Welcome to the Weekend Binge. Every Friday, weâll suggest a binge-able title designed to keep you from getting too stir crazy. Check back throughout the weekend for even more gloriously queer entertainment.
The Screecher: Vicious
Maybe itâs all the love we got for our recommendation of Derek Jacobiâs work in I, Claudius. Maybe itâs the enthusiasm we saw for Ian McKellen in Gods and Monsters. Either way, we can never get enough of these two great, gay actors, so why not check out a show that casts them as a bitchy gay couple?
Vicious stars McKellen and Jacobi as Freddie & Stuart, a gay couple that has been together just shy of 50 years. Freddie still dreams of becoming a great actorâŚeven while he takes bit parts on Downton Abbey. Stuart has retired from his job working at a bar, and now sits about their flat caring for their also-aged dog, and hurdling acidic insults at Freddie. When a handsome young man name Ash (Iwan Rheon) moves in to the flat upstairs, both Freddie and Stuart have their interest piqued. Quickly though, the older couple takes on the role of surrogate parents to Ash, nurturing him into becoming an upstanding adult.
McKellen and Jacobi attended the same school as teenagers. In an interview with James Lipton, McKellen also revealed that he fell desperately in love with Jacobi at the time. Little did he know that Jacobi had also fallen in love with him and, to quote Sir Ian, they ânever did a thing about it.â
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
We hope theyâve since corrected that oversight. If nothing else Vicious serves as a sort of theatrical consummation of their longtime friendship, and with no shortage of wicked one-liners to boot. Both McKellen and Jacobi re-earn their status as two of the worldâs greatest actors in the series, in that they play moments of broad, zinger comedy just as well as quieter moments that give both characters their humanity, and show off the true love between the couple.
Snappy, hilarious, and at times, quite moving, Vicious somehow makes us glad weâre singleâŚand makes us pine for the day we find a man to spend half a century with. If heâs as cool as McKellen or Jacobi, weâll be very happy.
Streams on Tubi, Amazon, YouTube, and iTunes.
This article includes links that may result in a small affiliate share for purchased products, which helps support independent LGBTQ+ media.
Prinny
I liked the show .Viciously recommend it
lambchopp59
Just the two seasons and a finale left me hanging for more though. Hilarious, all except for the heart-dagger of Stewart crying in Freddie’s arms at the end of season 2. Ouch! Glad they at least did the finale so viewers weren’t left on that morose note.
ShiningSex
Looks great!
Mr-DJ
I’m going to assume you left out Frances de la Tour as Violet – as a surprise for those who are not already Vicious-ites.
dhmonarch89
Hard to connect Iwan Rheon playing Ash here to his more famous role- Ramsay Bolton on Game of Thrones
Cam
Great Show!
ggore
The two actors said they hoped this series could go on for years and it was a travesty that it was only given 2 seasons. It was absolutely hilarious and I loved it. Yes, it was silly broad humor with Violet being a sex-crazed lech determined to get into the pants of anything on 3 legs, but it was pure fun and hit all the right notes for a gay person of a certain age.
kevininbuffalo
“Both McKellen and Jacobi re-earn their status as two of the worldâs greatest actors…” These stars don’t have to re-earn anything, their place is secure. I loved “Vicious” (I have it on DVD) but I always found the humor more American than British.
woodroad34
The entire cast was wonderful, including Marcia Warren as the ditzy and forgetful Penelope. Frances De La Tour as an aging lecherous woman, desperately trying to get a man was just terrific. It was a little difficult for me to watch Iwan Rheon, because he’d always played bad boys, and he was a little too cheerful and naive for someone (in the show) with a troubled past and parentage.
lather
The entire cast and series is brilliant! Would love to have seen it go on for years. Hugs, kisses, and huge thanks to each and everyone of them.
phillycap
It’s as camp as Xmas. And thoroughly enjoyable fluff đ
PozbearUequalsU
Funny someone should say it seemed American as the creator is Gary Janetti who worked for many years on Will & Grace (and was partnered with fashion stylist Brad Goreski). Loved this when it aired on PBS in the United States as well!
jackmister
A pity there were not more seasons. I LOVED this show.
leo1008
– Little did he know that Jacobi had also fallen in love with him and, to quote Sir Ian, they ânever did a thing about it.â
– Of course not. Sad, but not surprising. There’s a whole new generation out there that may not realize that, back in their youth, if these two male actors had acted on their self-professed love for one another they would have put their careers, and maybe even their lives, in extreme danger.