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Derek

2012–2014Ended2 seasons14 episodes~23 min/epTV-MAMidcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

Derek is a loyal nursing home caretaker who sees only the good in his quirky co-workers as they struggle against prejudice and shrinking budgets to care for their elderly residents.

Your rating, lists and review

Where to watch

Where can I watch Derek?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Derek streaming on Netflix.

Subscription

Highlights

What stands out about Derek?

Derek earns 6 badges, led by Universally Loved and Deeply moving.

  • Reception
  • Craft and mood

Reception

Is Derek worth watching?

Derek's Midcredits score is the 88th percentile of all shows, from 38K ratings across 2 sources. 87% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

88th percentile

Better received than 88% of shows

87th percentile among Comedy87th percentile among 2010s
Acclaim (how much people like it)84th
Approval (how many liked it)88th

Acclaim

Universally Loved: Rating-distribution shape vs the catalog

How much people like it

79 /100

84th percentile of all shows

85th percentile among Comedy83rd percentile among 2010s

Rating distribution

Most people land high, with a thin tail of low scores from those it didn't reach.

Approval

How many liked it

87% liked it

88th percentile of all shows

85th percentile among Comedy86th percentile among 2010s
87% rated it 7–1013% rated it 1–6

Reach

How many have seen it

87th percentile

38K ratings across platforms

80th percentile among Comedy87th percentile among 2010s
TMDB popularity, last 39 days to Oct 28Up 5% in 30 days

What reviewers say

Common ground

It's an emotional documentary-style comedy-drama about a care home worker and his colleagues, often unevenly blending laughs and pathos.

Fans praised

  • heartwarming and genuinely moving, often tear-inducing
  • great lead performance by Ricky Gervais and an authentic, well-rounded cast
  • blends humor, wisdom, and tragedy in a deeply affecting way

Detractors panned

  • unfunny as a comedy, with humor feeling forced or like a setup for sentiment
  • drama and comedy clash awkwardly, undermining both
  • plot pacing too slow, at times like a Lifetime production

What stands out

Emotional impactDivisive85

heartfelt, tear-jerking moments, often powerful

ActingDivisive80

authentic, documentary-like performances; Gervais praised for depth

CharactersDivisive75

well-drawn, three-dimensional characters with arcs

Atmosphere70

immersive care home setting, warm and intimate

DialogueDivisive60

naturalistic, but often more poignant than witty

Plot and story60

character-driven, but pacing issues in places

HumorDivisive55

laughs are sporadic, often bittersweet

Pacing45

slow-burn, occasionally draggy

Preferred by

Under-30s vs over-30s

Preferred by Over-30s

Over-30s scored it 11 points higher than under-30s.

Critics vs users

Preferred by Users

Users scored it 19 points higher than critics.

No notable difference between the other groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Women vs men 8 points apart
  • US vs non-US 4 points apart

Episodes

2 seasons

Series 2 · 2014 · 6 episodes

  • S2E1

    Episode 1

    Apr 23, 201424 min
  • S2E2

    Episode 2

    Apr 30, 201424 min
  • S2E3

    Episode 3

    May 7, 201424 min
  • S2E4

    Episode 4

    May 14, 201424 min
  • S2E5

    Episode 5

    May 21, 201424 min
  • S2E6

    Episode 6

    May 28, 201424 minFinale

Watch experience

What is Derek like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Earnest, serious and gentle — a slow-burn watch that leaves you bittersweet.

