Blackadder

The Black Adder returns, this time in the Elizabethan era. I am glad to say that I enjoy Edmund's new character traits: he is not as ignorant and stupid as in the first series. Instead, he is more clever than even Baldrick, who was the most cunning of them all. The character of Elizabeth the First is also very interesting; I expect to hear great things from her. In addition, it was great to see Stephen Fry as well!

However, despite all the familiar and new characters, the episode lacked humour. It was a bit dry, with only Lord Flashheart and Edmund providing a few good lines. I was disappointed with Baldrick, especially when he was the one to make me laugh in the first series. All in all, it was a good episode, but not my favourite.

Where to start with this episode? It's a riot of laughs from start to finish! The scenes with the crone are classic. First, Edmund asks a crone whether the location is Putney only to be told "that it be, that it be". To which Edmund rudely corrects her by saying "Yes it is, not that it be. There is no need to put on the accent, I am not a tourist!". Edmund proffers her a purse of monies which he swiftly tells yon crone she will not be getting, snatching it beyond her reach. Then came the farcical exchange with her about the wise woman. Not wishing to give the gag away and ruin it for those who have yet to see it, all I can say is you will fall about with laughter! My son certainly did when he watched the series at the age of 16.



I understand that Rik Mayall improvised his Lord Flashheart scenes, hence the look of surprise on the cast's faces at times. This is one of my favourite episodes in season two (in truth, I loved them all!) and it illustrates perfectly why Blackadder still enjoys cult status today.

Bells has got to be one of my most favorite episodes in the Blackadder II series. It was quite refreshing to see the continually scheming Lord Blackadder gradually falling in love with “Bob” aka Kate. Kate (or is it Bob?) obviously cares a great deal for Lord Blackadder…until close to the end anyway. I cannot help thinking “Bob” would have become Lady Kate Blackadder within the first couple minutes of the episode except everybody thinks she is a man. Blackadder is raucously funny when “Bob” tries to tell him how she feels…You’ve got one of those belly buttons that sticks outward don’t you? Fortunately for Blackadder, Kate’s secret ends up with the two of them puffing pipes and snuggling together. I won’t give anything else away. Just watch it, you will like it.

This episode is wrong in so many ways, making it just hysterical. I think the funniest thing is \"Bob\" (aka Kate) attempting to act manly, when she is so blatantly a woman!



Also, the whole wedding scene is very funny; introducing the character of Lord Flashheart, who returns in Blackadder 4. Although he only appears in a few episodes, this character is hilarious and has some of the funniest, albiet crude, jokes in the show.



As always, this episode of Blackadder makes fun of a well-known historical fact: the doctor using leeches to cure every ailment known to man! Blackadder is obviously very dubious of this treatment, making another very funny scene.



Overall, I think this is one of the best episodes in the series, probably even the whole show!