Ricky Gervais' new animated sitcom Alley Cats hit Netflix on August 7, 2026, and the reaction has been sharply divided. Critics have largely panned the show, which follows a grumpy, foul-mouthed cat named Gus helping a lost kitten find its way home. Metacritic, which aggregates review scores, has given it a paltry 39 out of 100, while the audience score on Rotten Tomatoes sits at just 45%.
Critical Consensus: A Rough Start
The Independent awarded the show just one star, calling it 'abrasive, smug, and completely mirthless,' while The Telegraph went further with a zero-star review, branding it 'abysmal.' Another reviewer, who jokingly described himself as 'exceptionally handsome,' wrote that Alley Cats was 'the televisual equivalent of a black hole of bad ideas.'
However, not all critics were united in their disdain. Variety called the show an 'enjoyably low-key binge,' and The Guardian noted 'glimmers of potential in this comedy,' though it still only gave two stars. The Times, the UK's newspaper of record, offered a more favorable three out of five, and Heat Magazine's glowing quote on promotional materials described it as 'delightful and outrageous.'
Gervais' Take on Critics
Gervais, who has never shied from criticizing critics, addressed the backlash during a recent live stream. Asked what advice he'd give to up-and-coming comedians, he said: 'When I first started out I wanted affirmation. I wanted a five-star review, and I wanted to win an award. Actually, I didn't want to win an award, but when I did I really liked it, but I did want to get good reviews from the posh papers, as opposed to caring how many people watched it or came to the gig.'
He added: 'Now I'd tell a young comedian "don't worry about that". It doesn't matter because they're so fickle, everyone gets a turn. They don't mean it. They judge it differently to the people you're trying to make laugh… worry about the public.'
Audience Reaction: A Mixed Bag on Social Media
So did the public like Alley Cats? The answer depends on where you look. On Rotten Tomatoes, the audience score is a disappointing 45%. One user, Melinda S, gave it half a star and wrote: 'Give me my 15 minutes back, you talentless hack.' Another, @Fbuisuiy, commented: 'The writing is lazy, the jokes feel recycled, and the cast is basically the same group he's used across his last three projects.'
On X (formerly Twitter), the reception was more positive. @the_davidhicks called the show 'wonderful,' asking: 'Why can't all telly be this good?' @billy_knight described it as 'another Ricky Gervais masterpiece,' adding that it 'made him cry.' @dreyfusjames urged Gervais to ignore the critics, praising the show as 'wickedly funny, very rude and unexpectedly moving.'
Reddit, which has previously accused Gervais of complacency in recent years, offered a harsher verdict. A post titled 'Alley Cats is exhaustingly bad' by user dannyb1996 called it a 'new creative low' for Gervais, explaining that the show is lazy and 'incomprehensibly empty,' confusing swearing for jokes. However, not everyone on the platform disliked it. Username42101 wrote: 'My expectations were so low that I was actually pleasantly surprised that I found some bits quite funny.'
Viewership and Context
Despite the mixed reviews, Alley Cats is currently second in the UK Netflix top ten, indicating that curiosity and Gervais' fanbase are driving significant viewership. As one observer noted, 'It's worth pointing out that the show is (in the UK at least) second on the Netflix top ten, so people are clearly watching it.'
Gervais, who co-created hits like The Office and Extras, may have earned some goodwill, but this latest project seems to test the patience of even his most loyal fans. The show is available to stream now on Netflix.
