I have a cunning plan....let's start a Blackadder thread!

Cafe Society
1

Ah, yes, life without Blackadder is like a broken pencil…pointless.

I recently purchased the Blackadder Complete Collector’s Set on DVD. Said purchase has not only reminded me of how much I love this series, but it has also reminded me of how good Rowan Atkinson can look in a beard and a decent haircut! :wink:

My personal order of favorite series would be 2, 4, 1, and 3, but it’s very close. I think that Blackadder II had a good mix of clever Edmund and dumb (but not too dumb) Baldrick, and it had Percy, who is absolutely hilarious. I think Baldrick got perhaps a bit too thick near the end.

If I had to pick a favorite episode, I suppose I’d pick “Beer” (with the thingy-shaped turnip) like everyone else does, but I also particularily like “The Queen of Spain’s Beard” with the omnipresent Spanish interpreter, “Bells” with Kate (short for Bob), “Corporal Punishment” with the demise of Speckled Jim, and, of course, “Goodbyeee” with its rather sober and almost tearjerking ending.

I was kind of disappointed by the “Blackadder Back and Forth” minimovie, but I loved the “Blackaddder Christmas Carol”…one of the few renditions of Dickens’ tale that I can stand.

So, any other fans of the Black One here? Do you wish it had gone on for a fifth series, or are you glad it ended there? I was sorry to see it end, but, you’ve got to admit, that last episode was about as perfect of a series ending as you’re going to get. And, as I said, I was disappointed in the minimovie…Queenie, in particular, just didn’t seem to be into it. Or was she just trying to play an imperfect Queenie, one perhaps being impersonated by that German? (“Big Sally? That was you? But…didn’t we…?”)

2

I have a soft spot for Lord Flashheart – I think it would be absolutely scrummy to be able to present one of my lectures in exactly his style and manner…dunno if a girl can carry off such panache, though! Woof!

Extremely keen on the second series best, then 3, 4, 1. I haven’t seen the film what played at the Dome, or the Cavalier mini-episode, alas…

The only ‘sad’ thing for me, is I remember being absolutely paralytic with laughter the very first time I saw the episodes, esp the second series – and you can never quite gain back that first time…brill stuff!

I give them full marks…cos I have attended and/or worked at several of the great universities myself…Oxford…Cambridge…Hull…

3

Another fan. Series 1 is really only lackluster when compared with the brilliance of the series that followed. A Brit friend of mine says it is generally acknowledged in England that “Good-byee” was the single most moving and poignant TV episode on The Great war. “Good-byee,” by the way, was a popular song of the time:

“Good-byee, good-byee,
Wipe the tear, lady dear, from your eyee . . .”

4

I watched all four series, as well as the Christmas Carol and Cavalier Years, just before (or after?) Christmas. Love, love, love. I can form no further coherent thoughts at this time.

This thread idea was so cunning, you could use it for a toothbrush.

5

2, 4, 3, 1

I could barely watch season one. I think someone called it “Mr Bean in the dark ages.” I agree wholeheartedly. I don’t think it was a coincidence it was not visited in the Blackadder Christmas Carol.

In all, it was a fantastic show, and showed Rowan Atkinson at his best.

6

I actually am rather fond of the first series, which may be my interest in all things Plantagenet speaking. Plus it has Brian Blessed, who’s just cool. :wink:

And I actually considered showing my students “Bells” when I taught Twelfth Night this past semester, but I didn’t really have time for it. A shame – I wonder how they’d have reacted to it? :wink:

7

You wouldn’t know a cunning plan if it painted itself blue and danced
naked on a harpsichord, singing “Cunning Plans Are Here Again!”

8

I may be as thick as a whale sandwich, but how would I know this cunning plan is the right cunning plan?

9

Rare, perhaps unique, example of a series that got better every single year, although it’s hard to rank 2, 3, and 4 against each other.

I know that Atkinson’s idiot characters have made him a zillion dollars at the box office everywhere outside the U.S. and that you don’t argue with that kind of success, but really. Who here doesn’t like him better as the imperious and sarcastic Blackadder better than any other kind of part he plays? And when will he give us more of that style?

Please don’t mention the reunion Blackadders, which are beneath contempt.

10

Another addicted fan, and lonely admirer of the first series, particularly the first episode. I loved that hysterical mix of Richard III, Henry V and Macbeth, as well as Peter Cook. And yes, Brian Blessed is wonderful in anything he does.

“Blooood! Death! Waaaar! Rumpy-pumpy!”

11

“Again, Please!” :smiley:

My wife and I especially enjoy the 3rd season episode with the actors who come to give speaking lessons to George. But I won’t be mentioning “MacBeth”. At least not too often. “Horrid glue”! Too funny!

I’d say my favorite season is the forth, but I really like them all.

12

Thick as a whale omelet, Mr Thickie… :smiley:
This whole thread is as cunning as a weasel who has just been made Professor of
Cunning at Oxford…
Now, would you recognize a subtle plan if it painted itself purple and danced naked
upon a harpsichord singing ‘Subtle Plans are Here Again’?
:slight_smile:

13

I neglected to mention… can you remember the tune of the theme to series 2?

We did a bit in choir this year called “Christ, whose glory fills the skies”. I kept singing it to the tune of the theme.

The choir director thought it quite amusing. He played the theme as part of his improvisation on the organ that week.

14

This seems like an appropriate place to quote my favourite scene…

J = Dr. Samuel Johnson

G = George (The prince)

E = Edmund (Blackadder)

15

Anything I can do to facilitate your velocitous extramuralization…

My order of preference is probably 3, 2, 4, 1. Favourite episode would be the one with Dr Johnson’s dictionary, Ink and Incapability.

And can I just say you are very lucky with the DVD box set as the UK version gives about as many extras as an Austrian masseuse :frowning:

16

Wooh… simulpost!

17

Great minds…

18

One of my favourite Blackadder lines (I think it was in the fourth series), was when Blackadder described a situation as being “As sticky as the time Sticky the stick insect got stuck on a sticky bun”. I know it’s not as clever as some of the other fabulous lines, but it’s just so silly that you have to love it.

Another favourite bit was when Blackadder was explaining their (George, Baldrick and Blackadder’s) drawings of the German positions in the fourth series. Capt. Darling asks “Are you sure this is exactly what you saw, Blackadder?” “Well, there may have been a few more armament factories and not quite as many elephants…” Totally unexpected, and hilarious.

19

Goodbyee"s ending was awesome as was the quote I have never forgotten:

No, when I joined up, I never imagined anything as awful as this war. I’d had fifteen years of military experience, perfecting the art of ordering a pink gin and saying “Do you do it doggy-doggy?” in Swahili, and then suddenly four-and-a-half million heavily armed Germans hove into view. That was a shock, I can tell you.

What a funny and touching show. I ALMOST want him to make another season or two - but I don’t want him to ruin it …

20

I like the first season too. Maybe 'cause it was the first time I’d seen, or even heard of Black Adder, and I was so blown away by it’s brilliance that it earned a permanent place in my heart. I don’t know which seasons are which since I’ve only seen them jumbled out of order on PBS but I’ve liked them all. Even the credits are clever. I’ll have to put those DVDs in my Netflix queue.