Now if, like me, you’re not a Ricky Gervais fan, I want to tell you to NOT let that put you off.
But if unlike me, you’re not a fan of swearing, I can promise you this is not the show for you. I’d still say not to let this put you off.
We love a boxset in our house, but we are not binge watchers. Even GOT was restricted to an episode a night. But after one episode of this Gervais masterpiece I was hooked.
Grief in the media
It is not very often we see grief portrayed on TV. Yes we see plenty of death, but in TV land, quite often the after effect is skimmed over and the characters seem to return to normal life fairly quickly.
Now if you have lost someone dear to you, you will know that this is simply not realistic. Although it seems perfectly acceptable to gloss over this taboo subject. Maybe the truth is, we just can’t understand grief until we have experienced it, and because it is such a personal journey it is very hard to portray this in a way that would satisfy the grieving viewer.
Enter After life. A refreshing, honest, heart-breaking but funny depiction of what it can really feel like.
I don’t want to give too much of the story away, because I really do think that if you have been through the grieving process after losing a loved one, then this series will be a really valuable one for you to watch.
We see Tony, played by Gervais, mourning the loss of his wife Lisa. She has left him a video to watch. We see him watching parts of this throughout the series.
It gives an insight in to the life they lived together. As the series starts, we meet an angry, sad and lonely Tony. He is neglecting himself, his work and his life in general. And I can relate to that completely.
What this series does unlike others, is it offers an absolute honest look at what it feels like to grieve. The stages we go through and the fact that we continue to move up and down this list of stages from one day to the next.
It is dark and it needs to be, there is very little in the way of sunshine and happiness when you grieve.
It shows the pain he is suffering and the anger he feels towards everyone and everything. But thanks to His Wife’s video we see that this is not the Tony he once was.
What I liked was the journey to a better time that we follow Tony on. You see small moments of normality in among all the chaos he is.
I remember those feelings. Small moments in time where something made me smile, or made me laugh and for a moment there is hope that things will improve, life will get better.
We see this for Tony, we see thanks to his character interactions with those he works with and the strangers he meets that he begins to see this hope. The reason to get up and keep going.
Particularly Anne, A widow he meets when he visits his wife’s grave. She offers him the level headed advice from an experienced grief veteran that he needs. Their connection offered the one quote that really resonated with me.
“If you love someone you delight in their happiness, even if it’s not yours.”
Anne, After Life
From this, I take that it is OK to accept the happiness around you even if, at that moment you are not feeling happy. That it is OK for life to continue for others even if yours feels like it is on hold. That those that love you will always have a reason to be happy and that you can share in this because you love them. Yes it doesn’t change the pain you are feeling but it is a step forward. And it seemed to be a turning point for Tony as well.
My only niggle with this series, is the slightly negative portrayal of male mental health. The characters had some sympathy for Tony but very little patience with it. He had the most terrible therapist and it highlighted a serious lack of support for men in this situation.
As I have said in other posts, Mental health and in particular the grieving process are still such taboo subjects. They really shouldn’t be and perhaps a series like this will open the door to more like it.
There is talk of a second series and I would be intrigued to see where they go with that.
I’d love to hear your views on this series if you’ve watched it. And especially if you have lost someone dear to you. Do you think it is an accurate portrayal or do you feel it glamorises the process of grief?
Is there a need to include this subject in the television we watch daily or is it covered enough already?
I haven’t watched but now you have me intrigued as i’m always looking for a new series to watch. Thank you.
It’s well worth a watch, it’s certainly made me change my mind about Mr Gervais!
I really wanna watch it now.
I’ve heard great things about this and it’s on my list of things to watch.
It’s very good, I hope you enjoy it x
SOunds like a great show will have to check if we have it on Netflix Canada thanks for the review!
Oh I hope it’s on there for you x
Sounds like I need to watch this. I lost my mom and sister when I was young. I probably could relate since its very hard to tell others how I felt during that time. Thank you so much for sharing this very detailed review without giving it away. You have made it very intriguing to want to see!
Thank you, I really didn’t want to give too much away at all. I know it would put me off watching.
I’m so sorry to hear about your Mum and sister, I hope watching this is relatable for you x x
this made my curious about it! thank you for sharing. It’s always good to cultivate ourselves on those kind of topics, for ourselves and for the people around us that have lost someone they love. thank you again!
Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoy it x
I watched this show a few weeks ago and I thought it was a really great show, showcasing a side of grief people don’t usually show on tv!
We need to see more of it on tv, normalise these feelings for people like we have for many other areas of mental health xx
We watched all of this and absolutely loved it. It touched on some very difficult subjects in a very easy to watch way. Definitely a double thumbs up from us.
Its a heavy topic but handled so well x
We watched this and I feel that it was very well done. Very raw and real and emotional but also had funny parts.
This is one I do want to watch and can probably relate to as well. Thanks for sharing!
I hope you can enjoy it x
Great review. This has been on my list of things to watch since I first heard about it. I really must get around to watching. Have you seen Derek? Also a show by Ricky Gervais, but set in a Care home for the elderly. It’s brilliant!
I’ve not seen it but I am thinking I should give his other stuff a go x
Let me know what you think.
I enjoy pretty much everything Gervais makes. If he made overnight oats, I would probably even like them!
Hahaha brilliant!!
I haven’t suffered the sort of loss Tony did in the programme but I thought the series reflected well on what it can be like for those suffering a bereavement. I loved how the programme had me laughing one minute and crying the next.
Yes it was brilliant at evoking many emotions x
We’ve just finished watching GoT and Suits so are in search of a new series to watch, I’ll definitely check this out, thank you.
I hope you enjoy it x
You made me curious! Now I will start watching it tonight!
I hope you enjoy x x
My husband has this on his watch list. It looks pretty good.
It’s really good, I hope you enjoy it if you watch it x
I very much enjoyed After Life. It has me in absolute tears for one minute, and in laughter the next. I feel like it portrayed grief really well, and is something we haven’t seen before. Like you said, it is not often shown on TV how it actually is, but I feel like this portrayed it really well. I’m looking forward to the next series if there is one, unsure what Ricky will do to continue the story though!
Chloe xx
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That was my thinking, not sure what direction it will go in but I’m interested to find out.
It was such a brilliant program and so well depicted x
I loved this so much. Gervais has never been a favourite of mine, but he really got me in this one.
Exactly the same! I think I might have to try at some of his other bits now x
I loved this show, though I’m not a Ricky fan. I felt the raw grief that I often swept under the carpet, and expected to be dealt with mere days after the fact. So I hope it opened people’s eyes to it.
I really think you’re right, it will hopefully help people understand this better x
Just added this to my watch list. I’m a big Ricky G fan and I can’t wait to see his portrayal of Tony. Thanks for a great review.
Thank you, it’s hard to review without giving too much away. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did x
Not a huge Ricky G fan, but you have made me want to go and find it and add it to my watch list!
I hope you’re able to enjoy it x x
I love a good boxset and often download them to watch when I am doing the treadmill or bike at the gym. I’m not sure this sounds like the right one to watch in the gym though so perhaps I’ll save for an evening on the sofa.
I haven’t heard of this one, but it sounds really interesting. Great review!
I absolutely LOVED this! I binge watched it all in one sitting, basically spending my whole time sobbing then laughing. It is so poignant and well written, plus I think everyone in the cast does a brilliant job. It’s been one of my favourite things to watch x
It is so good. Really made what you experience during grief seem more acceptable when you see it play out like that x
Yeah definitely! I loved how it didn’t shy away from really hard hitting moments x
I haven’t watched it as I’m not the biggest Ricky Gervais fan but I think I’ll give it a watch now as you’ve whet my appetite!
I hope you enjoy it x x
I loved Anne in this series too! I loved Ricky Gervais anyway but this show really was incredible x
Anne was brilliant, we all need an Anne x
Iv watched Afterlife 4 times so far, it’s by far the best thing Iv watched this year, cannot wait for the second series. Ricky, you’re my hero, don’t ever change 🥰
It’s really very good. And it is definitely a tearjerker but not as bad as I’d thought.
It really spoke to me.
Hope you enjoy it xx
Iv watched Afterlife 4 times so far, it’s by far the best thing on tv this year, cannot wait for the second series, Ricky, you’re my hero, don’t ever change 🥰
Oh wow! This has certainly changed my opinion on him x
I’m always on the lookout for show recommendations. After a life like an interesting one. I’ll have to add it to my list!
I hope you enjoy x
Interesting thoughts. If I ever get Netflix again, I may check it out. Thanks for the review!
