The Young Ones (1982–1984) User Reviews

Anarchy Rules, OK!

[Howlin Wolf · 9/10 · 5 June 2007]

... How fortunate that on this one project the nations foremost figureheads in alternative comedy were gathered together and allowed to give their imaginations free reign. I don't think you'll ever see a sitcom as gleefully silly or unconventional as this one, partly because of the personalities involved in making it and partly due to the regular musical interludes that were thrown in purely to give the team more cash.

Incidentally, "Cash" from series two is my favourite episode, and Neil my favourite member of the gang. What can you say about a scenario where Vyvvian (a bloke) learns that he's pregnant, except that it's utter genius?! Neil's whole demeanour seals it for me; he doesn't even have to say anything, and Nigel Planer's mournful expression will still crack me up, without fail.

It's the absolute opposite of those cosy, easygoing shows where everybody likes one another really. You can't really call it 'The Good Life' when you're living in what most would describe as 'a hole'... As it happens, I don't really have any objection to such a nice '70's comedy, although listening to Vyvvian launch into a verbal tirade against it almost changed my mind, delivered as it was with such unchecked outrage. You can always trust "The Young Ones" to offer some biting political comment, unless you're talking to Rick, that is... !

Hit Rick over the head with the bank

[videodead1-1 · 8/10 · 1 March 2006]

Why cant there be more shows like the Young ones filled with senseless violence and verbal beatings. Ill tell you why its because everyone is so worried about being politically correct. If we could all give it up and say YOU BASTARD on a regular basis television might just be funny again. I mean why is everyone so afraid of being offended? who cares. My favorite episode is Sick. How can you go wrong with any show that has British punk band Madness playing in the middle of the street while a riot is going on. By the way the riot was started because a man throws a brick at a womens head. Halariouse! by the way if you like the young ones you should check out another one of my personal favorites The Dangerous Brothers. and stop being so p.c. YOU BASTARD!

Utter, utter anarchy.

[owen-watts · 8/10 · 4 May 2022]

The definitive post-punk sitcom is a wild watch in these future times, it seems dingy, grotty and cheap but the sheer relentless energy of it is breathtaking. It respects nothing, not least the conventions of television sitcom, and takes no prisoners. Certainly the second series is a great deal more consistently funny (as consistent as the Young Ones could ever be at least) but the entire endeavour is foolish, otherworldy and extraordinary. During a recent rewatch I discovered the house where the exteriors were filmed was right around the corner from me, and I went there to look, but that made it seem all the distant and strange. Could this have ever really taken place? Was any of this madness ever real?

The Great Surrealist Sitcom.

[Lupercali · 3 June 2001]

The Young Ones may be an obscurity in the USA, but here in Australia its fondly remembered. We first heard rumours of it back in about '82, then someone sneaked in a crappy tape of 'Bomb'. We sat and watched it in awe. This was The Great British Surrealist sitcom; the logical next step from The Goons and Monty Python. It was appallingly, daringly head and shoulders above everything else from the 80's (oh, alright, except Black Adder. Especially Black Adder II).

Four students: a hippy, a punk, a would-be anarchist who secretly loves Cliff Richard, and... Mike, 'the cool person' - who appears to be throughly normal. Except he isn't. In fact, when you really take a close look at him, Mike is actually stranger than all the others put together. Half of his lines make little or no sense. He said something once about a sheepdog, which struck me as one of the strangest lines I've ever heard on television. But anyway, he is still nominally the anchor of normality around which all the madness rotates.

Using Python's rapid-cut technique, and employing a similar lack of concern for continuity, a Young Ones episode is a rollercoaster of surrealism, violence and squalor (the latter two elements taken to even greater extremes by Mayall and Edmonson in 'Bottom'). Episodes are suddenly interrupted by the appearance of Benito Mussolini, singing a song called 'Stupid Noises', or by various other manifestations of Russian landlord Alexai Sayle, who is inclined to go into stand up comedy routines and address the audience, much to the confusion of everyone else on set. Images of garden taps or insects are flashed on screen for a fraction of a second, scenes cartwheel off in all directions: a family of peasants in the adjoining room sit huddled round a lamp, a wardrobe leads into the realms of Narnia, an unexploded atomic bomb lands in the middle of the kitchen, vegetables in the fridge talk to each other, and Motorhead just happen to be in the loungeroom, performing 'Ace of Spades'.

