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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Mel O&#039;Drama" data-source="post: 240579" data-attributes="member: 23">Next up is a rare and (for me) unexpected detour into twenty-first century British sitcom land.<img src="https://s.sidereel.com/tv_shows/54242/giant_2x/vicious.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" />Vicious kept popping up in my YouTube suggestions. Most of the videos I've watched recently relate either to comics or motoring, so I can't think why it was suggested. But then I suppose there are all the videos that get embedded on this site which I randomly watch while forgetting they get saved in my YouTube history. Perhaps I have a TellyTalker to thank for my little diversion.Long story short, I thought I'd watch a minute or two of first episode on YouTube, just to see what it was like. Less than half an hour later I'd watched the entire thing and was on Amazon looking to see if I could bag a DVD. Better yet, it transpired that the entire series is on Prime. Well, almost the entire series. As far as I can see, the Christmas special which rounded off the series isn't there. I haven't worked that one out yet, but as Freddie quipped in regard to Violet's fear/hope of being raped "Let's cross that bridge when we come to it, shall we?"Ian McKellen was the initial draw for me. I had a vague awareness of Vicious as a sitcom in which he starred. Which was enough to put it on my radar for viewing at some point (and most people's, I would hope). But I hadn't realised the calibre of the rest of the ensemble. Had I known that Derek Jacobi played opposite him, it would have made it onto my short term viewing list. And if I'd known Frances de la Tour was their best friend I'd have been on it like a shot. Discovering their presence within the space of twelve seconds as I watched the opening titles gave me quite a head rush. It seems almost too big for the small screen to contain.Shamefully, I've seen precious little of Derek Jacobi's work. Not even I, Claudius. Like Ian, I know him as a theatrical legend (weirdly, the first thing I think of on hearing his name is that episode of Cagney & Lacey where Mary Beth was excited at the prospect of seeing one of his plays and repeatedly mispronounced his surname as "ju-KO-bee"). And someone whose name suggests quality.  An intimidating presence. So camp little Stuart came as quite a surprise. Incidentally, Googling his name has bumped up Last Tango In Halifax - another series that's been on my radar that I didn't know he was in).Frances's presence is wonderful news for me. She's made regular appearances in other series during my British sitcom marathon, and it's always special to see her. Naturally, Ruth Jones is always the first thing that comes to mind when seeing her. And that's a great starting point, because Violet is certainly no Miss Jones.Iwan Rheon is a name and face that's very familiar, though I've seen little-to-nothing in which he has appeared. Turns out I've searched his name before, based on him playing Maximus in Inhumans. Even though I haven't watched that series, I still needed to know who would be playing live action versions of characters I grew up reading. And I'm one of the few who have never watched Game Of Thrones. He's very likeable in this. There's something quite captivating about his face. It's almost as though his eyes, nose and mouth belong to three different people and have been stuck together to make a very cute composite. I like that he's not traditionally handsome or good looking, but is still uniquely pretty. The smiling eyes help lots, as do the tight tops. Based on his background, I'm assuming Ash's North-East English accent is not real, but it sounds very authentic. I'm always in awe of people who can do accents convincingly.Marcia Warren stole the show with every line of Penelope's. I'll be watching her with interest.Among other spoilers, Wikipedia tells me that Celia Imrie will appear in later episodes as well. Be still my heart.Wiki and IMDb suggest the series received a lot of flak for damaging gay stereotypes. There is an element of stereotype to both the leads. But I have no problem with this. Partly because every stereotype is based in a truth. Freddie and Stuart evidently met on the gay scene when Stuart managed a bar.  Freddie is naturally theatrical. They're in their seventies and  have been together for 48 years.  There's no reason to doubt they are exactly who they are. For them to be politically correct hipsters would be putting square pegs into round holes. When all's said and done, it's a sitcom that ticks the boxes of being entertaining, funny and endearing. And on the plus side it's really good - perhaps even progressive - to see older gay couples represented, and older leads full stop. It's true to say that the series could be subtler. It does feel very broad and almost caricatured. Perhaps it will get wearing, especially when watching as a boxset rather than once a week.Despite it's hugely British pedigree, there's something about the atmosphere of the series that feels a little American to me. British sitcoms are often artificial, but there's a different level of artifice to American sitcoms that this feels more in tune with. That kitchen set is pure Golden Girls, while the living room seems almost an embodiment of how Americans think British people live. Above all, it's less gentle, less sedate and more knowing and forthright than most of the sitcoms I've watched recently. Even the audience laughter sounds a little too lively. Almost aggressive.Perhaps I've been swayed by seeing Gary Janetti's name on the credits (in rather huge font, as well. Far bigger than any of the lead actors!) I'm very familiar with his name from Will & Grace and Family Guy. With this in mind, Vicious does strike similar notes to Will & Grace. Some characters and dynamics can be seen as analogous. And it's just now struck me that Stuart here could easily be Jack's partner Stuart from W&G.That said, with this cast, it's always going to be delightfully English and there are dynamics that will be very familiar to those familiar with British sitcom. Freddie and Stuart's bilious, toxic, love/hate relationship is like watching a same-sex George and Mildred.  I especially enjoyed the regional references to Wigan and Leytonstone (the places from which the actors themselves hail). There's a great moment in the first episode where Freddie gets annoyed and loses his composure and Stuart takes great delight in pointing out that his accent came out.I'm not usually a fan of pop music used for themes. The Communards' version of Never Can Say Goodbye over the garish opening titles puts me in mind of Ab Fab or (shudder) Gimme Gimme Gimme (a series which, to put it kindly, is not something I plan to rewatch. But who knows where my whims will lead). It feels almost malapropos for these people I think of as English gentlemen who would both have probably been past their clubbing days when the song came out. But, the lyrics are so perfect for their destructive/magnetic relationship I've decided it's pretty perfect.I'm two episodes in, with around a dozen ahead of me. It looks to be an enjoyable ride.</blockquote>

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