Content deleted Content added
No edit summary |
Bob Castle (talk | contribs) |
||
Line 1:
{{otheruses}}
{{infobox television |
| show_name = Blackadder
| image =[[Image:Blackadder.jpg|200px|center|]]
| caption = Left to right: Tony Robinson, Rowan Atkinson and Tim McInnerny in ''Blackadder II''
| format = [[Comedy]]
| runtime = 30 minutes
| creator = [[Richard Curtis]] & [[Rowan Atkinson]]
| writers = Richard Curtis & [[Rowan Atkinson]] (series 1)<br>Richard Curtis & Ben Elton (series 2-)
| starring = [[Rowan Atkinson]]<br>[[Tony Robinson]]<br>[[Tim McInnerny]]<br>[[Hugh Laurie]]<br>[[Brian Blessed]]<br>[[Miranda Richardson]]<br>[[Stephen Fry]]<br>[[Gabrielle Glaister]]<br>[[Patsy Byrne]]<br>[[Rik Mayall]]<br>[[Helen Atkinson-Wood]]
| country = [[England]]
| network = [[BBC]]
| first_aired = 1983
| last_aired = 1989
| num_episodes = [[List of Blackadder episodes|24]]
|}}
'''''Blackadder''''' is the generic name that encompasses four series of an acclaimed [[BBC]] historical [[British sitcom|sitcom]], along with several one-off installments. The first series was written by [[Richard Curtis]] and [[Rowan Atkinson]], while subsequent episodes were written by Curtis and [[Ben Elton]]. The shows were produced by [[John Lloyd (writer)|John Lloyd]], and starred Rowan Atkinson as the [[eponym]]ous [[anti-hero]], [[Edmund Blackadder]], and [[Tony Robinson]] as his [[sidekick]]/[[dogsbody]], [[Baldrick]].
In 2000, ''Blackadder Goes Forth'' ranked at #16 in the "[[100 Greatest British Television Programmes]]", a list created by the [[British Film Institute]]. Also in the 2004 TV poll to find "[[Britain's Best Sitcom]]", ''Blackadder'' was voted the second best British sitcom of all time, beaten by ''[[Only Fools and Horses]]''.
==Overview==
Although each series is set in a different historical period, all follow the fortunes (or, rather, misfortunes) of Edmund Blackadder (played by Atkinson), who in each is a member of an English family [[dynasty]] present at many significant periods and places in British history. Although his intelligence levels rise over the course of the series (the character starts as being quite unintelligent in the first and gradually becomes smarter through each passing generation), each Blackadder is similar in that they are all cynical, cowardly opportunists concerned with maintaining and increasing their own status and fortunes in life, regardless of their surroundings. Also, each Blackadder's social status becomes lower, even though Blackadder's intellect increases. The lives of each man are also entwined with their servants, all called Baldrick (played by Robinson), who in each generation acts as the dogsbody/punching-bag of the various Blackadders, and who decreases in intelligence (and in personal hygiene standards). Each Blackadder is also saddled with the company of a dim-witted aristocrat - Lord Percy Percy ([[Tim McInnerny]]) in the first two seasons, George ([[Hugh Laurie]]) in the second two - whose presence he must somehow tolerate.
Each series was set in a different period of [[history of Britain|British history]], beginning in [[1485]] and ending in [[1917]] (with one special set on [[New Year's Eve]] [[1999]]) comprising six half-hour episodes. The first series, made in 1983, was called ''The Black Adder''. This was followed by ''Blackadder II'' in 1986, ''Blackadder the Third'' in 1987, and finally ''Blackadder Goes Forth'' in 1989. In addition to these, three specials were also made: "Blackadder: The [[Cavaliers (royalists)|Cavalier]] Years" appeared as a 15-minute insert during the 1988 [[Comic Relief]] telethon; ''[[Blackadder's Christmas Carol]]'' was a 45-minute [[Christmas]] installment, broadcast the same year; and ''[[Blackadder: Back & Forth]]'' was a 30-minute [[film]] originally shown in a special [[movie theater|cinema]] at the [[Millennium Dome]] throughout 2000, and later transmitted by [[British Sky Broadcasting|Sky]] and the BBC. A [[pilot episode]] was filmed in 1982, but has never been shown on television. Featuring a different actor as Baldrick, the plot would be re-used for the episode "Born to Be King" in series 1. Although DVD releases never include the pilot episode (Atkinson specifically prevents it from being distributed, because he fears it will overshadow his acting skills), copies are known to circulate among fans.
===Developments over the series===
It is implied in each series that the Blackadder character is a distant descendant of the previous one. This would apparently contradict the fact that the first two Blackadders died without having borne any children (it was even stated in "The Queen of Spain's Beard" (1.4) that Edmund was a virgin), although, as stated in another episode, he may have had relations with an old hag.
With each observed generation, his [[social class|social standing]] is reduced, from [[prince]], to [[nobleman]], to royal [[butler]], before he moves upward to regular army [[captain]] in ''Blackadder Goes Forth'' and King of modern Britain in "Back and Forth". However, he concurrently goes from being an incompetent fool (in the first series) to an ever more devious strategist in matters that affect him. The [[Macbeth]]-inspired witches, in "The Foretelling" (1.1) (thinking he is, in fact, [[Henry Tudor]]), promise that one day Blackadder will be [[monarch|king]] and, in "Bells" (2.1), the 'wise woman' says "thou plottest Blackadder: thou wouldst be King!" In the first series, Edmund does become king for less than a minute, but then dies after succumbing to some poisoned wine, a fact alluded to in the closing credits song in "Head" (2.2):
:His great-grandfather was a king
:Although for only thirty seconds
In the second series, Blackadder comes very close to marrying [[Elizabeth I of England|Elizabeth I]] but fails. At the end of ''Blackadder the Third'', the character assumes the role of [[Prince Regent]] after the real prince is killed in a duel with the [[Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington|Duke of Wellington]], and (presumably, though not definitely) goes on to assume the identity of [[George IV of the United Kingdom|George IV]]. After his general decline in status through the series, Blackadder, or at least the descendant of the original, finally becomes absolute monarch in ''Blackadder: Back & Forth'' through manipulation of the timeline. A [[Admiral|Grand Admiral]] Blackadder of the far future is also seen in the Christmas special, and his status further rises when he manages to achieve control of the entire universe upon marrying Queen Asphyxia XIX. However, while Prince Edmund Plantagenet adopts the title "The Black Adder," Centurion Blacaddicus (presumably an ancestor) has it as a name. It may be a [[Roman naming convention#Cognomen|cognomen]], a [[nickname]] at the end of a Roman man's name.
