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‘After Life’: Gervais Finds Beauty In The Mundane
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19 February, 2022
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Podcast Editor Matthew Seaman reviews Ricky Gervais’ “After Life”.
This winter, writer of “The Office”, “Extras” and “Derek”: Ricky Gervais, returned to our screens with the third and final season of his Netflix hit, “After Life”. The story of a widowed local journalist: Tony (Gervais), living in rural Tambury (filmed across Hemel Hempstead and Hampstead), is brought to a close in this concluding chapter. Its irreverence is somehow heartwarming, and whilst little actually happens in the plot, there is a significant arc for Tony’s character. The series begins with him hurling a potted cactus through a car window (with good reason), and ends with him reassuring a young cancer patient that he would visit him every single day until he is better. Beginning in an environment that infuriates him, Tony blossoms into a man who finds beauty in the world away from his late wife, appreciating that the time they had can live happily in the past.
We see stand-out performances from Penelope Wilton, who plays a wise Anne, the single parental figure who remains in Tony’s life, and Kerry Godliman, who appears as his wife, Lisa, in flashback moments. Gervais’ on-screen chemistry with both Godliman and Wilton makes his pain and heartache all-the-more believable. Whilst he definitely ‘has it together’ more than he did in the previous series, and there are certainly less tears, it feels right that way. I was disappointed by the absence of Roisin Conaty’s character, Roxy, and later learned that Gervais had told Digital Spy: “We thought there wasn’t quite the story there… it’s a mutual decision, I didn’t write [her] out”. There are moments of hilarity to juxtapose the depth of the ‘bench scenes’, with the friendly feud between Tony and his boss, Matt (Tom Basden), making for some enjoyable screen-time. A must-see moment comes at the start of the fourth episode – I’ll let you see it for yourself! Basden’s role is certainly meatier this time around, and the same can be said for that of Tony Way (Lenny) and Diane Morgan (Cath), who become all-the-more likeable as the series progresses.
The music sets the show apart from others, with the likes of Todd Rundgren, Yusuf/Cat Stevens and Radiohead all featuring. As before, the series is underpinned by the ethereal and delicate sounds of ambient-rock band, Hammock, utilised in the same way as “Unloved” is in “Killing Eve”.
Once again, the star of the show is Brandy (Anti) the dog, who has been making some press appearances with Gervais in recent weeks. Tony (and subsequently Ricky)’s connection to his canine companion is palpable, and at times makes for even stronger on-screen communication than that of other characters. I would much prefer to watch a sequence of him reminiscing on his marriage, accompanied by Brandy, than see a padded-out banal moment with David Earl, whose character quite frankly depresses me (I’m sure that’s the intention).
It really is the perfect example of bitter-sweet television, embedded with sentimental truth. There are occasions where I sensed what was coming next, but predictability is okay. “After Life”, in some ways, is a ‘non-event’, but we are somehow drawn into the beauty of the everyday, mesmerised by the mundane. I won’t spoil the ending, but we hear Joni Mitchell’s “Both Sides Now”, as the story closes in the most apt way possible.
There is no hope for a fourth season, and that’s just the way it should be, but there is certainly hope for Tony. “After Life” has been a pivotal piece of entertainment for me, since I first streamed the first season in March 2019, and I am grateful for the way that Ricky Gervais continues to disregard the system, and represents the misfits in society. After all, I think we can all tell Tony isn’t too far from himself (just maybe without the millions).
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World Exclusive: After Life Season 3: The First few Minutes
After Life | Season 3 Official Trailer | Netflix
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episodes will be released on January 14th.
Just Three Things. Written for #Afterlife by Ricky Gervais and Andy Burrows
July 5, 2022
Ricky Gervais
London, W1F 0LE
UK
Dear Ricky,
Tony: No, you read it.
Valerie: Oh God. “Nurse Cindy starts to slowly undress. She was sexy as hell, and she notices Dr. Barnaby looking at her differently than he would if he was operating on her.” ( laughs ) Valerie: “‘Do I look well, Doctor?’ ‘I’ll say,’ said Dr. Barnaby. ‘Think you’d better check my pulse, Nurse.’”
Valerie: ( laughs ) It’s sort of sweet, really.
Kath: Sort of old-fashioned and hopeful. And she’s a fortune teller too.
Tony: She said she is, yeah.
Kath: Why would she lie?
Tony: ‘Cause it’s impossible.
Kath: Nothing’s impossible.
Tony: I’m out.
Kath: Just ’cause you haven’t seen something doesn’t mean it isn’t real.
Tony: What if no one’s seen it?
Kath: Could be invisible.
Tony: Yeah.
Kath: Could I visit her? You know, to investigate it?
Tony: If you want.
Kath: I’d go in with an open mind. You know, if you go in thinking it isn’t real, then you’ll never believe.
Lenny: Should I arrange that, then?
Tony: Yeah. Now I wish I was covering the story.
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You want some evidence that indicates that the Bible is true? Here is a good place to start and that is taking a closer look at the archaeology of the Old Testament times. Is the Bible historically accurate? Here are some of the posts I have done in the past on the subject: 1. The Babylonian Chronicle, of Nebuchadnezzars Siege of Jerusalem, 2. Hezekiah’s Siloam Tunnel Inscription. 3. Taylor Prism (Sennacherib Hexagonal Prism), 4. Biblical Cities Attested Archaeologically. 5. The Discovery of the Hittites, 6.Shishak Smiting His Captives, 7. Moabite Stone, 8. Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser III, 9A Verification of places in Gospel of John and Book of Acts., 9B Discovery of Ebla Tablets. 10. Cyrus Cylinder, 11. Puru “The lot of Yahali” 9th Century B.C.E., 12. The Uzziah Tablet Inscription, 13. The Pilate Inscription, 14. Caiaphas Ossuary, 14 B Pontius Pilate Part 2, 14c. Three greatest American Archaeologists moved to accept Bible’s accuracy through archaeology.,
The Bible and Archaeology – Is the Bible from God? (Kyle Butt)
The answer to find meaning in life is found in putting your faith and trust in Jesus Christ. The Bible is true from cover to cover and can be trusted.
Thanks for your time.
Sincerely,
Everette Hatcher, everettehatcher@gmail.com, http://www.thedailyhatch.org, cell ph 501-920-5733, 13900 Cottontail Lane, Alexander, AR 72002
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On Saturday April 18, 2020 at 6pm in London and noon in Arkansas, I had a chance to ask Ricky Gervais a question on his Twitter Live broadcast which was “Is Tony a Nihilist?” At the 20:51 mark Ricky answers my question. Below is the video:
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Ricky Gervais 25/07/2021 Facebook Live at 28:29 mark Ricky answers my question about Sam Harris
The Daily Hatch 
