After Life – A Bittersweet Masterpiece

I recently finished watching After Life again, and once more, I found myself on an emotional rollercoaster. Created by Ricky Gervais, this three-season series on Netflix masterfully blends dark humour, profound grief, and a heartfelt exploration of what it means to carry on when life seems meaningless. It is a show that never fails to make me burst out laughing with its razor-sharp dialogue, but it also leaves me reflecting deeply on my own mortality. Few shows balance comedy and tragedy as effortlessly as After Life, and it remains one of the most moving pieces of television I have ever seen.

At the heart of After Life is Tony Johnson (played by Ricky Gervais), a local journalist at the fictional Tambury Gazette. When we meet Tony, he is drowning in grief after the death of his beloved wife, Lisa. Her passing shatters his world, and much of the show revolves around his struggle to find a reason to keep going. Tony adopts a nihilistic attitude toward life, saying and doing whatever he pleases, often with hilariously brutal honesty. Yet beneath the sarcasm and cynicism lies a man who is heartbroken, searching for meaning in a world that feels unbearable without the person he loved most.

Tony's relationship with Lisa—seen through a series of video diaries she left behind—is the emotional core of the series. Lisa, portrayed with warmth and charm by Kerry Godliman, is a constant presence even after her death. Her videos capture the love and humour they shared, and each time Tony revisits them, it is a poignant reminder of the life he has lost. Their relationship feels real—messy, joyful, and deeply loving—which only amplifies the weight of Tony's grief.

Tony with Lisa

One of the show’s most touching dynamics is Tony's friendship with Matt (Tom Basden), his brother-in-law and boss at the Tambury Gazette. Matt is a character who, despite his awkwardness and stress, genuinely cares for Tony. Throughout the series, Matt patiently endures Tony’s biting sarcasm and nihilistic worldview while trying to support him. Their banter—often revolving around Matt’s failing marriage and Tony’s misanthropy—provides some of the funniest moments of the show. Yet, beneath the jokes, their bond is one of quiet loyalty and shared pain.

The humour in After Life often comes from the absurd stories Tony covers for the local newspaper. Each episode features bizarre, laugh-out-loud interviews with eccentric residents.

From the old man who insists on dressing up as a eight-year-old girl.

To the woman addicted to cosmetic surgery, the show revels in the ridiculousness of small-town life.

One particularly outrageous storyline involves a local swinger’s club, where Tony’s mix of bemusement and bluntness makes for comedic gold. These vignettes add levity to the show while also highlighting Tony’s gradual return to compassion. Behind the laughs, each story reflects the idea that everyone is dealing with their own struggles, however strange or mundane they may seem.

The supporting cast adds richness to the world of After Life. Kath (Diane Morgan), the office oddball, brings awkward charm with her relentless oversharing. Lenny (Tony Way), the kind-hearted photographer, provides a calming presence, while Anne (Penelope Wilton), a grieving widow Tony meets at the cemetery, offers wisdom and quiet comfort. Each character, no matter how eccentric, contributes to Tony’s journey toward healing and acceptance.

Tony's relationship with his father, Ray (David Bradley), adds another poignant layer to the series. Ray, suffering from dementia, is confined to a nursing home, and Tony's visits reveal a tender yet complicated bond. Despite Tony's outward cynicism, his interactions with Ray highlight his underlying vulnerability and longing for connection. These moments of care and frustration underscore how grief extends beyond the loss of Lisa to the gradual fading of his father.

Similarly, Tony's evolving relationship with Emma (Ashley Jensen), a kind-hearted nurse at his father's care home, offers a glimmer of hope. While their connection is marked by Tony's emotional baggage and hesitance to move on, Emma's patience and quiet strength gradually chip away at his defensive walls, suggesting that healing is possible, even after profound loss.

What makes After Life  so compelling is how it embraces the messiness of being human. It does not shy away from the rawness of grief or the darkness of depression. Tony’s anger and despair feel real, as does his slow, often reluctant movement toward hope. The show never offers easy answers—there are no magical cures for loss—but it suggests that kindness, connection, and humour can make life bearable, even beautiful.

By the end of the third season, After Life reaches a deeply moving conclusion, offering a quiet, profound reflection on life, death, and the enduring power of love. Tony’s journey is not about "getting over" grief but learning to live with it—to carry on, not because life is always wonderful, but because it is filled with fleeting moments of joy and connection. As Robert Frost once said, "In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: It goes on."”

After Life is an extraordinary achievement. It makes you laugh until your sides hurt and then, in the next moment, leaves you wiping away tears. It reminds us that grief and laughter can coexist and that life, however painful, is still worth living. Few shows have stayed with me the way After Life has—it is, simply put, an unforgettable experience.