Americans React to "BlackAdder" For The First Time!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 11 ก.ย. 2024
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Blackadder was an out & out comedy, however, the very last scene from the very last episode was very poignant & is known to bring you to tears.
Aye - there's something spectacularly wrong with you if the last one doesn't upset you.
Yeap every time, goose bumps and tears
@@andyjackson3663 I might be super sensitive but just the thought of it gives me the shivers!
You probably need to know the characters nad have watched other episodes to really feel the emotional impact.
Every time and every time I watch it i think of only one thing, perfection. Not only do they capture the reality and emotion but it makes you stop and think. One of the best and powerful ending ever and it was a comedy series, wow. Don't want to spoil anything so I won't say what it is exactly but there is one line that mentions the date. That line always gets me.
Blackadder was a series of comedy shows following Edmund Blackadder. It started with Blackadder, set in about the 11th century, followed by Blackadder 2 set in medieval England with Queen Elizabeth 1 on the throne. Then came Blackadder 3 set in the time of King George 3rd. Blackadder goes fourth came next set in WW1 in the trenches and there was a special set around the Christmas Carol story. All very funny.
Actually 1st season was set in the late 15th century in the aftermath of the Battle of Bosworth in 1485. But otherwise yes (and all very funny as you say 👍)
@@500robe and is Elizabethan still considered medieval? The black adder was medieval.
Blackadder the third was regency.
Blackadder goes forth was world was one.
Blackadder Christmas Carol was Victorian
Blackadder back and forth was modern day and time travel.
@@AndrewHalliwell and one special about Charles I
@@AndrewHalliwell The Elizabethan era was set in Tudor times, not medieval times. I believe medieval times ended around the year 1500, ~100 years before Elizabeth I’s rule
@@abitofcorn4435 then my point stands.
The British sense of humour.. second to none 🇬🇧👍
Rowen Atkinson is a comedic genius! Grew up with Blackadder. It’s hilarious. Baldrick is classic! It always makes me laugh 🏴
Blackadder is absolutely brilliant. A hilarious comedy that perfectly used drama in its last episode. So many great moments from the show
Blackadder was a series that were set in different times, same characters. Its very funny. There is a running theme, appropriate to the time.
As has been stated, it is set in four time periods, the first is set at the time of Richard III, the second Elizabeth 1st, the third George III and the Prince Regent, the fourth in the First World War. The first series was weak but still had some good points but the biggest difference over the four series is how Baldrick gets more dum. The ending to series four is still considered one of, if not greatest end of a comedy series.
True! In fact in season one Blackadder was a bit dim and Baldrick was pretty much the brains of the outfit!
It’s technically more than 4 time periods… Remember Back and Forth that’s set in modern times and they travel through time
Lol I was going to be a smart arse and say surely George the fourth for the third series but you are absolutely right of course. 😂 😂
Yes, once the writing was given over to Ben Elton and Richard Curtis the following series were much better.
The Brits like to call each season of anything a "series", although in this case it's truly applicable. Each season/series consists of a whopping SIX episodes, the same set of characters appearing for an entire series. The first is _The Black Adder,_ set in the 1480s to 90s, where history is revised so that following the killing of King Richard III, but before Henry VII claims the throne, the King is Richard's nephew (Brian Blessed, whom you will know well if you've seen lots of British things), becoming King Richard IV (which King there never actually was). Rowan Atkinson stars as HIS younger son Edmund (who was the one who inadvertently killed Richard III), who out of frustration takes on the "malevolent" guise of "The Black Adder". People say to skip this series, but there's really no reason to. The main difference between this and later series is that Edmund here is himself rather simple-minded and ineffectual (and Baldrick is fairly clever, unlike later versions). These differences in no way "invalidate" it, however.
The second series is _Blackadder II,_ which people were apparently fond of saying as 'Blackadder 2", while they really should say "Blackadder the Second". It's set during the Elizabethan era, with Rowan Atkinson as "Sir Edmund Blackadder", the great-grandson of the original Black Adder. Now Edmund is smarter than all those around him, to his eternal frustration. This is where your first clip originates.
The third series is, spelled right out, _Blackadder the Third,_ so there'd be no mistake. This is set late in the reign of George III, when, owing to his advanced dementia, the real ruler was his son Prince George (Hugh Laurie, later known as "Dr. House" on American TV), later King George IV, ruling here as the "Prince Regent" (but depicted here as very dim-witted), giving the era the name "Regency England". Atkinson plays a later Edmund Blackadder, here butler to the Prince.
