Blackadder

Created Sep 21, 1999 | Updated Oct 20, 2010

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 Blackadder is the general name for any one of the four BBC TV sitcoms based around the life of Edmund Blackadder. The four series are written by Richard Curtis (1-4), Rowan Atkinson (1) and Ben Elton (2-4).

 In all four series the main character of Blackadder is played by Rowan Atkinson. The only other character that is present in all four of the series is Baldrick who is played by Tony Robinson and is a servant/cook/general dogsbody. There are other people who appear in all four series e.g. Tim McInnerny but none stay the same person throughout.
 
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SERIES
1:
THE
BLACK
ADDER
 
<img src="http://www.argonet.co.uk/users/p.mason/pics/Black1.jpg" alt="Edmund S1" width="94" height="99" border="0" align="right" hspace="5">
 
 This series occurs in the 1480s and 90s during the reigns of King Richard III and IV. Blackadder‘s full title is Edmund, Duke of Edinburgh and Warden of the Royal Privies, until the final episode where he is relieved of his duties in Edinburgh. The episode titles are as follows:
 <center>
THE
FORETELLING
 
BORN
TO BE
KING
 
THE
ARCHBISHOP
 
THE
QUEEN
OF
SPAIN‘S
BEARD
 
WITCHSMELLER
PURSUIVANT
 
THE
BLACK
SEAL
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 The main characters apart from Blackadder and Baldrick are King Richard IV (Brian Blessed), Percy Duke of Northumberland (Tim McInneny), The Queen (Elspet Gray) and Harry Prince of Wales (Robert East). The other person to watch for in the cast is the Jummping Jew of Jerusalem (Angus Deayton) in Born to be king.
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SERIES
2:
BLACKADDER
II
 
<img src="http://www.argonet.co.uk/users/p.mason/pics/Black2.jpg" alt="Edmund S2" width="95" height="99" border="0" align="right" hspace="4">
 
 The second series takes place around the time of Queen Elizabeth I. Lord Blackadder as he is in this series is a close friend and favourite of the Queen. From series 2 onwards the episode titles have a style as will be apparent from the list which follows where all the episodes have single word titles:
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BELLS
 
HEAD
 
POTATO
 
MONEY
 
BEER
 
CHAINS
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 The cast list as a hole is much reduced in the second series for various reasons. The other main characters are Queen Elizabeth I (Miranda Richardson), Lord Melchett (Stephen Fry), Nursie (Patsy Byrne) and Lord Percy (Tim McInnerny).
 It is also worth looking out for Lord Flashheart (Rik Mayall), Sir Walter Raleigh (Simon Jones) and Simon Partridge, and Prince Ludwig (Hugh Laurie). The Last episode in this series is probably the most confusing as no explanation is given for the Epilogue.
 
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SERIES
3:
BLACKADDER
THE
THIRD
 
<img src="http://www.argonet.co.uk/users/p.mason/pics/Black3.jpg" alt="Edmund S3" width="95" height="99" border="0" align="right" hspace="4">
 
 In series three Blackadder is some what reduced in status and is buttler to Prince George, the Prince Regent during the reign of King George III. Prince George is a man with a large number of socks (432,507 Pairs) and is described by Blackadder as having "a brain the size of a weasel‘s wedding tackle." (Ink and Incapability). Probably the most important thing about series three is that it is the only one where Blackadder does not die in the final episode. Again as can be seen below the episode titles have a particular style:
 <center>
DISH
AND
DISHONESTY
 
INK
AND
INCAPABILITY
 
NOB
AND
NOBILITY
 
SENSE
AND
SENILITY
 
AMY
AND
AMIABILITY
 
DULE
AND
DUALITY
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 The cast list is again reduced now only 25 for the six episodes where in series 1 there were 68 cast members. However the number of now quite well known actors is rising. There are only two regular characters in this series apart from Blackadder and Bladrick, and they are Prince George (Hugh Laurie) and Mrs Miggins (Helen Atkinson-Wood).
 There are several people to lookout for in single episode appearances in this series. Dr Johnson (Robbie Coltrane), Lord Topper (Tim McInnerny), Ambassador (Chris Barrie), Anarchist (Ben Elton), Amy Hardwood aka The Shadow (Miranda Richardson) and the Duke of Wellington (Steven Fry).
 
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SERIES
4:
BLACKADDER
GOES
FORTH
 
<img src="http://www.argonet.co.uk/users/p.mason/pics/Black4.jpg" alt="Edmund S4" width="95" height="99" border="0" align="right" hspace="4">
 
 This the final series (so far) is set during the first world war some time between the years 1914-1917. Blackadder is a Captain in the British army having joined in 1888. His commanding officer General Melchett has is HQ about 30 miles away from the front to which Blackadder is frequently called. Blackadder spends the series finding innovative ways to avoid 'Going over the top'. The final episode in the series (Goodbyeee) does not follow the pattern of episode titles the reason for this becomes apparent when it is watched. The episode names have a somewhat military feel to them:
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CAPTAIN
COOK
 
CORPORAL
PUNISHMENT
 
MAJOR
STAR
 
PRIVATE
PLANE
 
GENERAL
HOSPITAL
 
GOODBYEEE
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 This series has the smallest cast list numbering only 17 however most of the cast are now well known actors or comedians. The main characters excluding Blackadder and Baldrick are General Sir Anthony Cecil Hogmanay Melchett (Steven Fry), Lieutenant George (Hugh Laurie), Captain Kevin Darling (Tim McInnerny).

 Also worth looking out for are Corporal Perkins (Jeremy Hardy), Sergeant Jones (Steven Frost), Squadron Commander Lord Flashheart (Rik Mayall) Baron von Richthoven (Adrian Edmondson), Nurse Mary Turnsouttobeaspyintheend (Miranda Richardson) and Field Marshal Haig (Jeffrey Palmer).
 
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<center><img src="http://www.argonet.co.uk/users/p.mason/pics/Black5.jpg" alt="Blackadder" width="371" height="95" border="0"></center>

 The four series each have their own unique quality, and this is partly because Blackadder has a subtly different personality in each series but still manages to retain the same overall character. The first series is by far the most flamboyant having a large cast list and many large sets this however almost caused there not to be a second series. Although the three following series had much smaller casts and were mostly studio based it was said of series four that it was, when it was first shown (1989), probably the most realistic example of trench life.
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