====Comparison over the series====
The first series, written by Curtis and Atkinson and without the involvement of Ben Elton, is the most different from the three others. It is noticeable that, as Blackadder is more cunning in series two, so Baldrick develops even further into a dimwit. It is clear that in the first series, the latter is smarter than his superior, saving the day on several occasions, whereas Edmund is despised by all and never accomplishes a thing. In the unaired pilot episode these relations were different, more like Series Two, where Blackadder is not completely successful, but not completely ridiculous either.
The subsequent three series had a smaller budget and the main characters more or less stay at the same level of intelligence. The Back & Forth special hardly changes anything about the cast of Series 4 at all, except of course their time and place. With regard to Blackadder-Baldrick, this means their roles are slightly reversed from series 2 onwards. While at first it was Baldrick who had a cunning plan, later it is Blackadder who is the more sophisticated of the two. This doesn't stop Baldrick from presenting his own cunning plans of course, which sometimes still work.
===Similarities over the series===
====Theme tune====
The [[Howard Goodall]] [[theme tune]] has the same [[melody]] throughout, but is played in roughly the style of the period in which it is set (mostly with [[trumpet]]s in ''The Black Adder''; with a combination of [[recorder]], [[string quartet]] and [[electric guitar]] in ''Blackadder II''; on [[oboe]], [[cello]] and [[harpsichord]] for ''Blackadder the Third''; by a [[military band]] in ''Blackadder Goes Forth''; sung by [[Carol (music)|carol singers]] in ''Blackadder's Christmas Carol''; and by an [[orchestra]] in ''Blackadder: The Cavalier Years'' and ''Blackadder: Back & Forth''.[http://www.howardgoodall.co.uk/tvthemes/tv.htm#adderpersonnel]. The refrain of the theme song is very similar to the [[Samuel A. Ward]] hymn ''Materna'', which forms the tune for the popular American song, [[America the Beautiful]].
===Popularity and effects on popular culture===
After the first series — which had enjoyed a considerable budget for a sitcom, and had been shot largely on ___location — the BBC decided not to take up the option of a follow-up. However, in 1984 [[Michael Grade]] took over as the controller of [[BBC One]] and, after talks with the ''Blackadder'' team, finally agreed that a second series could be made as long as the cost was dramatically cut. ''Blackadder II'' was therefore to be a studio-only production, with Ben Elton joining the writing team. Besides adding more jokes, Elton suggested a major change in character emphasis: Baldrick would become the stupid sidekick, while Edmund Blackadder evolved into a cunning sycophant. This led to the now familiar set-up that was maintained over all the following series. Only in the Back & Forth Millennium special was the shooting once again on ___location, due to the fact that this was a production with a budget estimated at £3 million, and was a joint venture between Tiger Aspect, Sky Television, the New Millennium Experience Company and the BBC rather than the BBC alone.
While each episode was plot-driven, they were still formulaic to a degree. For example, whenever Blackadder found himself in a difficult situation (as was the case most of the time), Baldrick would invariably suggest a solution, starting with the words, "I have a cunning plan". This became the character's [[catch phrase]] and, while his ideas were usually totally unhelpful, he would sometimes come up with a scheme that went towards saving the day.
==The series and specials==
{{seealso|List of Blackadder episodes}}
===Chronological order===
*''(Blackadder Unaired Pilot)''
*''[[#Series 1: The Black Adder|The Black Adder]]''
*''[[#Series 2: Blackadder II|Blackadder II]]''
*''[[#"Blackadder: The Cavalier Years"|Blackadder: The Cavalier Years]]''
*''[[#"Blackadder and the King's Birthday"|Blackadder and the King's Birthday]]''
*''[[#Series 3: Blackadder the Third|Blackadder the Third]]''
*''[[#"Blackadder's Christmas Carol"|Blackadder's Christmas Carol]]''
*''[[#Series 4: Blackadder Goes Forth|Blackadder Goes Forth]]''
*''[[#.22Blackadder: Back .26 Forth.22|Blackadder: Back & Forth]]''
*''[[#.22Blackadder: The Army Years.22|Blackadder: The Army Years]]''
{{spoiler}}
===Series 1: ''The Black Adder''===
:''See also: [[List of Blackadder episodes#Series 1: The Black Adder (1983)|List of episodes in The Black Adder]]''
Set in the [[Middle Ages]], this series is written as a [[secret history]]. It opens on [[August 21]], [[1485]], eve of the [[Battle of Bosworth Field]], which is represented as being won by [[Richard III of England|Richard III]] (played by [[Peter Cook]] as being a rather nice man who doted on his nephews, contrary to the traditional (and highly debatable) view of him as a hunchbacked, infanticidal monster), instead of [[Henry VII of England|Henry Tudor]] who won in reality. After his victory, Richard III is then accidentally killed by [[Prince Edmund (Blackadder)|Lord Edmund Plantagenet]] (Richard takes Blackadder's horse, which he thinks is a stray, but Edmund thinks he is stealing it, does not realise he is the king, and cuts his head off). The late King's nephew, [[King Richard IV of England|Richard, Duke of York]] (played by [[Brian Blessed]]) who is Lord Edmund Plantagenet's (The Black Adder) father, is then crowned as Richard IV. Lord Edmund never took part in the battle (he arrived late and went the wrong way, but claimed to have killed four hundred and fifty peasants and several nobles, one of whom had actually been killed by his brother in the battle). This logical but very silly historical premise, combined with interwoven bits of [[Shakespeare]], lends real intellectual delight and challenge to the humour.
