You mentioned the British humour in war, a group of British soldiers "captured" a printing press and paper and started publishing a satirical/funny newspaper called the "Wipers Times" (Ypres)- A film has been made and is on RUclips "The Wipers Times (2013). Worth watching, no need to react...
Great review. As a Brit, it's natural for me to understand the humour and context of Blackadder, so good on you for getting the UK black humour bolllocks. Really like the non-Anglo perspective that you presented.
@@ToonStory-fh4gn kind of you to say so, but France suffered way much more than the British. I remember from school days that we worn khaki brown while French troops wore blue uniforms. Something to do with 'Elan'. From my memory we'd found out in the Boer War that camouflage was better that the Elan spirit. Plus ca change.
@@djhazmatthe uniform colour didn’t make a huge difference with the nature of the warfare at the time, but the A l’Outrance ‘all out attack at all costs’ philosophy did
One of the writers of Blackadder is Ben Elton, who is very knowledgeable on the subject of history and it shows in scenes like these. His uncle was the Cambridge historian, Sir Geoffrey Elton. Geoffrey, along with his family, (Including Ben's Father) were Jews who fled the Nazi's in 1939.
I think I like Baldrick's explanation best. Just to let you know the character known as George (as played by Hugh Laurie of 'House' fame) is meant to be affable, enthusiastically brave but completely stupid - a representation of Upper Class, Public School breeding (a rather unfair (but not totally unfounded) stereotype created by PJ Wodehouse in his Jeeves and Wooster series of comic novels (Hugh Laurie went on to play Wooster rather brilliantly in the later TV series of that name) He also played the slightly loony Prince Regent in series 3 of Blackadder). It is worth mentioning that officers of George's rank (Lieutenant) suffered disproportionately high casualties during WW1 largely due to that very enthusiasm, particularly at the beginning of the War.
Thanks for the context! I knew that UK officers had suffered a huge number of casualties and with your comment I understand better. Once again, what intelligence in this series!
@@cliffordwaterton3543 Public school because up until they came along the only schools were Church or merchant schools, and they only took certain people whose parents worked in the trade, a public school was open to anyone, or at least open to anyone who could pay
Doing Bugger all means to do absolutely nothing what so ever. There are many saiyings that us British use that you and the rest of the world may not understand apart from our Commonwealth family, such as the Australian's and the New Zealander's who would understand. 💂♂️💂♂️🇬🇧🇬🇧🏴🏴🤝🤝🇫🇷🇫🇷💙💛🇺🇦🇺🇦
One of my favourite films as a teenager was called 'Death of a Schoolboy' which was a rather sympathetic look at the people that killed the Archduke. The boy that shot him was called Gavre Princip. What nobody mentions is that he shot and killed the Archduke's wife as well. He died, I believe, of TB while in prison. He was not executed because of his age. Was he a hero or villain, a question that applies to so many historical figures.
@@ToonStory-fh4gn I decided to let google and Wikipedia settle this difference of opinion. Apparently he was a few weeks short of 20 when he did the deed and you had to be 20 to swing.
The war started because a bloke named "Archie Duke" shot an ostrich because he was Hungry! Brilliant line! Man I miss this show, Baldric in particular!! 😂
This is so much fun! I really enjoyed this alot. And may i second what you said about the animals, you are right on. This was a wonderful way to wind down a week, happy weekend everyone, thank you as always for the video and thoughtful commentary
Great reaction. This series was my favourite of the Blackadder series. Looking forward to your Mickey Flanagan on the French reaction...😉 Loving your channel. 👍🏻👍🏻
"Birmingham Bertie" was inspired by a real song "Burlington Bertie from Bow" and "Mrs Miggins sitting on Artichokes" comes from an old music hall song " She sits among the cabbages and leeks/leaks", rather naughty for the era!
Hi hello Ian from Scotland .I can't understand why the German kaiser was not tried for crimes against humanity .and was allowed to flee and live in the Netherlands.
Given the time this show was made, the lines about "two immense power blocs, who each act as a deterrent, thus preventing a war" is a pretty direct reference to the Cold War, and the idea of deterrence preventing Nuclear War because both sides should be too scared to start a nuclear war.
That is sort of true, it is set in a France of the WWII 'Propaganda' Films, so everything is slightly off. For a long while I refused to watch it because of making fun of a serious subject, but then I caught an episode & got the joke.
