Scripted series · Netflix
After Life
Hell is other people.
Who's in it
Cast
The principal ensemble across the run of the series.
Ricky Gervais
Tony
18 eps
Tom Basden
Matt
18 eps
Kerry Godliman
Lisa
18 eps
David Bradley
Ray
18 eps
Joe Wilkinson
Pat
18 eps
Roisin Conaty
Daphne "Roxy"
12 eps
Tony Way
Lenny
18 eps
Paul Kaye
Psychiatrist
12 eps
Diane Morgan
Kath
18 eps
Mandeep Dhillon
Sandy
12 eps
Ashley Jensen
Emma
18 eps
Tommy Finnegan
George
18 eps
Jo Hartley
June
18 eps
Penelope Wilton
Anne
18 eps
David Earl
Brian
18 eps
Ethan Lawrence
James
18 eps
Michelle Greenidge
Valerie
18 eps
Kath Hughes
Coleen
6 eps
Ninette Finch
Newsagent
1 eps
Alexander Kirk
Stain Man
1 eps
Tracy-Ann Oberman
Tony's Date
1 eps
Tim FitzHigham
Waiter
1 eps
Tim Plester
Julian
5 eps
Sean McLoughlin
Comedian
1 eps
Nicky B.
Fat Woman
1 eps
Dan Li
Homeless Man
1 eps
Adrian McLoughlin
5 Card Man
1 eps
Thomas Bastable
Robbie
3 eps
Marc Hockley
Wedding Guest
1 eps
Colin Hoult
Ken Otley
1 eps
Tim Key
Rude Date
1 eps
Amelie Bea Smith
Lisa
1 eps
Zak Douglas
Estate Agent
1 eps
Holli Dempsey
Plastic Surgery Woman
1 eps
Lucy Speed
Tracy
1 eps
The Nutevio profile
TV DNA
How After Life actually feels to watch, measured on the traits our editors track across every series.
Signature profile
After Life reads strongest on Character Depth, Bingeability and Humour.
How fully written and psychologically layered the ensemble is.
How hard it is to stop after one episode.
How often the series is genuinely funny, by design.
How much the series is designed to affect you.
How much each hour depends on the one before it.
How often an episode ends on a hook you can't ignore.
The sustained pressure the series keeps you under.
Visual ambition — scale, craft and set-piece filmmaking.
The scale, internal logic and texture of the world.
The story
What it's about
Tony had a perfect life. But after his wife Lisa suddenly dies, Tony changes. After contemplating taking his own life, he decides instead to live long enough to punish the world by saying and doing whatever he likes from now on.
The run
Seasons
3 seasons · 18 episodes.
Season 1 · Complete
Season 1
20196 episodes
7.8IMDbStruggling to come to terms with his wife's death, a writer for a newspaper adopts a gruff new persona in an effort to push away those trying to help.
Best episode · S01E05 Episode 5
Season 2 · Complete
Season 2
20206 episodes
7.9IMDbAlthough still mourning Lisa and struggling to turn over a new leaf, Tony shows compassion to his quirky little world.
Best episode · S02E06 Episode 6
Season 3 · Complete
Season 3
20226 episodes
7.8IMDbWhile Tony is no longer quite so aggressively grouchy about life, he continues to struggle to fill the void left behind by his late wife.
Best episode · S03E06 Episode 6
Where the series peaks
Best Episodes
The hours that define the show, ranked by audience response and editorial signal.
S03E06
Episode 6
An interview with a sick child hits Tony hard. Later, he makes a decision about Lisa's insurance money and joins his friends at the town fair.
S02E06
Episode 6
Grieving over another loss, Tony asks his friends and co-workers for space, not sympathy. Later, he wrestles with what it means to move on.
- Directed by Ricky Gervais
- Written by Ricky Gervais
S01E05
Episode 5
Brian (finally) convinces Tony and company to visit his apartment for a story. Meanwhile, Matt receives a distressing call from his son's school.
- Directed by Ricky Gervais
- Written by Ricky Gervais
S01E06
Episode 6
Making an earnest attempt to be happy -- or at least not miserable -- Tony gives some long overdue recognition to those who have stood by him.
- Directed by Ricky Gervais
- Written by Ricky Gervais
S02E03
Episode 3
A turn of events at the paper hits Sandy hard. Roxy and Pat share a meal, and Tony tries to support Matt's desire to get back out there.
- Directed by Ricky Gervais
- Written by Ricky Gervais
S01E04
Episode 4
Tony pushes back on Matt's idea to go on a blind date. Also, Tony makes an introduction and issues an uncharacteristic apology.
- Directed by Ricky Gervais
- Written by Ricky Gervais
Recently aired
Latest Episodes
Behind the series
Created by
Showrunners, creators, executive producers and the writers who set the voice of the series.
The craft
Key Crew
Directing, writing, production, camera, music and editing.
Executive production
- Charlie HansonProducer
- Ricky GervaisExecutive Producer
Writing
- Ricky GervaisWriter
Direction
- Ricky GervaisDirector
Music
- Andy BurrowsOriginal Music Composer
Where to watch
Streaming
Availability verified against regional listings.
- NetflixStreaming
- Netflix Standard with AdsStreaming
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Never stop watching
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