Black Adder 1: Part 2

In my opinion this is one of the best comedy shows of all time. This absolutely the best british comedy that I have seen.

Rowan Atkinson leads the cast as Edmund Blackadder, Tony Robinson follows him everywhere as his trusty servant Baldrick. This would not be a classic Black Adder without his good friend Percy who is played by Tim McInnerny. Richard IV, Edmund's father, is well played by Brian Blessed, and The Queen, Edmund's mother is played by Elspet Gray. Edmunds brother, Harry, Prince of Wales, is played by Robert East. Rowan Atkinson is also the writer of this series, that may be why it is in my opinion the best of the Black Adder shows.

This video, the second half of the first series contains the following three 3 episodes, all of which are set in the darkest of the dark ages in the late 1400's.

The Queen of Spain's Beard. (Original air date: July 6, 1983)

This episode is set in 1492, where the King arranges a marriage between Edmund and the Infanta of Spain. Edmund and Baldrick come up with some interesting methods of trying to get out of this arranged marriage.

Infanta Maria Escalosa of Spain is played by Mariam Margoyles, and her interpreter Don Speckingleesh is played by Jim Broadbent.

The Witchsmeller Pursuivant. (Original air date: July 13, 1983)

This episode is set in autumn 1495. England and the King are stricken by plague. The fears of wichcraft are abundant.

The Witchsmeller Pursuivant is played by Frank Finlay.

The Black Seal. (Original Air Date: July 20, 1983)

This episode is set in England 1498, St Junipers Day on which the King would lavish new honors upon his kinfolk.

The opening line spoken by King Richard : "St Juniper once said, "By his loins shall ye know him and by the length of his rod shall he be measured." The length of my rod is a mystery to all but the Queen, and a thousand Turkish hoards, but the fruits of my loins are here for all to see. I have two sons, Henry and .... another one."

The son referred to as "another one" is Edmund Blackadder. The king continually refuses to remember his name.

So what happened here? Did they accidentally burn their writers at the stake? Did they run out of time and decided to substitute frantic activity for plot? Did they just run out of ideas? It was a shame that they felt that they had to wrap it up like that.

I would have been much happier if I had never watched these three shows. The first one was a bit of a snooze except for the Infanta of Spain's interpreter. The last two didn't even have that grace.

I haven't seen any later ones although I do intend to forge on hoping to see some glimpse of the genius that informed the first episodes.

Stranger, pass by on the other side of the road and leave this one lying in the ditch.