Ep 1. Episode One

"Vicious" is a British sitcom created by Gary Janetti and starring Sir Ian McKellen and Sir Derek Jacobi as a couple in their seventies who have been together for nearly fifty years. The show explores the ups and downs of their relationship, along with their interactions with their close friends and neighbors.

In the first episode, which is aptly named "Episode One," we are introduced to the central characters, Freddie Thornhill and Stuart Bixby, who have been together for 48 years and living together in a posh London flat. The episode opens with Freddie and Stuart preparing for a dinner party with their close friend Violet (Frances de la Tour), a glamorous former actress, and Ash (Iwan Rheon), their young, new upstairs neighbor. It's clear right from the outset that Freddie and Stuart have been together for a very long time, as they bicker and quibble over the simplest things like who gets to sit on the sofa or what they should wear.

Throughout the episode, we learn more about Freddie and Stuart's dynamic and their history together, including the fact that they met at a gay bar in the late '60s and have been inseparable ever since. Their love for each other is palpable, even as they spend much of their time trading barbs and snide remarks. There's a clear sense of comfort and familiarity between them that only comes with decades of living together.

As the dinner party gets underway, we meet Violet's hapless date, whom she quickly ditches as soon as the conversation turns to Stuart's habit of walking around the flat in the nude. Ash, who is clearly smitten with Stuart, begins to confide in Violet about his crush, only to be horrified when he realizes that Freddie and Stuart can hear everything he's saying through the floorboards.

The episode concludes with Freddie and Stuart's friends rallying around them when they realize that the couple has been feeling a bit down lately. It's clear that despite their occasional bickering, Freddie and Stuart are beloved by their community and are deeply rooted in a network of close friends and neighbors who care for them deeply.

Overall, "Episode One" is a charming, funny, and touching introduction to the world of "Vicious." The show's humor is sharp and biting, but there's also a real warmth and heart to the characters that makes it easy to root for them, even when they're at their most ornery. The British setting and the performances from the show's veteran actors lend an air of elegance and sophistication to the proceedings, while still allowing for plenty of outrageous antics and comedic set pieces. It's clear from the first episode that "Vicious" is a sitcom with a lot of heart and a lot of laughs, and it's sure to delight fans of classic British comedy and those who enjoy a good old-fashioned relationship drama alike.