Vicious (TV series)

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Television series
German title Vicious
Original title Vicious
Country of production United Kingdom
original language English
Year (s) 2013-2016
length 22-24 minutes
Episodes 14 in 3 seasons
genre Sitcom
Theme music The Communards - Never Can Say Goodbye
idea Gary Janetti
Mark Ravenhill
First broadcast April 29, 2013 (UK) on ITV
German-language
first broadcast		 April 3, 2014 on Passion
occupation

Vicious ( English vicious , 'malicious', 'mean') is a British sitcom ( Britcom ), which was first broadcast from 2013 to 2016 on ITV . It focuses on the life of an aging gay couple who have been living together for almost 50 years and whose relationship has developed into a kind of love-hate relationship over time.

action

Freddie Thornhill and Stuart Bixby have been a gay couple for almost 50 years. When they first met, Freddie was an aspiring actor and Stuart was working in a bar. Now, Stuart is retired, while Freddie, who always had to settle for small roles, continues to strive for success as an actor. They live with their old dog Balthazar, who spends most of their time sleeping, in an apartment in Covent Garden, London . Over the years their relationship has turned more and more into a love-hate relationship; the two constantly consider each other with snappy comments. But when it comes down to it, they stand together. Her close friends Violet, Penelope and Mason, whom she has known for decades, as well as her new neighbor, 22-year-old Ash, are an integral part of her life.

occupation

  • Ian McKellen as Freddie Thornhill (voice actor : Jürgen Thormann ): An actor who never had the big breakthrough and had to be content with small roles, but who pretends to be a big star. Although he likes to tease his partner, the rudeness and bitterness hide true love.
  • Derek Jacobi as Stuart Bixby (voice actor: Lutz Mackensy ): Former manager of a bar, whose elderly mother Mildred didn't know anything about his relationship with Freddie until the end of the first season. He, too, often only has one sarcastic comment left for Freddie, but loves him too.
  • Frances de la Tour as Violet Crosby (voice actress: Kerstin Sanders-Dornseif ): The fun-loving, free-spirited Violet is a close friend of Freddie and Stuart. Despite her age, she has her eye on her teenage neighbor Ash.
  • Iwan Rheon as Ash Weston (voice actor : Konrad Bösherz ): The 22-year-old straight neighbor of Freddie and Stuart, who quickly befriends his gay neighbors after moving in. He often visits the two of them to get advice on all aspects of life.
  • Marcia Warren as Penelope (voice actress: Luise Lunow ): An eccentric old friend of Freddie and Stuart who is often a little distracted and absent-minded.
  • Philip Voss as Mason (voice actor : Roland Hemmo ): Freddie's brother, Stuart's good friend, who is just as sharp-tongued as the two of them.

Charisma

Great Britain

The first season of Vicious aired between April 29 and July 10, 2013, with six episodes. A Christmas special was also held on December 27, 2013. The second season, also with six episodes, was broadcast from June 1, 2015 to July 6, 2015.

Germany

In the German-speaking area, the paying broadcaster Passion has acquired the rights and broadcast the first season from April 3, 2014. The second season, however, has not yet been broadcast in German-speaking countries.

Episodes

Season 1 (2013)