Richard, Duke of York (one of the '[[Princes in the Tower]]') was in reality only 12 years old (and perhaps two years dead) when the [[Battle of Bosworth Field]] took place in 1485, and so far too young to have had two grown up sons. This and other historical discrepancies don't detract from the comedy, though.
The series follows the fictitious reign of Richard IV (1485–98). Richard and his Queen [[Gertrude of Flanders]], the [[Witch]] [[Queen consort|Queen]] have two sons:
* [[Harry, Prince of Wales (Blackadder)|Harry, Prince of Wales]], Captain of the Guard, Grand Warden of the Northern and Eastern Marches, Chief [[Lunatic]] of the [[Duke of Gloucester|Duchy of Gloucester]], [[Viceroy]] of [[Wales]], [[Sheriff of Nottingham]], [[Marquis]] of the [[Midlands]], [[Lord]] Po-Maker-In-Wardenry, Harbinger of the Doom Tract (1460–98)
* [[Prince Edmund (Blackadder)|Prince Edmund]], "the [[Black]] [[Adder]]", [[Duke of Edinburgh]], Lord Warden of the Royal Privies, the Laird of [[Roxburgh]], [[Selkirk]], and [[Peebles]], [[Archbishop of Canterbury]] (1461–98)
It is later revealed in the episode "Born to be King" that after Harry's birth and before Edmund's, Queen Gertrude had an affair with Donald McAngus, Third [[Duke of Argyll]]. There is a possibility that Edmund was this affair's result. If so, then Edmund is Harry's half-brother and also has another half-brother:
*[[Dougal McAngus]], Fourth [[Duke of Argyll]], Supreme Commander of the King's Army (c. 1462–87).
By the end of the series, events converge with our timeline, when King Richard IV and his entire family are poisoned, allowing Henry Tudor to take the throne as [[Henry VII of England|King Henry VII]]. He then proceeds to rewrite history, presenting Richard III as a monster, and eliminating Richard IV's reign from the history books.
In this series, the character of the Black Adder is somewhat different from later incarnations, being largely unintelligent and snivelling. The title of Laird of Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles may have been inspired by the then leader of the [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal Party]], [[David Steel]], who was [[Member of Parliament|MP]] for [[Roxburghshire (UK Parliament constituency)|that constituency]] when the series was written.
The character does evolve through the series, however, and he begins showing signs of what his descendants will be like by the final episode, where he begins insulting everyone around him and making his own plans. This evolution follows naturally from the character's situation. "The Black Adder" is the title that Edmund adopts during the first episode (after first considering "The Black Vegetable"). Presumably one of his descendants adopted it as a surname prior to ''Blackadder II'', where the title character becomes "Edmund Blackadder". Edmund's father the king can never remember his name at all (usually he forgets that he even has a second son), calling him "Edwin", "Edward", "Enid", "Osmond" or "Edna". In the last moment before Edmund's death in the final episode, his father finally addresses him correctly and Edmund thanks him tearfully, asking to be remembered as Edmund the Black Adder. His father, mishearing him, says "Oh, I'm sorry, Edgar. Let the name Edgar, The Black Dagger, be known as long as our family exists!" Then, the whole family of Edmund drinks the poison wine and dies.
It is therefore interesting to note that the unaired pilot episode, covering the basic plot of "Born to be King", has some differences to the first series. Baldrick was played by [[Philip Fox (actor)|Philip Fox]], who was replaced by Tony Robinson. The King is played by [[John Savident]] (famous for playing [[Fred Elliot]] in the TV [[soap opera|soap]] ''[[Coronation Street]]''), while [[Lord Percy Percy|Percy]] was still played by [[Tim McInnerny]]. Rowan Atkinson speaks, dresses and generally looks and acts like the later Blackadder descendants of the second series onwards, but no reason is given as to why he was changed to a snivelling wretch for the first series. One assumes that the change was driven by the writing, which wouldn't have worked with a swaggering character in the lead.
Richard Curtis admitted in a 2004 [[documentary film|documentary]] on the show that just before filming began, producer John Lloyd came up to him with Atkinson and asked what Edmund's character was. Curtis then realised that, despite writing some funny lines, he had no idea how Rowan Atkinson was supposed to play his part. This is typical of the slighting and dismissive remarks Curtis makes about this first series. One supposes that Atkinson, who co-wrote this series but not the later ones, came up with his characterization himself.
The opening titles consisted of several stock shots of Edmund riding his horse on ___location, interspersed with different shots of him doing various silly things (and, usually, a shot of King Richard IV to go with Brian Blessed's credit). The closing titles were the same sequence of Edmund riding around, eventually falling off his horse, and then chasing after it. The [http://www.howardgoodall.co.uk/tvthemes/Blackadder.htm theme tune] also gained lyrics:
:''The sound of hoofbeats 'cross the glade,''
:''Good folk, lock up your son and daughter,''
:''Beware the deadly flashing blade,''
:''Unless you want to end up shorter.''
:''Black Adder, Black Adder, he rides a pitch black steed.''
:''Black Adder, Black Adder, he's very bad indeed.''
:''Black: his gloves of finest mole,''
:''Black: his [[codpiece]] made of metal,''
:''His horse is blacker than a hole,'' [often misheard as "[[vole]]"]
:''His pot is blacker than his kettle.''
:''Black Adder, Black Adder, with many a cunning plan.''
:''Black Adder, Black Adder, you horrid little man.''
At the end of the last episode, the lyrics are changed, to include the last line of "Black Adder, Black Adder, goodbye, you horrid man".
===Series 2: ''Blackadder II''===
:''See also: [[List of Blackadder episodes#Series 2: Blackadder II (1986)|List of episodes in Blackadder II]]''
''Blackadder II'' is set in England during the reign of [[Elizabeth I of England|Queen Elizabeth I]] ([[1558]]–[[1603]]), played by Miranda Richardson. The principal character is [[Lord Blackadder|Edmund, Lord Blackadder]], the great-grandson of the original Black Adder. During the series, he often comes into contact with the [[Queenie|Queen]], her pretentious [[Lord Chamberlain]] [[Melchett|Lord Melchett]] and her demented former nanny [[Nursie]].