The fourth series is, punningly, _Blackadder Goes Forth,_ set during World War 1, mainly in the trenches, where Atkinson is a still later Edmund Blackadder, now an army captain, while Hugh Laurie is now "Lieu('lef')tenant George". This is the source of your second clip.
Excellent summation.
"That was a cunning plan....."
Arguably the best Blackadder episode is from series 1 - The Queen of Spain's Beard. Jim Broadbent steals every scene he's in as the Spanish Infanta's translator.
Later series produced some better individual scenes*, but I don't think any other episode is quite so full of brilliance.
* Such as :
The very end of Blackadder Goes Forth; "how the war began"; "rat au van"; "Sausage!?"; Tom Baker's role as the legless sea captain; the only raw turnip; and so on.
And don't forget to add the Christmas special episode into the mix - Blackadder's Christmas Carol. That's always worth a watch. It's one of the "big four" things I have to watch every year to make it feel like I've had a Christmas!
Wasn't so keen on Blackadder Back and Forth though. It had definitely lost its magic by then. And I'm glad they've resisted the urge to do another series as I'm sure that it would just not work well these days, regardless of how great the actors and writers are.
@@bujin1977 Indeed, we shall not forget _Blackadder's Christmas Carol,_ which features the pairing of Miriam Margolyes and Jim Broadbent, who had played the Spanish Infanta and her translator ("Oh, Edmund, my love!" XD) in "The Queen of Spain's Beard" episode, returning as Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.
@@alanr4447a It's a shame Jim Broadbent didn't play Lord Whiteadder too.
Black Adder is straight up comedy, each season is from a different time in History but with reoccurring characters filling largely similar roles each time, Atkinson’s character, the eponymous Black Adder is a man who tries his hardest to be part of the elite but falls flat and has to put up with the idiotic behaviour of his allies such as Baldrick and Percy.
The four Series’ explore key historical times between the 15th and 20th centuries such as medieval times, he rule of Queen Elizabeth I and World War II. A series keeps to it’s characters and time, only chainring up on new series’.
There are also a number of one off specials and live shows that explore outside of those timeframes.
World War I
@@kingspeechless1607 Quite right, I did a dumb.
Created by Richard Curtis(Love Actually, 4Weddings, Notting Hill etc) and co written by Ben Elton, often voted in the top ten of British comedies. The final episode is an absolute classic and combines comedy and the drama of war, 'tis wonderful.
The first series was co-written by Rowan Atkinson, with Ben Elton doing the subsequent three series.
Yup. The first series (the least funny and least iconic one) was written by Richard Curtis and Rowan Atkinson. Then, from series 2 onwards, it was written by Curtis and Ben Elton. Series two is when is started to get really good :)
Red D pips it BA is my 2nd fav 2 Legends
You guys really should watch this, I highly recommend it. British humour at its best and some of Rowan Atkinson's best work if I do say so myself. The rest of the cast is fantastic as well.
Rowan Atkinson is indeed in all of the episodes as he is Blackadder. Captain Blackadder in that last episode from the war. But it only really works if you were to watch from the beginning as there is a theme throughout all of the series’.
You absolutely should watch the entire series. I mean, Season 1 was slow in comparison, but I'd still watch it. It's a little bit like a humorous version of Cliff Notes for various points in history. Each season is a different era of Blackadder family history. (Rowan Atkinson plays the Blackadder characters.) The final season reminded me a bit of M*A*S*H. It's set during wartime, the people calling the shots have a very different life to those in the trenches, and the humour can be pretty dark. But, as someone taught about WWI in a US school where the basic gist was "America won the war and saved the world", even though Blackadder is a comedy there are underlying themes that while at least partially fictional, are still also pretty accurate for the time. The final season (especially the final episode) is amazing. But don't just skip ahead, there are recurring characters (or at least their ancestors) and themes that are developed over the entire series.
Agreed, I hope they'll do the whole series, from season 1 and up.
For some reason your description of the fourth season reminded me of a BBC comedy set in Afghanistan with a bomb disposal unit in Helmand. Bluestone 42 would be an interesting watch, particularly with the use of military humour and a fair bit of irreverence towards the Americans.