  • Episode 1: Wake (Recorded: January 29th, 2013 / TV Premiere: April 29th, 2013)
Freddie and Stuart meet up with their old friends Violet, Penelope and Mason to commemorate a deceased friend over a drink . Their new neighbor, 22-year-old Ash, also joins them and despite the age difference, he has to fight off Violet's advances. Freddie and Stuart try to find out Ash's sexual orientation. They are so clumsy that he realizes their intention and tells them that he is straight.
  • Episode 2: Cheat (Recorded: February 5, 2013 / TV Premiere: May 6, 2013)
Ash seeks advice on how to get his ex-girlfriend back. When Violet and Penelope go shopping with him in a clothing store, they suspect that Stuart is cheating on Freddie with a younger man. Freddie also becomes suspicious, but then learns that Stuart has taken a job to buy Freddie the coat he wants. In order for Stuart not to lose his pride, Freddie pretends to be clueless and continues to pretend Stuart is cheating on him.
  • Episode 3: Audition (Recorded: February 12, 2013 / TV Premiere: May 13, 2013)
Freddie wants to audition for a small supporting role on his favorite series. Since Ash is unsure what he wants to do for a living, Freddie offers to help him prepare for the audition so that he can learn some of the tricks of the trade and maybe try it. When Freddie got the role, he was overjoyed. But his joy quickly fades when he learns that Ash has received an offer for a film role. In the meantime, Violet seeks consolation because her Hungarian lover no longer wants to see her.
  • Episode 4: Clubbing (Recorded: February 19, 2013 / TV Premiere: May 20, 2013)
Ash invites Freddie, Stuart, Penelope, and Mason to a nightclub he's been working at. This leads to a discussion between Freddie and Stuart as to which of the two is the more popular and attractive. When Freddie quickly met younger people in the club, he enjoyed it, but quickly discovered that he was a little out of place because of his age. Meanwhile, Violet travels to Argentina to meet a man she has met on the Internet.
  • Episode 5: Dinner Party (Recorded: February 26, 2013 / TV Premiere: June 3, 2013)
Freddie, whose acting career is currently slipping, takes Ash and his new girlfriend Chloe out to dinner. Freddie and Stuart find the naive and intrusive Chloe unsympathetic and are annoyed by the cheesy behavior between the two, but try not to show anything. In the course of the evening, a solid argument develops between Ash and Chloe, as Chloe doesn't like them either, while Ash stands by his neighbors. Violet also has problems in Argentina: the man she met on the Internet tied her to bed and robbed her.
  • Episode 6: Anniversary (Recorded: March 5, 2013 / TV Premiere: June 10, 2013)
Freddie and Stuart are planning an evening celebration with their friends Ash, Violet, Penelope and Mason to mark their upcoming 49th anniversary. When Ash answers Freddie's and Stuart's phones earlier in the day, he accidentally tells Stuart's mother, Mildred, about the party. When Stuart learns that his mother is coming too, he decides to finally tell her that Freddie is not only his roommate, but that he and Freddie have been a couple for almost fifty years.
  • Episode 7: Christmas Special (Recorded: April 3, 2013 / TV Premiere: December 27, 2013)
As Christmas approaches, Freddie and Stuart plan a Christmas party in their apartment to which they also invite all their friends. Although Stuart actually prepares the food for Christmas every year, he agrees that Ash will do it this year, as it means so much to him to be able to cook for the others. But it turns out that Ash has taken on a bit too much and is hopelessly overwhelmed. To shorten the long wait for Christmas dinner, the others play truth or dare, revealing spicy details that were previously kept secret.

Season 2 (2015)

