Pilot

This is amazing viewing folks. I have to say that i am a fan of Ricky, Karl and Stephen's stuff but not blindly and I would be quick to say that this is not a comedy but does have some very funny bits in it... i have an autistic son and Ricky has captured some of his conditions perfectly in this. For me the show really concentrates on how people with these problems are often 'more human' than us normals!!

I will watch this again and again i'm sure, however i kinda hope that he doesn't make a series out of it, it will gain a better status as a one of. This is such a difficult topic to make a show about and get it right but Ricky has managed just that.

The Office was a work of genius that will stand for time as such, that it spawned a successful US version and created a slew of comedies using the "fly on the wall" documentary approach just serves to confirm this. It was painfully well observed, all at once funny but tragically sad and it had great characters throughout it. And it seems such a long time ago doesn't it? I know this is because it is about 10 years old now but work like Derek just make it seem even more like a distant memory.

When it showed recently critics seem to be split but they were generally split on whether or not Gervais was giving a good portrayal of a simple type helping in his community or if he was being offensively insulting to those he was trying to represent with Derek. I'll comment on this but for me this was a side issue – the main thing was whether or not this half hour of comedy drama was any good. Frankly it isn't. In terms of structure, this isn't comedy/drama as in the two are merged together and play off each other like The Office, I mean it is comedy, then drama – and never the twain shall meet. This split is made worse by neither working. The comedy isn't funny – not even at all. I have read some reviews of it defending this saying "it isn't that type of comedy" as if it is more high-brow, but yet we have "high-brow" gags such as Gervais falling in a pond (a gag so signposted that it appeared in the previous programme on channel 4) and then running naked across the old people's home. Yeah – "high brow", sure.

Once we have had a chance to laugh at, sorry "with" the characters, we get into the drama in which the music is as obvious as it comes, Derek gets to stare mournfully from inside simple eyes and a "life goes on" message sort of comes out. It is terribly cloying and clunky to say the least. In terms of his character I do actually think that he is not being offensive – his Derek is recognisable as a real person and, although it conforms to certain clichés, it is not an unfair or cruel stereotype. However, this is not the same as saying he is a good character or that he is well written – because he is not. He has nothing here and nothing works for him – so his performance may well be "brave" and "well meaning" but it is also of little value to anything. Godliman is good even if her character is a bit exaggerated; I liked her and my only problem is that her "plain but likable roundfaced woman" character is the same as we have seen many times from Gervais now. Pilkington is OK but a bit gruff, while others in support are so-so. No character is particularly good and nothing really works here.

I have no idea why Derek exists and I mean that genuinely to the point where I could almost believe it is some sort of attempt by Gervais to put the whole "mong" controversy behind him and nothing more. It has no laughs, very little humanity, no real drama and instead is dull, emotionally simplistic and surprisingly poor across the board. I like Gervias but this was a terrible special.

Being a massive fan of The Office since it came out, and also a fan of the brilliant Extras, I was quite disappointed with Life's Too Short when it came out last year. It seemed to be a bit too similar to the Office, but did what the Office, just did not as effectively Derek though, I loved. It was brilliantly dramatic, sad, funny and simply a beautiful piece of work. The subject matter is treated very respectfully, putting many initial knee-jerk criticisms made by many to bed.

No, it is not The Office, and isn't as laugh-out-loud funny, yet it made me laugh and literally cry in parts. And things rarely do that, especially comedies. This is testament to the masterful piece of television that this is.

In addition, another massive bonus of this series is the inclusion of Karl Pilkington, who is always just a joy to see on screen.

Generally a warm, uplifting, funny and very powerful piece of work. Gervais and Merchant have evolved, and the work is different, but still brilliant.

Can't wait for the series.

Good comedy makes you laugh. Great comedy makes you cry. Brilliantly done once again, Mr Gervais. Ricky has always been more than a funny man; he's been an observer of funny, a discoverer of funny, a philosopher of funny. Beneath all the ridiculous and the offensive, there has always been a very kind soul and Ricky's work has matured over time from the wacky Brent dance into the tears of a not clever, not handsome, but kind young man. Ricky's work covers the entire emotional spectrum and he gets each color spot on. This unexpectedly touching work is a natural progression of his brilliant career, a fitting link in a chain of works that he can one day look back on and be proud of. Thanks for sharing yourself with the world, Ricky. You should be the president of the world.

This reminds me of the moment in time when Jennifer Saunders wrote Jam and Jerusalem. I'm not sure Gervais fans are ready for this. Overall, I think this show has the potential to be epic. I have a few minor criticisms (such as the maudlin music-it's just not necessary and sort of cheapens it).

I think Gervais is perfectly suited to play an adult with "'tism". And, if done right, this could really be one of those shows that makes me so excited about television right now at its best. Surprising story arcs, smart character development, honest emotional complexity and genius humor. Like someone said before "The best comedy makes you cry." And, I'll counter with, the best drama makes you laugh. I have all the faith that Gervais and Co. are capable of this. As long as it develops complexly and stays more light and smart than emotionally overwrought...I say put a stamp on it and ship it to the States. Put it on a cable network. No remakes, we'll take Gervais neat. TV execs would probably be too nervous to broadcast it here. But, I liked Gervais even more after the Globes. I don't think Americans really understand him. I think this is a vehicle he could be appreciated in, his depth, his humor etc. I've never taken him as mean spirited, which I think he has been unfairly categorized. He has a spirited humor in a world full of "Emperors" to be poked at (even when he is the biggest emperor of them all).

Right now it's an 8 of 10 based on the pilot.