It was dubbed into French at one point, so I assume it must have been shown on French television. It's quite absurdist in parts and a few people here thought it trivialised the nastier aspects of WW2. However, it was still extremely popular in the UK. It has many classic elements of farce - it's just the context that is a bit different.
The German Empire being a sausage factory in Tanganyika will never not crack me up. PS. You forgot about German South West Africa, which we South Africans pinched off them. 😎
The real problem was that it wasn't Germany and Austro-Hungary on one side and Britain, France and Russia on the other. Geographically, it was Germany and Austro-Hungary in the middle, France and Britain on one side and Russia on the other. The German plan was to rush West and North to capture the Channel ports and then force France to an armistice. They could then defeat the Russians (who were pretty much falling apart anyway). It failed because the route to the Channel ports went through neutral Belgium and the British immediately sent its entire Army to defend it.
@@ToonStory-fh4gn The Schlieffen Plan works pretty well if you don't go through Belgium - particularly if you're using mobile armor and artillery. The horses do slow it down A LOT....
The stars aligned in a terrible fashion. There had been a great many flashpoints in the years preceeding (not least with the previous Balkan wars) but people like the Archduke had always been in place at the right time and place to defuse things. In 1914, those most inclined towards peace and moderation were out of position and those desiring war were happy to take advantage. It did not help that a big, presumed quick, external war was precieved as a great way to unite domestic populations by leaders under severe pressure. The UK was on the cusp of civil war over Irish home rule, France was more bitterly divided than ever post-Dreyfus Affair, Russian autocracy was less popular than ever thanks to Rasputin, Austro-Hungary was lurching towards implosion as the federalist Archduke was sidelined by a reactionary Emperor who did not seem to understand the seriousness of nationalism and to cap things off - Germany was under the rule of a foolish, reckless, preening megalomaniac.
That was a very funest alignment of stars indeed, and this created a monster that I believe none of the belligerent could anticipate. Also the perception of war was very different before WW1 as the societies were far more militaristic than nowadays I think. Thank you for this comment mate
Guys, don't hesitate to let me know if you have any other moments from this or any other series that you'd like to see on my channel!
You mentioned the British humour in war, a group of British soldiers "captured" a printing press and paper and started publishing a satirical/funny newspaper called the "Wipers Times" (Ypres)- A film has been made and is on RUclips "The Wipers Times (2013). Worth watching, no need to react...
The last scenes in Blackadder Goes Forth are very moving - the finest and saddest end of a comedy series I have ever seen
I'd recommend "37 Days" about the period between the assassination and the declaration of war.
Great review. As a Brit, it's natural for me to understand the humour and context of Blackadder, so good on you for getting the UK black humour bolllocks. Really like the non-Anglo perspective that you presented.
I grew up with this type of humour and I love it! And as our countries share the same experience of this war, I can relate to it.
@@ToonStory-fh4gn kind of you to say so, but France suffered way much more than the British. I remember from school days that we worn khaki brown while French troops wore blue uniforms. Something to do with 'Elan'. From my memory we'd found out in the Boer War that camouflage was better that the Elan spirit. Plus ca change.
@@djhazmatthe uniform colour didn’t make a huge difference with the nature of the warfare at the time, but the A l’Outrance ‘all out attack at all costs’ philosophy did
One of the writers of Blackadder is Ben Elton, who is very knowledgeable on the subject of history and it shows in scenes like these. His uncle was the Cambridge historian, Sir Geoffrey Elton. Geoffrey, along with his family, (Including Ben's Father) were Jews who fled the Nazi's in 1939.
Fascinating! Thank you very much 😀
Saddest thing is, we've totally forgotten history and it's all about to happen again.
History rhymes
No, it isn't. Stop being hysterical.
@@dannyarcher6370 Stop dreaming.
Such an excellent show with an amazing cast. To simplify complex events like this with humor requires a real intellect.
It's so nice to get a taste of something you loved as a kid and discover once again how great it was!