Someobody else said that this series hit Britain like bombshell. It's effect was similar in Australia. It never spawned any imitators - the rest of the 80's seemed to be given over to dreary political satire, but it is undeniably one of the great English sitcoms - even if, now and then, it drags its feet just a little.

Like Fawlty Towers, it ran for only two series, but when they were over, it had breached countless boundaries of bad taste and absurdity, introduced the writing talents of Ben Elton, the careers of Rik Mayall, Alexei Sayle, Nigel Planer, Dawn French and Adrian Edmonson, and made the godawful, bland, mid 80's bearable for a few people like me.

Never equalled... never even imitated, because most writers are too scared to try...

[mentalcritic · 10/10 · 24 September 2002]

Produced in six-episode fits during 1982 and 1984, The Young Ones would have been relegated to the status of a historical curiosity if not for one simple fact - it is a lot funnier even today than a lot of the dross that has been put on television since. This show came long before Australia had pay television, a short while before eMpTyV, and a long, long time before Hollywood's standards fell so low that the likes of Jim Carrey or the brothers Farrelly were given jobs.

Focused upon the daily routines of four British college students, the show came out with all guns blazing, and it didn't let up for a single episode. The first episode pretty much sets the standard for all the others - while Rik is screaming his head off about things that mean very little, Neil is cooking a last supper, and Mike is being his usual bland self, Vyvyan crashes through the kitchen wall and announces that the council have decided to knock down their house. The council are reasoning that the lads are a health hazard, so while Rik is whining, Neil is thinking of hiding within the walls, and Mike is planning to get into the council representative's pants, Vyvyan plans to thwart them by knocking the house down himself. At one point, he even jumps through the wall that seperates the lads' house from their next door neighbours. Classic stuff, and it gets even more over the top in the next five episodes.

My favourite episode... well, it's a tie between Nasty and Bomb. Nasty is just so stupendously funny because Vyvyan is at his nastiest, but Bomb is by far more ridiculous in its premise - who could imagine a bomb landing in front of the fridge, then Vyvyan eating the TV in order to escape the TV license man? As if that last question doesn't date this show enough, Nasty sees Vyvyan and Mike trying to figure out how to operate a VCR that the latter has borrowed from Harry The Bastard. Not a gangster, mind you, but a guy who works at Rhumbalo's (sp?). In this age of DVD-Video, an imminent HD-DVD format, and a standards war between SDTV and HDTV, with Recordable DVD now out in force, those of us who were six years old, or older, when Nasty first transmitted should be experiencing flashbacks now.

The band appearances were quite something too, ranging from Radical Posture and Alexei Sayle doing a real crackup of a song about Dr. Marten's boots to Dexy's Midnight Runners playing Jackie Wilson Said in the dunny, it seemed that every collection of musicians eager for a start or some kind of exposure wanted to get on The Young Ones. It also served to prove that there was a lot more interesting music coming out of England during the 1980s than has come out of America during the entire twentieth century.

Given the political situation in most of the Western, so-called First World, and the advent of entertainment technologies that were considered science fiction when this series went to air, the time could not be better for a new version of The Young Ones, or something that follows in a similar style. The problem there is that The Young Ones set the standard so high that it's going to take a Herculean effort for a new series to simply not be destroyed by comparison to the original. Which is not bad considering some of the crap that was about to hit the airwaves later in the 1980s.

Absolute genius classic!

[CuriosityKilledShawn · 10/10 · 7 May 2004]

There was never anything quite like The Young Ones and there never will be. It's almost impossible to copy this outrageously bizarre and far-fetched TV show anyway. It's even impossible to exaggerate how crazy it was. Do I have to say I totally love it? each episode is crammed full of eternally quotable dialogue, wonderful physical comedy and insane, unexpected plot developments. The Young Ones takes place in a universe where absolutely ANTHING can and WILL happen. Rick is undeniably the best character tho. He and Vivian get into the stupidest fights and argue over the dumbest of things. Neil the hippy is also consistently amusing in his many failed attempts to off himself. Mike hardly ever had any funny lines but thankfully no episode really ever revolved around him. Plus a Bolowski family member (always played by Alexi Sayle) pops up in each episode to add to the mayhem.

