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The Young Ones

1982 – 1984Show2 seasons12 episodesTV-14

Comedy
86
ExcellentGoodWatch score
IMDb8.2Metacritic–8.7Rotten Tomatoes–96%

An eccentric, nostalgic comedy series about society and politics, with standout performances and dialogue.

Good for date night · friends night · party vibe

Where to watch

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Not for warmth or scares.

Shows with

Episodes

2 seasons · 12 episodes · best: S2E1 "Bambi" 9.2

Episodes

8.1
8.6

Story

The misadventures of four lunatic students who live in a shared student house. There's Rick, the overblown political one addicted to Cliff Richard, Vyvyan the experimental scientific one/part-time anarchist, Neil the worried hippy, and Mike the ladies' man (at least he is in his mind).

Feels like

  • Absurdist British Comedy
  • Iconic Ensemble Cast
  • Satire of Youth Culture
  • Rapid-Fire Dialogue
  • Cult Classic Status
  • Anarchic Humor
  • Social Class Commentary
  • Slapstick & Wit
  • Nostalgic 80s Aesthetic
  • Character-Driven Chaos

Cast

24 of 70 · most episodes first

Crew

Directors
Paul Jackson, Geoff Posner, Ed Bye
Written by
Rik Mayall, Alexei Sayle, Ben Elton
Produced by
Paul Jackson

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

November 9, 1982 · June 19, 1984 · Ended

First aired
November 9, 1982
Last aired
June 19, 1984
Status
Ended
Length
2 seasons · 12 episodes
Age rating
TV-14
Content
Strong Language, Sexual Content, Violence
Genres
Comedy
Original language
English
Available in
7 countries

Tropes

Indulgent Fantasy Segue, Evil Is Petty, Unintentionally Unwinnable +9

  • Indulgent Fantasy Segue
  • Evil Is Petty
  • Unintentionally Unwinnable
  • Unspoken Plan
  • Never My Fault
  • Throw the Dog a Bone
  • Idiosyncratic Episode Naming
  • Severed Head Sports
  • Spinning Clock Hands
  • The Napoleon
  • Do Not Try This at Home
  • Suicide as Comedy

12 of 225 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

7 questions, like "Where can I stream The Young Ones?"

Questions about The Young Ones

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Young Ones?

In the United States, you can rent or buy The Young Ones from Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home. It streams in 4 other countries, but not in the United States.

Is The Young Ones worth watching?

86
ExcellentGoodWatch score

Yes, it's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 86 (IMDb 8.2).

Is The Young Ones okay for kids?

TV-14Strong languageSexual contentViolence

Not for young kids: it's rated TV-14 in the United States for strong language, sexual content, and violence, and the viewing guide lists it for teens and adults.

How long does it take to watch The Young Ones?

6 h

About 6 hours: 12 episodes in 2 seasons of about 29 minutes each, aired from 1982 to 1984.

Will The Young Ones make me laugh?

Very funny

Yes, a lot: the humor is mostly situational comedy (9 of 10) and absurd humor (9 of 10).

Is The Young Ones plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on dialogue centrality (9 of 10) and character depth (7 of 10) more than on its plot.

What tropes does The Young Ones use?

Indulgent Fantasy SegueEvil Is PettyUnintentionally UnwinnableUnspoken PlanNever My FaultThrow the Dog a BoneIdiosyncratic Episode NamingSevered Head SportsSpinning Clock HandsThe NapoleonDo Not Try This at HomeSuicide as Comedyand 213 more

TV Tropes lists 225 tropes for it, including Indulgent Fantasy Segue, Evil Is Petty, and Unintentionally Unwinnable.