Following the BBC's request for improvements to be made to the show, several changes were made. The second series was the first to establish the familiar character of Blackadder: cunning, shrewd and witty, in sharp contrast with [[Prince Edmund (Blackadder)|Prince Edmund]] of the first series. To make the show more cost effective, it was also shot with far fewer outdoor scenes than the first series and several, frequently used, indoor scenes, such as the Queen's [[throne room]] and Blackadder's front room. Each episode in the series also features another unique ___location, from [[Bob (Blackadder character)|Bob's]] father's front room to a [[Spain|Spanish]] [[dungeon]].
The opening titles are accompanied by a version of the Blackadder theme played on a [[recorder]] and an electric guitar, and feature a black [[adder]] slithering about on a [[chessboard]]. The snake is eventually removed and replaced with something related to the episode title, which in this series is always a single noun. The opening ominous violin music and imagery are a parody of the opening credits of the 1975 BBC television adaptation of [[Robert Graves]]' ''[[I, Claudius]]''.
The closing titles use a different arrangement of the theme on various instruments, accompanied by a [[countertenor]] who sings lyrics reflecting the events of the preceding episode, over a shot of Blackadder strolling through a [[formal garden]] and being annoyed by a [[lute]]-wielding [[minstrel]], presumably the singer. {{ Spoiler }}As each episode elapses, this sequence becomes a mini-series in its own right in which Blackadder constantly tries to apprehend the musician. At the end of the final episode, Blackadder catches the minstrel and dunks him into a fountain numerous times.
===Series 3: ''Blackadder the Third''===
:''See also: [[List of Blackadder episodes#Series 3: Blackadder the Third (1987)|List of episodes in Blackadder the Third]]''
''Blackadder the Third'' is set in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, a period known as the [[English Regency|Regency]]. For much of this time, [[George III of the United Kingdom|King George III]] was incapacitated due to poor mental health, and his son [[George IV of the United Kingdom|George]], the [[Prince of Wales]], acted as [[regent]]. From 1811 until his father's death in 1820, he was known as "the [[Prince Regent]]".
In the series, [[Mr. E. Blackadder|E. Blackadder]] Esquire is the butler to the [[Prince George (Blackadder character)|Prince of Wales]] (the prince is played by [[Hugh Laurie]] as a complete fop and idiot). Despite Edmund's respected intelligence and abilities, he has no personal fortune to speak of. According to Edmund he has been serving the Prince Regent all their lives, since they were both [[breastfeeding]] (when he had to show the Prince which part of his mother was serving the drinks). There are three main sets: the Prince's quarters, which are large and lavish, the below-stairs kitchen hangout of Blackadder and Baldrick, which is dark and squalid, and finally [[Mrs. Miggins]]' [[coffee house]] (Mrs Miggins' pie shop was a never-seen [[running gag]] in ''Blackadder II''; she — or at least, a descendant of hers — is now finally shown).
As well as Rowan Atkinson and Tony Robinson in their usual roles, this series starred [[Hugh Laurie]] as the [[Prince Regent]], and [[Helen Atkinson-Wood]] as Mrs Miggins. The series features [[rotten borough]]s, [[Samuel Johnson|Dr. Samuel Johnson]] (played by [[Robbie Coltrane]]), the [[French Revolution]] (featuring [[Chris Barrie]]) and the [[Scarlet Pimpernel]], over-the-top theatrical actors, squirrel-hating highwaymen, and a [[duel]] with the [[Duke of Wellington]] (played by [[Stephen Fry]]).
The last episode of the series also features Rowan Atkinson in the role of Blackadder's Scottish cousin MacAdder, supposedly a fierce swordsman. Interesting enough, this leads to a dialogue in which Atkinson is acting both parts. The special effects required for this dialogue far surpassed the budget of an ordinary episode, but [[Richard Curtis]] and [[Ben Elton]] excused that given that it was the season finale.
In one of the episodes, [[Caroline of Brunswick]], the real life Prince George's future wife, is mentioned while Blackadder is searching for a possible bride of the prince. She is dismissed however, for "having the worst personality in Germany". However, it should be noted that since in the final episode Blackadder replaces the prince, it is possible that he is the one who marries her (his apparent contempt for her possibly a hint at the animosity between her and Prince George in reality).
The opening theme is this time played on a harpsichord, oboe and cello over close-ups of Blackadder searching a book-case. The credits and title appear on some of the books' spines (along with humorous titles such as ''From Black Death to Blackadder'', ''The Blackobite Rebellion of 1745'' and ''The Encyclopaedia Blackaddica''). Hidden inside a hollow book, he finds a romance novel (complete with steamy cover art) bearing the episode's title, which is always a noun paired with another, derived from a cognate adjective. Example: "Sense and Senility" (based on the [[Jane Austen]] novel ''[[Sense and Sensibility]]''). The closing credits are presented in the style of a theatre programme from a Regency-era play, and with an entirely new closing theme.
Finally Blackadder finds fortune and ends up posing as the Prince Regent after his untimely death - permanently.
===Series 4: ''Blackadder Goes Forth''===
:''See also: [[List of Blackadder episodes#Series 4: Blackadder Goes Forth (1989)|List of episodes in Blackadder Goes Forth]]''
This series is set in 1917, on the [[Western Front]] in the trenches of the [[World War I|First World War]]. Another "big push" is planned, and [[Captain Blackadder]]'s one goal is to avoid getting shot, so he plots ways to get out of it. Blackadder is joined by the idealistic [[Edwardian]] twit [[Lieutenant The Honourable George Colthurst St. Bartleigh|Lieutenant George]] (Hugh Laurie), and the world's worst cook, Private S. [[Baldrick#Private S. Baldrick - Series 4|Baldrick]]. The first initial "S" is taken from the first episode of Season 3, in which Baldrick says he can't remember his first name, but assumes it must be "Sodoff", as when he introduces himself to people, they generally say, 'yes, we know: Sod off, Baldrick'. Loony [[Melchett#General Sir Anthony Cecil Hogmanay Melchett|General Melchett]] rallies his troops from a French mansion thirty-five miles from the front, where he is aided and abetted by his assistant, [[Captain Kevin Darling|Captain Darling]] (Tim McInnerny), pencil-pusher supreme and Blackadder's nemesis, whose name is played on for maximum comedy value. Every episode's title is based on the pairing of a military rank, major, general, etc., and another word. (Ex. "Major Star", "Captain Cook", etc.) This format is not used in the final episode, titled "Goodbyeee". In a list of the [[100 Greatest British Television Programmes]] drawn up by the [[British Film Institute]] in 2000, voted for by industry professionals, ''Blackadder Goes Forth'' was placed 16th.
