Revisiting Vicious And It's Effect On Queer Television

We are taking a look at the British Sitcom Vicious which aired between 2013 and 2016. The show revolves around the lives of Freddie ( Ian McKellen) and Stuart (Derek Jacobi), a couple who have been together for nearly five decades. They live in a small flat in central London and spend their days entertaining their friends and family, as well as engaging in witty banter and playful insults. Despite their constant bickering, the couple’s love for each other is evident throughout the series.

[@vallara1974]

Vicious is and probably will remain to be my favourite show ever. Thank you very much for this reminder!!

[@rainbowedflickers]

you are most welcome. This show deserve to be better known

[@zybch]

Loved this show. No annoying agenda pushing, just good, well written jokes and situations performed by outstanding actors.

[@RedRuffinsore]

I loved this series. The characters were a lot of fun.

[@rainbowedflickers]

We totally agree. it is an art to create well rounded characters that do not feel like caricatures( a bit like in Gimme Gimme Gimme that we have covered in a previous video.).Vicious succeeded in making us care deeply for these couple of "old queens" so much that at the end we couldnt help but to cry a little at the end of the show😅

[@mattschiavone3383]

That series never got the accolades it deserved.

[@artsed08]

The 'Q' word still makes me bristle... What's wrong with 'gay'?

[@rainbowedflickers]

Thanks for your comment. Nothing wrong with the term 'gay' . the 'Q' word is just used here to have a broarder sense than the word gay(ie:to describe a broad spectrum of non-normative sexual or gender identities and politics) . But we do understand that some people would may be feel uneasy to hear this word due to its past pejorative meaning.

[@gnommg]

Honestly, I always thought it an amazing achievement that the movement managed to so completely redefine the word "queer" that my generation, born early eighties, has to be reminded of its former use as a slur. I do understand however how its use can make older generation uneasy.

[@rainbowedflickers]

totally agree @gnommg . I feel that the word really allow to look at the broader side of our subculture. At times the term Gay can be so reductive, especially when we look back at works by John waters or even Gregg Arraki