What makes the show priceless are the totally irrelevant and senseless intercut scenes. Check out the episode 'CASH' for the best example of this. And, in an effort to raise the budget from 'sitcom' to 'light entertainment' the show had a musical performance each week from the likes of Jools Holland, Madness and Motorhead. They never intrude tho as they are cut over madcap montages.

It speaks volumes of the youth of 80's Britain and has a lot to say about the politics of the Tory Government at the time. All four play penniless students, surviving on lentils, who are completely unconcerned about their exams or coming bottom in the whole world. This is mainly channelled thru Rick (Mayall co-wrote the show with Ben Elton) who is the most studenty of them all, a wannabe anarchist and people's poet. Vyvian is a hard, hardcore Sex Pistols-like punk/thug who thinks nothing of having steel stars stuck onto his forehead or chopping his fingers off for a laugh. Neil smells. And has no quibbles picking up dead pigeons off the street to cook for dinner. Mike is a ladies man, despite the fact there are precious few ladies around him. All four get on like a house burning down. Or exploding like a cigar thrown into fart gas.

The show was shot on early 80's video with an aspect ratio of 1.33:1. the picture quality is not the best but it's always looked like a TV show so it's perfectly adequate. The sound is Mono but that's all you need to enjoy.

The extras seem cool but they're not really. There is a bonus episode from Filthy Rich and Catflap and one from Bottom (the episode 'Smells' in which Ritchie and Eddie try to lure two lesbians with foul-smelling pheromone spray). The 15-minutes long 'Creating the Young Ones' is quite superficial and deserved to be much longer. And where are the new interviews with Edmondson, Ryan and Sayle? The same applies to 'The Young Ones and the 80s'. Why wasn't it longer? Five postcards of all the main stars are also included in the set. And you must buy it.

Now that's what I call anarchy!

[michellemurmurs6244 · 10/10 · 16 August 2005]

Back in the days when MTV really meant MTV they would show this imported britcom on Sunday evenings. I always looked forward to watching it. This show was so different than any other kind of show I had seen before that it absolutely fascinated me. The characters of Rick, Vyvyan, Neil and Mike had me hooked with their loud, obnoxious and rowdy behavior. On one level it's lowbrow, juvenile and shrill. On another it's clever, original and refreshingly unlike anything else. It's partly a situation comedy, partly a musical variety show. I love the arguments between Rick and Vyvyan and Rick and Neil and well.....Rick and anybody! I love Vyvyan's random destruction of the house and random abuse of well.....everybody. If you want a reason to really laugh out loud this is the show that will help you do it.

Wonderfully entertaining mess

[AstridVigdisRagnhild · 10/10 · 16 June 2019]

Darling Fascist Bully Boy, I'm not a film reviewer, yet here I am. This show inspired me to name my daughter after the sociable and cuddly character Vyvyan. Confusing at times, other times ridiculous, and other other times witty, this series tests your loyalty to British comedy. Didn't find it funny? Watch it again. Pay attention. If you watch the entire series without a laugh, I can guarantee you're a sociopath... Or dead. Watch it until you find it funny. Good show to smoke a bowl to. I think I've avoided making an actual point successfully. May the seed of your loins be fruitful in the belly of your woman, Neil.

Best show ever.

[13Funbags · 10/10 · 17 March 2019]

This was the funniest show that ever happened and they were smart enough to end it before it got bad.

Personal favorite Young Ones story about the most raucously funny show episode ever - Bambi

[bruce99 · 10/10 · 28 November 2006]

My favorite thing to do with the Young Ones happened in a shop in Greenwich Village in the early 90's. I was in Meyers of Keswick, a British grocery in the Village with a young female coworker who trod down there with me in hopes of purchasing Christmas crackers and some English candy for the parties we were going to. We were in line waiting, and I noticed an actual Kendall Mintcake on the counter, picked it up, and screwed my face up to try to look like Ben Elton and said, "Hi," like I was Mr. Kendall Mintcake. My coworker stared blankly and I frustratedly tried to explain who The Young Ones were, Bambi, The Balowski Family, Monk deWally deHonk, Mr. Liberal,etc. to no avail. A cockney bloke standing next to us finally exploded and shouted, "Its Only The Greatest show Ever, Mate!!!" I asked him if he wanted to see how many pressups I could do. His girlfriend screamed at me that she was not being aggressive and we cracked in up in front of a few astonished bystanders.