Captain Darling's name was originally intended to be Captain Cartwright, until Stephen Fry remembered a boy at his school called 'Darling', and this new name was played. Cartwright is still used in Major Star, when after 'Georgina' who is really George in a dress, is 'killed' to stop Melchett from marrying him/her. Blackadder and George think of new people to be their leading lady. George mentions Corporal Cartwright as one of his suggestions.
The theme tune here was played by a military band (in this case the Band of the 3rd Battalion, [[The Royal Anglian Regiment]]) over opening title images of Blackadder and George parading their men past Melchett and Darling, while Baldrick plays the triangle. The music starts with the opening bars of '[[The British Grenadiers]]' before segueing into the familiar ''Blackadder'' theme. In the closing credits, the full ''Blackadder'' theme plays as the men march off down the parade ground. Of note is that the titles here are presented as static captions instead of being rolled as on the previous three series, and that the crew credits are presented in pseudo-military fashion: for example, the designer is credited thus: ' Dgr – 404371 Hull, C '. Also of note is that the opening sequence is filmed in colour, while the closing sequence is filmed in grainy, streaky sepia.
====Moral messages====
''Blackadder Goes Forth'' in general has a very potent anti-war message presented as absurdist comedy. In the episode "Corporal Punishment", Blackadder justifies the shooting of a [[carrier pigeon]] for food (which turns out to be Melchett's pet) by saying, "With 50,000 men killed a week, who's going to miss a pigeon?" (That episode, which features Blackadder being sentenced to death by firing squad for said act, (although not executed) is in many ways a parody of the equally cynical film and novel ''[[Paths of Glory]]''.) The tactics of Field Marshal Sir [[Douglas Haig]] (who appears in the show's final episode played by [[Geoffrey Palmer (actor)|Geoffrey Palmer]]) that resulted in hundreds of thousands of British deaths (particularly at [[Battle of Passchendale|Passchendale]] and [[Battle of the Somme|the Somme]]) are continually referenced and criticised by the characters (in ''Goodbyeee...'', there's a scene which shows Haig playing with toy soldiers, which he sweeps nonchalantly from trench to trench, and then onto the floor while listening to Blackadder's plea to get out of the final push on the phone). In "Private Plane", after receiving word that Blackadder and Baldrick may have been killed when shot down over German lines, Melchett tries to cheer George up by showing a life-size model (measuring seventeen square feet) of land recaptured by the British ("It's superbly detailed — look, there's a little worm," remarks Darling). "Goodbyeee..." features quite a bit of philosophising about World War I in general, including truthful and satirical musings about why the war started and the degree to which British soldiers have been suffering over its course, as well as discussing the [[Christmas truce]] of 1914. (As Blackadder said, "Both sides advanced further during one Christmas piss-up than they did in the next two-and-a half years of war.")
The final episode of this series, the aforementioned "Goodbyeee...", is known for being extraordinarily poignant for a comedy — especially the final scene, which sees the main characters (Blackadder, Baldrick, George, and Darling) finally venturing forward and charging off to die in the fog and smoke of [[No Man's Land]]. (Melchett remains at his office but blithely orders a reluctant Darling to fight with the others.) Blackadder's final line is poignant, offered after Baldrick claims to have one last plan to stop them advancing (at which point a [[Regimental Sergeant Major|RSM]]-type command voice orders the men to "Stand ready", then to ascend to the [[Trench warfare|fire step]], before going [[over the top]]):
<blockquote>"Well, I am afraid it will have to wait. Whatever it was, I am sure it was better than my plan to get out of this by pretending to be mad. I mean, who would have noticed another madman around here? Good luck everyone."</blockquote>
"Goodbyeee..." also had no closing titles, simply fading from the protagonists charging across No-Man's Land under fire, to a field of [[poppy|poppies]] in the sunlight: an obvious reference to the poem "[[In Flanders Fields]]". "Goodbyee" was the title of a popular song during the First World War ([[Bob (Blackadder character)|Bob]] can be heard singing a snippet of this song off-camera in the episode "Major Star".) It also sounds similar to Queenie's "Byeee" in her letter to Ludwig (in the second season episode "Chains") in which she refuses to pay the ransom to release Melchett and Blackadder. The episode was shown on [[November 2]], [[1989]] — nine days before [[Armistice Day]].
===Specials===
====The Pilot Episode====
The Blackadder pilot was shot but never aired in the UK, making it a rather hot commodity there. One notable difference in the pilot, as in many pilots, is the casting. Baldrick is played not by Tony Robinson, but by an actor named Philip Fox. The script of the pilot is roughly the same as the episode ''Born to be King'', albeit with some different jokes, with some jokes appearing in other episodes of the series. [http://www.blackadderhall.com/specials/pilot_episode.shtml]
===="Blackadder: The Cavalier Years"====
{{main|Blackadder: The Cavalier Years}}
This takes place at the time of the [[English Civil War]]. It is a short episode, shown as part of [[Comic Relief]]'s [[Red Nose Day]] in 1988.
The 15 minute episode was set in November 1648, during the last days of the [[English Civil War]]. Sir Edmund Blackadder and his servant, Baldrick, are the last two men loyal to the defeated King [[Charles I of England]] (played by [[Stephen Fry]]. They have given refuge to the King in Blackadder Hall. Edmund remains loyal because as a known royalist he sees the King as his only hope of survival and also because of his fear of a hideous age of [[Puritanism]], full of moral prohibitions (as he describes it). However, due to a misunderstanding between [[Oliver Cromwell]] and Baldrick, the King is arrested and sent to the [[Tower of London]]. The rest of the episode revolves around Blackadder's attempts to save the king, as well as improve his standing.