I think I like Baldrick's explanation best. Just to let you know the character known as George (as played by Hugh Laurie of 'House' fame) is meant to be affable, enthusiastically brave but completely stupid - a representation of Upper Class, Public School breeding (a rather unfair (but not totally unfounded) stereotype created by PJ Wodehouse in his Jeeves and Wooster series of comic novels (Hugh Laurie went on to play Wooster rather brilliantly in the later TV series of that name) He also played the slightly loony Prince Regent in series 3 of Blackadder). It is worth mentioning that officers of George's rank (Lieutenant) suffered disproportionately high casualties during WW1 largely due to that very enthusiasm, particularly at the beginning of the War.
I have to ask. Don't you mean private school breeding in the case of the upper classes?
@@Abbadonhades not in the UK - I don't know why but fee paying schools are known as 'public' schools.
Thanks for the context! I knew that UK officers had suffered a huge number of casualties and with your comment I understand better. Once again, what intelligence in this series!
@@cliffordwaterton3543 Public school because up until they came along the only schools were Church or merchant schools, and they only took certain people whose parents worked in the trade, a public school was open to anyone, or at least open to anyone who could pay
That and they were expected to be the first over the top
Blackadder goes forth truly was the best season they ever made
A masterpiece!
Doing Bugger all means to do absolutely nothing what so ever. There are many saiyings that us British use that you and the rest of the world may not understand apart from our Commonwealth family, such as the Australian's and the New Zealander's who would understand. 💂♂️💂♂️🇬🇧🇬🇧🏴🏴🤝🤝🇫🇷🇫🇷💙💛🇺🇦🇺🇦
Thank you! I love learning your expressions, and will try to use them again at the earliest opportunity 😀
@@ToonStory-fh4gn Don't use "bugger-all" in front of the king or queen. Or, indeed, the archbishop of Canterbury.
Otherwise, carry on.
Oops. I took it literally and buggered everyone. My bad
One of my favourite films as a teenager was called 'Death of a Schoolboy' which was a rather sympathetic look at the people that killed the Archduke. The boy that shot him was called Gavre Princip. What nobody mentions is that he shot and killed the Archduke's wife as well. He died, I believe, of TB while in prison. He was not executed because of his age. Was he a hero or villain, a question that applies to so many historical figures.
Thank you for your comment. Perhaps he wasn't executed so as not to make him a martyr?
@@ToonStory-fh4gn I decided to let google and Wikipedia settle this difference of opinion. Apparently he was a few weeks short of 20 when he did the deed and you had to be 20 to swing.
The war started because a bloke named "Archie Duke" shot an ostrich because he was Hungry!
Brilliant line! Man I miss this show, Baldric in particular!! 😂
Poor ostricht 😂
Haha yeah!@@ToonStory-fh4gn
Great shout out to Indy and team, what a great channel, he is now doing the Korea War.
Yeah, hell of a team they have! Thank you
This is so much fun! I really enjoyed this alot. And may i second what you said about the animals, you are right on. This was a wonderful way to wind down a week, happy weekend everyone, thank you as always for the video and thoughtful commentary
Thank you, have a nice weekend too :)
Great reaction. This series was my favourite of the Blackadder series. Looking forward to your Mickey Flanagan on the French reaction...😉
Loving your channel. 👍🏻👍🏻
Thank you very much, I appreciate it :)
You should check out 'Allo 'Allo! it is a British sitcom set during the 2nd world war about a french cafe owner.
It's very high on my list of videos to review!
Its time for 'Allo 'Allo
Already done some of it :)
German Tanganyika sat right in the way of the British dream of building a railway from Cairo to Cape Town.
Very true! Thanks
One of the writers, Ben Elton, was Sir Geoffrey Elton's nephew, so he had a pretty good person to ask about this sort of thing.
Thank you for the information! Cheers!
"Birmingham Bertie" was inspired by a real song "Burlington Bertie from Bow" and "Mrs Miggins sitting on Artichokes" comes from an old music hall song " She sits among the cabbages and leeks/leaks", rather naughty for the era!
Oh, naughty naughty indeed! Thank you for this funny anecdote! Greetings from France :)
This is also a commentary on the Cold War.
Really? I did not know that! Thank you!
@@ToonStory-fh4gn Made in the late 80's. Hits a bit different now.
Hi hello Ian from Scotland .I can't understand why the German kaiser was not tried for crimes against humanity .and was allowed to flee and live in the Netherlands.
Really good reaction, and yes us Brits like to take the piss out of absolutely everything, including each other, past and present.
