[TV] UKCC24 - Quarter Final Four - Blackadder vs The Office

[Littlemo]

That final episode is an utter masterpiece of television, and I don't just mean in the comedy genre. From when George says "I'm scared, sir" the whole tone changes.

I first saw it in my Year 9 History class - teacher was a huge Blackadder fan and we watched one episode per week. Having never seen the show before, I assumed that they were going to get out of it and all live happily ever after. The realisation that they weren't was shocking and sobering.

The fade to a field of poppies is just genius. For that episode alone it beats The Office for me, even more easily when the rest of the show is taken into account.



"We lived through it. The Great War, 1914 to 1917" - has a more heartbreaking line ever been written?

Yeah I was going to mention the last episode as well. It was one of the best endings of a show I’ve seen, done so well.

 

[Brovion]

That final episode is an utter masterpiece of television, and I don't just mean in the comedy genre. From when George says "I'm scared, sir" the whole tone changes.

I first saw it in my Year 9 History class - teacher was a huge Blackadder fan and we watched one episode per week. Having never seen the show before, I assumed that they were going to get out of it and all live happily ever after. The realisation that they weren't was shocking and sobering.

The fade to a field of poppies is just genius. For that episode alone it beats The Office for me, even more easily when the rest of the show is taken into account.



"We lived through it. The Great War, 1914 to 1917" - has a more heartbreaking line ever been written?

Agree with your sentiment. Everyone's got their favourite/most poignant moments in that final episode. For me the most heartbreaking bit is when Captain Darling turns up, having been transferred by General Melchett. He knows he's going to die and says: "Kind of hoped I'd see the whole thing through. Go back to work at Pratt and Son, keep wicket for the Croydon Gentlemen ...... marry Doris." I think that sums up what millions must have thought. McInnery delivers it perfectly and every time I see it my heart aches for him (Darling).

As you said, an utter masterpiece of television.

 

[portlock seagull]

Blackadder is arguably the greatest comedy of all time. So it has to be in this mismatch vote.

 

[bhafc99]

Agree with your sentiment. Everyone's got their favourite/most poignant moments in that final episode. For me the most heartbreaking bit is when Captain Darling turns up, having been transferred by General Melchett. He knows he's going to die and says: "Kind of hoped I'd see the whole thing through. Go back to work at Pratt and Son, keep wicket for the Croydon Gentlemen ...... marry Doris." I think that sums up what millions must have thought. McInnery delivers it perfectly and every time I see it my heart aches for him (Darling).

As you said, an utter masterpiece of television.

You can almost hear the audience’s laughter nervously fading away when he gets to “keep wicket for Croydon gentlemen”.

 

[dazzer6666]

Agree with your sentiment. Everyone's got their favourite/most poignant moments in that final episode. For me the most heartbreaking bit is when Captain Darling turns up, having been transferred by General Melchett. He knows he's going to die and says: "Kind of hoped I'd see the whole thing through. Go back to work at Pratt and Son, keep wicket for the Croydon Gentlemen ...... marry Doris." I think that sums up what millions must have thought. McInnery delivers it perfectly and every time I see it my heart aches for him (Darling).

As you said, an utter masterpiece of television.

Made a note in my diary on the way here. Simply says, 'bugger'.

 

[Triggaaar]

Blackadder is arguably the greatest comedy of all time.

Indeed. This whole competition, fun though it is, is really just a test of whether or not NSC has any taste.

 

[jcdenton08]

Blackadder all the way.

I can still remember being convulsed in laughter at Rik turning up as Lord Flasheart in Series 2. The next day everyone at school was trying to recite it. My first serious girlfriend knew the routine. I've just watched it back to post it on here and it's incredibly childish, hasn't dated at all well, and still had me giggling. Watch Atkinson when Rik's talking to Tony Robinson, he can barely hold it together.

It does help that I hated The Office. Probably because it was very well observed and I was working in an office at the time, and therefore spent more time cringing than laughing.

I’ve posted this several times before, but whenever Rik comes up (WOOF!) I like to share it.

When I was in my teens I saw him do a Noel Coward play “Present Laughter” at the Theatre Royal, Brighton. I was a big fan of Rik from Bottom, Young Ones, Blackadder and just generally.

At the performance I attended, Rik lost his way with the text (this was post quad-bike accident) and loudly shouted “f***” in frustration. For reference, this was a gentle Noel Coward comedy…

So I went to the stage door after the performance and waited for him to go come out, hopefully for an autograph or a picture (or both) and he came out and threw his hands up and said “sorry for the little f*** up… ooops, sorry, did it again”.

He was “on” the second he came out and saw his adoring fans waiting politely for him to appear. Took time with everyone, made jokes, was Rik from the screen and stage right in front of you. Couldn’t stand still, jiggling and hopping.

Anyway I had a new colour printer at home, and printed off a few headshots I got online on glossy paper I bought from money from my paper round.

I asked him for an autograph and he grabbed the picture and asked where I got it (I explained I found it on the internet and printed it off) and he said something about his agent. I think it was “wait until my agent hears about this”.

He signed both (A4 fresh out of my family home printer) with “Rik Mayall” and a big copyright sign just below.

Happily posed for pictures with everyone (including me) while his car waited.

 

[jcdenton08]

You can almost hear the audience’s laughter nervously fading away when he gets to “keep wicket for Croydon gentlemen”.

Boring fact of the day - the original effects for the ending looked proper shit. Was meant to show them getting shot and blown up from the reverse angle. Blackadder was meant to make a quip about his “legacy living on” as he laid dying - but the footage not salvageable. Because of the cost of the pyro they slowed down the footage of them running forward. And thus, history was made with the poppy field added later.

 

[shingle]

Really tough, but for me, blackadder just edges it

 

[BN9 BHA]

I'm probably alone, but couldn't stand either of them

 

[Brent Partridge]

The Office!!

They took a normal guy, and they said "let's see what NSC thinks of him",
and NSC seems to be saying
"yeah, what else you got?"

 

[Mellotron]

Made a note in my diary on the way here. Simply says, 'bugger'.

I have used that so many times. Usually the day after England exit a major tournament.

 

[Blackadder]

I refuse to say how I voted

 

[jcdenton08]

I vote for the Standing at the Back Dressed Stupidly and Looking Stupid Party.

 

[jakarta]

Morning All. Team Blackadder now doing nice tippy tappy in the midfield with the odd back pass to the keeper. 71 vs 28%.

 

[Garry Nelson's Left Foot]

I've just finished watching the fourth series of Blackadder. I know it;s been said multiple times on this thread but holy f*** tht ending is powerful. One of the greatest bits of 'comedy' you could ever see. Incredibly powerful even when you know exactly what's coming.

 

[US Seagull]

the birth of the mockumentary genre

With This is Spinal Tap coming out in 1984, I'd have to question that assertion.

 

[Mellotron]

With This is Spinal Tap coming out in 1984, I'd have to question that assertion.

Fair point, noted - Tap is a brilliant, brilliant film.

However there is no question that there was an explosion of similar shows following The Office, and that it popularised the genre in the "modern" era.

[Derek raises his hand after Ian Faith quits as the band's manager]

Derek Smalls : Can I raise a practical question at this point? Are we gonna do "Stonehenge" tomorrow?

 

[jakarta]

With This is Spinal Tap coming out in 1984, I'd have to question that assertion.

'This one goes up to eleven'...

 

[Mellotron]

There we have it.

Only Fools & Horses vs Blackadder is our second semi final.

Will sort it later tonight or tomorrow.