1st was the fav of the boys different took untill ba 4 to get over it my fav ba 2 a bit crude at times shame still fav
The first series of Blackadder was a classic, very cleverly written by Rowan Atkinson. The first episode, "The foretelling" was a clever blend of history & Shakespeare's Richard the third which begins on the eve of the battle of Bosworth field 1485 with the late Peter Cook in the role of Richard the third. Even if you're not familiar with english history, I think you will get the humour in this, the beginning of the Blackadder saga.
the 1st one was different took the boys untill BA 4 to get over it my fav 2nd bit under the belt shame but still fav
It plays on a theme that means to rehabilitate the reputation of Richard III (organizations such as Richard III Society). They believe that contemporary characters altered records particularly the deaths of Edward IVs sons(The Princes in the Tower) also Edward IVs legitimacy. This was reinforced by Shakespeare's portrayal of Richard III.
The play on an Alternative History was too complex as many viewers had a weak grasp of the actual history.
When Ben Elton joined the writing team he reverted to comic characters inserted into historical periods. Baldrick became a sort of Shakespearean Fool, an everyman. Blackadder descends in social status through the different series. Prince>Lord>Royal Household>Professional Soldier(Junior Officer)
I love the first series. It’s more theatrical in presentation and Brian Blessed is superb. Baldrick being intelligent though takes some getting used too 😂
They were written by Rowan Atkinson, Ben Elton and Richard Curtis.
You have to watch them all. 4 seasons based in different time periods. All with Rowan playing Blackadder and Tony Robinson as Baldrick. Hilarious if I do say so myself.
If I’d started with the first series I never would have bothered watching the rest. Very boring and unfunny. Not a patch on series 2-4.
@@silvrfruit Bullshit
Oh I do hope you get to grips with this. It's one of the greatest ever British comedies and I'm slightly jealous that you have it all ahead of you. Also, don't skip Season 1. It gets a lot of hate but there is still a great deal to enjoy (Peter Cook and Brian Blessed are superb). Perhaps do 2-4 and then go back. By then you'll be hooked and hopefully can make allowances.
Agreed, I actually love the first series as much as the rest of them @Static CentreHalf I think they should watch the whole lot in sequence as it was meant to be. As it was created. It’s just pure genius. It simply require a slightly more nuanced, patient viewing that first series that’s all.
In Series One Blackadder was the hapless dumb one - and it didn't really work. At the suggestion of comedian Ben Elton, for all subsequent series they switched it round so that Blackadder was the only intelligent one amongst fools, as this made it funnier - and he was right.
@@jeremyrowley1240 I can see merit in skipping season 1, but they'd miss out on Brian Blessed.
How could anyone hate the "Infanta of Spain" episode?
I agree. The great episode of "The Witch Smeller Pursuivant" with the wonderful Frank Finlay (sadly gone now criminally underused) was a classic
the actor playing Baldric also is the serious link man in Time Team. a program about mostly digging up British history if you are into history it is worth watching.
He also wrote and performed (as sherrif of nottingham) in the children's series Maid Marrian and her merry Men, a Robin hood story where Marrian is the brains and Robin (and pretty much every male character except the sherrif) are morons. Slapstick humor and songs about mud abound so if things like that (and / or strong females in typically male roles) is something the kids get into, might be worth checking out.
To extend this tangent a little further, maid Marrian also introduced Danny John-Jules who later played the cat in Red Dwarf, another much loved British comedy of that era, Also well worth checking out, though unlike maid Marrian it is set in the future so no real history in it, and fewer meaningful female roles than Blackadder, but it does poke fun at VR long before Oculus rift was a thing, and (here's where I over do the linkage and get it wrong, corrected below) stars Chris Barrie who played Captain/Lord Flashheart in Blackadder.
@@chrismartin2663 sorry to correct you but Lord/ Captain Flasheart, was not played by Chris Barrie, but it was the sadly missed Rik Mayall who played the role in the manner of the school bully from the classic book of Tom Brown’s School days. Rim’s long time comedy partner was Ade Edmondson with whom they created the extremely violent comedy Bottom, which in its turn had its roots in characters they created when they were performing in their University dramatic arts society. Ade Edmondson also made a brief appearance on Blackadder goes Forth as the German captor of Captain Blackadder who is then rescued by Lord Flasheart. I implore you to get your hands on the full set of the shows and watch them in chronological order, and if necessary do a little bit of research on the relevant time periods as to who ruled when and the National attitude of the periods.
@@andrewcoates6641 yup, fair enough. Not sure why I had Rimmer and flashhert as the same bloke in my mind. Thanks for correcting me.
@@chrismartin2663 Arnold Rimmers character had an alter-ego called Ace Rimmer who was the complete alter-ego of Arnold. Brave, Intelligent, full of bravado and derring-do, although ace was also played by Chris Barrie.
