Will Ricky Gervais’ new Netflix comedy After Life get a season 2? The show is an amazing return to form for the British comedian, seeing him settle back into the British-style sitcom he so thoroughly speared with The Office and Extras to explore themes of loss, suicide, and moving on.
In After Life, Gervais plays Tony, a middle-aged journalist suffering in the wake of his wife’s death from cancer. With suicide always on his mind and every new day on borrowed time, he’s gifted immense freedom to say and do as he please - until he begins to understand the impact his actions have on those around him who he does actually care for. Co-starring are a host of BBC regulars, including David Bradley as Tony’s Dad, Ashley Jensen as Tony’s Dad’s nurse, Paul Kaye as Tony’s psychiatrist and Tony Way as Lenny.
By the end of After Life’s very short six-episode run, Tony appears to have discovered a new lease of life and, while not past his wife’s death, has started coming to terms with it. But as the culmination of his arc, it’s unclear if there’ll be any more of the equally funny and affecting show. Here’s everything we know about After Life season 2.
After Life Season 2 Has Green-Lit By Netflix
When After Life was announced by Netflix, it was as a six-episode season. Given that the narrative is entirely self-contained, it’s likely it was intended to be a single-run miniseries, telling a story with a beginning, middle and end. However, the show was clearly successful enough with audiences to warrant a continuation, as Netflix has renewed After Life for a second season. As with the first season, After Life season 2 will consist of six episodes.
When Will After Life Season 2 Release?
Netflix’s season 2 announcement for After Life came with the news that the second season will release in 2020, though a specific date has not yet been revealed. The streaming service typically waits until the new season is only a month or two away before announcing a premiere date and releasing a trailer, so expect to find out when After Life season 2 will release some time next year.
What Would After Life Season 2’ Story Be?
Even if it is renewed, the pervasive question over After Life season 2 is what its story would be. Season 1 is incredibly self-contained, much to its benefit, but that makes continuing Tony’s tale of grieving difficult. He’s finished his wife’s message, a relapse would feel disingenuous and the upbeat skew of the finale doesn’t leave a lot of room for introspection.
A smart route, if season 2 must happen, would be to expand the scope, taking in the various unique life troubles of those in the local paper and beyond in the town. This was teased in the later episodes and could be pulled off without losing what made After Life season 1 such a surprise.
