Vicious: Season 1

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 14 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 19 Ratings

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7.6

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7.6	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 19 Ratings

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Vicious

Now Playing: Vicious

Season Details & Credits

PBS | ITV | ITV/PBS | Season Premiere Date: April 29, 2013

Starring: Derek Jacobi, Frances De La Tour, Iwan Rheon

Summary: After nearly 50 years of living together, Freddie Thornhill (Ian McKellen) and Stuart Bixby (Derek Jacobi) spend their days entertaining friends, arguing, and taking care of their old dog Balthazar in this ITV comedy.

Creator: Gary Janetti and Mark Ravenhill

Genre(s): Comedy

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Season 1 Episodes

tbd
S1:E7. Christmas Special
Air Date: December 27, 2013
tbd
S1:E6. Series 1 Episode 6
Air Date: June 10, 2013
tbd
S1:E5. Series 1 Episode 5
Air Date: June 3, 2013

See all Seasons and Episodes

Metascore

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Mixed:

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Critic Reviews

Clark Collis

Jun 27, 2014

This sitcom is simply infectious. [4 Jul 2014, p.60]

Brandon Nowalk

Jun 27, 2014

In the hands of McKellen, Jacobi, and company, they are sitcom characters who manage the tightrope between human warmth and on-screen viciousness, and they do it by being the best damn sitcom characters they can be. Read full review

Mike Hale

Jun 27, 2014

It’s like watching old episodes of “Served” or “Keeping Up Appearances” or “Allo Allo”: slightly horrifying, like a slow-motion train wreck, but also, every few minutes, convulsingly funny. This has everything to do with Mr. Jacobi and Mr. McKellen. Read full review

Jeff Korbelik

Jun 30, 2014

Sounding like an old married couple, the interplay between the two is, at times, bitingly and laugh-out-loud funny. But it also becomes tedious. Read full review

Rob Owen

Jun 29, 2014

There’s an odd-couple vibe to Vicious, though it’s also a big, broad comedy reminiscent of Frasier if Niles and Frasier were a bickering gay couple instead of brothers. Read full review

Brian Lowry

Jun 27, 2014

The mean-spirited (if ultimately loving) nature of the series could easily be a turn-off for some. Others will simply wish the writing was as consistently clever as McKellen’s line readings. Read full review

Matthew Gilbert

Jun 26, 2014

The show is, essentially, three dated, clichéd jokes told over and over again. Read full review

SEE ALL 14 REVIEWS

User Score

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7.6

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User Reviews

epbomb1

Feb 28, 2016

Vicious is a bloody brilliant sitcom, terrible that a third series is not being made. For years I have watched the quality of sitcoms here in the US decline into abysmally unfunny rubbish, Vicious has been a bright comedy amongst a deteriorating American television landscape with funnyVicious is a bloody brilliant sitcom, terrible that a third series is not being made. For years I have watched the quality of sitcoms here in the US decline into abysmally unfunny rubbish, Vicious has been a bright comedy amongst a deteriorating American television landscape with funny characters, solid stories, and very well acted - it's full of humor keeping me laughing! It can only be hoped the series will be resurrected to preserve good sitcom television!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

kunduku

Jul 22, 2015

We love this comedy; it makes us laugh out loud, so long may it continue. We are straight, in our 50's and have lots of gay friends and it is one of the few sitcoms that make us both laugh

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

MatthewDon2002

Jun 20, 2015

I wouldn't disagree if you were to knock Vicious and say it's hit and miss, but there's something appealing about it (most likely the stellar cast) and you can always grin and bear the jokes that don't stick to the wall of funny. Derek and Ian make an adorable couple.

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

foxgrove

Jul 17, 2014

containing not an ounce of originality or real wit this old fashioned styled sitcom forces good actors to resort to desperate mugging, and they still fail to elicit laughs. To say that this is misconceived is an under statement. It would barely have worked in the seventies. Dismally leadencontaining not an ounce of originality or real wit this old fashioned styled sitcom forces good actors to resort to desperate mugging, and they still fail to elicit laughs. To say that this is misconceived is an under statement. It would barely have worked in the seventies. Dismally leaden and unfunny.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

BogKid

Jun 30, 2014

Great actors delivering mediocre lines. I suspect a number of gay people will find this show to be a bit offensive. I happen to be an old, straight person and I found much of the humor to be offensive. Let's replace "offensive" with simply "not funny". There were maybe two or threeGreat actors delivering mediocre lines. I suspect a number of gay people will find this show to be a bit offensive. I happen to be an old, straight person and I found much of the humor to be offensive. Let's replace "offensive" with simply "not funny". There were maybe two or three genuinely funny lines in the entire 23 minutes of show time.

One thing is clear. British TV producers have no better idea than do those in the US of how to effectively use a recorded laugh track. The pseudo-studio-audience of this show found every single line to be hilarious. One of the worst laugh tracks on television.

Damn! Love the cast -- pretty much hate the show.… Expand

3 of 4 users found this helpful31

sortanormal

Aug 24, 2015

This would be better for me if it were on stage, where the overacting and exaggerated lines would be more appropriate. The raucous laughter whenever there was a mildly amusing wry line, no matter how well delivered, was annoying, so I'd like to see the intrusive and inappropriate laugh trackThis would be better for me if it were on stage, where the overacting and exaggerated lines would be more appropriate. The raucous laughter whenever there was a mildly amusing wry line, no matter how well delivered, was annoying, so I'd like to see the intrusive and inappropriate laugh track gone.
Love the actors and the premise of the show, but I won't watch again. Disappointed.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

Seasons & Episodes

63

Series Overview
Season 3

tbd
- Season 3 Overview
  Air Date: December 16, 2016
Season 2

tbd
- Season 2 Overview
  Air Date: June 1, 2015
Season 1

63
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: April 29, 2013
- tbd
  S1:E7. Christmas Special
  Air Date: December 27, 2013
- tbd
  S1:E6. Series 1 Episode 6
  Air Date: June 10, 2013
- tbd
  S1:E5. Series 1 Episode 5
  Air Date: June 3, 2013
- tbd
  S1:E4. Series 1 Episode 4
  Air Date: May 20, 2013
- tbd
  S1:E3. Series 1 Episode 3
  Air Date: May 13, 2013
- tbd
  S1:E2. Series 1 Episode 2
  Air Date: May 6, 2013
- tbd
  S1:E1. Series 1 Episode 1
  Air Date: April 29, 2013