I would say, even taking series one into account, Blackadder is the greatest sitcom of all time.
series 1 was awful, oddly it had the highest budget.
There were four series of Blackadder (6 episodes per series), each dealing with a different period in British history:
Blackadder - 15th Century
Blackadder II - 16th Century
Blackadder the Third - Regency Period
Blackadder Goes Forth - WW1.
Technically it's English history since it's set in England.
Blackadder is great, the first series is actually the lessor thought of, but to be fair, they were just finding their feet with the concept, but further series's are bloody brilliant and get better and better, but, do be sure to start off with it and keep going.
Same can be said if you do Only Fools and Horses, that's a legend of UK TV back in the day, the story of the Trotter brothers, shakey start, not bad, but, it grows, and before you know it watching series after series, you become enthralled with the story of them, root for them, and, well, they become part of family really... And it's bloody hilarious, some absolute cracking scenes which will have you howling! :)
The final scene in Blackadder demonstrates with alarming clarity the futility of war ! and the total madness of the people who were directing it ! - Nothing has changed !!!! Blackadder is without doubt one of the most classic British comedy series ever written !
The futility of war?except WWII?that war wasn't futile. It was pretty important
Goes forth was excellent satire.
Each season is it own time period, there are 4 seasons 6 episodes each plus 3 specials, I would say Watch the 1st season the 1st 2 episodes are not great but it dose have a few of good episodes, as its only 6 episodes it not worth missing the whole season for.
S1 - Set in 1485 at the end of the British Middle Ages
S2 - is set in England during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I,
S3 - is set in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, a period known as the Regency.
S4 - is set in 1917, on the Western Front in the trenches of the First World War.
The best of the specials is Blackadder's Christmas Carol, The others were for charity events and the Millennium.
There were 4 seasons of the Blackadder shows from the mid to the late 80’s. Season one was from the medieval period Richard third, season 2 was the Elizabethan period, season 3 was from the Regency period, early 1800’s & season 4 was from the trenches of World War 1 1914-1918. The team also created a few one off specials later on. It’s worth trying to watch the whole four seasons from scratch, finishing with a one of the most moving endings to a British comedy series ever filmed! 😋🤓🇬🇧🏴
The ending of the series of the last series is recognised as one of the best dramatic scenes in British television. All the people involve felt that they needed to do a tribute to the soldiers in WW1. It the last episode of black adder goes forth, please include the in the list as it is a funny episode. I enjoy your channel and one of the first I check for new content.
@Midwest Americans you should definitely review that final episode...
Yes, but DO NOT watch the ending of S4 without having watched the whole episode at least. Ideally watch the whole series as it gives it much more context.
Glad you like what you've seen so far - I would agree with others and skip S1. S2 onward is just gold. Even if you don't post videos on here, watch the full series, you'll love 'em :)
Blackadder changes times/settings with each series and follows a different generation of the Blackadder family. It's notable that the show started off with Blackadder being the idiot and Baldrick being the intelligent one, the roles reversed for the second series and stayed that way until the end. If you watch full episodes I really recommend the final episode of series 4, it has the most emotional, poignant and moving ending to any show let alone a comedy.
There are quite a few "nods" to Blackadder in House; he's asked to come up with a "cunning plan", 'Blackadder' is listed on the TV guide on his TeVo set and so on. As a side note, 'House' is based on Sherlock Holmes - obvious to many but if you've missed this link and then rewatch the series it adds a whole new dimension. Hugh is also a very accomplished pianist so when you see him playing the piano on screen - that's him and not a cutaway to someone else's hands.
Soupy twist!
The final episode of the 4th series "Backadder Goes Forth" about WWI is very touching and brings a lump to my throat every time I watch it, because at the last scene the Soldiers go over the top and are immediately attacked by the Germans and the the scene changes to a field of poppies, growing there years later.
"I've got a cunning plan sir"
"I'm afriad, Buldric, that its too late for cunning plans. Its shame, I'm sure it would have been a good one."
Actors knew it was the last Blackadder legend blame bbc lords military and puppets wanted usa brainwashing disgrace pay as well
@@eclark3849 Maybe go learn how to type the english language before commenting online, very little of what you typed makes grammatic sense
yes right at the end "The Great War 1914 to 1917", I felt sad when Captain Darling say this, brings a little tear now.
@@daviddowsett1658 Darling's responses to the realisation of what is, and is about to be, happening is a masterclass in silent acting by Tim McInnerny.
I have met Sir Tony Robinson (Baldrick) a couple of times at apprenticeship awards ceremonies. He is such a generous and kind man, a true gentleman. He is also a very funny actor.
