British comedian Ricky Gervais has a truly sublime new miniseries out. Airing on Netflix, “After Life” focuses on Gervais’ character, Tony, a features editor at a local newspaper, as he struggles with depression following his wife’s passing.
But this isn’t so much a tale of loss so much as it is one about the struggles, opportunities, absurdities, and beauties of life. Threading his message on human value with biting humor, Gervais’ new work sparks laughs and sorrow.
On the purpose of life, it’s about the tempering of great expectations to sustain good in every moment: aspiring that a “little corner of the world be a better place.” What if, says a grieving widow whom Tony befriends at the cemetery, being a good person is simple: “Good people do things for other people. That’s it. The end.” The scene made me think of Charles Krauthammer‘s book, Things That Matter.
On religion, we find a nuance all too rare from a major TV production. Like his creator, Tony is a devoted atheist who believes “life is precious because you can’t watch it again.” But Tony’s final, happy scene has him walk by a cathedral.
On life’s struggles, we see Tony interact with two souls who clearly have things worse than him. There’s a proud lady whose profession is prostitution. She demands to be called a “sex worker.” There’s a drug addict who has quietly given up. And there are others who are simply getting by like Tony. A nurse who, without complaint, cares for Tony’s senile father. A photographer at the newspaper who doesn’t have a great brain, but does have a great life. The newspaper editor, Tony’s brother-in-law, whose son matters more than anything.
It’s all about decency sustained. Of how acts of basic kindness make a better community, nation, and world.
Yet at its heart, “After Life” is always a comedy, not a drama. Visiting a family for a feature story, Tony asks why they’re so proud that they’ve made their son look like Hitler, “Hitler’s the funniest thing to do, I guess.” It perfectly encapsulates the great theme of Nazism in British humor. On another features visit, Tony struggles not to gag as a recent mother explains her rather unique recipes for various dessert dishes. In the park, Tony and his dog grapple with a stranger who exists to be annoying.
“After Life” is only six episodes long, but it gives much food for thought, and it leaves the viewer smiling. Watch it, and you’ll realize why it will probably win an Emmy award.
