Netflix is hoping for another home run with a new original series that premiered last week called "Derek". Though not exactly new or original (the first season of "Derek" already aired in the UK), the show still carries the Netflix Original stamp at the beginning of each episode. Created and starring acerbic comedian Ricky Gervais, "Derek" is a sometimes brilliant series that can also be downright terrible.
Gervais plays Derek Noakes, a 49-year-old simpleton that works at Broad Hill Retirement Home. Though Gervais has denied the claim, many people that watch the show (and some characters in the show) assume Derek is autistic based on his intelligence level and behavior. The best way to sum up Derek is to use his own words: "It's more important to be kind than clever or good-looking. I'm not clever or good-looking but I'm kind."
The naive and vulnerable Derek is very popular among the elderly residents, always cheering them up and being their friend. His work is strongly appreciated by Hannah (Kerry Godliman), the manager of Broad Hill. She's been working at the home for fifteen years and spends much of her time there, rarely going home. A romantic interest is introduced for her in the form of a resident's son, but the storyline gets kind of lost by the end of the first season. Presumably it will pick up in season 2, but for now it just seems odd that it vanished for the final 3 episodes.
Also working at Broad Hill is Derek's best friend Dougie (Karl Pilkington), a perpetually grouchy realist that serves as a handyman for the home. Sporting a ghastly hairstyle and a blue jumpsuit, Dougie is frequently envious of Derek's optimism. It's also from him that most of the laughs of "Derek" come from. Another one of Derek's friends, Kevin (David Earl) hangs around the home without ever actually doing anything. His only passion in life is to acquire autographs from famous people, have sex with hideous women (the only kind that will touch him), and drink nasty beer. Kevin is by far the weakest link of the series, offering almost zero laughs from a disgusting personality. He is an oozing wart of a man, and every other word out of his mouth is something disturbingly sexual. Despite saying practically nothing of value throughout the 7-episode season, his character shockingly gets one of the best moments of the season finale.
"Derek" is a highly manipulative show. Each episode runs around 30 minutes, and it feels as though 10 of those minutes are spent looking at old people in various stages of decay sitting around looking sad, while schmaltzy piano music plays in the background. These are the artificial moments of the show that make it almost unbearable. There is no emotion behind these countless scenes. They are simply constructed in a way that is very blatantly sad.
That being said, just when you think "Derek" is a waste of time, it redeems itself with some genuinely heartwarming gestures. Gervais is remarkable as Derek, thankfully not overplaying the characters' simpleness to the point of insulting caricature. Given Gervais' typical brand of no-line-I-won't-cross comedy, it's refreshing to see him not take the easy path here and not play Derek as cartoonishly mentally disabled. Derek is a sweetheart, and his commitment to good intentions makes him impossible to criticize.
The first season of "Derek" is only seven episodes long, so it really doesn't hurt to watch. I recall two episodes being nearly unwatchable until their conclusions, which won me over in obviously manipulative-but-heartwarming fashion. "Orange is the New Black" this is not, but it's short, occasionally funny, and kind.