Most of what I was going to say about Blackadder is covered in other people's comments. In each series, Rowan Atkinson is in every episode, he is the main star as Edmund Blackadder is the central character. He plays a moderately intelligent upper class Englishman with a talent for funny insults who is somewhere in the middle rank of upper class society and surrounded by less than clever and barely competent (often completely incompetent) superiors.) Tony Robinson (who is now Sir Tony, having been given a knighthood a few years ago) always plays his dim witted servant, Baldrick. The other regular actors basically play versions of the same characters in every series but transposed into different historical people of the era that particular series is set in - Blackadder and Baldrick are always the same people every time. Just a note about Hugh Laurie, try to find Jeeves and Wooster in which he stars as an upper class twit with his old friend and former comedy partner, Stephen Fry as his very clever valet, Jeeves.
You've got to watch from the start....especially goes 4th. Unbelievably funny with the most heart breaking ending you'll ever see....won tons of awards. Probably the greatest comedy ever produced
Black Adder! Iconic humor! 🤣🤣
hello from Denmark 🌸 ❄
I loved blackadder and yes the final scene in blackadder goes forth gets me every time
You should DEFINITELY watch a full episode. Especially from the fourth season. It truly is a masterpiece of work that will have you balls out laughing and possibly even cry at the end of the series.
On the math vs maths comment, I usually ask people if they were taught mathematic or mathematics.
Advanced mathS, obviously 😊
@@stevehendon4076 👍🏻
Hi guys, Blackadder episodes need to watched in full as the individual segments you saw run into the full episode each time and make more sense.
Each Blackadder series was set in different period. The first was set in the early medieval period a couple of generations after the Norman Conquest. The second was set in Queen Elizabeth the 1st's reign, the third was set in the early 1800s during the reign of King George III, who suffered decades of insanity from undiagnosed porphyria, and Blackadder Goes Forth, the last, was set in WW1.
No; the first series was set in 1485, over 400 years after the Norman Conquest.
@@stevemoppett2759 Fair enough. The armour confuses me a bit.
Blackadder is a cult classis and is my favorite set of series that Rowan Atkinson ever took part in truly brilliant satirical comedy
We love you guys, keep doing what ya doing, enjoy your reactions, and comments on what you see....cheers
Blackadder had every series set in a different era. Each episode follows a plot-its not a series of skits. Well worth watching but watch full episodes. Clips won’t do it justice.
The point I was going to make they are not 'skits' but stand alone episodes.
Blackadder was written by Ben Elton. Another popular TV comedy he wrote was "The Young Ones," in the 1980s.
Guys, I can add little to what has already been said. However, the reason that the final episode of the fourth series had such poignancy, is, that it was timed to coincide with the Armistice celebrations. That is, when it first went to air, it was on the eve of Remembrance Sunday in the UK, several years ago.
Blackadder is a fabulous show and well worth checking out. Season 1 isn't as good, although it's fine. Seasons 2,3 and 4 are fantastic. As Season 4 was set during world war 1 its got added pathos.
Four series in all covering different points in English history. Whichever one you watch pay close attention to the song introducing it, the words vary each time.
Mr Bean came after Blackadder four series and Blackadder’s Christmas Carol. Blackadder series 1 is set in Medieval times, series 2 is set in Elizabethan times, series 3 is set in Georgian times under mad King George III and The Prince Regent, series 4 is set during during WW1 and Bladder’s Christmas Carol is set during Queen Victoria’s reign. Blackadder Back and Forth is set during modern day Blackadder and Baldrick go time traveling, it was first shown at The Millennium Dome a number of years after 2000 it became The O2 Arena, was then shown British satellite television.
As others have sort of said, Blackadder is a sitcom (just like Cheers and all the others) which ran for four short series between 1983 and 1989. Each series was set in different eras with more or less the same characters represented in each one. The increasingly cynical titular lead is at the centre of it all. It's commonly felt that series one was a misfire although I quite liked it and still do. Series two was significantly different in terms of humour, style, production, and characterisation.
Blackadder is British humour at it's finest. The premise is that each series (season) is set in a different historical timeperiod and follows the lives of Edmund Blackadder and Baldric in each era. Thats why if you just watch clips you might see him in the trenches of WW1 and then next at the court of Queen Elizabeth I (1558-1603).