Anarchy!

[deloudelouvain · 7/10 · 26 June 2021]

The crazy and sometimes surreal comedic adventures of four very different students in Thatcher's Britain. They couldn't have described it better. If silly humor isn't your thing you shouldn't watch this series as that's the major ingredient of the whole show. Four different students played by Rik Mayall (the anarchist), Adrian Edmondson (the destructive punk-rocker), Nigel Planer (the hippie) and Christopher Ryan (the charmer). Every episode is about Rick, Vyvyan, Neil and Mike, and each one is crazier than the other. Add to that an appearance of Alexei Sayle as Balowski, and every now and then a song from a cult band from that time (great bands like Madness, Motorhead and others) and you have an ideal cocktail to keep you entertained. Short half hour episodes that you will either love or hate.

"Dear Mister Echo..."

[ShadeGrenade · 10/10 · 25 October 2006]

'The Young Ones' polarised audiences when it first appeared in 1982, if you were over thirty you regarded it, as Malcolm Allison did, 'utter rubbish', but if you were under thirty you loved it! I have to admit I was not an immediate fan, but took to it after several viewings.

'The Young Ones' was all about four students - hippie Neil, punk Vyvian, wide boy Mike, and hyperactive Rik, who never seemed to do any studying. They lived in a house where incredibly surreal things happened, such as the furniture talking to itself, or atom bombs dropping through the roof. The characters weren't likable, but then they weren't meant to be. Alexei Sayle cropped up from time to time as their landlord, Mr.Balowski. The humour was aggressive, violent, and very rude, more so than any show had been before.

My favourite gag was when Vyvian leaned out of a moving train, only to be instantly decapitated. We then saw his headless body pull the communication cord, get out, and run up the track! Some aspects have undeniably dated; for instance, a 'Dallas' spoof contained the credit: VITRIOL CONSULTANT - MISS NINA COW. This was a dig at the television critic Nina Myskow, who was one of 'Dallas' most vocal supporters. The 'tampon' gag in an early episode caused a sensation. Full credit for this show must not only go to the performers, but also to writers Rik Mayall, Lise Mayer ( whatever happened to her? ) and Ben Elton ( who appeared occasionally ). It is difficult to think of another comedy show that captured the spirit of the '80's so successfully.

The emperor has no clothes!

[mauriciofernandogerhardt · 1/10 · 21 December 2022]

The writers of this show just threw a lot of random things together and pretended it was comedy.

Then, since there are no jokes, people don't get any jokes.

But, because there are a lot of things happening, they think there might be jokes, but they don't get it.

So, since they don't want to admit to others and to themselves that they are dumb, they pretend that the show is actually genius, and that they are also genius for 'getting it'.

Now, if you're reading this, you either might be thinking: 'This critic doesn't make sense, humans don't act this way', or you could be thinking: 'i believe this critic, this new tv generations are just getting dumber and dumber.

Well, this is true, and it's nothing new: This is pretty much the same story as the folk tale from 'the emperor's new clothes' from 1837:

Two swindlers pose as weavers, offer to supply the emperor with magnificent clothes that are invisible to those who are stupid.

People see that the looms are empty but pretends otherwise to avoid being thought a fool, until a child blurts out that the emperor is wearing nothing at all. The people then realize that everyone has been fooled.

I am the child.

One of the greatest television programs EVER.

[zmaturin · 15 March 1999]

The Young Ones is simply the most wonderful sit-com ever. A mad combination of Monty Python's Flying Circus with the British punk scene, The Young Ones focuses on four hilariously demented student archtypes. I can't believe this doesn't have a larger cult following. I highly recommend this to any and everyone.

