Necrotongue

The opening episode didn't quite light the fire like most of the first season, mainly because Tony lost a chunk of his personality. The heartless cynic vibe is gone, leaving us with just his self-pitying, depressive side. I was close to giving it only three stars, but yoga, the postman, the psychologist, Kath's hunt, and especially the oldest Tambury resident, saved the day. / Lesson learned: Keep the postman outside the gate. 4*-

For the first time in this series, I gave it "just" four stars because, in the final episode, I really missed Tony's usual, gloomy take on life. The new and improved Tony might have been more palatable to the folks around him, but personally, I missed the OG Tony. His exposed humanity just wasn't the same without that protective shell. / Lesson learned: If the Nazis are after you, make sure you hide real good.

I'm afraid the upward trend in the quality of the series came to a halt. The plot, while not weak, didn't quite match up to the previous episode and felt more on par with the fifth. It looks like the creators decided to slow things down before the big finale, hopefully setting the stage for an explosive ending. Either way, you could tell the police investigation took a noticeable dip, and the yakuza conflicts somewhat stagnated. Like I said, this episode felt a lot like the calm before the storm, but unlike folks living by the coast, I'm actually looking forward to some proper thunder and lightning. / Lesson learned: Don't get into debt. People might want their money back.

Some series kick off strong, and it's a wild ride, but as the episodes pile up, the quality often takes a nosedive. This one started off kind of slow, but it just keeps on getting better. This episode had me so hooked that I didn't even bother nitpicking, just went ahead and slapped a solid five stars on it. The creators are doing a great job stitching together looser plotlines into a tight logical story which has a decent atmosphere, a hefty dose of manipulation and intrigue, plus, as a bonus, some unfiltered violence. / Lesson learned: Seek and ye shall find. Sometimes even things you didn't seek.

Alright, it's clear now that the creators have found their groove and style, and lucky for me, I'm vibing with both. Episode five took me back to Tokyo, and I gotta say, no complaints on this end. The whole code of honor lifestyle still fascinates me, and honestly, I kind of wish our politicians would apply the same punishment for its violation as the yakuza do. Just imagine the sight of dozens of politicians, forced to operate a mobile phone with their noses due to a complete absence of fingers. Yep, even criminals can come up with some surprisingly good ideas. / Lesson learned: That's what you get for asking questions.

The creators came up with an intriguing storyline that cranked up the drama with the Yakuza and dropped some surprising discoveries regarding loan sharks. So, despite the sluggish start, the plot got me hooked.

Not even episode five gave me much to nitpick about. I mean, sure, if I went full detective mode, I might find something, but the script was too spot-on to let any flaws ruin the vibe. Props to Ricky Gervais for diving into the topic of renewable resources. It got me thinking that a lot of writers could learn from this show – might just help them whip up some dialogues that actually make sense. / Lesson learned: Steer clear of any school grounds.

Episode four just solidified everything I've been saying in my earlier reviews. Ricky Gervais nailed it, weaving humor seamlessly with depression and cynicism with empathy. I'm a fan of that combo. It delivered a top-notch viewing experience and some genuine laughs. Gotta give props to all those excellent dialogues that not only cracked me up but also got me pondering their deeper meaning. / Lesson learned: When someone tells you it can't get any worse, they are lying shamelessly.

Another top-notch episode. Even without Tony going through a personal tragedy, I wouldn't have been shocked if his job alone had driven him to suicidal thoughts. Ricky Gervais's writing was superb as usual, and the dialogue had me laughing out loud, with more layers than a Tiramisu. / Lesson learned: Wisdom can come from the most unexpected sources.

The second episode kept up the streak of quality and humor from the first one, making it another enjoyable ride. I particularly like how Ricky Gervais subtly infuses humanity into the plot but doesn't make it too in-your-face. The perfect yet marginal characters like the postman and the psychiatrist added a nice touch, but what really got me was the battle of wills with the restaurant staff. / Lesson learned: Some people just don't understand that there can be joy in depression.