[TV] Blackadder Goes Forth

[Peacehaven Wild Kids]

Cost cutting at the bbc saved black adder. After the 1st series, the bbc declined to commission a second as the sets and outdoor shoots were too expensive.

In the end a scaled down series with less sets and more basic was commissioned and focus was entirely on jokes per scene rather than looking flash

Disagree (as in my post immediately above yours) I liked the way it was produced and when I watched the eagerly anticipated second series I just kept thinking some of the scenery was going to fall down pantomime style.

 

[Lindfield by the Pond]

My favourite comedy. Remember that great storm of 87. Lost power just after Blackadder finished. Regained power about 30 mins before the next episode the following week.

 

[US Seagull]

I loved the first series… I think the writers were feeling their way though.

I like the first series too, but I do think it's a bit less accessible, what with all the liberal borrowing from Shakespeare, and the character of Blackadder is very different than in the other 3 series.

In 2,3 and 4 he is very much the only sane person in his world, surrounded by madness and idiots. But in the first he's a coward and downtrodden by those around he. Baldrick is even a voice of reason in the first series.

It was in Blackadder the second that they hit upon making him cunning and cool. While also making Baldrick a filthy idiot.

 

[Peacehaven Wild Kids]

…. Baldrick is even a voice of reason in the first series.

I like the way Baldrick was the clever one and Edmund was a dim wit, it was quite symbolic

 

[ROSM]

Disagree (as in my post immediately above yours) I liked the way it was produced and when I watched the eagerly anticipated second series I just kept thinking some of the scenery was going to fall down pantomime style.

I mean saved as in rowan Atkinson didn't want to write another series. It was filmed on film not video tape and wasn't in front of an audience.

Having to move indoors and use video meant more pressure to be comedic and Curtis brought in Ben Elton following his writing of the young ones.

Don't get me wrong I liked all of the series in different ways but without that change there would have been one and only series

 

[BN9 BHA]

 

[Peacehaven Wild Kids]

I mean saved as in rowan Atkinson didn't want to write another series. It was filmed on film not video tape and wasn't in front of an audience.

Having to move indoors and use video meant more pressure to be comedic and Curtis brought in Ben Elton following his writing of the young ones.

Don't get me wrong I liked all of the series in different ways but without that change there would have been one and only series

Apologies. My use of the word “disagree” was misplaced, your points are correct, I was beating the same drum that I preferred the first series. I was aware early on there was never any plans to make a second series in the same style

 

[Questions]

I like the way Baldrick was the clever one and Edmund was a dim wit, it was quite symbolic

Blackadder the character was the same from series 2 to series 4.
I liked the fact he was a squirmy, toady, sneak in series 1
Gave Atkinson a chance as well.

 

[The Clamp]

Rowan Atkinson seems to be the epitome of a boring man IRL.

Only seems to be interested in money and cars.

And I have never liked him in anything else he’s done especially the dire Johnny English.

But as Blackadder? Very good.

He’s not the best thing in them, in my opinion.

Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie are fantastic and make that show, for me anyway.

 

[backson]

The first series is very much saved by Miriam Margolyes and Jim Broadbent in The Queen of Spain’s Beard

 

[jcdenton08]

The first series is very much saved by Miriam Margolyes and Jim Broadbent in The Queen of Spain’s Beard

And BRIAN BLESSED

 

[dazzer6666]

When with certain mates (obviously dull middle-aged ones) we STILL use Blackadder quotes.

Couldn’t really get into the first series at all, but loved the rest and will still watch an episode if I stumble across one when channel-surfing.

 

[BadFish]

Cost cutting at the bbc saved black adder. After the 1st series, the bbc declined to commission a second as the sets and outdoor shoots were too expensive.

In the end a scaled down series with less sets and more basic was commissioned and focus was entirely on jokes per scene rather than looking flash

Wasnt it more to do with Ben Elton coming on board as writer?

 

[atfc village]

Each to their own loved series 1 and 4 not so much 2 and 3 .

 

[clapham_gull]

A very similar experience to you in how I came into it, and it’s still one of the absolute best series ever created for me.

It’s a shame the first season of Blackadder was so poor, because S2-3 were also brilliantly funny.

Loved the first series. Very different of course until budgets were cut and they were forced to turn it into a sitcom. The rest is history.

 

[clapham_gull]

I've thought in terms of writing series two is the best. Nothing in Blackadder ever topped Rick Mayall as Lord Flashheart in series two, nothing.

Quite how David Jason falling through a bar tops that is anyone's guess.

 

[Is it PotG?]

'There was a TINY flaw in the plan'.....still use it today.

 

[The Clamp]

General Melchett and his “Darling, darling”’s and “baaaaah”’s never fails to make me laugh .

 

[Algernon]

I've thought in terms of writing series two is the best. Nothing in Blackadder ever topped Rick Mayall as Lord Flashheart in series two, nothing.

Quite how David Jason falling through a bar tops that is anyone's guess.

Blimey, I always found Flashheart incredibly tiresome with crap over acting (I know that was part of it) and probably the worst character in any episode that he appeared. I would watch an episode and be grateful when he'd finished shouting.
Sorry, the worst of the regular characters, in my opinion of course.
Loved all of them but each series was more polished and with better writing than the previous.
Great comedy.

 

[The Clamp]