There are glimmers of potential in this comedy about a potty-mouthed feline gang. But not even the great voice cast or a cute kitten can save it from being lazy, crude and boring<\/p>\n
I suppose the question is really: what do you do after redefining comedy for your era? After The Office, that exquisitely observed, agonising, heartbreaking, hilarious examination of the human condition co-created with Stephen Merchant, Ricky Gervais managed Extras \u2013 off-peak but still great \u2013 and then continued a downward trajectory that his latest offering, Alley Cats, does nothing to arrest.<\/p>\n
You can see what the six-episode animated series about a gang of homeless cats wants to be. It wants to be an exquisitely observed, agonising, heartbreaking, hilarious examination of the human condition. But it can\u2019t be bothered. Easier by far, especially as it\u2019s on Netflix and unshackled from mainstream broadcasters\u2019 rules about swearing, to call everyone a C-word and sigh at the inevitability\/sweet release of death every five minutes. Nihilism \u2013 gotcha! So dark, man, so edgy!<\/p>\n
Alley Cats is on Netflix<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/976f75354ea78304943f19699cc8965d275d6271\/1187_0_5625_4500\/master\/5625.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=a511d9951ae4999ef57c947b2356e6ae\" "\\"Alley")
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