Ricky Gervais's After Life: The most poignant, brilliant and utterly hilarious moments from season three
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There are few TV shows that can make you laugh, cry and deeply reflect on life all at the same time.
But Ricky Gervais's After Life has always been a show that manages to make you feel a whirlwind of emotions all at once.
It tells the story of Tony - a journalist who is trying to come to terms with the loss of his wife.
Since the first series launched on Netflix the show has held a special place in many people's hearts - covering issues such as grief, loss, depression and recovery while managing to somehow offer moments of great humour at the same time.
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After Life has always managed to balance things so beautifully - like the importance of trying to move on, with the sheer impossibility of never being able to let go.
This is shown more than ever in series three.
While we see glimpses of Tony trying to move forward and find happiness, the video clips of Lisa, his late wife, constantly remind us that she's always in his thoughts.
The show is an emotional roller-coaster that touches upon probably every single feeling you could possibly endure while experiencing loss or depression.
Here are some of the most beautiful, emotional and sometimes unbearably funny moments from the new series of After Life.
The lovely introduction that signifies there is hope for Tony
We are first introduced to series three with a clip of Tony and his late wife, Lisa, who are rowing.
While it's clear that Lisa remain's in Tony's mind, and he's still coming to terms with her loss, we also see Tony in the house together with Emma, his (not quite) girlfriend, who he took a long time to admit he had feelings for in the previous series.
Although his relationship status with Emma remains unclear, series three introduces us to the prospect of hope and new beginnings for Tony, even though it's clear he's still trying to cope with the pain of his past.
The total joy and warmth of Anne
Anne is perhaps one of After Life's most inviting characters - she often shares words of wisdom, encouragement and is just an all around lovely person who we should all aspire to be more like.
There are many reasons to fall in love with her character from the fact that she still visits her late husband's grave every day to the fact that she still talks to him every day, no matter how much time passes.
Anne reminds us that we must always move on, but also that it's equally important to never let go of the people who mean the most to you.
"It really helps - saying it out load I mean," she tells Tony, as she discusses talking to her late husband.
"You hear yourself. You wouldn't be talking to yourself."
When Tony says he thinks he can sometimes feel Lisa around, she adds: "It's okay to have feelings you know. Things that aren't logical.
"Science makes us understand how to stay alive longer - feelings give us the reason to want to."
The significance of Anne's new partner
Paul, who Tony introduced to Anne to in the previous series, accompanies Anne to the cemetery in one scene.
It's particularly significant as these few simple minutes give an important message about allowing yourself to move on.
"I'm not replacing Stan by the way," he tells Tony, speaking of Anne's late husband.
"We still miss our other halves with all our hearts - only now we miss them together.
"You wanted two lonely people to be happy, right?
"And I don't think at any point you ever asked yourself - I hope their late partners don't mind."
"No, of course not," replies Tony.
"So why do you impose such a restriction on yourself?"
Tony's incredibly moving speech at the cemetery about the importance of mental health
After seeing Paul we then witness Tony speak to Lisa at the cemetery.
When he speaks to her there is a clear message about the importance of realising you're struggling.
It can take a long time for someone to realise they need to seek help.
Tony says: "Alone again. That's fine.
"You know me - I'm not one to complain.
"I still miss you so much. I'll never get over it. I'm not strong enough - not without you.
"I'm still going through the stages of grief. Denial is the tricky one.
"I was never in denial that you were gone - I was in denial that I was suffering from mental illness. Even when I was suicidal I never thought there was anything wrong with me.
"I thought it was the sensible thing to do, and it annoyed me that other people thought I wasn't thinking straight.
"It was only recently I realised that I was ill - that was the glimmer of hope to getting better. It feels good talking to you."
The desperately sad moment when Kath visits the physic medium
Kath, a character full of belief, really wants to see a physic medium, but the experience leaves her feeling desperately sad.
Throughout the show Kath has been portrayed as a single, independent woman who oozes confidence, but seems to use it as an attempt to mask her loneliness.
