The second season of the
critically acclaimed comedy drama Derek
premieres later this month on Netflix, and I had
the chance to watch the first few episodes, and
I was surprised at how moved I was by this show
and the relationships among the characters.
Having little experience
with Derek before now, but having followed Ricky
Gervais’ career outside of it, I didn’t really
expect this show to be so bittersweet and
genuine. Gervais is known for a particular brand
of comedy, and sentimental is not usually an
adjective used to describe his craft, but this
show is just that: sweet and earnest and
completely captivating.
The show follows a group of
misfits that have been marginalized by the
outside world, but find a sense of family
working at Broad Hill nursing home. Gervais
plays Derek Noakes, an innocent young man that
has found a place to belong in a group of
friends that accept and love one another like a
real family would. Gervais’ comedy and writing
partner, Karl Pilkington, plays the handyman
Dougie, who feels conflicted about moving on to
better things and leaving his friends behind.
David Earl plays the interminably drunk Kev,
that is a train wreck in every sort of way, and
Kerry Godliman plays Hannah, Derek’s best friend
and the most maternal and trustworthy of the
bunch.
Even though this show
grapples with some issues that can be hard to
laugh at, the show works hard to temper it with
irreverent humor and shockingly frank language.
One of the running plotlines in season 2 is
Hannah and Tom’s attempt to conceive a baby, and
the ensuing meddling is hilarious. There is a
lot of talk about the direction sperm travels,
and cool testicles, and the duration of their
intercourse, and it gives the show an edgy humor
that makes it weird and hard to get – but in a
good way.
If you like the British
version of The Office, or HBO’s show Getting on,
you will love this show; however, if you squirm
over talk of anal sex and dying old people, then
you shouldn’t bother.
Tweet me when it premieres
and let me know what you think about Ricky
Gervais as Derek – he’s almost unrecognizable,
yes?
MORE INFORMATION:
DEREK
season two, starring Ricky Gervais, premieres
Friday, May 30
and the first trailer for the show is now live
here: http://youtu.be/ZvoLlkugauE.
An
Award-winning bittersweet comedy-drama
about a group of outsiders living on
society’s margins, “Derek”
centers around Derek
Noakes (Gervais), a tender, innocent man
whose love for his job at a retirement
home shines through. Derek
cares deeply for the home’s residents,
because they are kind and funny and tell
him stories of what life used to be
like. Working alongside
Derek is Dougie
(Karl Pilkington), his landlord who is
one of life’s unlucky individuals; Kev
(David Earl), a loveable train wreck;
and Hannah (Kerry Godliman), a care
worker in the home and
Derek’s best friend. She is
smart, witty and hard-working, but
unlucky in love, and, like
Derek, always
puts other people first.
In the
second season, Derek’s
kindness has truly extended to those
around him as he forges new friendships.
The retirement home’s residents and
employees have built a familial
community and Derek’s
positive outlook and good natured spirit
allows them to persevere through the
difficult times that they sometimes
face.
The original
series starring, written, directed and
executive-produced by Emmy® and Golden
Globe winner Ricky Gervais premieres on Friday,
May 30, 2014 at 12:01 AM PT
only on Netflix.