Feelings

  • Warm
  • Bittersweet
  • Contemplative

Themes

  • Family bonds
  • Purpose
  • Friendship

Story

  • No archetype

What it asks of you

  • Slow burn
  • Casual
  • Affecting
  • Resolved

Setting

  • Contemporary
  • Realistic
  • Institutional
  • Suburban

Style

  • Warm
  • Tender

How it leaves you

  • Bittersweet
  • Hopeful
ToneFeelDemandexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

What it feels like

Heaviest: throughout
Told as
Episodic · 11% of shows: Loosely connected incidents rather than one driving plot.Single location · 1% of shows: Confined to essentially one place throughout.Case of the week plus an arcNew arc each season
ToneThe show plays its material with deep sincerity and affection, balancing humour and pathos without irony.
The rideThe show maintains a steady, low-key warmth punctuated by melancholic reflections on aging and loss, without major tonal swings.
StructureMockumentary format with episodic vignettes, almost entirely set within the care home.
Episode formatEach episode focuses on self-contained resident stories or staff interactions, while a subtle seasonal arc about the home's future and Derek's past runs underneath.
Season formatBoth seasons share the same cast and setting but each presents a self-contained period in the home's life, with a gentle continuity rather than a serialized cliffhanger.

How it leaves you

what you carry away
Why it leaves you this wayLeaves a warm, melancholy uplift and a feeling that kindness matters.
How it ends · evidence
Bittersweet ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all shows
Monster — 18% of shows. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of shows. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 6% of shows. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 2% of shows. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 12% of shows. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 4% of shows. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 7% of shows. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 8% of shows. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 40% of showsPredator — 7% of shows. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 3% of shows. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of shows. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 3% of shows. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of shows. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of shows. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of shows. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of shows. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of shows. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of shows. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — 1% of shows. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of shows. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of shows. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of shows. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of shows. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 2% of shows. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 4% of shows. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of shows. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — under 1% of shows. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of shows. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 1% of shows. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — under 1% of shows. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of shows. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — under 1% of shows. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 2% of shows. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of shows. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of shows. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of shows. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 2% of shows. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of shows. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — under 1% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 1% of shows. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 1% of shows. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 1% of shows. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 1% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 3% of shows. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of shows. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 1% of shows. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of shows. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 6% of shows. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 1% of shows. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 18%: Predator 7% · Tyrant 3% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 3% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 6%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 2% · Mission 4% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage under 1%
  • Voyage 2%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 1% · Survival ordeal under 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent under 1%
  • Comedy 12%: Romantic comedy 2% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 2%
  • Tragedy 4%: Hubris 1% · Obsession under 1% · Corruption arc 1% · Doomed love 1% · Crushed by fate 1%
  • Rebirth 7%: Redemption 1% · Healing 3% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 1%
  • Mystery 8%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 6% · Enigma 1%
  • No archetype 40% (this title)

No archetype fits — true of 40% of shows: ensemble pieces, satire, slice-of-life.

Why this archetypeEpisodes are slice-of-life vignettes in a care home, driven by character and emotion rather than a plot archetype.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 31% of showsSelf — 27% of showsPower — 7% of showsMorality — 11% of showsSurvival — 9% of showsSociety — 10% of showsIdeas — 5% of showsRomantic love — 10% of showsMarriage — 2% of showsFamily bonds — 22% of showsParenthood — 1% of showsFriendship — 18% of showsLoyalty — 7% of showsIdentity — 20% of showsComing of age — 9% of showsAging — under 1% of showsSelf-worth — 7% of showsAmbition — 14% of showsPurpose — 16% of showsMemory — 3% of showsObsession — 2% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 5% of showsCorruption — 3% of showsGreed — 2% of showsClass — 4% of showsOppression — 2% of showsFreedom — 4% of showsJustice — 14% of showsDuty — 2% of showsRevenge — 1% of showsGuilt — 1% of showsRedemption — 3% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — under 1% of showsSacrifice — 2% of showsBetrayal — 3% of showsDeception — 6% of showsSurvival — 12% of showsWar — 1% of showsViolence — 2% of showsMortality — 2% of showsGrief — 4% of showsTrauma — 5% of showsMental illness — under 1% of showsAddiction — under 1% of showsIllness and disability — under 1% of showsCommunity — 25% of shows. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 3% of showsPrejudice — 2% of showsDisplacement — 1% of showsFaith — 1% of showsTradition vs change — 3% of showsFame — 5% of showsLegacy — 3% of showsFate — 1% of showsFree will — under 1% of showsTruth — 6% of showsHope — 4% of showsNature — 3% of showsArt — 2% of showsTechnology — 1% of showsSelf
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 31% (this title): Romantic love 10% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 22% (this title) · Parenthood 1% · Friendship 18% (this title) · Loyalty 7%
  • Self 27% (this title): Identity 20% · Coming of age 9% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 14% · Purpose 16% (this title) · Memory 3% · Obsession 2%
  • Power 7%: Power 5% · Corruption 3% · Greed 2% · Class 4% · Oppression 2% · Freedom 4%
  • Morality 11%: Justice 14% · Duty 2% · Revenge 1% · Guilt 1% · Redemption 3% · Forgiveness under 1% · Sacrifice 2% · Betrayal 3% · Deception 6%
  • Survival 9%: Survival 12% · War 1% · Violence 2% · Mortality 2% · Grief 4% · Trauma 5% · Mental illness under 1% · Addiction under 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 10%: Community 25% · Isolation 3% · Prejudice 2% · Displacement 1% · Faith 1% · Tradition vs change 3% · Fame 5% · Legacy 3%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 6% · Hope 4% · Nature 3% · Art 2% · Technology 1%

