBlack comedy
Created byRicky Gervais
Directed byRicky Gervais
Starring
ComposerAndy Burrows
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes6 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
  • Ricky Gervais
  • Duncan Hayes
ProducerCharlie Hanson
CinematographyMartin Hawkins
EditorJo Walker
Camera setupSingle-camera
Running time25–31 min
Original release
NetworkNetflix
Release8 March 2019 (2019-03-08) –
present

After Life is a British black comedy-drama web television series created, executive produced, directed by, and starring Ricky Gervais. It premiered on 8 March 2019, on Netflix. On 3 April 2019, Netflix renewed the series for a second season.[1]

Premise

After Life follows Tony, whose life is turned upside down after his wife dies from breast cancer. He contemplates suicide, but instead decides to live long enough to punish the world for his wife's death by saying and doing whatever he wants. Although he thinks of this as his "superpower", his plan is undermined when everyone around him tries to make him a better person.[2]

Cast and characters

Episodes

No.TitleDirected by [3]Written by [3]Original air date [4]
1"Episode 1"Ricky GervaisRicky Gervais8 March 2019 (2019-03-08)
Tony tries to adapt to life after his wife dies. Tony's workplace, Tambury Gazette, a free newspaper company, hires Sandy.
2"Episode 2"Ricky GervaisRicky Gervais8 March 2019 (2019-03-08)
Tony considers trying heroin feeling like he has nothing to lose. He babysits George & begins to somewhat get along with Sandy.
3"Episode 3"Ricky GervaisRicky Gervais8 March 2019 (2019-03-08)
Tony hires "Roxy" to complete a task. His mood worsens after visiting a stand-up gig.
4"Episode 4"Ricky GervaisRicky Gervais8 March 2019 (2019-03-08)
Tony is organised a blind date by Matt. He also makes a rare apology.
5"Episode 5"Ricky GervaisRicky Gervais8 March 2019 (2019-03-08)
Tony eventually is persuaded by Brian to do news story at his apartment. He threatens Robbie with a hammer.
6"Episode 6"Ricky GervaisRicky Gervais8 March 2019 (2019-03-08)
Tony acknowledges those around him in an effort to not be depressed.[5]

Production

Development

On 9 May 2018, it was announced that 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 set to be executive producer alongside Charlie Hanson.[2][6][3][7] On 14 January 2019, it was announced that the series would premiere on 8 March 2019. It was further announced that Duncan Hayes would serve as an additional executive producer and that Hanson would actually serve as a producer.[8] On 3 April 2019, it was announced that the series was renewed for a second season.[9][1]

Casting

Alongside the series order announcement, it was confirmed that Ricky Gervais would star in the series.[2] On 5 July 2018, it was announced that 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 series' cast.[10]

Filming

Principal photography for the series had reportedly commenced by July 2018 in London.[10]

The series was filmed in Hampstead, Hemel Hempstead, Rickmansworth, Beaconsfield, and Camber Sands in East Sussex.[11]

Release

On 22 February 2019, the official trailer for the series was released.[12] On 8 March 2019, Netflix released all six episodes of the first season.

Reception

The first season received positive reviews upon its release. On Rotten Tomatoes, it has an overall approval rating of 71% with an average score of 6.29/10 based on 41 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".[13] On Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, the series has a score of 57 based on 13 reviews.[14]

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."[15] 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".[16]

References

  1. ^ a b Goldberg, Lesley (3 April 2019). "'After Life,' Starring Ricky Gervais, Renewed for Season 2 at Netflix". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  2. ^ a b c Petski, Denise (9 May 2018). "Ricky Gervais Comedy 'After Life' Gets Series Order At Netflix". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  3. ^ a b c Ausiello, Michael (9 May 2018). "Ricky Gervais Comedy After Life Snags 6-Episode Series Order at Netflix". TVLine. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  4. ^ "After Life – Listings". The Futon Critic. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  5. ^ "After Life - Season 1 - IMDb". IMDb. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  6. ^ Goldberg, Lesley (9 May 2018). "Ricky Gervais to Create, Star in Netflix Scripted Comedy Series 'After Life'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  7. ^ Baysinger, Tim (9 May 2018). "Netflix Orders Ricky Gervais Sitcom 'After Life'". The Wrap. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  8. ^ Petski, Denise (14 January 2019). "Ricky Gervais' Netflix Series 'After Life' Sets March Premiere Date". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
  9. ^ Gervais, Ricky (20 March 2019). "Once again, I have to thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your amazing tweets about #AfterLife. I've never had a reaction like it. I have a spring in my step as I skip towards writing series 2.pic.twitter.com/AUxYoZSMWm". @rickygervais. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
  10. ^ 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. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  11. ^ Moon, Ra. "Where is After Life filmed? Tambury Filming Location of Ricky Gervais Netflix series". Atlas of Wonders. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  12. ^ Ellwood-Hughes, Pip (26 February 2019). "After Life: trailer arrives for Ricky Gervais' Netflix series". Entertainment Focus. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  13. ^ "After Life: Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
  14. ^ "After Life Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
  15. ^ Barr, Merrill. "'After Life' Review: A Show About Depression That Is Surprisingly Entertaining". Forbes. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
  16. ^ Modell, Josh. "Ricky Gervais' dour new Netflix series belongs on the Hallmark Channel". TV Club. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
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