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One of the best comedy series ever to emerge from England, Black Adder traces the deeply cynical and self-serving lineage of various Edmund Blackadders from the muck of the Middle Ages to the frontline of World War I. In his pre-Bean triumph, British comic actor Rowan Atkinson played all five versions of Edmund, beginning with the villainous and cowardly Duke of Edinburgh, whose scheming mind and awful haircut seem to stand him in good stead to become the next Archbishop of Canterbury--a deadly occupation if ever there was one. Among tales of royal dethronings, Black Death, witch smellers (who root out spell makers with their noses), and ghosts, Edmund is a perennial survivor who never quite gets ahead in multiple episodes. Jump to the Elizabethan era and Atkinson picks up the saga as Lord Edmund, who is perpetually courting favor from mad Queen Bess (Miranda Richardson) and is always walking a tightrope from which he can either gain the world or lose his head. Subjected to bizarre services for her majesty (at one point, Edmund is asked to do for potatoes what Sir Walter Raleigh did for tobacco), Edmund--as with his ancestor--can never quite fulfill his larger ambitions. The next incarnation we encounter is in late-18th-century Regency England. This time, Blackadder is a mere butler to the idiotic Prince Regent (Hugh Laurie in a brilliantly buffoonish performance) and is caught in various misadventures with Samuel Johnson, Shakespearean actors, the Scarlet Pimpernel, and William Pitt the younger. With a brief stop in Victorian London for a Christmas special, the series concludes with several episodes set during the Great War. The new Edmund is a career Army officer, but a scoundrel all the same. Shirking his duties whenever possible and taking advantage of any opportunity for undeserved reward, this final, deeply sour, and very funny Blackadder negotiates survival among a cadre of fools and dimwits. No small mention can be made of Atkinson's supporting cast, easily among the finest comic performers of their generation: besides Laurie and Richardson, Stephen Fry, Tony Robinson, and Tim McInnerny. --Tom Keogh
| CATEGORY: | DVD |
| DIRECTOR: | Martin Shardlow |
| MANUFACTURER: | BBC Warner |
| MPAA RATING: | NR (Not Rated) |
| FEATURES: | Box set, Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC |
| TYPE: | Comedies, Feature Film Comedy, Movie, TV Shows, Television |
| MEDIA: | DVD |
| MPN: | DE2460D |
| # OF MEDIA: | 5 |
| UPC: | 794051246028 |
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Customer Reviews of Black Adder - The Complete Collector's Set
Hilarious. I was first introduced to the "Blackadder" series by my wife, who had seen a couple of the episodes in the 1980's when the BBC first released the show in England. It took me only a single viewing of the first episode to let me know that this would be a series I would very much enjoy. This is a show that starts out funny, but then becomes funnier as we watch it over and over again. In the opening season, we see the series taking shape, and get the distinct impression that there was likely little thought that this show would go on beyond the initial six episodes. Little did anyone realize that the Blackadder show would turn into a mini-epic, eventually consuming four complete seasons, a number of specials, and would come to be rated as one of the best comedies ever created by the BBC. There was surely an understanding of the great comedic talent assembled for the show, but I don't think anyone realized just how good the show would become. <
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>To a certain extent, "Blackadder" defies categorization as a TV show. It certainly is a comedy, and a sardonic, cynical one at that. However, the series is so vested in British history that one almost feels you are receiving a series of lessons on British history rather than just watching a comedy show. And while it is not necessary to be fully aware of the major events of British history in order to enjoy the show, it certainly helps to bring a richer enjoyment to the experience, and you also won't miss the numerous history-oriented "asides," "caricatures," and allusions that fill the show. The other side of the coin, so to speak, is that by watching the entire series, you can get a "mini" British history lesson almost on a subconscious level. <
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>Edmund Blackadder begins in season one as the Duke of Edinburgh (due to his accidental killing of Richard III over the misappropriation of a horse), and episodes revolve around Blackadder either attempting to seize control of the throne or, in the other cases, trying to keep from being killed or executed. Without wishing to give any of the story lines or plots away, we can say that each season sees Blackadder present in the form of one of the descendants of the Blackadder line, and so Edmund's character shows up, first in the Middle Ages, then in the Renaissance, and finally, in World War I. Over this span of some 600 years (specifically, 1485 - 1917), we see that for one to be a "Blackadder" carries a whole series of connotations with it, this being the premise upon which all the comedy of the show is based in all its contorted situations and events. <
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>The show itself is simply hilarious. But this is a distinctively "British" show. If you are an American viewer and are not familiar with this type of humor, there may be a short period of adjustment, but after one or two episodes, understanding the humor becomes second-nature. True, there is much similarity in Rowan Atkinson's style of humor and the type of humor commonly seen in America, but there is certainly also that little added "twist" that may take typical American viewers a little time to absorb. Once you do, it is straight laughs all the way. And it is not all high-brow: there are sight gags, physical humor, and yes, even occasional crassness. This is history for people who don't take history all too seriously, and Blackadder in a way epitomizes all that we average people feel as we go through life, regardless of the historical backdrop operating during our lives. <
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>Edmund Blackadder is not the only recurring character throughout the seasons. His servant/helper/assistance is Baldrick, who is present in every episode in the entire series. Another actors who appear as key characters in one season will frequently appear as a different character in another season. Each of the supporting actors is outstanding, and although Blackadder is clearly Atkinson's show, all the actors work together to pull the effort off seamlessly. Many of the special characters are famous British actors and/or comedians, but it is not necessary to know that as you watch the episodes. <
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>Some viewers may be aware of Atkinson's other very famous and popular series, "Mr. Bean." Let's be clear and explain that there is virtually no relationship in any way between these two shows, which have different premises, a different comedic approach, and are generally aimed at different audiences. To think that Rowan Atkinson studied engineering at Oxford (successfully completing his coursework) and ended up playing Edmund Blackadder is a stretch, at best. And yet, once you see him in action, you can easily see how this came about. He is like a little kid in class, always wishing to pull the string on the person's clothes sitting next to him, or perhaps placing the proverbial whoopee cushion under the teacher's chair. In a very real way, it all seems a natural, un-acted role for him. <
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>Blackadder season four was voted in 2000 by the British Film Institute as the 16th best British TV series in all the BBC's history. The previous three seasons are every bit as good, and it is likely that the strong political themes underpinning season four played into the rating. Let's just say that, in spite of its occasional crudity and offensiveness (yes, we may be offended at a few things here and there - the show is an equal opportunity lancet), Blackadder must be easily rated as one of the BBC's master productions. Its fun to watch, helps us learn, and perhaps even more, makes us think. But it is simply sheer comedic entertainment that begs for another season. Purchase all four seasons together in the single set. You'll end up wanting them all, and this approach will save you a few pounds. <
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Greatest Fractured History Comedy Ever
Very enjoyable. The writers had a feindishly cunning plan, making Black Adder. See Rowan Adkins at his best as the Black Adder a recurring historical character who is plotting his way to the top with the help of his friends( including Hugh Laurie, decidedly very un House like).
Utterly briliant
Great comedy in the spirit of John Cleese, clever writing with the right touch of farce.