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Season 1 – Vicious

Play trailer Poster for Season 1 – Vicious 2013 Holiday Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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80% Tomatometer 10 Reviews 88% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
Ian McKellen and Derek Jacobi head the cast of this studio sitcom, centered around aging partners Freddie and Stuart, who have lived together in a London flat for close to 50 years. Having survived a time when being a gay couple was harshly frowned upon, they have learned to keep the outside world at bay, and their lives now consist of reading books, walking their dog and, most of all, bickering at each other.
Vicious — Season 1

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Vicious is old-school comedy made fresh again, elevated by a cast of comedy masters that includes Sir Ian McKellen and Derek Jacobi.

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Critics Reviews

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Robert Lloyd Los Angeles Times As a jazz musician might do something lovely even with a banal melody, McKellen and Jacobi - baritone to tenor - make beautiful, dissonant music together. Jul 1, 2014 Full Review Brandon Nowalk AV Club Vicious is an apotheosis of the form: Its theatricality is expert, its rote insult comedy is delicious but not unyielding, and its unhip datedness is mined for exactly that quality. Rated: A- Jun 27, 2014 Full Review Hank Stuever Washington Post Line-for-line, Vicious would seem depressingly outdated and especially boring if delivered with American accents; but it somehow takes on a whiff of Oscar Wilde-like charm simply because it's British. Jun 27, 2014 Full Review Kari Croop Common Sense Media Couple's relationship is groundbreaking, but jokes aren't. Rated: 3/5 Jul 8, 2014 Full Review Rob Owen Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Mr. McKellen and Mr. Jacobi attack their roles with gusto; they ensure that Vicious is a fun, farcical throwback. Jun 30, 2014 Full Review Matt Roush TV Guide Vicious is a creepy, in style and attitude, retro serving of tea and hostility that's unworthy of the talents on board. Jun 27, 2014 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Gerry W My housemate and I were lucky enough to see a recent YouTube video Vlogger highlighting how terrific this series was, and that it's currently available for free viewing on Tubi. We searched it out, and Wow, what a gem it truly is! Filmed in front of a large live audience that provides wonderful, genuine laughter, loud and often, as they're lucky enough to view the live taping, the sparkling energy of those live filmings comes through beautifully. The entire cast is a hoot, and a study in how to deliver a line, a look, or a gesture to add the perfect extra punch to an already hilariously well-written script. This manages to be laugh-out-loud funny and truly touching while somehow also delivering some of the most, well, vicious (!) dialogue I've heard in a comedy. What a find! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/29/25 Full Review Leo M One of the worst series I've ever seen. Canned laughter, bland jokes, highly contrived situations and dialogue. I do love the two main characters, both the actors who played them and also the characters they play. I can't stop myself from watching it because although it is a truly horrendous attempt at subtle and sophisticated. The fact that is completely garish both on the surface and deep down isn't enough to steal defeat from the jaws of victory. That is because the two main characters and how they relate to each other is actually quite sweet. Some of the putd-downs are actually pretty good. Though you can see this kind of thing in With Nell and I or gimme gimme gimme and both examples are far better. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 12/13/24 Full Review Jon L There should be a warning before each episode. My sides have been sore for a few days since seeing the premiere. I haven’t laughed this hard and long in nearly a decade. I am not binging this not only to savor each episode, but out of fear I’ll literally die from raw laughter. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/23/24 Full Review nelly sofia n Tuve la oportunidad de ver esta serie y es genial. Me reí en cada capítulo. Las actuaciones de Ian McKellen y Derek Jacobi son maravillosas. Simplemente una de las mejores comedias que he visto. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member Probably the best new comedy of the decade It's just a shame it ended so quickly. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/09/23 Full Review Audience Member Wonderful, very funny. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/09/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Vicious — Season 1

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Cast & Crew

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Ian McKellen

Actor

Derek Jacobi

Actor

Frances de la Tour

Actor

Marcia Warren

Actor

Philip Voss

Actor

Iwan Rheon

Actor

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Apr 29, 2013 Wake Freddie and Stuart are hosting a wake to mark the passing of an old friend; as they are joined by their small circle of elderly friends, the couple manage to create an awkward evening with very little food but plenty of insults. Details Episode 2 Aired May 6, 2013 Cheat Freddie and Stuart go shopping for a new coat for Freddie's Dr. Who fan club event; a neighbor needs advice from the pair on how he should go about winning back his ex-girlfriend. Details Episode 3 Aired May 13, 2013 Audition Freddie has an important audition coming up; Ash is fretting about what he should do with his life; when Ash is offered a job after just one interview, Freddie is thrown into the depths of depression. Details Episode 4 Aired May 20, 2013 Clubbing Freddie, Stuart, Penelope and Mason go clubbing after Ash gets a job handing out club fliers; Freddie heads back to the club the next night with Ash's trendy friends, but soon realizes that clubbing is not for him. Details Episode 5 Aired Jun 3, 2013 Dinner Party Ash and his new girlfriend are invited for dinner by Freddie and Stuart; Freddie is feeling low as his acting jobs appear to be drying up; Ash has fallen in love with the perfect woman. Details Episode 6 Aired Jun 10, 2013 Anniversary As Freddie and Stuart plan a party to celebrate their anniversary, Ash accidentally lets the news slip to Stuart's mother. Details Episode 7 Aired Dec 27, 2013 Holiday Special Freddie and Stuart are throwing a Christmas Day celebration for their friends with a little help from their young neighbor; with Ash cooking dinner and Stuart organizing the party games, everyone seems set for a fun time. Details

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Vicious — Season 1

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Season Info

Network
ITV
Rating
TV-14
Genre
Holiday, Comedy
Original Language
British English
Release Date
Apr 29, 2013