:BBC One, Friday [[February 5]], [[1988]], 9.45–10pm
===="Blackadder's Christmas Carol"====
{{main|Blackadder's Christmas Carol}}
The second special was broadcast in 1988. In a twist on [[Charles Dickens]]' ''[[A Christmas Carol]]'', Ebenezer Blackadder is the "kindest and loveliest" man in England, and could be considered to be the 'white sheep' of the Blackadder Family. One of the ghosts that so effectively convinced Ebenezer Scrooge to change his miserly ways reluctantly displays for this Blackadder the contrary antics of his ancestors and descendants, causing him to proclaim, "Bad guys have all the fun" and adopt the personality viewers are more familiar with.
:BBC One, Friday [[December 23]], [[1988]], 9.30–10.15pm
====The Shakespeare Sketch====
A sketch made in 1989.
===="Blackadder and the King's Birthday"====
A short sketch with Rowan Atkinson as Lord Blackadder and [[Stephen Fry]] as King Charles II was performed at the [[Charles, Prince of Wales|Prince of Wales']] 50th Birthday Gala. It was televised on [[ITV]] (in the UK) on [[14 November]] [[1998]].
===="Woman's Hour Invasion"====
[[Woman's Hour]] is a show on [[BBC Radio 4]] consisting of reports, interviews and debates aimed at women, and also includes short serials during the last quarter of the show. On one instance of the show, Blackadder and Baldrick show up, travel back in time and talk to Shakespeare and others.
The purpose of the "invasion" was to raise money for ''Children In Need''. [http://www.blackadderhall.com/specials/womans_hour.shtml]
===="Blackadder: The Army Years"====
The [[Royal Variety Performance]] 2000
A short sketch with Rowan Atkinson as the modern-day Lord Edmund Blackadder of Her Royal Highness's regiment of shirkers. The sketch was written and introduced by [[Ben Elton]].
===="Blackadder: Back & Forth"====
{{main|Blackadder: Back & Forth}}
''Blackadder: Back & Forth'' was originally shown in the [[Millennium Dome]] in 2000, followed by a screening on [[Sky One]] in the same year (and later on BBC1). It is set on the turn of the [[millennium]], and features Lord Blackadder placing a bet with his friends — modern versions of Queenie ([[Miranda Richardson]]), Melchett ([[Stephen Fry]]), George ([[Hugh Laurie]]) and Darling ([[Tim McInnerny]]) — that he has built a working [[Time travel|time machine]]. While this is intended as a clever con trick, the machine, surprisingly, does work, sending Blackadder and Baldrick back to the time of the [[dinosaur]]s.
Attempting to find their way home, they find themselves at the court of Elizabeth I, where they are mistaken for the contemporary versions, and Blackadder takes the opportunity to assault [[William Shakespeare]] ([[Colin Firth]]) "on behalf of every schoolboy and schoolgirl for the next 400 years". They next arrive in Sherwood Forest, where Blackadder, held hostage by [[Robin Hood]] ([[Rik Mayall]], portrayed here as a generation of another Blackadder character, Lord Flashheart) talks the Merry Men into revolt. They eventually kill Robin and, after spending some time in the forest — in Edmund's case, with [[Maid Marian]] ([[Kate Moss]]) and in Baldrick's, with Will Scarlett, they return to the machine.
The duo have brief stopovers at the Battle of Waterloo, where they accidentally kill [[Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington|Wellington]] ([[Stephen Fry]]), and in [[Roman Britain]], where Centurion Blacaddicus and Legionary Baldricus face the [[Scot]]s, before they finally find their way home, thanks to Baldrick's cunning plan of sticking his head into the toilet and seeing where the switches were when his life flashes before his eyes.
After returning home to a French-ruled Britain where no-one's heard of Shakespeare or Robin Hood, Blackadder quickly returns to the machine and restores history. Upon his second return, the others comment that a machine like that could be dangerous in the wrong hands. This gives Blackadder a very cunning plan indeed, and he excuses himself while the others watch the Millennium celebrations on television.
The television shows King Edmund III and Queen Marian of Sherwood arriving at the Millennium Dome to be greeted by Prime Minister Baldrick. The Blackadders have finally achieved their destiny.
"Let every Briton's heart be proud;
This country's finally going to make it;
At last a King who looks the part;
At last a Queen who looks good naked".
===="The Jubilee Girl"====
''The Jubilee Girl'' was a [[29 December]] [[2002]] BBC special about [[Queen Elizabeth II]]'s Golden Jubilee. It featured Sir Osmond-Darling Blackadder (Keeper of Her Majesty's Lawn Sprinklers) and [[Dame Edna Everage]]. Earlier, a BBC "advertisement" for the celebrations also featured this incarnation of Blackadder.
{{endspoiler}}
== A fifth series? ==
In January 2005, Tony Robinson told [[ITV]]'s ''[[This Morning]]'' that [[Rowan Atkinson]] is more keen than he has been in the past to do a fifth series, set in the 1960s (centered around a rock band called the "Black Adder Five", with [[Baldrick]] — aka 'Bald Rick' — as the drummer) <ref name=blackadder5>http://www.thelogbook.com/log/blackadder/</ref>. However, aside from a brief mention in June 2005 <ref name=curtis>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4606743.stm</ref> there have been no further announcements from the BBC that a new series is being planned. Furthermore, in November 2005, Rowan Atkinson told ''BBC Breakfast News'' that although he would very much like to do a new series set in [[Colditz]] or another prisoner-of-war camp during [[World War Two]], the chances of it happening are extremely low <ref name=blackadder5 />. There were a couple of ideas that had previously floated for the fifth series. ''Batadder'' was intended to be a parody of ''Batman'' with Baldrick as the counterpart of Robin (suggested by John Lloyd). This idea eventually came to surface as part of the ''[[Comic Relief]]'' sketch "Spider Plant Man" in 2005, with Atkinson as the title hero, Robinson as Robin, Jim Broadbent as Batman and [[Rachel Stevens]] as Mary Jane. ''Star Adder'' was to be set in space in the future (suggested by Rowan Atkinson).{{fact}}
==Film==
In [[June 2006]], [[Rowan Atkinson]] (while filming ''[[French Bean]]'' in [[France]]) mentioned the possibility of a feature length version set during the [[Russian Revolution of 1917|Russian Revolution]]. [[Stephen Fry]] has expressed doubts over whether, since the series went out on such a good "high", a film would be a good idea. [http://movienews.virgin.net/Virgin/Lifestyle/Movies/virginMoviesNewsDetail/0,15384,1288943_movies,00.html]
==Anachronism==
{{main|Historical anomalies in Blackadder}}
The Blackadder series contain many instances of anachronism or anachronistic references. For example:
*In ''The Black Adder'', the [[Duke of Edinburgh]] is one of Edmund's titles. However, [[Scotland]] had a separate monarchy at this point, and this title had not yet been created.
