Ricky Gervais has said the ending to After Life is 'pretty perfect'. Watch here:
For the first time, the comedian has allowed one of his creations to run beyond its second series, and the third and final instalment has just dropped on Netflix.
The show follows the 60-year-old as he takes on the role of Tony, a reporter at a free paper struggling to find a purpose in life following the passing of his wife.
Across the course of the first two seasons, viewers have been moved by his battle with grief - which led him to the brink of suicide - and attempts to move on from his tragic loss.
Going into the final series, writer, director and star Gervais admitted he toyed with numerous different endings, but is happy that the chosen conclusion is 'pretty perfect'.
He told LADbible: "There were a lot of options, and even right up to filming, there was, 'Can I do this? Is that too much?'.
"I think I went with the right ending - I'm sure I'll have to explain it on social media for the next 10 years.
"But I stand by it and I think it's pretty perfect because, with no spoilers, the theme is - life goes on.
"It's just that, it's just - life goes on."
He continued: "I'd say, again no spoilers, I'd say this is uplifting, this series.
"I think there's more hope. I think it's a positive message. I think it's beautiful. I think it's nice for things to be to be finite, and I think it's uplifting."
The second series culminated with Tony on the edge of taking an overdose, only for Emma (Ashley Jensen) to ring his doorbell at the last minute and avert the tragedy.
Indeed, the sitcom is as moving as it is funny, and the third season could have you crying and laughing in equal measure.
And it's not just viewers who have found the frequent transitions from joy to despair emotionally draining - the cast found it difficult to get to grips with too.
"I remember the last season, I remember doing a funny scene coming in the office, and then I left and I just watched the monitor," Jo Hartley - who plays June - told LADbible.
"And as I was watching the monitor, Ricky went into a scene where he starts crying.
"I was going from laughter to tears within about four seconds."
Diane Morgan, who plays Kath, added: "There's something about Ricky crying, because he's so funny.
"And, especially if you're in a scene with him and he's got to cry in front of you, he actually cries, he finds the emotion. He doesn't pretend, he brings it up, and it is awful.
"I mean, brilliant, but awful because you think, 'Oh god, he's really crying,' and you get so upset just acting opposite him."
So, if you've got your tissues at the ready, you can head over to Netflix now and see how the sitcom plays out.
Featured Image Credit: NetflixTopics: TV and Film, Netflix, Ricky Gervais
Jake Massey