'After Life' Season 2: Release date, plot, cast, and all you need to know about this Ricky Gervais dramedy
There is such a thing as too much of a good thing. But that certainly does not apply to Ricky Gervais’ dramedy series ‘After Life’. The show that often blurs the lines between a dark comedy and a compassionate drama has won fans across the globe. And it is time for fans to rejoice. Created, produced, directed, and starred by Gervais, the show is all set to return for a second season soon.
Release date
‘After Life’ will be returning to Netflix on April 24.
Plot
‘After Life’ centers around Tony Johnson (Gervais), a journalist at the Tambury Gazette, who lost his wife Lisa to cancer. As Tony deals with the sorrow, he turns into a rude man, mean to everyone he comes across. He even tries to attempt suicide, but decides to live instead to punish the world with his brutality and calls his plan a "superpower".
People around him try to understand his state of mind and help him try to be a better person again. But, it often does not work. In the last episode, Tony’s wife tells him in a video she created before her death, “I want you to move on. I want you to meet someone nearly as lovely as me.” Later that day, Tony goes to his workplace, and thanks every single person who has faced his ill-temper and helped him cope with the trauma.
His conversation with Anne, an older widow, helps soothe his troubles. He also asks Emma, a nurse who works at Tony's dad's nursing home, for a drink and she agrees. It is still to be seen whether it helps turn his life around.
So will we see a happier, or at least a more pleasant Tony in Season 2? According to Netflix’s official synopsis, “Whilst still struggling with immense grief for his wife, we see Tony try to become a better friend to those around him. Each grappling with their own problems and only to be intensified by the looming threat of the local newspaper being shut down. Will the town’s local Am-Dram show lift everyone’s spirits?”
Cast
Most of the original cast is set to return.
Penelope Wilton as Anne
The 73-year-old British actor is best known for starring in the BBC sitcom ‘Ever Decreasing Circles’. She has also worked in shows like ‘The Borrowers’, ‘The Return of the Borrowers’, ‘Downton Abbey’, and ‘Doctor Who’.
Ricky Gervais as Ton
The British comedian, actor, writer, and director needs hardly any introduction. From playing David Brent in the original British version of ‘The Office’, to the BBC sitcom ‘Extras’, to several famous stand-up comedy routines, and a number of films, Gervais is undoubtedly one of the most famous comics in the world.
Tom Basden as Matt
The British actor and comedy writer, and member of the British four-man sketch group Cowards, has been a writer of several acclaimed works of comedy. He was one of the writers of ‘Fresh Meat’, ‘Plebs’, ‘The Wrong Mans’, and more.
Ashley Jensen as Emma
The Emmy-nominated 50-year-old Scottish actress and narrator has previously worked with Gervais in ‘Extras’. She is best known for her roles in ‘Ugly Betty’, ‘Accidentally on Purpose’, and as the titular lead in ‘Agatha Raisin’.
Trailer
The trailer for season 2 dropped on Thursday, April 9, and while the grumpy Tony continues to struggle for normalcy and happiness, things seemed to have changed, ever so slightly. The trailer begins with Tony watching old videos of him and his dead wife Lisa, as they danced and made merry. But his present life doesn’t even have a fraction of that happiness. But not for the lack of others trying.The trailer, however, does give us some hope that Tony is improving. He jokes, he has fun, he playfully throws cake. He even tries to set his friend up. The real question, however, is: will he find someone? Will he move on from the death of his wife?
If you like ‘After Life’, you will also like
‘Kidding’,
‘Back to Life’,
‘Fleabag’,
‘Dead to Me’,
‘Barry’