Credit: Netflix

Alley Cats marks Ricky Gervais’ much-awaited Netflix comeback, serving as an adult animated sitcom that highlights his love for animals and blends authentic, layered storytelling with deadpan humour.

The animated black comedy series tells the story of Gus, an outspoken stray ginger tomcat, and his group of foul-mouthed, eccentric friends – Puke, Fang, Ponce, and Olive – who live in a run-down basement. While their routine days are all about watching television and discussing life, during a graveyard trip to hunt mice, Gus and the gang stumble across a timid, lost kitten whom they literally name Kitten.

Although Gus has second thoughts about helping Kitten, thanks to the rest of the group, especially Olive, everyone eventually decides to take responsibility to drop her back home safely. As the feline search operation begins, day one concludes with the cats raiding Ponce’s house for food after reaching a dead end. However, while heading back to their joint, they witness a car run over friend Ralfy, resulting in a reality check for Kitten.

Following the accident, Kitten recoils in fear, prompting Gus to channel his protective instincts. And when they wake up the next day, they try locating her home once again. So, do the cats actually succeed in dropping Kitten back home safely?

Do Gus and co safely drop Kitten back home in Alley Cats?

While Gus and the gang are determined to drop Kitten back to her original family in Alley Cats, their search operation is full of distractions. Day one may have ended on a rather emotional note, but day two? It’s twice as overwhelming. It begins with the cats running into Old Pete, one of Gus’ senior friends, Puke sharing a completely traumatising assault incident, and the day ending with the news of Old Pete getting euthanised – a decision Old Pete has no say in.

After witnessing two back-to-back deaths, Kitten realises the inevitability of the concept regardless of one’s societal status. Although she doesn’t clearly grasp or overcome the thought of mortality, Gus ensures to stand like a pillar for her.

Similarly, the operation continues for another day when a discussion on interspecies relationships prompts Puke to reveal his children. While the exchanges are witty and sharp, Gus is hit with another realisation when he decides to visit his ill mother. As Kitten confronts the cruelty of time, witnessing what time and age have done to Gus’ mother, she develops more realistic fears with time.

But just as Gus warms up, helping Kitten through those reality checks, the original mission they set out on ends up delayed. It is clear that, like humans, the ups and downs are a constant part of the cats’ lives, who soon deal with Kitten’s health scare, followed by Gus’ mother’s death. However, Alley Cats also highlights how these incidents unknowingly start preparing Kitten for the harsh realities of life.

Eventually, Gus and co do find Kitten’s home, although the mission is packed with non-disposable distractions. However, as they prepare to leave her, Gus sees that the residents have already gotten a new kitten. Determined to protect Kitten from the truth, Gus lies to her and everyone that the family has actually left. But she knows better and cannot be thankful enough for having found her real family while looking for something else that was lost.