*''Blackadder the Third'' encompasses many historical persons and events from throughout the reign of [[George III of the United Kingdom|George III]] (1760–1820) and even beyond, despite the appearance of taking place over a relatively short period of time. For example, Samuel Johnson completed his dictionary in 1755, which is the premise for the second episode. In the same instalment, Dr Johnson is seen with George Gordon, [[Lord Byron]], despite the fact that in real life, the latter was born four years after the former died. The most common setting appears to be during the [[Regency]] (1811–20) despite the fact that Prince George is portrayed as thin and young, when actually, by this point, he was in his early fifties and very, very fat. (Despite this disparity, jokes are made about Prince George's great weight.) There are also a number of references to [[Napoleon I of France|Napoleon Bonaparte]] throughout the series, yet the [[French Revolution]] only takes place in the third episode.
* In several episodes of ''Blackadder II'', Blackadder and others use the term [[dago]] to refer to the Spanish, even though this term did not come into being until the 1800's.
*In the earlier episodes, Edmund has an [[iron maiden (torture device)|iron maiden]] torture and execution device in his bedroom. The only known example of such an instrument was located in Nuremberg.
==Cast==
[[Ben Elton]]'s arrival after the first series heralded the more frequent recruitment of comic actors from the famed "alternative" era for guest appearances, including [[Robbie Coltrane]], [[Rik Mayall]] (who had actually appeared in the final episode of the first series as Mad Gerald), [[Adrian Edmondson]], [[Nigel Planer]], [[Mark Arden]], [[Stephen Frost]], [[Chris Barrie]] and [[Jeremy Hardy]]. Elton himself played an anarchist in ''Blackadder the Third''.
However, aside from the regular cast listed above, only one actor — [[Lee Cornes]] — appeared in an episode of all three Curtis-Elton series. He appeared as a guard in the episode ''Chains'' of ''Blackadder II''; as the poet [[Percy Bysshe Shelley|Shelley]] in the episode ''Ink and Incapability'' of ''Blackadder the Third''; and as firing squad soldier [[Private (rank)|Private]] Fraser in the episode ''Corporal Punishment'' of ''Blackadder Goes Forth''.
More 'establishment'-style actors, some at the veteran stage of their careers, were also recruited for roles. These included [[John Grillo]], [[Tom Baker]], [[Jim Broadbent]], [[Hugh Paddick]], [[Kenneth Connor]], [[Bill Wallis]], [[Ronald Lacey]], [[Roger Blake]], [[Denis Lill]], [[Warren Clarke]], [[Miriam Margolyes]] and, perhaps most famously, [[Geoffrey Palmer (actor)|Geoffrey Palmer]] who played [[Douglas Haig|Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig]] in ''Goodbyeeee...'', the final, fatal episode of ''Blackadder Goes Forth''.
Unusually for a sitcom based loosely on factual events and in the historical past, a man was recruited for one episode essentially to play himself. Political commentator [[Vincent Hanna]] played a character billed as "his own great-great-great grandfather" in the episode ''Dish and Dishonesty'' of ''Blackadder the Third''. Hanna was asked to take part because the scene was of a [[by-election]] in which Baldrick was a candidate and, in the style of modern television, Hanna gave a long-running "live" commentary of events at the count (and interviewed candidates and election agents) to a crowd through the [[town hall]] window.
===List===
{{main|List of characters in Blackadder}}
Each series tended to feature the same set of regular actors in different period settings.
The only character types to retain the same name throughout were:
* '''[[Edmund Blackadder]]''': ([[Rowan Atkinson]]) (although "The Black Adder" was an adopted name of Prince Edmund Plantagenet, who was significantly different to the other Blackadders)
* [[Baldrick|S. Baldrick]]: ([[Tony Robinson]])
Some characters recurred as their own presumed descendents:
*[[Melchett]] - [[Stephen Fry]]
**mild-mannered Lord Melchett (a sort of [[William Cecil]] character), an advisor to [[Queenie|Queen Elizabeth I]], series 2
**General Melchett, a blustering buffoon and presumed descendant of Lord Melchett, series 4
**General Melchecus - ''Blackadder Back and Forth''
*'''[[Lord Percy Percy]]''' ([[Tim McInnerny]])
**first and second series
*'''Darling''' ([[Tim McInnerny]])
**[[Kevin Darling]], series 4
**Archdeacon Darling and Duke of Darling / Duc de Darling - ''Blackadder Back and Forth''
*'''George''' (not explicitly related) - [[Hugh Laurie]]
**[[Prince George (Blackadder character)|Prince George Augustus Frederick Hanover]], series 3
**[[Lieutenant The Honourable George Colthurst St. Bartleigh]], series 4
Character types played by the same actor:
*[[Duke of Wellington]] in the final episode of the third series - [[Stephen Fry]] played
Lord Frondo; [[Charles I of England|King Charles I]]; Bishop Flavius [[Melchett]]; ([[Stephen Fry]])
*[[Tim McInnerny]] [[The Scarlet Pimpernel]] (alias Lord Topper), [[Le Comte De Frou-Frou]] for one episode in the third)
*[[Hugh Laurie]] also played Simon "Farters Parters" Partridge (also known as Mr [[Ostrich]]) in episode five, and Prince Ludwig the Indestructible in the final instalment of ''Blackadder II'', and Prince Pigmot
*[[Miranda Richardson]] played [[Queenie|Queen Elizabeth I]] in the second series, Miss [[Amy Hardwood]] (aka The Shadow) in "Amy and Amiability" in the third, dutiful Nurse Mary Fletcher-Brown in "General Hospital" from the fourth, and Queen Asphyxia; Lady Elizabeth
*[[Rik Mayall]] plays 'Mad Gerald' in the first series and the dashing [[Lord Flashheart]], a vulgar yet successful rival of Blackadder in both the second and fourth series; he also plays a decidedly Flashheart-like [[Robin Hood]] in ''Back and Forth''.
