Vicious: The Complete Second Season

Alternately praised for the comic pairing of Derek Jacobi and Ian McKellen and criticized for presenting demeaning gay stereotypes, this PBS-aired British sitcom seems to have roughly equal numbers of admirers and detractors. But the public responded favorably, which led to this second season that—due to the stars' busy schedules—took two years to appear. Jacobi and McKellen continue to endlessly bicker as Stuart Bixby and Freddie Thornhill, respectively, who have been together for 50 years, but even though Freddie's tongue is as tart as ever, McKellen's delivery is a trifle less venomous, bringing a somewhat lighter tone to the titular nastiness between the pair. Frances de la Tour continues her scene-stealing ways as their flamboyant friend Violet, while Iwan Rheon proves to be a reliably likable lug as their dim-bulb neighbor Ash. This season spends more time outside of the duo's apartment—with sequences set at a gym and a ballroom dancing class, as well as a flashback featuring young versions of Freddie and Stuart—and it wraps with the pair finally planning to become the old married couple that they have effectively been for half a century. For all of its flaws, Vicious gives two distinguished icons of the British acting community the chance to go for broke, and they clearly enjoy doing so. Presenting all six episodes from the 2015 second season, extras include a “making-of” featurette, and cast and crew interviews. Recommended. (F. Swietek)