Review for Derek Christmas Special

Derek is a wonderful show set in a nursing home ran by the overworked Hannah who is helped by the loyal and lovable Derek. Shot in that documentary/interview style that Ricky Gervais has become famous for, this special is a final (so far) visit to the home and the people who live and work in there.

Hannah is pregnant and is working her last few weeks before she goes on maternity leave. She is planning on getting married to Tom which ends up having to take place in the home. Derek is going on a date and things finally come to a head with Kev in regards to his drinking and lifestyle.

Ricky Gervais is a genius. Pure and simple. I'm not even a big fan of him, but watching this show, this is something that can't be denied. It could be argued that the mockumentary style has become a little overused with shows like The Office, Modern Family and others all using it, but still in Derek it works.

The cast is fantastic with Kerry Godliman as Hannah being a wonderful centre for the cast as the one who holds everything together. Gervais as Derek has been criticised for the character being a knock on people with learning difficulties, but I don't see that at all. To draw the humour out of the character being this way is not his intention, the humour comes because it is genuinely funny.

I would say my only issue with this special episode is that it is not long enough. By the end, I wanted more and that is the mark of a truly great show. I am saddened that no other episodes have been announced (as yet) and hopefully this is just a break so Gervais can go on to do something else. Maybe he thinks the stories he wanted to tell have all been told, but I would really like to know more and visit these characters again. Again, this is the mark of a truly special show.

Special Features include seven minutes of outtakes which are all great to see and hilarious. There is also a fifteen minute behind the scenes in which Gervais confirms the series ends with this episode, which I really wish it wasn't true. This is a nice look at the creation of the episode and everything that went into it.

Derek is a wonderful show. If you are a fan, you will already have the other two series, but this is a wonderful accompaniment and ending (again I do hope it is something Gervais comes back to some time) of a magical series.