Netflix renews Ricky Gervais’ After Life, of all things, for a second season

Netflix has ordered a second six-episode installment of After Life, the Ricky Gervais-starring tragicomedy from writer Ricky Gervais and director Ricky Gervais. Deadline reports that the series, which centers on a Ricky Gervais type whose petulant humor and life choices take a darker bent following the early death of his wife, will return sometime in 2020.

The ostensible comedy, which comes from the Gervais-run Derek Productions, follows Tony (Gervais), whose overwhelming grief after the death of his wife (Kerry Godliman) leads to suicidal thoughts. Tony views these impulses as a sign that there’s no longer any reason to not do or say whatever he wants, whenever he wants, because he’s willing to end his life whenever he chooses. But while his actions become increasingly reckless and repellent, his relatives and colleagues at the local yokel paper for which he works inconveniently refuse to stop caring about him. Both hijinks and weeping ensue. Tom Basden, David Bradley, Ashley Jenson, Penelope Wilton, Mandeep Dhillon, and Roisin Conaty also star.