he came in to drop hate 1 time on each season of Afterlife then vanished without another word, what a legend

@ChaunceyPendicott

5 ай бұрын

I heard Gervais silenced him before he could release his 5 hour Derek review

@Fee212

3 ай бұрын

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.

Gervais' career since extras has been an exercise in demonstrating the worth of Stephen Merchant.

@timothyspool1399

3 ай бұрын

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.

@robroy488

8 күн бұрын

Well put!

@robroy488

8 күн бұрын

​@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.

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.

@darrenstopper1806

21 күн бұрын

Benny Harvey?was he in the Shawshank Redemption?

@ozmond2600

5 күн бұрын

You're a toilet.

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.

@chipsneak1348

9 ай бұрын

I feel like a conspiracy theorist when I’m talking about how shite After Life is

"Ohhhh, he's done you again Rick!"

The cut after 12:10 comparing bench woman's quotes and david brent was class

@DoubleDowner

Жыл бұрын

So good isn’t it.

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?

@robroy488

8 күн бұрын

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.

Could you do one of these for Derek?

"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.

@chriswakefield9538

Жыл бұрын

Very good point.

“It’s me again.” “Oh, good.” Made me laugh more than anything in 3 series of Afterlife did 😂

Old woman unrealistically sits on bench forever and gives out inspirational quotes

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!

@TheoAndHisPedals

Жыл бұрын

Haha I just watched your video earlier today and I think the algorithm sent me here!

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.

@jbri1

Жыл бұрын

yeah I think it was part of Karl's Educating Ricky. Amazing how much he ripped off Karl and others.

@terminalfrost3645

Жыл бұрын

@@jbri1 yup most of his jokes are ripped from xfm days from karl and steve

@dustyboi8975

Жыл бұрын

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

@chipsneak1348

9 ай бұрын

Plus she delivered so badly… we’re meant to believe that wasn’t someone remembering their lines from the script?

@Fee212

3 ай бұрын

He stole the quote about planting the tree from "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel." I recognised it right away.

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.

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?

@iloveyourunclebob

Жыл бұрын

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

The whole show is a Ricky Gervais power fantasy

Mate,you are the best. I Hope the algorithm will reward you

As someone else in the comments briefly mentioned, I think the key factor in After Life's popularity is that it appeals to an international audience (I'm Dutch myself). I feel like 'British humor' has gained some kind of reputation internationally - through shows such as Ricky's own Office - as being the 'clever' or 'witty' kind of humor, especially in contrast with the stereotype of American, sincere or sugarcoated humor. After Life tricks international audiences into thinking they are watching an edgy and clever British comedy because they see British guy Ricky 'The Office' Gervais use British foul language which is framed by the screenplay as being funny. In reality, After Life is a sentimental, saccharine and superficial show on par with any typical American sitcom (like Friends, as HAL pointed out. Actually reminds me of Big Bang Theory A LOT; I believe all characters end up paired up with each other in that show too. You could say that Sheldon takes the role of Ricky in being the one without a filter. Haha! Autism and depression just mean you can say whatever you want! See a pattern?). My hypothesis is that international audiences feel 'smarter' when they can feel they can laugh at a British comedy (because of British humor's aforementioned reputation as 'witty'). This is also evidenced by the commenter you quoted at the end of the video, who takes a similar stance as other After Life or Ricky Gervais defenders: you just don't 'get' it. But After Life, compared to other British comedies, makes it easier to 'get' for international audiences, because everything is just handed to the audience at every second. Dialogue is mostly swear words (= funny) and if there's no swearing you will know you have to feel sad because of the sad 'deep' music in the background (or there will be a suicide attempt / near death experience / cancer kids to bring the point across). I'd like to compare it to content you used to see on 9gag. The posts were usually easy to understand, lowest common denominator type memes that are either needlessly sentimental or needlessly edgy. Just easy to consume shit. I think it's a relatively new phenomenon in the sense that UK/USA audiences have been relatively isolated from 'international' audiences until things like Twitter and KZread came along. Now Ricky has a whole international fanbase to directly communicate with and pander to on Twitter. I definitely think that the 'globalization' of media through things like Netflix can lead to a watering down of TV and film, sadly.

@DerekDerekDerekDerekDerekDerek

6 ай бұрын

Epic

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.

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

@mosquitopyjamas9048

9 ай бұрын

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

Most of the bits about Gervais being annoyed with people in shops, pubs etc are ripped straight from the podcasts and what Karl said.

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.

@opg1987

Жыл бұрын

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.

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

@woutertron

Жыл бұрын

Hasn't he said he thinks this is the best work he's ever done?

Laughed more at your 'hate' comment section at the end, then ALL of Afterlife.... once again Thank You. Excellent vid

This show is so fucking bad oh my god. I hope there’s a 4th season just for another one of these videos.

The return of the king

Thank you for making this, it makes me feel more sane

Let's hope there's a fourth season, so we can enjoy it being ripped apart.

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.

@drewpeacock9087

19 күн бұрын

I didn't love that show but it was so much better, the characters actually felt like people for the most part.

@user-zy9yg2eu5t

16 күн бұрын

He probably didn't watch detectorists tbh. It was so much better.

@drewmack1709

16 күн бұрын

Totally agree. Brilliant show ​@@user-zy9yg2eu5t

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.

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.

@jbri1

Жыл бұрын

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.

@engurland

Жыл бұрын

@@jbri1 I believe them, but it doesn't make it immune from criticism.

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 KZread). 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.

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.

