![Jason [Jonathan Pointing] and Grumio [Ryan Sampson] in a scene from Plebs.](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/SEI_6009670-3135.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
Plebs recently arrived on Netflix and has already shot up the streaming service’s ranking of top 10 TV shows.
The ITV sitcom ran for five seasons, so if you’re looking for a comedy with enough episodes to get lost in, this could be it, with the first four seasons now on the streamer.
Touted as Horrible Histories meets The Inbetweeners, the show is chock-full of puerile humour centred around a group of hapless friends living circa 26BC amid the Roman Empire.
The comedy follows three luckless lads – Marcus (Tom Rosenthal), Stylax (Joel Fry) and their dense house-slave Grumio (Ryan Sampson) – as they take on the big city of Rome.
Chaos, hijinks and plenty of humiliating hiccups ensue – and you just might learn something about the ancient Romans along the way, whether that be about gladiatorial sports or the mechanics of getting together for an orgy (yes, really).
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The show takes its history surprisingly seriously, with producers that hold classics degrees as well as esteemed historian Mary Beard credited as an adviser on the show.
![Television Programme: Plebs with Bella Dayne as Delphine, Tom Rosenthal as Marcus, Joel Fry as Stylax and Ryan Sampson as Grumio. From Rise Films Plebs: SR3: Ep3: The Vestal on ITV2 Marcus? parents are visiting for the weekend and he?s keen to keep them and Delphine far apart. Stylax pursues a romance with Ursula, one of the Vestal Virgins, who guard the city?s sacred flame. Grumio finds some mouldy cheese under his bed and spots a business opportunity. This photograph is (C) Rise Films and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned above or ITV plc. Once made available by ITV plc Picture Desk, this photograph can be reproduced once only up until the transmission [TX] date and no reproduction fee will be charged. Any subsequent usage may incur a fee. This photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by ITV plc Picture Desk. This photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of ITV Plc Picture Desk. Full Terms and conditions are available on the website www.itvpictures.com For further information please contact: james.hilder@itv.com / 0207 157 3052](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/AD_202242187-6bca.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
The show became a sleeper hit on ITV2 when it aired, with surprise guest stars that included the likes of Danny Dyer as Cassius the Gladiator.
The show bowed out in 2022 with a special feature-length Christmas episode entitled Soldiers of Rome, which saw the boys enlist in the army during peace time, before war breaks out (naturally), sending them to the front line to fight for a cause they do not believe in.
Since Netflix added four seasons to the platform (no sign of the fifth one there yet), the show has raced up to the third spot on the streaming service.
It’s likely no surprise given the good reviews watchers have already shared on Google, with Kate describing it as ‘the funniest, most brilliantly written comedy ever made’ – so high praise.
![Television Programme: Plebs with Joel Fry as Stylax and Ryan Sampson as Grumio. This photograph is (C) Rise Films and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned above or ITV plc. Once made available by ITV plc Picture Desk, this photograph can be reproduced once only up until the transmission [TX] date and no reproduction fee will be charged. Any subsequent usage may incur a fee. This photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by ITV plc Picture Desk. This photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of ITV Plc Picture Desk. Full Terms and conditions are available on the website www.itvpictures.com For further information please contact: james.hilder@itv.com / 0207 157 3052 From Rise Films Plebs: SR3: Ep1: The Beasts on ITV2](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/AD_201482509-29b3.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
![From Rise Films Plebs: Soldiers of Rome on ITVX Pictured: Grumio [Ryan Sampson], Aurelius [Tom Basden], Marcus [Tom Rosenthal] and Jason [Jonathan Pointing]. This photograph is (C) Rise Films and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned above, or ITV plc. Once made available by ITV plc Picture Desk, this photograph can be reproduced once only up until the transmission [TX] date and no reproduction fee will be charged. Any subsequent usage may incur a fee. This photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by ITV plc Picture Desk. This photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of ITV Picture Desk. Full Terms and conditions are available on the website www.itv.com/presscentre/itvpictures/terms For further information please contact: james.hilder@itv.com](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/SEI_136027925-8733.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
They added: ‘It’s frustrating that it feels totally underrated. The characters are all so funny in their own right and the stories in each episode are excellent.
‘The final feature length film had us in tears as well as in stitches! Brilliant!! We will miss it so much!!’
Will John echoed: ‘Just finished binge watching the whole show and I loved it! Hate I found it so late in the game. It’s a must watch!’
‘I’ve watched every episode of this,’ wrote Amelia Kendal-Williams. ‘I think it’s brilliant. Clever how it’s an ancient setting but modern humour. Hope they make a season 6.’
Plebs is available to watch on Netflix and ITVX.
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