The cast included some of the most notable British comedy actors of the 1980's too... Rowan Atkinson, Tony Robinson, Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie, Rick Mayall... not to mention Colin Firth, Robbie Coltrane, Brian Blessed etc.
each series is set in a different historical era, the elizabethan, georgian and first world war (if you dont include the 1st season) the actors remain the same for each season but their characters differ, apart from theres always a blackadder at the top and a baldrick at the bottom. it really is a terrific series, well written, clever and very funny. definately worth watching
Season 1 was great. Underrated because it wasn't accompanied by a laughter track, so I guess people just didn't know when to laugh but it was a fantastic season if you lean into it.
It's definitely underrated. Not as good as the following series, but still really good.
It might be obvious to most, but it wasn’t to me, “Blackadder” is actually a real name. There really are people named Blackadder.
The series Blackadder followed the lives of presumably descendants of a Blackadder family.
When I worked at the BBC the internal phonebook had a Dr. Blackadder in it. I often wondered if that's where they got the name from.
You may not know but the starring actor is Rowan Atkinson, He also played MR BEAN in a couple of movies as well as Johnny English in the spoof spy films. He is a graduate of University here in England.
React to the final few minutes of the final episode of series 4 (Black Adder Goes Forth). The way it goes from pure comedy to one of the most thought provoking finales is masterful and very moving. It was very much a case of "There are some things that you just don't make light of"
Even more so when you learn the cast refused to do it more than once. There was one take and only going to be one take.
No it makes it more emotional if you build up to it
Include Darling being sent to the front by Meltchet.
Yeah it would be fun to watch two people have the smiles wiped off their faces lol.
Blackadder I - perfectly fine…sets the scene for the next incumbent
Blackadder II - my absolute favourite! 😂 Miranda Richardson as Queen Elizabeth I is just perfection 🤣 Nursie, Lord Melchett, Percy and Baldrick of course - it’s a “quote a minute”
Blackadder III - Regency - all pomp, feathers and posh suits!
Blackadder IV - hilarious with serious and obvious tones of just how bloody stupid War is - and the final episode…… “no words”…
personally i would wade thorugh series 1, if you have time. season 3 is the best imo.
The actors in Blackadder are some of the most intelligent, funny men in the UK. They are brilliant.
Watching Blackadder will introduce you to some great comedic actors: Stephen Fry, Rik Mayall, Miranda Richardson, Hugh Laurie, Tony Robinson, and Tim McInnerny amongst others.
And to think Baldrick is the one who has been knighted by the Queen in real life.Sir Tony Robinson is a really nice guy.Have met him. Really enjoy his enthusiastic history documentary shows
I remember watching the first episode when it came out with my brothers (I was fifteen or sixteen at the time but now I'm in my fifties). It was an unknown thing, and we put it on as just a watch, but we all watched it constantly after that. The first season had a really low budget, was completely new but we loved it. I still love watching it as it's TV magic.
A bit of an explanation of Blackadder. Rowan Atkinson started out in series 1 (we say "series" and not "season") as the chief writer, so Blackadder's character was far more Mr Beanlike and the actual cunning one who saved him from his more stupid moments was Baldrick. That first series was set in medieval times, after the War of the Roses, in a fictional version of history where Richard the fourth came to the throne, instead of being murdered as a child by Richard the Third. Edmund, Duke of Edinburgh was the king's second son and in an effort to make his life more dynamic, he created the nickname "The Black Adder" for himself. The first series was okay, but to be honest was nowhere near as good as subsequent ones. Nearly everyone doesn't remember or hasn't seen the first series.
In the second series we jump ahead in history to Elizabethan times, near the end of the Tudor era, and Lord Edmund Blackadder is a courtier to the Queen. From now on the focus is a lot tighter and Ben Elton was brought in as a writer, making the jokes much funnier, if I'm honest. One of the first things he did was reverse Blackadder and Baldrick's roles. Blackadder was a now the clever one and Baldrick was the idiot. Percy is still the imbecile sidekick.
The Third series sees another jump of a couple of hundred years in time, taking us forward to the Napoleonic era, when England was ruled over by the Prince Regent, the King's eldest son who assumed royal power at the request of Parliament, because his father, King George the Third, was insane. The real life Prince Regent was a lampooned and mocked figure and a fat-arsed wastrel who ate and drank his way into an early grave. The Blackadder family's fortunes have sunk somewhat, as the latest incarnation of Edmund Blackadder is now the Prince Regent's butler.
The fourth series jumps forward in time to the First World War, or The Great War as it was known at the time, and Captain Edmund Blackadder is in charge of a certain dugout and trench near the front lines of the conflict. He spends most of his time trying to get away from those front lines and into safety, as far away from the war as he can. Ultimately he fails, and his last moments are actually very touching and poignant.