@stephenkissane4268

Жыл бұрын

But why didn't he leave when Dawn went to florida

@chipsneak1348

9 ай бұрын

@@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.

Ive been waiting so long for this; will get stuck in later.

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 was hoping you'd do one for season 3. Look forward to watching this.

This has been a long time coming. Nice one mate.

The smash cut of him being complimented before clips of him being himself was so fucking funny

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 duel-needs of Ricky’s ego to feel like he’s this emotionally deep and caring guy, as well as intellectually above everyone around him.

Fuck me that was good ,cheers

that first comment at the end had me fucking dying lmfao

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 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

Happy to find this video. I was so disappointed in AfterLife

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!

@robroy488

Жыл бұрын

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.

This was excellent, as always. Thanks!

Is it just me, or did his brother in law's wife and kid completely disappear at some point? Great vid.

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.

@DaddyMorphosis

Жыл бұрын

STRONGLY RECOMMEND Veep as a modern comedy that's not shit!

@chipsneak1348

9 ай бұрын

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…

I thought the man identified as an 8 year old girl scene was absolutely pathetic

@imnobody115

Жыл бұрын

It’s based on a true story but still agree

@LEYLANDGAMER

Жыл бұрын

Ah didn't know that

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.

The script at 20:30 is amazing 😆

The quote about trees and shade is ripped straight from XFM - it's a quote Ricky reads to Karl and asks him to interpret.

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.

"ramblings of a madman' such a clever reference!

Thanks for this! Great review as always.

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.

Been waiting for this. Nice one

Now that comment at the end, that WAS comic genius!

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.

Great series, thank you!

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.

@cmale911

Жыл бұрын

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.

I do wonder what Xfm era Gervais would make of After Life era Gervais.

Thank you so much for this.

Love the Frank Grimes comparison btw.

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

Make more videos!

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 hope you decide to make more content. Your analysis is excellent and very funny.

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 liked it, but it's so completely dog obsessed. I couldn't bear it towards the end.

I think the Inbetweeners comparison is really on point.

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!

Oh the wife footage goes on and on

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

Damn the comment part at the end reminded me of an IMDB movie view

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.

Thanks for watching season 3 so we didn't have to. Great review!

I ALWAYS DO THIS LINE from The Simpsons when Burns hugs Homer "Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you"

I want him to make another series just for you to criticize it.

it's great how old comedians' shows these days devolve into them sitting in restaurants and cafes whining

@121schmam

2 ай бұрын

Yes! It’s the only place they interact with the public

@numberonedad

2 ай бұрын

@@121schmam curb has the same issue

I commend you for being able to actually watch it. I don't think I was able to push through to even finish season 1, it is unadulterated shite.

@charlieparkeris

Жыл бұрын

Oh, and I put a clip from your previous video as a standalone video on my channel.

The only good thing about the ending of the show was the ending of the show.

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.

Thank you so much for this Hal! A friend insisted I watch this travesty. Five minutes in I knew it was garbage but forced myself through Season 1. This show is the laziest most shallow piece of trash I have ever seen. Ricky essentially copied „Tony Soprano“ without any of the nuance or complexity that made TS work. Watching Sopranos you laugh at Tony‘s self loathing his pathetic behavior, in After Life it‘s actively encouraged like Tony is somehow the hero of this story?

the hawkeye bit is brilliant

The end of this video is beautiful, i want to get that comment tattooed on my body

Thanks HAL

Hahahha, that comment at the end is pure mental

Gervais merged with Brent some time ago.

I agree with most of what you stated here. But i still enjoyed the show nevertheless. Don't know why

Do a review for Derek!

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.

I will say that the one thing that people seem to gripe on this show which I disagree with totally is the drug user arc. It's pretty much the only part of the show I can say is actually well done. Tony isn't exactly "justified" from a normal perspective, but when you look at it as two suicidal people, and one of them is looking for a way out, and the other one gives them that option, it's a bit different. I see it this way, the guy is on heroin, he lives in a garage, his girlfriend is dead, he's without any hope whatsoever, and he says it himself if he had the option, he'd take as many drugs as he possibly could, and the only reason he hasn't done it yet is because he literally doesn't have the money. He's done with life. I think that's totally valid. I don't think he should be expected to continue suffering when he clearly doesn't want to live. I think every person should have the freedom to take their own life if they want to, and Ricky's character gave him that choice. He didn't "kill" him. I think it's kinda telling though that they never bring this up again. This is the only scene that I am able to talk about in this way and that's why I liked it. It atleast has something to say. But do they do anything with this moral dilemma? Absolutely not. And that's a problem. It's an interesting scenario they could've expanded upon but they did nothing with it. I agree whole heartedly with your general view of this show. It's fucking shit. And as someone who is currently grieving hard, I would've liked to have seen them take on grief in a more realistic down to earth way. This show tries too hard to have a happy moral story at the end and real life isn't like that. Sometimes you don't move on. Sometimes you don't come to terms. Sometimes the people around you don't help at all. I would've liked to have seen that explored. (Watch Manchester by the Sea if you're interested in that sort of thing BTW).

26:47 to be fair ive always wanted to do that to cars that just wizz past zebra crossings haha

i watched three years of this series and just realized....his wife died?

He could have committed suicide but what about them lot? We’d have a mutiny on our hands!

Thanks for so precisely dissecting that which I just call utter shite.

I fucking love hating this show.

Ricky wouldnt like the inbetweeners comparison about jay being a better written charachter than anyone in afterlife. He hated the writers of inbetweeners i think, and named the gay couple from the bbc in extras after them