Steve McLaughlin Season one will always be my favorite as it started an excellent series of Blackadders. The episodes improved throughout season one culminating with the Black Seal. The episodes look very dated as they didn't use sets and filmed in various locations, subsequently changed after the first season in an effort to save money. The scripts are absolutely perfect though, you can read the Black Seal and find it hilarious as it is so well written. This is also the last season as well where Baldric is the intelligent one increasingly becoming more thick as the series continues. 10/10 overall. Some of the best writing ever. Very British and clever along the lines of top comedies out of the UK. Glad the BBC kept up the series and allowed this wonderful show to continue.

guardkid IMO The Blackadder is the best of the four series - edging out Series 3. When I first saw Episode One, however, I hated it. I had seen The Blackadder series pretty much in reverse order, so I was used to seeing the confident, sarcastic, clever & scheming Blackadder character.In series one, the character of Edmund was different epitomised by the way he talked and his spineless,cowardly persona. But with several viewings you get used to it, and from then on you can concentrate on the comedy - that is brilliant! Set in The Middle Ages - when life was cheap - you actually get the sense that his life really is in danger in every episode.The relationship between Blackadder, Baldrick and Percy was different in this first series. In the others, Percy and Baldrick were just the butt of Blackadder's jokes - mocked and openly loathed by him.In The Blackadder, he actually needs their help, and together they go through a series of hilarious and dangerous situations. 'Baldrick' in series one was much better than say the Baldrick of Series 4. He was smart and street-wise - and he genuinely believed he had 'cunning plans' to get Blackadder out of trouble. Typically it was Baldrick who sparked off Blackadder's scheming with his subtle insinuations. Baldrick also displayed a ruthless side, not seen in the other series. He held a knife to a priest's throat and assaulted a Bishop - all in good fun of course!By series 4, Baldrick was a more a figure of fun, an empty vessel - his main purpose was to act stupid and make Blackadder look clever.The supporting cast in the first series was also the best IMO: Brian Blessed was brilliant as the menacing King and Blackadder's 'Dad'. Robert East as Prince Harry, Elspet Gray as the Queen. Throw in guest appearances by Peter Cook, Alex Norton as 'McAngus', Frank Finlay as 'The Witchsmeller' and Miriam Margolyes and Jim Broadbent in one of the funniest episodes of all the series - 'The Spanish Infanta's Beard'.This was the only series that featured outside locations, which made it more 'real'.My main gripe with Series 2 - was the irritating Queenie and Nursie. Their humour was very childish and generally unfunny. There was also one very weak episode 5. Baldrick was just slightly disappointing. Blackadder himself though was very good - but just a little too smug.Series 3 -the Blackadder character was on a par with that of Series 2 very intelligent - but less smug. Great scenes between Blackadder, Prince George and Baldrick. Also loved the 'coffee-shop scenes'. Episodes 2, 3 and 4 are outstanding.Series 4 - Captain Darling wasn't as good as Percy from Series 1 and 2. General Melchett and George - brilliant. Blackadder IMO was too much of a know-it-all in Series 4 and he rarely looked ruffled even when faced with death (total contrast to Series 1). They also overcooked the 'canned laughter'. All the episodes though were solid.Series 1 didn't really have any 'weak' episodes. If I had to pick one weaker episode, it would be episode 5 (Witchsmeller Pursuivant). The final episode 6 - was more story-based and introduced a whole new group of characters - the writers appeared to try and end the series with a bang.

Dr Jacques COULARDEAU The first and essential element is the set of actors and first of all Rowan Atkinson. That is pure English comedy based on totally anachronistic and crazy situations, on witty puns that nearly or most of the time have to do with what is generally under the belt of most people but that is floating on top of the mind of these comedians. It is supposed to make you laugh and nothing else and it ridicules all historical characters and situations: Elizabeth I, Queen Victoria, Georges VI or some other Prince of Wales, the First World War, Robin Hood and I guess they avoided Peter Pan because he might only be marginally historical, though Pitt Junior is a real hit, definitely under the belt at the level of the comforter, if you see what I mean. It even turns upside down the famous Christmas Carol. As for the Time Machine it is completely twisted around in all directions, back and forth for sure, to make a sort of self-centered social climbing, politically opportunistic remake of Back to the Future more than the Time Machine, but the principle is the same. So Sir Edmund Blackadder finishing King Edmund I is at least hilarious. H.G. Wells is betrayed since for him you cannot change the past and Zemeckis is betrayed just the same since you are not supposed to use your time travelling to recuperate some personal advantage from it. I must say though this type of comedy is light maybe slightly too light, but it is good indeed.Dr Jacques COULARDEAU, University Paris 1 Pantheon Sorbonne, University Paris 8 Saint Denis, University Paris 12 Créteil, CEGID