There were three one-off specials. A fifteen minute minisode set during the English Civil war was filmed for Comic Relief; Blackadder's Christmas Carol, set during Victorian times, was a satire of Dickens' classic novel about Scrooge and was forty-five minutes, and a half hour long episode was made to mark the turn of the millenium, called Blackadder Back and Forth. This involved Lord Blackadder and Baldrick visiting different eras of history in a time travelling toilet. Yep, you read that correctly; a time-travelling toilet. Whereas Doctor Who has the TARDIS, Blackadder has the TURDIS.
Blackadder is NOT structured like Monty Python. Each series is set in a different time period of British history, but every episode has a contiguous, chronological plot.
It was seasons, but set to a different time period in each one, it is extremely funny and some amazing comedy lines. Though for a long serving comedy its final episodes is on of the greatest in Television History, its depiction of going over the top and the sacrifice so many gave in WW1 is one of the best ever produced. Its extremely moving and was done with total respect. What makes it more poignant is because it is a comedy series, but with an immensely serious ending.
Watch more of the final series as it will help illustrate why the ending is held in such high regard across Britain.
Glad to see you liked it! Have a look at season one as well, that's utterly bat sh!t! Don't skip it, it's excellent!
Brian Blessed as King Richard IV is still one of the best things ever to behold!
Rowan WAS in sketch show but that was 'Not the nine o'clock news' (named for being on BBC2 at 9pm when BBC1...)
This was one of my late husband’s most beloved shows! Along with Fawlty Towers,Are You Being Served and Keeping Up Appearances!
Not only Hugh Laurie but Stephen Fry also. And Miranda Richardson. With guest appearances by Robbie Coltrane, Rik Mayall, Miriam Margolyes etc. etc.
For Rowan Atkinson in sketch format "Not The Nine O'Clock News". For Fry and Laurie in sketch format "A Little Bit Of ..." (etc.).
Like Monty Python, the quality is variable but the gems are worth finding.
tony robinson who playes baldrick is probably better known for hosting the archaeological programme time team, a series that focuses on doing three day archaeological digs, and is something i watched countless times growing up
Blackadder consists of four separate series all set in different time periods ranging from the 15th century to the first world war , all of them are amusing but I think that the final series is probably the best, it is over thirty years since the series ended but is still very popular today and is very quotable, some of the dialogue has become part of British slang . Ps Most of the world know Rowan Atkinson from Mr Bean but most Brits of my generation know him as Blackadder or even the comedy show Not the nine o'clock News from the early eighties.
The box set is amazing as it has a behind the scenes documentary.
The last scene in blackadder goes fourth the filmed in the dark with explosions going off did it in one take,they wanted to do another but as they said it was to realistic and didn't want to go through it again.
The person playing baldrick is Tony Robinson, who is actually quite a smart guy, he presents a show called time team which is a cool British show about archaeology
you need to watch them from the start yes the first series if totally different from what it became but from season 2 it really is a national institute season 4 and the last episode is the best ever however with out context its something thats wasted so if you do do a video on it please please watch it all. You will understand what i mean.
Watch the 3 specials and 4 series in whatever order you wish BUT ensure you see the final episode of the 4th series LAST.
They based each series on a different historical era. Rowan Atkinson is Blackadder in all of them. Tony Robinson is Baldrick his sidekick.
Its 4 series that follows the Blackadder (and Baldrick) family through the ages. Series 1 is 1400s, second series 1500s, series3 1700 and series 4 is WWI. But a really funny one and not often seen is Blackadders christmas carol.
Hugh Laurie is also *fantastic* in the 6 episode spy thriller The Night Watchman, starring opposite Tom Hiddleston. The Night Watchman comes from a book by John Le Carré, one of Britain's best novelists. He was an ex spy during the Cold War, and his books are so good.
Black Adder has main characters for an entire season, fallowing the misadventures of that generations main characters. One of the best clips I've seen of the show is when Doctor Who's Tom Baker came on as a crazy ship captain that couldn't walk. Yet he convinced a royal to get him and the boys out to sea, where they end up lost for a while.
I watched all of the Blackadder series back in the 1980s, in Glasgow. Written by Richard Curtis, Rowan Atkinson & Ben Elton. As someone said, the cast "ran away with the script". One example being Captain Darling, whose name was actually supposed to be "Captain Carter"!
Don't skip series 1, while the 2nd is the best one, there's some really good stuff on series on as well.
