Blackadder - Pilot Episode

[JayBox325]

Series one was good when it was aired. But it suffers against the other 3 series now, as  he changes from a simpering fool to a more rounded character, so doesnt hold up well If viewed for the fist time say now.

No. It's like Red Dwarf where continuity between series' doesn't exist with characters changing actors, sets looking completely different etc.

[suttonred]

Think you mis interpreted what i'm saying. It was funny originally as it didnt have the other 3 to compare against. It isnt funny anymore bar the odd scene. It was of it's time, where the others have fared quite well.

[4D]

Blackadder was at his best for me in series 2. When he framed the Bishop of Bath and Wells it was superb.

[Amir]

And it had Queenie

[Costanza]

To satisfy my curiosity, of you don't mind, which bits irk you. As an historian myself I have my own thoughts, but keen to hear yours.

I'm not hugely articulate in writing. However, I do think that Elton and Curtis were naïve in their writing, probably written without much historiographical consideration. To the average comedy fan, this won't matter. However, many people do not realise how many of their initial opinions on subject such as WWI stem from television shows like Blackadder. It annoys me when writers get so many important and tragic events wrong, U-571 and The Patriot being recent Hollywood examples (which, in fairness, fooled few).

As you probably know, many academics are critical of the Blackadderisation of WWI which has given a generation of people an a collection of opinions on WWI which aren't true (in places). I'm not in agreeing with Gove who essentially wanted Goes Forth banished but it does have worth as a starting block for a more comprehensive study/discussion.

And as a comedy, I fully agree with A Gent Orange.

[Skinny Pete]

You mean there wasn't a Speckled Jim?

[Costanza]

You mean there wasn't a Speckled Jim?

No, no. There were pigeons.

[Reg Smeeton]

I'm not hugely articulate in writing. However, I do think that Elton and Curtis were naïve in their writing, probably written without much historiographical consideration. To the average comedy fan, this won't matter. However, many people do not realise how many of their initial opinions on subject such as WWI stem from television shows like Blackadder. It annoys me when writers get so many important and tragic events wrong, U-571 and The Patriot being recent Hollywood examples (which, in fairness, fooled few).

As you probably know, many academics are critical of the Blackadderisation of WWI which has given a generation of people an a collection of opinions on WWI which aren't true (in places). I'm not in agreeing with Gove who essentially wanted Goes Forth banished but it does have worth as a starting block for a more comprehensive study/discussion.

And as a comedy, I fully agree with A Gent Orange.

The shifting of popular perception of WW1, to lions being led by donkeys, goes back to Joan Littlewood's 63 stage show....Oh What a Lovely War, which turned into a fine film directed by Dickie Attenborough in 69.

Goes Forth just runs with that.... Gove also wanted OWALW banned in schools. Tories don't like the idea of the common man realising he's continually being sold down the river by the ruling classes.

[horlock07]

The shifting of popular perception of WW1, to lions being led by donkeys, goes back to Joan Littlewood's 63 stage show....Oh What a Lovely War, which turned into a fine film directed by Dickie Attenborough in 69.

Goes Forth just runs with that.... Gove also wanted OWALW banned in schools. Tories don't like the idea of the common man realising he's continually being sold down the river by the ruling classes.

 

[BruceChatwin]

It's a comic satire not a history lesson. I do agree 2 and 3 were better comedies though. 4's reputation seems to have been elevated by its ending.

[Talk Talk]

For me Spike Milligan was a comic genius, who inspired much of the subversive comedy, which society in the 50's/60's generated, with the Python's picking up the flag.

Indeed, the Pythons themselves quote Spike as their inspiration. He was completely bonkers though which surely helps with alternative humour.