After Life hit our screens last year with many Ricky Gervais fans championing it as a triumph — with even his haters being forced to agree with that sentiment. Alas, it isn’t going to be viewed as the best thing since sliced bread by everyone, with many people still believing that Gervais’ finest work was The Office.
Regardless of which side of the fence you may fall on, there are convincing arguments for both, which can only mean that Gervais isn’t quite as ‘overrated’ as plenty of critics would lead you to believe. Today, we want to try and figure out the answer to the debate.
AFTER LIFE - Dark Comedy
There’s something to be said for the impact and power of dark comedy because it isn’t for everyone. Those who accept Ricky Gervais’ style, which has become particularly prevalent in the last 10-15 years, will appreciate what After Life brings to the table.
It’s a little bit uncomfortable at times and can often catch you off guard, but that’ll still leave most in stitches – because such is the nature of Ricky’s comedic style and timing. It’s unconventional in the eyes of many, but extremely necessary in the eyes of others.
THE OFFICE - The Dance
There are plenty of moments throughout the brief run of the original Office that made us, and millions around the world, cry with laughter. Arguably the most notable point came when Gervais, in the character of David Brent, decided to show off his dancing skills in the most remarkable manner imaginable.
From the moves themselves to the way everyone starts to go silent out of sheer awkwardness, it’s a television moment that will live on for many years to come, especially over in the UK where the series is equally as popular now as it was back in the day.
AFTER LIFE - Gervais As Himself
If you didn’t know he was playing a guy called Tony, most people who decided to give After Life a try will probably think that Ricky Gervais is just playing a version of himself – and in many ways, that’s not entirely untrue.
Ricky has always been a fairly underrated actor and he shines most in the roles that don’t actually ask too much of him. After Life gave him the podium to, essentially, voice his views and opinions behind the curtain of this new persona. It was risky, but it paid off.
THE OFFICE - US Office
When a show is made based off of another show, there’s always a certain degree of pressure on display. The original Office wasn’t around for too long but the impact it had was clear for all to see. Therefore, when they made the US Office, nobody really knew or could accurately predict how it would go.
As it turns out, it’s even more successful than the original. The style of comedy was catered more towards an American audience which was to be expected, but aside from that, it appeared to work.
AFTER LIFE - Dealing With Serious Issues
From drug addiction to depression to suicide and beyond, After Life was as raw as it was real, and that’s one of the biggest attractions of all.
Instead of being a paint by numbers piece, they took it to an entirely different level in how they were able to deal with these problems. The fans are emotionally attached to what is happening, whereas with The Office, it was more about the moments of comedy mixed in with the normality of it all. Comedy works in many different ways, and this is one of them.
THE OFFICE - Cult Status
The definition of attaining a cult status can vary from show to show but with The Office, it all comes down to how many people imitate and generally discuss what happened during the show’s run. It’s rare that you see shows with only 12 official episodes, and a handful of Christmas specials, doing so unbelievably well, but that was how much the masses believed in them.
After Life is still pretty fresh and it’s just a popular TV show at this moment in time – nothing more, nothing less. As the years go on and the show continues its run, that could easily change.
AFTER LIFE - Supporting Cast
Brandy the dog is the perfect example of why animals can work in television shows like this, but she isn’t the only thing that makes the series tick.
Lenny, Kath and Sandy are just a few of the examples as to why these characters have been so well received. The secondary characters in The Office may be objectively funnier but if we’re looking at this from a broader ‘better TV show’ sort of perspective, it’s difficult to look past the depth of their respective stories and how they’ve been written.
THE OFFICE - David Brent
David Brent was a dreamer above all else, and he was a character that everyone watching could relate to in some way, shape or form. Whether it was a poorly thought out comment or some of his facial expressions and mannerisms, everyone knows someone like Brent.
The character itself has gone on to feature in a number of other different projects, which includes a one-off stint in the US version of The Office. Tony was good, but there was a certain range to Brent that included some of the best physical theater we’ve seen in a long time.
AFTER LIFE - Netflix Visibility
The network that a show is placed on shouldn’t determine their overall success, but that’s the way that television tends to work in the modern-day. Many Americans haven’t even watched the British version of The Office, whereas After Life has been viewed around the world as a direct result of Netflix’s reach.
The ‘binge’ nature of After Life was on display from day one, and while the BBC brings a lot of eyes to the product, After Life has been able to thrive and succeed in a completely different market.
THE OFFICE - Ratings Triumph
The second season of The Office pulled in more than four million viewers on a week to week basis. Then, when they decided to commission the Christmas specials and put them in the primetime slot of BBC One, things got even better.
The two-part special drew in 7.17 million viewers for part one, and for part two, they had 6.14 million viewers with over 25% of the audience share. The Office captured the minds and hearts of an entire nation, and After Life hasn’t quite been able to replicate that on a national scale just yet.
