ALLEY CATS: SEASON ONE
Starring: Ricky Gervais, Tom Basden, Andrew Brooke, David Earl, Kerry Godliman, Diane Morgan, and Jo Hartley
Creator: Ricky Gervais
QUENTIN
Even for this Ricky Gervais fan, Alley Cats is dreadful despite being only six 15-minute episodes. So much of it is just the feline colony sitting around, talking to each other in crass but completely unfunny ways (Gervais probably says “cunt” about every two minutes), which makes it feel like watching a podcast mixed with Strays and Fixed (don’t worry if you don’t remember those; they weren’t memorable). There is a small semblance of a storyline about a lost kitten (Jo Hartley) that attempts to add some heart to the proceedings, but ultimately, these cats should be euthanized. Sadly, star/writer/creator/director Gervais only has himself to blame.
NICK
I’m always excited for a new Ricky Gervais release, especially coming off the terrific After Life. His latest, Alley Cats, marks a return to the animated format for the first time since The Ricky Gervais Show. Unfortunately, it's disappointing. Given the 15-minute episodes, the series struggles to balance its heart and humour with the latter being ineffective. Instead of recapturing the comradery Gervais shared with Stephen Merchant and Karl Pilkington, these attempts at humour come across mean-spirited, creating something more akin to bullying than playful banter. Alley Cats isn’t entirely a lost cause, but it clearly fails to meet the high standard Gervais has created.