My Generations Monty Python

[graham_525 · 10/10 · 16 July 2008]

When The Young Ones first appeared in television I was 12 years old and it felt like a revolution had started. I can't imagine any show before or since having such a huge impact on a generation. Contrary to what others believe I don't think it has dated in the slightest. There is so much about this show that I love I hardly know where to begin.

Others have outlined the context for the show so there's no point going over that. One of the aspects I loved about the show as a kid and still do was the idea that there are bizarre things going on all around us that we aren't aware of. Talking brooms, people living under the ground, men living in basements etc. The Young Ones created a whole strange world around the main events of the central characters and I think that is part of its appeal to kids. There was even an episode where they did a parody of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe which in a strange way fitted perfectly with the show.

Of the four main characters Rik was by far the most interesting and well drawn. The others were rather 2 dimensional caricatures but worked perfectly well in the surreal context of the show. Although I have to say Vivian didn't represent accurately anyone you would have met in the Britain of 1982. Real punks wouldn't have had "Very Metal" written on their back in studs. Vivian is more like a middle-aged persons idea of what a punk would be like. Whether this is because Adrian Edmondson just didn't have enough cultural savvy or it was done deliberately in order to make Vivian seem like an out of touch fool it's not possible to say.

The tragedy of the show though is that Mike was written for Peter Richardson who didn't take the part due to some disagreement. I'm not criticising Christopher Ryan who made the part his own but I would have loved to have seen The Young Ones with Peter Richardson. Due to Christopher Ryan's diminutive stature the character become a rather ironic figure. If Peter Richardson had played the part Mike would have genuinely been the cool person in the house. In the Comic Strip Presents Mr Jolly Lives Next Door, Peter Richardson plays a gangster called Mr Lovebucket. I recommend you watch it if you want an idea of how he would have played Mike. It was also sad for Peter Richardson himself that he didn't take the part. If he had he would have been as famous as Rik Mayall and Adrian Edmondson who, in my opinion, he is more talented than.

Good morning morning... good morning fellas

[Lamol-Sthui · 10/10 · 8 September 2006]

Wat more can I say other than, this is the best comedy of all time? Quite much actually so lets start.

First of all, this series is one first-rate comedy on its own. I cannot compare it with anything else! Second, all the characters have great personalities. There must be at least one character everybody likes as a favourite.

The combination of violence and dialogs makes it absolutely hilarious.

One of my favourite scenes:

Rick's conscience: RICK... RICK.... this is the voice of your conscience speaking... you just killed a hippy!!!

Rick: No, I wasn't me, it was Vyvian, and Mike.

Rick's conscience: No it was you you spotty little bastard....

**** Rik falls asleep and has a wet dream ****

Rick's conscience: Stop having wet dreams you perverd!!

Vyvyian: RIK!! TELL YOUR CONSCIENCE TO SHUT UP!! I AM TRYING TO GET SOME SLEEP OVER HERE!!

The bands are great to. Motorhead featuring once. Madness featuring during a riot, and when ending their song joining in the fight.

My only problem is the many britsh characters mentioned during the show. As a non-Brit I don't know most of them, with exception to Margeret Thatcher naturally!

Give it a shot, if you don't like the humour in the conversations right away, you might still enjoy the ridiculous characters.

Simply The Best

[daveytaylor-99132 · 10/10 · 24 May 2021]

The springboard for 'new'comedy for generations. This is simply the blueprint for all that was to come from blackadder to Father Ted to The Office and many many more.

12 amazing episodes and thats it it was gone they were gone. Nearly forty years old and people still quoting lines and doing impressions. If 2 or 3 people over 50 get together they will impersonate Rik Mayall or Ade Edmundson. Often crude,violent,silly but so very funny. Imagine this had never been made. Life would be so boring. And we would never had the god that was Rik. If you have never watched it do so now.you wont be disapionted. To the station !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fantastic art

[frank-gibbard · 10/10 · 19 July 2006]

Dear fellow fans, I read most of the wholly positive reviews here ending in the last - I think exceptional in its negative tone - amazingly critical one. This must not be the last word I thought not if I could help it with 5 minutes work. That last reviewer evidently had a humour by-pass oh well nothing is more subjective than humour. Well this is one of my favourite comedies ever on TV, nothing quite matches it for the range of odd regular characters, it is sooo different than all other pretenders for the wacky surreal crown it proudly wears in the realm of enlight-entertainment. I tip my hat to it for the towering achievement the originality the anarchic wit all the stuff others have enumerated here. The best of the BBC the best of British immodestly the best of my country men and women actors & writers the best of bad taste - who can forget a bailed out Buddy Holly hanging in the cellar, I never will. Thanks to all concerned for all the fun to single one ascendant talent in particular the genius of idiocy Mr Mayal yours laughingly Frank.