Her heartbreaking meeting with the medium is the moment she is told almost everything she doesn't want to hear, perhaps because her reading expressed all the things Kath has been too afraid to truly admit.
The medium tells her: "You're strong, confident, determined - on the outside. On the inside you're vulnerable and sensitive. You're lonely.
"It's tough isn't it - being a woman in a man's world?
"You feel you've lost a little of yourself, and you see needing comfort as a weakness they'll pounce on, so you deny you need it.
"But you do need it dear, everyone does."
Tony attempting to scatter his father's ashes in a pub (yes, you read that right)
One of the most incredible aspects of the writing in After Life is how it rapidly takes you from crying buckets of tears to crying in absolute laughter.
After a tough first few episodes, episode three gives us the first brutal laugh that is needed to bring a lot of light to the shade.
As he attempts to scatter his father's ashes at the pub where his father asked his mother to marry him, Tony is quickly stopped by a member of staff, and he tries to explain that it was his father's last request.
Tony says: "There's no damage. It's my dad's ashes.
"He used to come here all the time. It's my way of paying my respects.
"This is the table he proposed to my mother at.
"It's dust for Christ sake."
When the argument persists, and the ashes are described as "rubbish", Tony eventually just throws some of the ashes in the man's face.
He claims some of it goes in his mouth.
Tony simply responds with: "Good. I hope that bit was his c**k."
The interview with the childhood sweethearts
Tony attends the house of an elderly couple who re-kindled their love later in life to carry out an interview.
Apart from being a very lovely little story about a couple who managed to find their love again for each other later in life, the scene is symbolic in many ways.
Perhaps it shows that you're never too old to find love again, perhaps it shows that you can never tell what the future is going to hold or perhaps the close-up shots of the couple holding hands and smiling show just how much they publicly display their affection for one and other each day.
"Did I hug Lisa enough?" Tony says, as he leaves the house.
Do we show the people closest to us how much we love them each day? A question you can't help but ask after watching the scene.
Ken, simply being Ken
Ken, who helped stage the community theatre review in series two, is a brilliant addition to the show.
His character often adds much-needed laughs at the right moment.
We all know someone who thinks they're a bit more successful (or famous) than they are, and that person is summed up in Ken's character.
He's full of energy, full of confidence and adds a lot of light to the shade just by being there.
The fact that Tony befriends an old man at the care home, and calls him 'Dad'
Tony's father played a big role in the show until he passed away in series two, but the fact that Tony continues to visit the care home is quite lovely.
Even though Emma works there, throughout the series we see Tony grow an unlikely friendship with a resident who seems to think Tony is his son.
In episode five Tony visits the man, and says: "I brought you a chess set, dad.
"Oh, you remembered," he replied
It's a small and simple scene in many ways, but it's also really important, simply because it shows how lovely it can be when someone is genuinely kind.
June's heart-breakingly honest speech about Lisa's life insurance money
When June tells Tony she's heard about his unwillingness to claim the life insurance money following Lisa's death, the atmosphere turns suddenly still.
In fact it's incredibly hard not to cry at her moving words.
June tells Tony's colleagues: "He hasn't cashed it because he said he doesn't want it under these circumstances."
Turning to Tony, she says: "The money isn't symbolic of Lisa, darling.
"Money is just spending tokens.
"Lisa was a beautiful person who you spent your life with. She lives in your heart.
"She only took out the life insurance so you didn't have to worry about stuff.
"Take it from the insurance company at least - enjoy it.
"If you don't spend it - Lisa wasted her time."
'I want you to live Tony'
This is quite simply a wonderful line from Anne - the show's ultimate woman of wisdom.
She reminds Tony of his good qualities - his ability to make people laugh, smile and be undeniably generous.
Anne reminds Tony (and everyone watching) that there's always room to have hope, and to soldier on, even when times get really tough.
"I want you to live Tony," she tells him.