Scaramouche2004 Forget your O Level and GCSE History exams and throw away those misleading and biased history books, for Richard Curtis and Rowan Atkinson are here to show you exactly how things really happened and how a scheming, greedy, self-centred, morally defunct bad boy named Edmund Blackadder and a brainless, smelly, pre-evolved dogsbody named Baldrick have consistently left their greasy, dirty and bloody paw prints upon the true annuls of British History.The first series of this classic historical Comedy saga takes place in the years 1485- 1498 and introduces us to the now immortal Blackadder character, and the first true history lesson it teaches us is that Henry VII did not succeed Richard III to the throne after the Battle of Bosworth.This high honour was in fact awarded to Richard IV, formally one half of the 'fabled' Princes in the Tower, who now fully grown has a taste for war, wine and women (in that order) and is built like a brick s***house! It also tells us that Richard III did not perish in battle at the hands of the would be usurper Tudor, but slain in the act of horse stealing by his slimy nephew Edmund, later to become our hero (of sorts).Edmund is the new kings seconds son, and as a result he is despised by his father (who most of the time cannot remember his name) patronised by his mother (who constantly treats him as if he was still ten years old)and overshadowed by his Brother who constantly delegates to Edmund the rotten jobs usually most befitting a castle servant) Now second in line to the throne, the already ambitious Edmund is set upon the road to power and becomes obsessed with removing his Father and Brother from the equation so he can at last fulfil a prophecy made by three wizened old witches that he will one day be King of all England.However in direct contrast to his ambitions Edmund has all the cunning intellect of a dried pea, the courage of a dead hedgehog and the charisma of a blank wall. For Edmund to put his plans into action it is clear he is going to need a bit of help.Enter Baldrick one of the castles dung gatherers, who unlike his future descendants seems to be a rather bright and cunning chap. Edmund or rather 'The Black Adder' as he now wishes to be called, plucks the clever s*** shoveller from obscurity, presumably gives him a thorough wash and promotes him to the dizzy position of royal squire so he can always be on hand to provide the best cunning advice any given situation may require.Also in tow is the remarkably stupid Lord Percy Percy the Duke of Northumberland who is so pathetically dim-witted I'm sure Edmund only keeps him around to make him look intelligent.Yet both Baldrick and Percy are devoted to their new Lord and throughout all six chapters of this historic alternative, they work tirelessly to help bring about The Black Adder's dream of becoming King Edmund I of England.On our journey we see Edmund's power and lands stripped and sold off week by week, we see him promoted to Archbishop of Canterbury in the Kings effort to bring the Church under his control, we see him diplomatically engaged to a Spanish princess who's great size is only dwarfed by her dangerous sexual appetite. We see Edmund put on trial for Witchcraft, barely escaping with his life, all of which lead him to finally take action in the last episode and launch his long awaited bid for absolute power.However for those who know what the next 500 years hold for the Blackadders and the Baldricks, it is worthwhile mentioning that this series should be viewed on its own merits and not part of the great historic saga that was to follow as it differs so much from future productions. The main difference being the two main characters themselves.Future incarnations of the Blackadder dynasty will see the character become far less slimy and far more cunning as his social position slips further from the throne with each generation. In much the same vein...only in reverse, the Baldrick dynasty seems to shed brain cells with each passing century becoming less astute and more unhygienic with each series.With Ben Elton replacing Rowan Atkinson as writer, a scaled down more studio based production and a cast list consisting of five or six ensemble players it was clear that Blackadder was going to go on to bigger and better things.......at least as far as the TV show was concerned.Rowan Atkinson's Edmund, Tony Robinson's Baldrick and Tim McInnerny's Percy are all a joy to watch but Brian Blessed's King Richard IV is the real treasure throughout. Very funny indeed.The best History lesson I have ever had. If only old Mr Insley (my History teacher at school) taught me this stuff. I probably wouldn't have bunked off so many lectures.