Bonds

Family bondsPurposeFriendship
Celebrates its theme: Affirms its theme — this is good and worth having.Intimate stakes: Consequences reach a person or a household.Ensemble lead
How it treats its themeThe show centers on the chosen family formed among care workers and residents, exploring how caregiving gives Derek and his colleagues meaning against a backdrop of societal indifference.
StanceThe show celebrates the quiet dignity of care work and the goodness in ordinary, often overlooked people, without winking at its subject.

The world

AmbientFolkSupportive music · original score
SettingA run-down British care home and its surrounding working-class town
MusicGentle, piano-led cues underline the emotional beats without overwhelming scenes.

Content guide

Is Derek okay for kids?

TV-MA

Derek is rated TV-MA. As of October 3, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at minimal (2/100), sexual content at moderate (44/100), language at intense (74/100), drug and alcohol content at moderate (39/100) and frightening material at mild (29/100). Overall it is heavier than 14% of TV-MA shows.

Ratings in 15 other countries
  • UK15
  • AustraliaMA 15+
  • Germany12
  • France18
  • Ireland15
  • South Korea19
  • Austria14
  • Czechia18+
  • Hungary16
  • Poland16
  • ROAP
  • SingaporePG13
  • Spain12
  • Switzerland16
  • Türkiye18+
Overall
Moderate · all five categories
Heavier than 43% of all showsHeavier than 14% of TV-MA shows
Violence & Gore
None / Minimal
light for a TV-MA show
heavier than 1%
Sex & Nudity
Moderate · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
typical for a TV-MA show
heavier than 35%
Profanity
Intense · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
typical for a TV-MA show
heavier than 64%
Alcohol & Drugs
Moderate
typical for a TV-MA show
heavier than 26%
Frightening / Intense
Mild · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
light for a TV-MA show
heavier than 14%

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

The reason to think twice is language. Everything else sits at or below what TV-MA shows usually carry.

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other shows that have them.

What content warnings does Derek have?

MovieCove's classifier found 2 depicted content warnings in Derek: Dementia or Alzheimer's (moderate), plus 1 withheld here because it would spoil the plot. Each is backed by a verbatim quote from the parents' guide notes or plot synopsis; a missing warning is not a guarantee of absence.

Screened from limited information, so some warnings may be missing.

ModerateDementia or Alzheimer's

Cast and crew

Who is in Derek?

Cast

At least 4 of the 10 billed cast had never appeared on screen.

Ricky Gervais
as Derek
Emmy nominee: Primetime Emmy nomination — Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or a MovieTop draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Kerry Godliman
as Hannah
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
David Earl
as Kev
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Tim Barlow
as Jack
Career best: Their highest-reaching show role by billing, audience size and rating.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Arthur Nightingale
as Arthur
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Ninette Finch
as Annie
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Margaret Towner
as Edna
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Barry Martin
as Joe
Sheila Collings
as Sheila
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Prem Modgil
as Prem

Crew

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