Thank you Wendy x
I haven’t watched this because, like you, I’m not a Gervais fan but perhaps I’ll give it a go!
I was pleasantly surprised x
I haven’t watched it but love your review of it. I think alot of taboos currently are getting some media attention but more needs doing.
Thank you so much! It does feel like we are making some progress with a lot of mental health subjects but as you say a long way to go x
I have not watched it and to be honest I’m scared to watch it. I’m scared to open the wounds again. At the same time, I’m sure I would find it healing.
I found it comforting, I was constantly worrying about it tipping me over the edge but it was a great release in places x
We watched the first episode with my parents and we were cringing, soooooo much “C” word 😂
But it’s a really great show. Death, grief, mental health…. All topics rarely talked about and it’s amazing to see it in the mainstream with humour, intelligence and reality. Can’t wait for S2.
😖😖 oh no! Yeah there is a lot of swearing! But I think it works, not sure how I’d have coped watching it with the folks 😂😂
It’s really great though and I’m looking forward to where S2 will go xx
I haven’t watched this but now feeling intrigued. Would definitely try to see this.
P.S- Followed your blog , happy blogging 🙂
Thank you, I’ll follow back x
Hey, thanks 🙂
I lost my mom 2 years ago and watching anything with grief is very difficult for me but I may watch this.
Thanks for the review
I’m so sorry for your loss x x
I haven’t watched this show. But the premise seems really interesting.
It is really good, and if you have seen him in anything before and enjoyed it, I’d say you’d like this as well x
You have a very good point. Movies or series definitely gloss over the grieving process as if it just goes away and life moves on. That is not how it is for most. It is nice to see more of a focus on this as it is a normal part of life that we all have to experience at one time.
Sadly we do all have to face it at some time, it’s important we know it’s normal x
I haven’t seen this one but we are big fans of good Netflix shows so will definitely check it out.
Its well worth a watch, especially if you are a Gervais fan
Thanks for this helpful review! I hadn’t heard of “After Life” until reading this, but we may have to add it to our list of Netflix shows.
Thank you, I hope you enjoy it when you get to watch it x
Hmmmm I may have to give this one a shot!!
It’s a definite tv highlight for me x
I haven’t watched it but I’m looking for some good shows to watch during my upcoming maternity leave.
I haven’t seen it but I’m looking for good shows to watch during my upcoming maternity leave.
Oh they’ll be many hours of tv time ahead of you. Enjoy x x
Grief is a hard process to watch, but it’s the grit in life that can bring out the best in us. Thanks for the intriguing review.
Thank you Dianna x x
I just saw the trailer for this a few days ago, and it looks very interesting! Thanks for the review!
This sounds like a show I could enjoy…your review was excellent and didn’t give too much away which I appreciate.
Thank you, I would hate to ruin it for anyone x x
I love this – the topic of grief is so carefully avoided and as a result, so many people find themselves suffering in silence and feeling as though they can’t be honest and open about their own struggles because they have been made to feel like it’s not normal. We need to talk openly about it, portray it more often and normalize the challenges, emotions and experiences that follow the death of a loved one.
Even the thought of losing someone dear is dreadful. You’re right we cannot even understand the grief. This series looks worth watching.
It’s definitely worth a watch x
I’ve never heard of this show, but it sounds interesting. I know exactly what you mean about grieving in the media compared to real life. My brother-in-law lost his wife 2 1/2 years ago and he is still working through it with his now 5-year-old daughter they had. It never ends.
It really doesn’t end, my thoughts are with your brother in law and his daughter. That must be really tough x
I’m happy to hear there’s a story that takes on the topic of grief. I wish it’s something we’d talk about more (along with a lot of other things) so that people know they’re not alone. I’ll have to check this out. Thanks for the review!
You’re right we need to be much more open about a lot of things x z
I loooooooooved it!!! I don’t care for Ricky Gervais and I’m not a huge fan of swearing, but you’re absolutely right- neither of these things should put you off! I just lost my mum last summer and I just loved this show! It had such a lovely underlying message that life is beautiful and worth living. Great post! Thanks for sharing!!
I’m so sorry for your loss. I lost my Mum last summer as well and it really sucks! Take care x x
It does suck! I hope you’re doing okay! ☺️
I’ve never watch it but now I want to!!
It was so good. There will be a new series soon as well x x
Afterlife is such a brilliant series! x
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