Netflix's After Life Review: 6 Ups & 3 Downs

1. Language Really Does Matter

The word "c*nt" is very affecting to a lot of people. Say it sparingly and it's shocking. But Ricky Gervais uses it in After Life like someone who has just discovered the word and how naughty it is. Like he's been vindicated in his naughtiness by Netflix's more lax censorship laws. As a result, almost every use - apart from the time he calls a child it in retaliation for calling him a "paedo" - is needless.

But that's not the biggest language issue in After Life. The bigger issue is that the show repeatedly uses the phrase "commit suicide," which is something all suicide charities and mental health advocates have battled for some time. It's an antiquated term relating to when suicide - somewhat ludicrously - was deemed a criminal offence. Using that language now is dangerous and reductive and for a show so invested in the Samaritans principle of self-determination (the idea that someone in despair has the right to end their life, which is very obviously central to the plot) to continue using it is a shame.

And now the positives...