Netflix’s After Life Season 2 finale recap: The Pills

The season 2 finale of Netflix series After Life sees Tony continue his rollercoaster of emotion, suggesting he currently needs people as a crutch.

As the season 2 finale of After Life begins, we learn from old laptop footage that Tony (Ricky Gervais) doesn’t dance to Lionel Richie. While Tony’s still mourning his deceased wife, Lisa (Kerry Godliman), we see that his brother-in-law Matt (Tom Basden) is reuniting with his wife, Jill (Laura Patch). In fact, the most dysfunctional person in the finale might be Matt’s unnamed and unprofessional therapist (Paul Kaye). That guy blathers on about starting an “advice for men” podcast teaching people to be “alpha males,” then he makes some weird jokes about raping Adolf Hitler.

Of course, this episode happens in wake of the previous episode, which was about a haphazard local Revue. James (Ethan Lawrence) had soiled himself, and Brian (David Earl) forgot many of his best jokes, which is why he bombed and insulted the audience. Though Tony has come to appreciate these weirdos at the Tambury Gazette, they probably also make him appreciate normalcy. When Tony tells Matt about the death of his father (David Bradley), he emphasizes that being in love is everything — this appears to be the main point of the episode, if not the series overall.

After Life: Solution in a bottle of pills?

After Life has repeatedly addressed the issue of substance abuse as a coping mechanism. So it’s no surprise when, instead of fortifying his relationship with Nurse Emma (Ashley Jensen), Roxy (Roisin Conaty) ends up confronting Tony about sleeping pills she found downstairs. After expressing her concerns, we see that Tony isn’t quite over his suicidal thoughts. The death of his father has obviously rekindled them.

A bit later, at the office of the Tambury Gazette, Kath (Diane Morgan) foolishly quips, “Who died?” To redeem herself, she does hug Tony after realizing her misstep, and Sandy (Mandeep Dhillon) attempts to raise spirits through a little pudding fight. “After Life” has suggested that work might be a drag at times, but the right kind of people can alleviate depression.

Identity or a breakdown?

In a local scoop for the “Tambury Gazette,” Tony and Lenny (Tony Way) interview a married couple arguing over a new identity. The wife, Tracy (Lucy Speed) believes husband Dennis (Toby Foster) is not actually trans, but that he’s having a mid-life crisis breakdown and believes he’s an 8-year-old girl named “Denise.” To avoid embarrassment, the newspaper assures their daughter (Grace Wood) they won’t even mention her in the article.

The eulogy and the pills

In the next scene, Tony gives a eulogy for his dad, and it’s safe to say most viewers will be uncertain of the character’s future. He tells Emma that he can’t be with her while feeling unfaithful to his deceased wife (Kerry Godliman). Then, after meeting in the graveyard with Anne (Penelope Wilton), it seems Tony’s possibly been putting up a facade of stability. Indeed, when he returns home, it takes his dog’s presence to rescue him (again) from committing suicide (this time the method would’ve been those pesky pills).

However, season 2 of After Life doesn’t end on such a depressing note. Emma shows up assuring Tony that she’ll still be with Tony until he’s ready for a deeper relationship. The question is, what would Tony have done if it weren’t for a few key people, or animals, being there for him? Ultimately, Tony is not confident in his ability to emotionally stand on his own, which is a theme that hasn’t quite been developed in the series but has been hinted at throughout.

What are your thoughts on After Life? Will Tony finally come to terms with the loss of his wife? Give us your thoughts in the comments!