After Life Season 2 Review: Ricky Gervais’ Show Continues to Shine

After what seems like a lifetime ago, we finally have Ricky Gervais‘ Tony back on our Netflix screens in After Life season 2 and fans of the show will be pleased to see his return. He has once again written and directed the new series. 

At the end of season one, the grieving widow seemed to have found a glimmer for life again and he was doing better despite his struggle to cope with the death of his beloved wife, Lisa (Kerry Godliman). Tony was grieving the loss of his wife to cancer and the perfect companionship he had in his marriage, he even wrestled with suicidal thoughts to end his despair. Her decease hit him hard and he was constantly riding the storm of anger towards others. This has now changed in the new season, as he appears to be more bitter towards himself. Grief is a tragic war with your own feelings and Tony is still very much in that battle not knowing how long the internal assault would take place and who would come out the victor. 

He still spends his days rewatching videos of themselves together during happy and healthy times and of course, the comedy still has its deluge of cursing words. (If that’s something which was a TV turnoff for some, then it will be just as intolerable this time around.) The bare bones of the format is still the same and no doubt that will prove to be a winning factor for fans of the preceding season. After all, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

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In After Life season 2, it’s great to see familiar faces back in action to bring in the comedy, as his concerned friends entwine themselves quietly and carefully like the branches of a tree around Tony, helping to keep him sturdy and upright and to prop him up when he is down. Tony’s graveside companion and adviser, Anne is back, who as always, is played superbly by Penelope Wilton. These touching and genuine scenes show Gervais’ capacity to deliver sincere, emotional moments that are not deliberately overplayed.

The beautiful, idyllic Tambury also plays its part in the series through scenes of countryside walks, Tony sitting on the bench with his dog, oh and of course with the familiar faces at the Tambury Gazette who remain ever supportive of him. 

Fans will see the return of sex worker Daphne (Roisin Conaty) and Pat the postman (Joe Wilkinson). The duo are developing a growing relationship with Tony in the series and it’s those tender moments that really draw the viewer in.

Tony’s routine remains the same most days, as he continues to visit his dad (David Bradley) who is still fighting his own battle with Alzheimer’s disease. He is deteriorating and as a result, Tony is still in contact with the nurse that he bonded with (Ashley Jensen). However, things aren’t all that rosy between the pair – he’s not over Lisa yet. It’s the classic case of he can’t be with her, but he can’t be without her either.

Paul Kaye is back as the psychiatrist whose advice is rather questionable (he’s probably the least likeable character in the show).

There are some new faces in the show with the potty-mouthed pensioner in a care home played brilliantly by One Foot in the Grave‘s Annette Crosbie. She’s received a telegram from the Queen to celebrate her 100th birthday, not that she’s fussed of course as she would rather share her toilet problems instead! 

Lenny’s (Tony Way) future step son, James also features in the series. 

After Life delivers something so personal, so raw and it handles the subject of death with comedic sensitivity, knowing it’s a topic which people are reluctant to talk about. Grief and bereavement have a huge mental health effect on people and the way that Gervais manages to tell the story makes it feel so relatable, so normal. Tony may still be searching for his reason to keep going, but the series shows that having his friends around him is the best medicine he can have. Tony is at his strongest when he dares to show his weakness and asking for help isn’t giving up, it’s refusing to give up. If ever there was a message people might need to hear right now during these difficult and for many, grief-stricken times, then that would be it and After Life serves that up perfectly. The subtle weaving of these messages are beautifully encompassed within the show, silently urging viewers to remember the importance of being kind and being there for others even from the very first frame of the new series.

It’s a marvellous triumph to see a show enjoy so much success on such a bleak subject matter that offers no perfect conclusion during Tony’s character journey. Often it’s quite heartbreaking. Only Ricky Gervais could carry that off and in all the fruitful successes of work he has enjoyed throughout his career, this stirring show is single-handedly his most efficacious achievement to date. You will laugh, you will cry and your heart will break. 

Will you be watching After Life season 2 on Netflix? As always, we like to know your thoughts, so leave a comment below, tweet us @filmandtvnow or drop us a comment on our Facebook page.

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