The Black Adder
The Black Adder Vs Blackadder II: Probably thought to be the most definitive jump between two series in sitcom history. The differences between series 1 and 2 are amazing and because most people ignore the first series due to the fact it is continually dubbed as "totally rubbish" they miss out on a few in-jokes and frankly, I don't think The Black Adder is as bad as everyone says it is. True, it is not as funny, and the traits of Edmund, Baldrick and Percy are very different to their descendants. But it makes the later series more interesting when you know the history of the boy who wouldn't be king.
This series it is often said, is not as funny. Not as funny as a sitcom should be. But seeing Brian Blessed hamming up his role with such gusto and Baldrick saying the phrase, "I have a cunning plan" for the very first time will always bring a smile to my face. And that's all I ask of it. Prince Edmund (or the Black Adder as he prefers to be known historically) is a slimy, opportunity-grabbing idiot - a far cry from the suave and deviant Edmund Blackadder in later series - and completely unlovable. Which may be why this version of him amuses me so. To see his future generations become better adapted and street-smart, yet get nowhere fast, and yet he becomes a prince by acting irrationally and violently is beautifully ironic. Luckily, he gets his just-desserts.
| 1 - The Foretelling | 2 - Born to be a King | 3 - The Archbishop |
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| Edmund becomes a prince when he accidentally cuts off the King's head during a battle he arrives late for. | Edmund is thrilled to discover he may be next in line to the throne when a Scottish friend to the family lets him in on a secret - his mother had a fling and his brother could be a bastard. | Edmund is made Archbishop of Canterbury so that the King can acquire more land. |
| 4 - The Queen of Spain's Beard | 5 - Witchsmeller Pursuivant | 6 - The Black Seal |
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| Edmund has to marry into the royalty of Spain to keep their alliance in the war. Unfortunately his fiancée isn't exactly his type. | Edmund is on trial as a witch when he falls onto the bad side of the country's best witch hunter. Even his horse stands against him in court. But who is the true witch? | Edmund plans to take over the throne with the help of the most evil men in Britain - the Black Seal. |