User Reviews

Again Ricky has done so well. Both season 1 & 2 have been brilliant and I'd really recommend.

Season 3? Hopefully!

This episode warmed my heart, just absolutely lovely in all regards. Well written and well acted.

This episode made me sob, introspect and appreciate living.

I'm going to again review this as if it's a season climax, rather than a series one, as at the moment the status as to whether the Netflix comedy will receive a second season hasn't been made clear.

Ricky Gervais, writes and stars as Tony, a man devastated by the loss of his wife. Considering ending his life, Tony discovers a new level of freedom to act and say however and whatever he wants, with the knowledge that if the consequences become too much, he always has suicide as his back-up plan. As he increasingly alienates his co-workers, family and friends, his interactions with characters in a similar situation cause him to consider his future.

I had several feelings about the show, which evolved as the series ran on, which is impressive given that there's only six half hours episodes. During the first episode, my overriding feeling was that the show was pretty much just an excuse to allow Ricky to say the "C-Word" as much as possible. I wasn't shocked or offended by this (it was tiresome if anything) but there were a few laughs to be had in that episode. Generally, that tone continued across the rest of the series and there was only one occasion when a joke pushed beyond my sensibilities. Though I feel I'm probably happier than the majority with dark humour.

My second opinion was the realisation that it was deeper than I thought it was going to be. Still recognisable as a sitcom, but also more of an exploration of the feelings of loss and despair that come with the loss of a loved one. I enjoyed this middle of the run more, it's still funny throughout this - there's just more too it than most sitcoms.

But my feelings changed again once I'd reached the conclusion of the series. I'm not sure that really it earns what it thinks its story arc is. The conclusion talks about Tony like he was wandering about putting the world to rights in the earlier episodes, but does he really... or does he just snipe about people to his friends. He doesn't tell the prospective newpaper subjects that they are deluded, or idiots, he rolls his eyes a lot, leaves and then bemoans them to Lenny (Tony Way). Similarly, I'm not sure that it actually earns its catharsis either. Although characters are chipping away at him throughout the run, it's only really the risk of losing another person from his life that drags him back, rather than actually making a positive choice.

I don't want to sound too down on it. I definitely enjoyed the series and laughed quite a few times, I just don't feel it's as deep as it, and some other reviews, think it is.

This serise has been trite to be nice, poorly written supporting cast which seem to be punching bags for the lame attempts at cutting humor, like a bully with no imagination picking on the socially inept. Gervais is as weak and tiresome as ever.