Channel Surfing: Derek - "Pilot"

Ricky Gervais

Welcome to a new column called Channel Surfing, in which I sporadically look at current TV shows and talk about them. These are not ones that I care to write weekly recaps for and are instead reflections either on the episode, the series, or particular moments. This will hopefully help to share personal opinions as well as discover entertainment on the outer pantheon that I feel is well worth checking out, or in some cases, shows that are weird enough to talk about, but should never be seen.

On a recent episode of WTF with Marc Maron, Simon Pegg was asked his thoughts on controversial comedian and friend Ricky Gervais. The answer hinged on a shift between public and private image. By Pegg's description, the real Gervais was a kind man who had wisecracks to spare, but never seemed mean spirited. The public persona, the one that infamously hosted the Golden Globes two years in a row to a vitriolic response, was more problematic. In fact, what started off as one of the finest British comedy exports with the Office quickly became the strongly opinionated bully. It was funny at one point, but by the second time with the Golden Globes, the Gervais wave was over.

That doesn't mean that he doesn't still hold some post-Office merit. In fact, he created interesting shows such as Extras, an animated adaptation of his podcast called the Ricky Gervais Show, Life's Too Short, and my personal favorite: An Idiot Abroad in which he sends cohort Karl Pilkington on a global journey just to piss him off. The truth is that Gervais never lost his fervor. It may at times seem a little unfocused, but his work pushes the boundaries between humor and just being downright uncomfortable. 

In a way, after the failure that was Life's Too Short, which felt too much like a nod to the camera, it feels like his latest product, Derek, is an attempt to reestablish his image as an auteur. He has done plenty of ribald, crazy antics since the Office shot him to stardom, but unless you were into the persona, he hasn't done much beyond that. With his latest, it feels that he is trying to do something different... by playing a mentally handicapped man who works at a retirement home. 

The premise is surely easy fodder for him to make geriatric humor. Instead, this show attempts to create a balance between humor and more serious matter, as seen in "Pilot." The series initially debuted in England last April to very little acclaim. Out of curiosity, I took a look at the episode with assumptions that it was never getting a stateside release, if just because the content made no sense on who was the target audience or if the show was tonally aware of itself.

Still, back in April when I watched it, my thoughts were positive enough to consider giving the rest of the show a shot. After being let down by Life's Too Short, I was curious to see how Gervais tackled something different. Also, the promise of non-actor Karl Pilkington being forced to... act was something between either a train wreck, or a potential stroke of genius in one of the masters of the understated buffoonery and wisdom. I never expected it to see he light of day over here, but thanks to Netflix and their current regime for making exclusive programming, Derek finally came out in America, almost a year and a half later. 

It was with that motive that I decided to revisit "Pilot" and see if my expectations were still worth an investment now that I could burn through the seven episodes without a worry of being called a pirate. It had been long enough that I had the mere fondness to carry my thoughts through it and hopefully find the joy that I had the first time around.

While I cannot claim to be a Gervais expert, I have seen a pallet of his work and could tell you how tonally he is consistent. I think rewatching the show and taking in the criticisms of British audiences and listening to Firewall & Iceberg talk about it at length, I began to see this show almost in a clearer light. I noticed what it was that drew me to the show, but I also remembered what could potentially sink the show.

Let's start with the plot: it is a mockumentary focused around titular Derek, who is mentally challenged and loves watching Youtube videos by Parry Grip. Considering that Gervais has been rendered into a bully in the pop culture lexicon, it is hard to immediately accept his portrayal of Derek as acceptable, notably when he sits on food and is socially awkward anywhere he goes. While the show clearly establishes itself more in the dramatic camp, it does raise the question: Is Derek's failures supposed to be funny? If so, that would only make Gervais' portrayal feel like an insult to special needs.

At the same time, it paints a rather sympathetic portrayal of retirement homes and their employees. "Pilot" ends on a somber note in which a beloved resident dies. The only reason that this is problematic is because the tone is unsure. It is played for dramatic effect, but since we spend most of our time with Derek confused on how we should accept him, the payoff doesn't feel deserved. Besides it being only 24 minutes and the relationship with the deceased being undeveloped for the most part, it is something that feels a little bit too odd to start a show off with.

Karl Pilkington

Then there's the overall question that should be asked: If we didn't have a public image of Gervais, would this show play differently? Possibly, though it has always been hard for performers to play mentally handicapped without having some sort of amateurish nature. Content aside, Gervais plays Derek with a sense of ease that suggests that in time, the show could get better. He may seem surface level and a little off for the time being, but the feeling that he is nudging at the camera feels a little soft compared to other radical projects he's been apart of. Still, by the end of "Pilot," there is a sense that we understand this world well enough to buy the premise. 

The supporting cast is fine and the plot is rather unmemorable. Even with Karl Pilkington playing a janitor who is essentially Karl Pilkington, it is the banter that gives the show any chance at promise. Along with his "girlfriend" Hannah (Kerry Godliman), the show definitely has a strong sense of understated quality. For those outside of Gervais' immediate interests circle, this will probably not sell you on the show. Plenty happens, but there's also too many issues that keeps it from really having poignancy.

I don't know when I will find time to run through Derek, but it seems harmless and almost a step down from the genius of Gervais' prior work. This may be what he needs to make a different image with the public. I worry that this show will just be a publicity stunt that won't work, but it does also feel like its heart is in the right place. Maybe the show will tackle nursing home issues and problems with the working class that are indeed worthy of this odd collective of characters. Of course, it does seem odd that Gervais would be the comedian to comment on economic conditions, but nonetheless, he is trying something different and like An Idiot Abroad before it, being different is something that made him an exciting creator in the first place.

There is little doubt that the show won't succeed simply thanks to the Netflix model which has also made Orange is the New Black so successful. While this pales in comparison to the brilliant jail drama, it does show why Netflix is something with promise. Where AMC continues to redefine its brand in a post-Breaking Bad world with less successful knock-offs like Low Winter Sun, Netflix has been an interesting mix of everything, including resurrecting Arrested Development. It has redefined the way majority of people watch programming. It may mess up people set in their ways to watching TV on a weekly schedule, but it does allow for more ambitious programming. Maybe "Pilot" is a mislead, and maybe Derek will be one of them. It may not do much new to the mockumentary genre (see Family Tree for that), but it shows potential for a veteran trying to improve his image.

This is the official kick-off of Channel Surfing's attempt to watch and critique a whole bunch of new shows. While the major ones start next week, here's a chance to dip your toes. Come back tomorrow when we look at the return of the Arsenio Hall Show and if there's any merit in people still trying to make late night programming.