And that's sooooooo refreshing! Thank you for that, Brits, you rock!
Given the time this show was made, the lines about "two immense power blocs, who each act as a deterrent, thus preventing a war" is a pretty direct reference to the Cold War, and the idea of deterrence preventing Nuclear War because both sides should be too scared to start a nuclear war.
Thank you, this hidden meaning had completely escaped me. I appreciate you taking the time to explain it to me!
New subscriber! I'd like to see you react to 'allo 'allo. This is a sitcom set in a cafe in occupied France. 👍
That is sort of true, it is set in a France of the WWII 'Propaganda' Films, so everything is slightly off. For a long while I refused to watch it because of making fun of a serious subject, but then I caught an episode & got the joke.
It was dubbed into French at one point, so I assume it must have been shown on French television. It's quite absurdist in parts and a few people here thought it trivialised the nastier aspects of WW2. However, it was still extremely popular in the UK. It has many classic elements of farce - it's just the context that is a bit different.
At times, it is a masterclass in farce. I've always had a real soft spot for it.
@@HeeBeeGeeBee392 It was also subtitled into German. I watched it on German TV when I lived there.
Can't wait to put my hands on it! Thank you, greetings from Lyon :)
The German Empire being a sausage factory in Tanganyika will never not crack me up.
PS. You forgot about German South West Africa, which we South Africans pinched off them. 😎
Haha true thanks!
I think the reference to the "ostrich" comes from the German name for Austria - "Osterreich".
Yes good point!
Technically, Österreich (sorry for being a stickler).
The film you couldn't remember was "All quiet on the Western Front." There have been three versions made. I think the original was best.
Thanks, yes that's the one. I think I just saw the last one, but I read the book which is a masterpiece!
Was the third term you were thinking of derived from that best type of legendary Frenchman - M. Chauvin?
Chauvinism ?
'Bugger all' means 'nothing' as in:
"When I was a child, there was bugger all to do on Sundays".
"- Sir, now what you've been elected, what are you gonna do ?
- Bugger all"
Is it a correct use of the expression?
@@ToonStory-fh4gnPerfect use, except that a politician would never be that honest.
The real problem was that it wasn't Germany and Austro-Hungary on one side and Britain, France and Russia on the other. Geographically, it was Germany and Austro-Hungary in the middle, France and Britain on one side and Russia on the other. The German plan was to rush West and North to capture the Channel ports and then force France to an armistice. They could then defeat the Russians (who were pretty much falling apart anyway). It failed because the route to the Channel ports went through neutral Belgium and the British immediately sent its entire Army to defend it.
The Schlieffen Plan! Great on paper, impossible to carry out in reality
@@ToonStory-fh4gn The Schlieffen Plan works pretty well if you don't go through Belgium - particularly if you're using mobile armor and artillery. The horses do slow it down A LOT....
The stars aligned in a terrible fashion. There had been a great many flashpoints in the years preceeding (not least with the previous Balkan wars) but people like the Archduke had always been in place at the right time and place to defuse things. In 1914, those most inclined towards peace and moderation were out of position and those desiring war were happy to take advantage. It did not help that a big, presumed quick, external war was precieved as a great way to unite domestic populations by leaders under severe pressure. The UK was on the cusp of civil war over Irish home rule, France was more bitterly divided than ever post-Dreyfus Affair, Russian autocracy was less popular than ever thanks to Rasputin, Austro-Hungary was lurching towards implosion as the federalist Archduke was sidelined by a reactionary Emperor who did not seem to understand the seriousness of nationalism and to cap things off - Germany was under the rule of a foolish, reckless, preening megalomaniac.
That was a very funest alignment of stars indeed, and this created a monster that I believe none of the belligerent could anticipate. Also the perception of war was very different before WW1 as the societies were far more militaristic than nowadays I think. Thank you for this comment mate
sometimes it takes a comedian to give a reasonable explanation to something serious. 😊
That's very well said, nice one!
similar to middle east right now, instead of boring diplomacy, they rush off to fight houthis, (who ever they are).
Pants and pencils
I noticed there wasn't that much anti French humour in this series, compared to the previous one.
omg SHUT UP. What is this ego-fest?
@@MissBlennerhassett876 👋
Do the french not have a sense of humour?
Sorry, what is that thing you call "humour" ?