Life-affirming
THIS melodramatic comedy has proved a massive hit for creator and star Ricky Gervais, and now it returns for a third and final season.
The six-episode swan song continues to follow Tony (Gervais), a local newspaper journalist whose life is upended after his wife dies from cancer.
A trailer teases that “every end is a new beginning” as Tony starts to realise that making other people feel good is what can give him a reason to live.
Tony says: “I thought not caring was a superpower. I was wrong. Caring about stuff, that’s what really matters. Kindness, making other people feel good.” We don’t see a huge amount of this caring and kindness as the series kicks off, mind you. Tony is still struggling immensely with his grief, keeping his relationship with Emma (Ashley Jensen) completely platonic and generally pushing everyone away.
Of course he still watches the home videos of his late wife Lisa (Kerry Godliman), spending most of his time alone with only his dog Brandy for company.
A raft of eccentric characters allows for the much-needed comedy, including Joe Wilkinson as a postie with love-life troubles, Tom Basden as Tony’s boss and brother-in-law and Diane Morgan as his hilarious colleague.
Then of course there’s Tony’s charming relationship with widow Anne (Penelope Wilton), who still talks to her late husband Stan, leading to a chat about the after life.
Swinging from philosophical thought to farcical comedy in a heartbeat, this is really worth a watch. Ricky says: “This season is the best one yet and I promise the dog does not die.”