Ricky Gervais' new animated series for Netflix, "Alley Cats," premiered Friday to overwhelmingly negative reviews, with critics calling the six-episode adult comedy crude and largely laugh-free.
The series follows a clowder of foul-mouthed stray cats trying to help a lost kitten find her way home, mixing crude humor with occasional sentimental moments. Gervais created and stars as Gus, leading a voice cast that includes Tom Basden, David Earl, Diane Morgan, Andrew Brooke, Jo Hartley, Kerry Godliman, Tony Way and Natalie Cassidy.
Reviews were harsh across British outlets: The Telegraph gave the show zero out of five stars, calling it "the worst thing to happen to cats since Cats," while Metro awarded one star, describing it as "the worst thing I've watched on television this year." The Independent, also awarding one star, called it "abrasive, smug and completely mirthless." Screen Rant's review scored the series 2 out of 10, writing that it "doesn't deliver any laughs, making it a chore to get through," though the review credited the fifth episode with genuine "emotional beats" and "character depth" amid otherwise cheap-looking animation. A lone positive notice came from What's On Netflix, which gave the show 3.5 out of 5 stars, praising "meatier, angrier discussions" that it said produced real laughs, while acknowledging the humor won't land for everyone.
The show marks Gervais' first adult-animated project for Netflix, following his stand-up specials and the drama series "After Life" for the platform. Netflix has not commented on the reception, and the streamer typically does not release viewership figures in the days immediately following a premiere, making it difficult to gauge whether the show will find an audience despite the critical drubbing.
The reception echoes a broader pattern for adult animated comedies attempting to follow in the footsteps of established hits: without strong critical support, such series often rely on existing fan bases to sustain early viewership, and Gervais retains a substantial following from his stand-up and prior television work. Whether that audience embraces "Alley Cats" despite the reviews may determine if Netflix orders a second season.