*[[Gabrielle Glaister]] plays an attractive girl who poses as a man and calls herself [[Bob (Blackadder character)|Bob]], before revealing her true gender and becoming romantically involved with Flashheart, in both the second and fourth series.
Non-recurring
*[[Patsy Byrne]] received huge plaudits for her crucial role as Nursie in all six episodes of ''Blackadder II'' but never featured in either of the subsequent series, either as a regular character or one-off. Her only future roles in Blackadder were in ''Blackadder Back and Forth'' and ''Blackadder's Christmas Carol'', when she briefly reprised Nursie during scenes set in the ''Blackadder II'' era and then in ''Carol's'' Christmas future scenes, also playing a member of the "triple husbandoid" to Queen Asphyxia. Similarly, Helen Atkinson-Wood was a welcome addition to the cast for the role of Mrs Miggins in all six episodes of ''Blackadder the Third'', but did not appear again in the programme.
==Precursors==
The plot device of a 'modern' man in ancient times is not new, and has a venerable history in fiction.
In TV comedies, perhaps the most obvious 'ancestor' of the ''Blackadder'' series is ''[[Up Pompeii]]''. The series, starring [[Frankie Howerd]] as Lurcio, was set in ancient Rome and made similar play with historical characters. Even the apparent '[[reincarnation]]' device found in ''Blackadder'' [http://members.aol.com/trogrann/blackadder.htm] is also used.
The TV series inspired three feature films, the first of which, ''Up Pompeii'', was also set in Imperial Rome with Howerd as Lurcio. The film ended with the eruption of Vesuvius and had a final scene set in the present day, in which the actors all played tourists closely resembling their ancient roles, with Howerd being a tour guide, showing them around the ruins of Pompeii.
The second was set in medieval times and called ''Up the Chastity Belt'', with Howerd's character as 'Lurkalot' (cf '''''The Black Adder'''''). In this, Howerd's character is discovered to be a double of [[Richard Lionheart]], and later assumes the throne under his identity while the real king leads a bawdy life as Lurkalot (cf '''''Blackadder the Third''''').
Most strikingly, the third and final ''Up ...'' film, ''Up the Front'', sees Howerd's character reborn as 'Private Lurk' and fighting in the [[First World War]] (cf '''''Blackadder Goes Forth''''').
== Notes ==
<references />
==References==
*All series and many of the specials are available on [[DVD]] and [[VHS|video]], as well as many available on BBC Audio Cassette.
* Curtis, Richard, Ben Elton, and [[Rowan Atkinson]]. ''Blackadder: The Whole Damn Dynasty 1485–1917''. Penguin Books, 2000. ISBN 0140296085. Being the—almost—complete scripts of the four regular series.
* Howarth, Chris, and Steve Lyons. ''Cunning: The Blackadder Programme Guide''. Virgin Publishing, 2002. ISBN 0753504472. An unofficial guide to the series, with asides, anecdotes and observations.
* Curtis, Richard, Ben Elton. ''Blackadder: Back & Forth''. Penguin Books, 2000. ISBN 0140291350. A script book with copious photographs from the most recent outing.
==External links==
{{wikiquote}}
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/blackadder/ BBC Comedy: Black Adder 1485–1917]
*IMDb:
** {{imdb title|id=0084988|title=The Black Adder (1983)}}
** {{imdb title|id=0088484|title=Blackadder II (1986)}}
** {{imdb title|id=0092324|title=Blackadder the Third (1987)}}
** {{imdb title|id=0137390|title=Blackadder: The Cavalier Years (1988)}}
** {{imdb title|id=0094754|title=Blackadder's Christmas Carol (1988)}}
** {{imdb title|id=0096548|title=Blackadder Goes Forth (1989)}}
** {{imdb title|id=0212579|title=Blackadder: Back & Forth (1999)}}
* [http://www.episodeworld.com/show/Black_Adder Black Adder] at EPisodeWorld.com
* [http://www.blackadderhall.com/ Blackadder Hall]
* [http://www.sitcom.co.uk/blackadder/ British Sitcom Guide]
* [http://s3.invisionfree.com/ProDeoEtRege/index.php 'The Blackadder Society' Forum]
* [http://www.freewebs.com/blackadder20 'Blackadder20']
* {{dmoz|Regional/Europe/United_Kingdom/Arts_and_Entertainment/Television/Programmes/Comedy/Blackadder/|Blackadder}}
* [http://blackadder.powertie.org/ Powertie: A Blackadder Reference Site]
* [http://www.tv.com/the-black-adder/show/4747/summary.html?q=black+adder TV.com: Blackadder]
* [http://www.howardgoodall.co.uk/tvthemes/Blackadder.htm Lyrics and music] for the theme song on the composer's web site
* [http://www.lunaestas.com/blackadder Queenie's Cunning Page], a fan site
* [http://booksmusicfilmstv.com/Comedy/Blackadder.htm Blackadder - An Appreciation]
* [http://www.phill.co.uk/comedy/adder/index.html British TV Resources page]
{{Blackadder}}
[[Category:BBC television sitcoms]]
[[Category:Blackadder]]
[[Category:Shakespeare on film]]
[[Category:Period piece TV series]]
[[bg:Черното влечуго]]
[[de:Blackadder]]
[[es:La Víbora Negra]]
[[gl:A víbora negra]]
[[he:הפתן השחור]]
[[nl:Blackadder]]
[[nn:Black Adder]]
[[pl:Czarna Żmija (serial)]]
[[sl:Črni gad (televizijska nadaljevanka)]]
[[fi:Musta kyy]]
[[sv:Svarte Orm]]
| |||