10/10

[UltimaDeplete · 10/10 · 22 May 2007]

Not one person who has commented on this series has left a bad review. Seriously. Go to "hated it" at the top of the page and you'll get one entry who gave it an 8/10, and that's it.

If no-one on IMDb has given this series less than an 8/10, you can guarantee that you should watch it. What else can I say? It's a great series, if you like surrealism, mindless violence, or us wonderful British people.

OK, so it's low budget and generally strange, but that's not a bad thing now is it? Sometimes it can be a bit gross, and Alexei Sayle annoys the HELL out of me, but that's just me, and I can't fault it in any other way. Hilarious.

True genius

[dickyadams · 10/10 · 9 November 2019]

Imagine a very very funny Looney Tunes style, extremely slapstick violent sitcom, but R or 18 rated and then add a dash of hard satire and total disrespect for TV formats and societal authority.

Then, on top of that, throw in a bunch of comedy actors at their absolute peak and you get a sense of what the Young Ones is.

Make no mistake this is punk rock sitcom par excellence and like its musical counterpart it's almost impossible to replicate now without feeling derivative.

My own student house was exactly like this.

It's a rare programme but it really was revolutionary at the time.

Iconic!

[nicolahall-58251 · 10/10 · 18 November 2019]

The Young Ones is an acquired taste but if you like it you probably love it!!! I have loved this show since I was in my teens and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who likes a bit of slapstick with a message...

The Boys are amazing... Comedy Gold!

I guess you had to be there...

[EnglishGentleman · 2/10 · 25 September 2023]

I gave this a chance by watching the whole of the first episode. It is brutally unfunny, with the canned laughter somehow making it even worse. This show has cult status, but as a younger viewer, it didn't raise a single laugh. Probably one that could have been reviewed through rose tinted spectacles by many, when there were very few channels and less competition. Drama has moved on hugely since this era and this show is a prime example of that. I would love to know the average age of the reviewers on here, as it has such a high rating. Probably funny in the 80's. I guess you had to be there?!

I LOVE THIS SHOW!!!

[dootuss · 25 February 2002]

Absolutely brilliant describes this show. I have never laughed so hard in my entire life that was until I saw one episode of "The young ones" a while back. I couldn't stop laughing! Such funny characters like Rick, Vyvyien, Mike Thecoolguy, and Neil the hippie have never made me laugh until I cried. It has a lot of silly, and funny moments as well as some of the best memorable quotes ever to be written on a script. All I can say is to those who have never seen this show, and have a good opportunity to see it, CHECK IT OUT!!! 10/10.

Even better than Ab Fab, and that's really saying something

[Alligator_80 · 10/10 · 26 April 2006]

America, home of the funniest movies e.g. Police Academy. Australia, home of the funniest sketch comedies e.g. The Paul Hogan Show, and last, but certain not least, The United Kingdom, home to the best comedy, but in particular, situation comedies (although the US has plenty of sit-coms, the ones from the UK are actually funny)! But perhaps one of the best, if not the best comedy shows to come out of the UK is THE YOUNG ONES!!!

I am of the opinion that this show is even funnier and more outrageous than "Ab Fab" and that's really saying something. Sure, it's random at times (the sight gags and musical guests) and silly (comic violence), but that's the beauty of it. One thing is certain though, the show is original and is crammed with satire (best understood if you're 16-25 yrs old). Well, I've probably said enough, but you get the idea! Watch the entire show (only 2 series, but what an impact it has made), trust me, you're laugh yourself to death!!!!!

Absolutely Fantastic

[njpaul-00633 · 10/10 · 29 May 2021]

I started watching this in the US in the 80s on MTV. Absolutely hilarious. Rik and the boys made me split my sides. Too bad it had to end. RIP Rik.