The Netflix project 'After Life' gains momentum in its second season, devotes more time to secondary characters, and still knows how to cheer you up.

One of the main events of April on Netflix was the premiere of the second season of the series After Life, which is a true showcase for comedian Ricky Gervais (The Office), serving as producer, director, writer, and lead actor of the project.  

Instead of a classic review, today we invite you to consider the pros and cons of the second season of the project, which can be called a true gem among current series balancing on the edge of comedy and drama.

First, let's recall that the plot centers on a middle-aged man, Tony (Gervais), who is grieving the loss of his beloved wife and works at a free newspaper in a small town filled with eccentric characters. The hero struggles with the desire to commit suicide and tries to find the strength to live on when it seems there is no point.

Let's move directly to examining what we saw in the second season of the project.

SPOILERS ahead for those who haven't watched the new episodes yet

Cons of Season 2 of the Series 'After Life'

One of the drawbacks of the show's continuation is this annoying psychologist (Paul Kaye), whom Tony's brother-in-law turns to for help after encountering difficulties in his family life.

It's clear that the concept of everyone in a small town being crazy in their own way applies to this character as well, but he is given criminally too much screen time.

There are no complaints about the actor; he looks brilliant and easily evokes disgust, but Gervais didn't fully succeed in making the presence of such a character funny. Every appearance of the psychologist is driven by a ton of vulgarity and monologues at the level of a teenager going through puberty. The pinnacle of this absurdity is the character's remark that every normal man should want to f*** Hitler. 

From the unnecessary character in the story, let's move on to the humor. 'After Life' can still boast incredibly witty jokes on a variety of topics, from death to psychological disorders. However, the concentration of successful jokes compared to the debut season has noticeably decreased. Some gags simply don't land, causing not laughter but a bit of bewilderment. This mainly applies to the secondary characters, because Gervais himself masterfully plays even the least funny moments, making them hilarious.

The nitpick about humor shouldn't be misleading, as we are comparing it to the extremely high bar set by the start of this sitcom. It's currently almost impossible to find another comedy series as funny with an abundance of dark humor.

Pros of Season 2 of the Series 'After Life'

The main difference from the first season in the continuation is the development of the influence of secondary characters. This is no longer just the story of one man and his attempts to cope with problems. Here, other characters received more screen time and their own story arcs (Matt and his difficulties with his wife, the postman and his romantic affairs with Roxy, etc.). This can be considered a plus for the season, as the development and the author's unwillingness to stand still only commands respect. And even some inevitable problems along the way don't change that.

Another plus of the second season is the excellent acting. There's no need to talk much about Gervais's work here. It's simply amazing. In one moment, he can make you laugh out loud with a single phrase, and in another episode, you can barely hold back tears, understanding the character's pain.

Many actors in supporting roles also did a great job. Kerry Godliman's monologues from the laptop screen are still incredibly touching, the postman with his eccentric antics is no less amusing than the main character, and the spontaneity of Tony's colleague Lenny never fails to bring a smile. Each member of the ensemble cast adds a bit of something magical and real to the story.

Emotionality is the strong suit of Ricky Gervais's series. As we already noted, the project skillfully balances between drama and comedy, making you think about the simple things around us, notice details that we often overlook in our usual hustle and bustle. Emotions are evoked by the jokes and absurd situations the characters find themselves in. You can't help but react to Tony's attempts to make the world a better place, which sharply contrasts with his character. 

The most emotional moments, of course, are connected to the main character's memories of his once happy life with his beloved wife. These quiet and seemingly simple scenes can move even the most emotionally reserved viewers.

And, of course, the main plus of the season, as well as the entire show 'After Life', is the genius of Ricky Gervais. He managed to create a convincing character with clear beliefs and unique views on life. In the second season, he shows even more, adding dynamics and emotionality to his character. It's unlikely that the image of a simple white guy will bring Gervais major film awards, but it seems he has won the love of the people, and not for the first time.

And what did you like or, on the contrary, not enjoy in the second season of the series 'After Life'?