The reason Blackadder Goes Forth is considered the pinnacle of 'British' humour is because it successfully encompasses most of 'British' humour. Absurdity, cynicism, gallows humour, word play and bathos. American humour tends to be direct and frequently cruel. You mock people for being nerds or different in some way. We mostly just despair that we exist, but humorously
Blackadder is pure gold, watch seasons 2-4. The show was around 1983-1987 i think.
Do not skip season One. Check out the Witchsmeller Pursuivant episode. They find "witches" everywhere. "Just the other day I saw a horse with eight legs, two heads and two tails..." Blackadder: "You sure it wasn't two horses standing side by side?" "Oh, I hadn't thought of that..."
Each series was set in a different period in British history, each is related to their counterparts in every series. Hence being played by the same actors.
Black Adder, Fawlty Towers The Young Ones and Red Dwarf among my favorite silly British humor series.
Blackadder is pure comedy. Each season is set in a particular time period. 1 was in the Middle Ages, 2 was Tudor times, 3 was regency and 4 was WWI. The last scene of the last season may well have you in tears though and not tears of laughter; it’s quite a poignant scene.
Series 1, The Blackadder, had /Rowen Atkinson writing with Richard Curtis. He didn't want to write any more so Ben Elton joined Richard. The style then changed because of this. I was sure about The Blackadder initially as I watched Blackadder II, Blackadder the Third and Blackadder Goes Forth before. But I love it as its so different. I love Baldrick being the most intelligent.
Black Adder is pure comedy at its very best. As an Aussie, USA has tried to emulate British comedy in shows such as "the office" but I find it falls short.
Rowan Atkinson always plays Blackadder and Tony Robinson is Baldrick. The other actors are quite often the same people but playing different characters.
The Queen in 2nd Season of Blackadder is Elizabeth Tudor (Elizabeth I reigned from 1558 until 1603). The younger daughter of Henry VIII (r.1509 - d.1547)
You should see the last episode of the series about WW1 (each season took place in a different time, but with similar characters). I think it was a moving tribute to the fallen soldiers, managing to transition very well from comedy to drama in its last scene.
It's interesting to hear your perspective, since for us Brits Rowan Atkinson is the scheming witty verbose Blackadder before he's Mr Bean and Hugh Laurie is a blinking English twit. Hope you're watching the series set in Elizabethan England.
😂 first season of Blackadder isn't that bad it's really funny in places.great to see Americans watching good British comedy.loved the vid
Blackadder.... True British sarcasm-comedy. Never gets old.
National treasure this series grew up with it lovely you like it! I see a lot of blackadder in my self and the lines are golden! But the ending of series 4 will get you into tears
Rowan Atkinson plays Blackadder. Every season we follow a new descendant of the family and every season is also a new time period. All seasons are good.
Pick any clip!
Black Adder Goes Fourth is just brilliant and if you see the last episode you have to watch that episode all the way through. The finale is one of the best pieces of TV ever made
I would happily watch full reactions on Patreon of this.
The bit when he steps out of the trench is so sad.
I recently watched House because I recognised Hugh. He’s played so many great roles. I might have to try Blackadder again.
No, there are four seasons in all, which each takes place in a different historical period: 1400s ( late medieval), late 1500s ( reign of Queen Elizabeth I), late 1700s ( Regency) and early 1900s ( WWI).
So these shows are not just loose sketches a la Monty Python, but full 30 minutes comedy episodes with new stories about poor Edmund Blackadder and his hopeless friends.
The characters are "reincarnations" so to speak - distantly related but played by the same actors more or less - also some of the minor parts that pop up again every now and then.
This comedy series is from the 80s, and you really should watch all (!) the episodes in the correct order to have some idea what is going on within each season ( the relationships of the characters.).
They are highly recommended if you really want a great laugh - they are that hilarious.
The writing is right up there with Fawlty Towers in quality.
The whole Blackadder series is fun to watch, and not to badly off historically. If you wish to see Hugh Laurie at his best watch Wooster & Jeeves based on the P.G. Wodehouse stories. Set in the late 20's to 30's, it is about the bumbling socialite Bertie Wooster (Laurie) and his valet Jeeves (Stephen Fry).
Perhaps the finest tribute to Blackadder that will cause fans of the program to collapse in laughter is to utter one line from the forth series and indeed it is one word,,,,
WIBBLE.
Every series is a different era, deffo worth watching.
You should watch dads army it’s a very old tv show, made in 1960’s. It’s set in the Second World War and it’s honestly my favourite show! Xx