cosmax10 I have watched quite a few episodes and to be honest some of the characters are just way too much and ridiculous. I would say Violet and the character of Ash fit that description. He is not a good actor, and his performance is like a 8th grader in a middle school play. The older female actress who plays Violet is just not believable and her character is kind of overdone and juvenile. I enjoy the two main characters and Penelope and Mason. You can tell that they are seasoned actors/actress and are able to make their characters their own and realistic. Unfortunately for me Violet and Ash just seem out of place. I will continue watching the show as I am interested to see what happens to Freddie and Stewart.

BigWhiskers I hadn't even heard of this show until I was perusing PBS this past Sunday night and watched the entire first season back to back. Being a single gay man myself , I found it hilarious and the catty back and forth was so much fun between McKellen and Jacobi. I disagree with the haters saying it's dated and painfully unfunny or plays on bad stereotypes. The men are both in their mid 70's and being gay back when they met in the 60's was very different and they grew up much differently then someone like myself who grew up in the 80's for the most part. Men can be catty and witty especially in England as I've seen and heard and lets face it , McKellen and Jacobi are old funny queens in real life too. I love them both and would watch them read a phone book together they are so wonderful. The only character I really don't like is Ash, a bit out of place and seems like he wants to be the male equivalent of a fag hag to our main characters. I just cant see him being this hottie they drool over and he spends so much time with them. I mean I wouldn't be hanging around two old lesbians all the time. He seems to have a secret agenda. He doesn't seem to have any chemistry with any of the girls he dates either, in one episode he is making out with every girl he meets and then in another he's in love and wants to get married. It's just unbelievable because his acting doesn't match his feelings.I can also only take so much of Violet, Sorry but the actress portraying her seems to only be a one note act, the drunk Mrs Roper of this show so to speak. The brother of McKellen's character and the empty headed Penelope are much more fun to watch. I hope they do another season. If not I'd love to catch either Sir Ian or Sir Derek in a theatre.

GrigoryGirl I watched the first few episodes of this, and found it hysterical. Many here (and some others) have said this show is terrible because its main characters are caricatures/stereotypes of gays, and I think that's silly. I've met gay guys like the two depicted here, so it's not all a "stereotype". I would also like to point out that Ian McKellen is gay himself (and has been out for years), and if Sir Ian thought this was a terrible show about gays, he wouldn't have done it. It's not like he needs the money.Watch this show and laugh. Don't let the uptight PC crowd deprive you of laughs.

fgasparotto I thoroughly enjoyed this show.I saw a few episodes and I fell in love with all the characters. My best friends are gay couples and, in spite of the put downs, they do love each other. Well written, charmingly acted - it is a great show!I have always loved Derek Jacobi and Ian McKellan. I am a great fan of their work.They work well together and the Frances De La Tour character is a laugh riot.The young man that lives upstairs is a particular favourite of my fifteen year old daughter.I hope this show lasts for a long time!