20 Best Netflix Original Shows

Ricky Gervais, for all his controversies, has been one of Britain's most successful and beloved TV writers and actors for decades now. He brought fans Extras, The Office, and Derek, and with After Life has proven without a shadow of a doubt that his creative talent knows no bounds.

After Life is Gervais' most personal and moving series. It follows his character Tony, a journalist who responds to the death of his wife (Kerry Godliman) by lashing out at the world and falling into a pit of grieving self-destruction.

If that makes it sounds overly sentimental and even disheartening, it makes for a pleasant surprise that the show isn't lacking Gervais' signature dark and cynical humour, which adds a level of heart and lightness to the more dramatic twists and turns of the series.

After Life is healing, incredibly funny and sweet. It's also philosophical and thought-provoking, and the fact that Ricky Gervais has wrote, directed and starred in every episode should be proof enough that he's one of the industry's most indispensable creative minds.