Ricky Gervais' new Netflix animated series Alley Cats has been branded the worst television show of the year by critics, with the deputy TV editor at a major UK publication describing it as 'the absence of joy' and 'a black hole of bad ideas'. The show, which premiered on August 7, 2026, follows a gang of foul-mouthed feral cats, led by Gervais' character Gus, as they help a kitten find its way home while musing on the meaning of life.
A Crushing Disappointment for Comedy Fans
The review, penned by Tom Percival, admits to going into the series with low expectations, having been unimpressed by the trailers and clips released before launch. Yet even those premonitions did not prepare him for what he calls 'the worst thing I've watched on television this year'. The six-episode series, which also stars Tom Basden, Andrew Brooke, David Earl, Kerry Godliman, Jo Hartley, and Diane Morgan, fails to deliver on any level, according to the critic.
Percival, who had previously found moments of humour in Gervais' divisive After Life, notes that Alley Cats is 'so incredibly unfunny that it makes Derek look like a work of comedy genius'. The jokes, he argues, lack any setup or payoff, instead relying on screaming, swearing, and nonsensical ramblings. One scene he highlights involves a cat recounting being 'f******* by some boys', which leads to a disjointed conversation about anal sex, ending abruptly with Gervais' character saying 'dirty boy'. The critic questions, 'How is that a joke? It's not even a non sequitor or a random cutaway like you see in Family Guy; it's just noise.'
Failed Improvisation and Mawkish Pathos
The production process, which Gervais has discussed publicly, involved the comedians piling into a studio with a rough story idea and improvising. Percival suggests this approach has backfired spectacularly, likening the result to 'listening to a rather tedious and aimless podcast made by the dullest people at your work'. He adds that the show is 'the type of thing Gareth and the Oggmonster from The Office would think is funny' – a reference to the notoriously low-brow characters from Gervais' own classic sitcom.
The series also attempts to inject pathos, a staple of Gervais' recent work, but does so with little subtlety. Almost every episode features moments of forced emotion, often involving the kitten character, accompanied by moody Coldplay tracks. However, the lack of character development makes these breaks feel abrupt and bizarre, with the cats switching from shouting obscenities to rambling about the absurdity of life without any narrative coherence. One of Gus's profound insights, that 'people don't care about anything except themselves', is mocked by the critic as being 'so brave', while the show's repeated atheist messaging – a recurring theme in Gervais' output – is described as 'contractually obligated' and 'so so ruddy, bloody brave'.
Gervais' Defensive Tactics Anticipated
The review anticipates that Gervais will respond to criticism by claiming that audiences were offended or challenged by his 'sweary cats', a defence he has used before. Percival is quick to refute this, stating, 'I wasn't offended or challenged by Alley Cats. I was just bored by it.' He points out that cartoons with swearing have not been transgressive since South Park, despite Gervais' apparent belief that his show is groundbreaking – the creator has even compared it to Pixar.
The critic, who once admired Gervais as a comedy genius, expresses shock that the man behind two of the greatest comedies of all time and the iconic character David Brent could produce such 'lazy claptrap'. He questions, 'What happened to Ricky? Was he kicked in the head by a mule? Has he been letting a ghostwriter with suspiciously hairy hands write his scripts the last few years?' The verdict is damning: 'Alley Cats stinks worse than a dirty litter box'.
Impact and Reception
Alley Cats, created and directed by Gervais alongside Elliot Deer, is available to stream on Netflix. The show's release has generated significant buzz, but the critical reception suggests it may be a low point in Gervais' career. While the series has not been reviewed by a wide range of outlets yet, this scathing review is likely to set the tone for further criticism. Fans of Gervais' earlier work may be disappointed, but the show's six episodes are now available for viewers to judge for themselves.