"Not just not kill yourself or wait patiently for death, but live.
"Live your life as if there's no tomorrow and then you wake up, and there is a tomorrow, and you do it again.
"It doesn't matter what you do, as long as you live your life to the full.
"And if you don't think it's worth trying, then why should I?"
Tony's emotional talk with Anne about ideas about an after life
"I wish I hadn't teased her about there not being an after life now," he says about Lisa.
"Because I think she wanted to believe - deep down - in like heaven and angels and stuff. I hope she wasn't scared."
Anne replied: "All she would have wanted was you with her at the end."
The touching heartfelt tribute to key workers following the coronavirus pandemic
Prior to the new series arriving Ricky Gervais said the show would definitely feature a tribute to key workers following the pandemic.
The poignant words were said by Anne as Tony talked to her at the cemetery when they were discussing whether angels exist.
"But there are angels," said Anne.
"They don't have wings and live in clouds. They wear nurses' uniforms and work hard to pay rent on their houses."
There are no other words that need to be spoken really.
The heartbreaking moment Tony interviews a little girl who's battling cancer
Tony visits two little girls - who are sisters - at a hospice to interview them for a story in the paper.
He discovers the little girl battling cancer is called Lisa.
"My wife's name," he says, struggling to hold back the tears.
"Where is she?" he gets asked.
Unable to break their hearts, Tony responds: "She's at home."
Despite this sudden moment of heartbreak, the show soon comes back with its classic humour to soften the sadness.
When Tony leaves the room with his colleague, Lenny, a little boy asks Lenny if he's having chemo, much to Tony's amusement.
"No - his hair fell out because he hasn't eaten anything but crisps and biscuits for 30 years," Tony says.
When you find yourself shedding tears because the little boy wants him to stay
Before Tony and Lenny leave the hospice a little boy, who's also having cancer treatment, asks Tony if he'll come back and visit again because he thinks Tony's funny.
This moment is so special - not just because the little boy shows that Tony's warmth and humour gives people happiness and offers people strength, but also because it makes Tony realise sometimes it's okay to believe in something to help give people comfort.
Tony says: "I'll come in every day until you're better."
"Or until I go to heaven," the little boy replies.
"Do you believe in heaven?" he asks Tony.
"Definitely," Tony says.
The moving moment Tony realises it's okay to live again
Tony tells his brother-in-law, Matt: "Today, at the hospice, I met a little kid.
"So sweet and innocent, and all my own troubles were put on hold.
"They were still there, but he became my troubles.
"It sort of stopped the cycle - the descent into darkness - because I had a cause.
"It's like if the kid lives, then so do I."
He goes on to give Lenny some money to put towards his wedding, and he hands another colleague some cash to put towards a better place to live.
After the hesitance he realises he could use the insurance money to help make a difference.
Maybe Tony realises life is worth living when you know you can help other people.
The heartwarming moment genuine kindness is shown to Brian
Towards the end of the series we see Brian reach what he describes as his ultimate low point, even though he's been quite a lonely character from the beginning.
When people come together to support him, simply by asking him to tell them a joke, which is something he hasn't succeeded in pulling off in the past, it shows how a simple act of kindness can really make a difference to someone's life.
All he wanted to do deep down was, perhaps, to make somebody laugh.
The totally lovely moment when Tony helps Kath adopt a dog
It's quite obvious throughout series three that Kath is struggling with being alone, and Tony can see this.
The moment he helps her adopt a dog to give her some company is so lovely, because she gets so emotional about the idea of having something to love, even if it's not a person.
Tony tells the woman at the stall there's nothing wrong with Kath, she's "just a bit lonely".
Sometimes a little company can make life a bit more bearable for people.
The final goodbye
Without spoiling the ending completely - it was quite simply a perfect way for the show to end while remaining deeply reflective.
As expected the past and present merge to paint a picture of what can only lead to a hopeful future - a journey that Tony must now embark on alone.
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