Blackadder is one of the best British comedies of all time. The comic genius that is Rowan Atkinson as Edmund Blackadder, outstandingly supported throughout by Tony Robinson (long before his Time Team days) as his ever suffering side kick, Baldrick, and by Tim McInnery, Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie, among others.
The first series is set in the 1490s when, apparently, the history books were incorrectly written and Richard III wasn't defeated at the Battle of Bosworth Field by Henry Tudor, but was succeeded to the throne by his brother, Richard IV (Brian Blessed) after being beheaded at the battle of Bosworth Field by his clutz of a nephew, Prince of the relm, Edmund Plantagenet who later, after briefly considering calling himself "The Black Vegetable", re-names himself "The Black Adder" and with Baldrick and Lord Percy as his side kicks, a legend is born. Baldrick, in this series, is actually quite intelligent in comparison with other series and, somehow, it doesn't seem quite right.
Series 2 - Move forward 80 years or so to Elizabethan times and the great grandson of Edmund Plantagenet - it's in the lyrics of the closing song on the episode "Head" for anyone who hadn't noticed it already "His great grandfather was a king, although for only 30 seconds". Now demoted to Lord rather than a prince of the relm, Blackadder is now the much more sharp, cunning and altogether nasty character we came to know and love. Baldrick is now the stupid one and that's the way it ought to be and, in deed, stayed.
Series 3 - Now in the late 1700s to early 1800s and the time of the the Prince Regent, Edmund is demoted again to being butler to Prince George (brilliantly played by Hugh Laurie, long before his House or Stuart Little days). Baldrick is still Blackadders ever suffering dogsbody whose immortal words "I have a cunning plan" are the bain of Blackadders life. The series sees Blackadder and Baldrick allegedly rescuing an aristocrat from the French revolution, rigging the bi-election and capturing a highway robber, brilliant stuff.
Series 4 - It's now world war 1 and Blackadder is demoted still further to a captain in the trenches, with Baldrick and George as his comrades and Melchet as his barmey General, not so abley assisted by Captain Darling (Tim McInnery).
The series just got better and better as it went on and, for me, the ending to series 4 was perfect when they went over the top. The episode was as funny as any other, but also managed to show brilliantly the serious side of what was happening in it and the fear that they all had. At the end of the episode, as the final scene is shown, there's no credits and no theme tune, it simply shows them in slow motion going over the top and being killed, then cuts to a picture of the poppy fields. The way this was done is so moving and is a perfect end to a brilliant series.
This collection contains all four series, along with the specials including "Blackadders Christmas Carol" in which Edmund is a reverse of Scrooge (he's a generous good man who gets the visits from the 3 ghosts and turns bad), the Millennium episode created originally to be shown in the Millennium dome and sketches that were done for comic relief.
All in all, this is one brilliant collection. If you don't already own any of the Blackadder series, then this is definitely the one to buy and well worth every penny.
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One of the best comedy series ever to emerge from England,Black Addertraces the deeply ... more
cynical and self-serving lineage of various Edmund Blackadders from the muck of the Middle Ages to the frontline of World War I. In his pre-Mr Beantriumph, British c...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
One of the best comedy series ever to emerge from England,Black Addertraces the deeply ... more
cynical and self-serving lineage of various Edmund Blackadders from the muck of the Middle Ages to the frontline of World War I. In his pre-Mr Beantriumph, British c...
Postage & Packaging: free Super Saver Delivery Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
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Like a skidmark through history the Edmund Blackadders left an indelible dirty stain on ... more
every era they passed through. No one knows where the notorious Blackadder family originated from - some say the shallow end of the gene pool others just nod and p...
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
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