Synopsis
Derek (2013), Season 1 — watch online on iFILM, six episodes of Ricky Gervais's gentle Channel 4 tragicomedy. Derek Noakes works at Broadhill, a small retirement home, and stubbornly sees the good in everyone, even when the world has stopped looking out for them.
There's no grand plot here, just the daily life of one underfunded care home. From the opening episode Broadhill is threatened with closure — the council is circling, the budget keeps shrinking, and manager Hannah holds it all together with her loyal crew: sweet-natured Derek, scruffy Dougie and gruff Kev. From there the season drifts through small events: Derek's 50th birthday party, a fallen baby bird he's desperate to save, a jumble sale, a homemade cabaret show. Underneath the comedy sit the things that matter most — old age, kindness, and the fear of losing someone you love. By the final episode this quiet story lands harder than most prestige drama.
Gervais wrote, directed and stars, trading his usual sarcasm for something almost tender. Some will find it sentimental; the sincerity wins out. Stream Derek Season 1 online on iFILM.
6 episodes
S1·E1Episode 1
A visit from the council sees Broadhill retirement home facing closure. Hannah, the home's manager, rallies together her troops, best mates Derek, Dougie and Kev.
S1·E2Episode 2
It's Derek's 50th birthday; what better way to celebrate than with a party at Broadhill retirement home?
S1·E3Episode 3
Derek is desperate to save the life of a baby bird that's fallen from a tree. Some of the residents attend a jumble sale. And Hannah forgets about her date with Tom.
S1·E4Episode 4
Derek decides to sell some of his autographs to raise money for the retirement home. But it doesn't go too well when he can't remember who the autographs belong to.
S1·E5Episode 5
Derek forms an entertainment committee to discuss plans for a cabaret show at Broadhill. Kev wants to produce a play of his Duran Duran film script, starring staff and residents as the band.
S1·E6Episode 6
A much-loved resident is in decline, which sets in motion a sequence of events culminating in the appearance of an unexpected visitor.
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