  • Episode 8: Sister (TV Premiere: June 1, 2015)
When Violet's affluent sister Lillian announces her visit years later, Violet is afraid that her sister might find out that she is less successful. To help her, Freddie and Stuart decide to play something for Lillian. Stuart plays Violet's wealthy husband, while Freddie takes on the role of the butler. When Ash turns up to introduce his new girlfriend to his neighbors, they pass him off as Stuart's son from his first marriage. After the events become more and more confused, Violet wants to reveal the truth to her sister - but it turns out differently.
  • Episode 9: Gym (TV Premiere: June 8, 2015)
Since Freddie and Stuart feel they have to do something for their physical fitness, they accompany Ash to his gym. There you can get an expensive membership from an attractive trainer. After they invite him to their home and no longer pay attention to Ash, he becomes jealous and tries to scare the trainer. Meanwhile, Violet and Penelope discover how comfortable it can be in Freddie's and Stuart's apartment when they are not around.
  • Episode 10: Ballroom (TV Premiere: June 15, 2015)
When Ash wants to attend a dance class with his girlfriend, Freddie, Stuart and Violet decide to go with them. Penelope and Mason also join. In the dance class it quickly becomes apparent that Stuart is completely into dancing, while Freddie has two left feet. Frustrated and full of hurt vanity, Freddie decides not to take the course anymore and so the others have to go on alone. Meanwhile, it turns out that the dance teacher is very interested in Violet. As Ash develops stronger and stronger feelings for his girlfriend, he wants to propose to her.
  • Episode 11: Stag Do (TV Premiere: June 22, 2015)
Freddie and Stuart are planning their wedding. Since her budget is very limited, hope that Freddie's audition for a new role is a success. Meanwhile, Ash meets up with his old friend Chloe, who is persuaded by Freddie and Stuart to organize the party as a wedding planner for no payment. At the bachelorette party in Ash's tiny apartment, however, the two grooms get upset because Freddie lied to Stuart about the result of the audition.
  • Episode 12: Flatmates (TV Premiere : June 29, 2015)
After Freddie and Stuart fall out, Stuart decides to move in with Ash. Since there is work in her apartment, Violet moves in with Freddie. But Ash and Violet quickly notice that living together with Stuart or Freddie is very uncomfortable and so the two consider how they can bring the quarreling couple back together. At an arranged meeting of Freddie and Stuart in a restaurant, the two talk to each other and they realize that they belong together. Ultimately, Stuart moves back in with Freddie.
  • Episode 13: Wedding (TV Premiere: July 6, 2015)
The big day has come: Freddie and Stuart get married. While Penelope and Mason pick up the wedding cake, Freddie and Stuart prepare for the wedding in their apartment. Her groomsmen Ash and Violet are also looking forward to the wedding - while Violet is waiting for her husband Jasper, who has reappeared, Ash is supposed to take care of Stuart's mother Mildred. But the wedding goes differently than expected and Freddie, Stuart and their friends have to learn how close joy and sorrow can be.

Farewell Special (2016)

  • Episode 14: A Year (TV Premiere: June 19, 2016 (USA) / December 16, 2016 (UK))
Approx. 45-minute special that concludes the series with Freddie, Stuart and their friends through the seasons of a year.
Spring: Freddie and Stuart enjoy their life as a newlywed couple and treat themselves to every conceivable luxury from the money they have inherited from Stuart's mother. Although they try to keep the inheritance a secret from their friends, they begin to suspect it. But Freddie and Stuart also learn that money doesn't last forever.
Summer: All friends come together to celebrate Freddie's birthday. While Stuart is working on a very special gift, a card arrives that Freddie particularly appreciates. Violet surprises everyone by announcing that she is now with a woman. But she quickly realizes that this is not the right thing for her and so she tries to end this romance.
Fall: Ash announces that he wants to study and that he will be going to the United States for several years. While Stuart and Violet are very sad about it, but still encourage Ash to lead his own life and not to waste this opportunity, Freddie is initially unimpressed. But when the day to say goodbye came, Freddie had to admit that Ash was very dear to his heart and that saying goodbye hurts him very much.
Winter: Freddie is preparing for a new role in a radio play. A new tenant has now moved into Ash's old attic apartment. When all of the friends meet at Christmas to hear Freddie's radio play on the radio, the new neighbor joins them too. When he recognizes Freddie because of a role in a television series, Freddie is overjoyed.

DVD release

On November 20, 2013, the first season with region code 2 was released on DVD.

additional

  • On May 14, 2016, at the final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2016, a 40-second sketch was shown showing Ian McKellen and Derek Jacobi in their roles as Freddie Thornhill and Stuart Bixby , while they were performing the Eurovision Song Contest in the living room with the original setting Watch television.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Mario Giglio: Vicious: Sitcom with Ian McKellen as a German premiere on Passion . In: Serienjunkies.de . January 21, 2014. Retrieved January 21, 2014.
  2. ↑ Vicious at "TV Wishlist". Retrieved June 18, 2020 .