Would you read full books in a library before choosing which one to take home to read, or would you form some initial opinion by browsing through several first, before wasting precious time? We are browsing through British comedies before deciding which to invest in-and including you guys in that process. Does that make sense? We thank you for all the comments about watching full episodes, it goes to show how much you love these shows.
The Postmodern Family you don't need to watch all seasons of black adder. They are all totally different and don't follow on. Just set in important time periods of British history. Don't bother with season 1 it was not the best...but DEFINITELY 100% watch the last watch black adder goes fourth. ESPECIALLY The ending......trust me watch the whole black adder goes fourth and comment or do a video on the final episode....it' has a very special finally. And was the last one ever made.
Fawlty Towers is brilliant and they deliberately only made 2 series with 6 episodes in each so that the quality of stories and the comedy wasn't diluted by lower quality episodes, if you give the series a chance and your not put off by its age then you'll love the quality of the writing and the acting, it really is a brilliant series. Blackadder on the other hand is a set of 4 series set in 4 different historical time periods, which are the Middle Ages, the Elizabethan, the Georgian and WW1 era. Ironically the first series is seen as the weakest and least popular by not just the viewers but by those behind the series itself and it is nowhere near as good as the 2nd, 3rd and 4th series. The comedy series Fools and Horses ran for 10 years with around 16 Xmas Specials spaced over 22 years with the last one being aired in 2003. it also very much a British comedy and out of the 3 you mention is probably the one least suited for other nationalities. Hope this helps a little..
And all those comments re: watching full episodes are correct. Your point regarding choosing books in a library.... I see what you're trying to say to defend this video but it's a flawed metaphor. You choose a book based on the description on the back cover, or maybe the first couple of pages, not random pages midway through the book which may spoil things and probably won't make sense. Likewise, most of the jokes in this montage only work in context once you know the plot (overall series and individual episode), characters and background, and so your experiment of "Will I like this?" is flawed because you're starting on an automatic back-foot. Lastly, back to your defence of "wasting precious time". this video was 15 minutes long. An episode is 30 minutes long. A better experiment without all the flaws I pointed out above would have been to simply watch one full episode and get a proper idea of whether you'd like it or not. Because you definitely wasted 15 minutes of your precious time with this idea. You have a beautiful family and I hope you enjoy living in the UK and are being made to feel welcome by all. I agree with other commenters, miss out Series (season) 1 of Blackadder. All fans, even the writers and actors themselves have went on record to say that it's not good and not representative of the show overall. Season 2 is where to watch from. You don't need to know previous series (seasons if you're American) because it's an anthology. Each series (season) is unconnected. Also, this isn't a criticism of your video or anything like that, but just a friendly recommendation. Blackadder isn't really a children's or family comedy. the humour and references only really appeal to adults. that's not to say you shouldn't watch it with your daughter at all! Just expect her not to get most of it and to ask a lot of question or probably get bored :)
I would thoroughly recommend watching Yes, Minister and Yes, Prime Minister, especially if you enjoy clever, witty comedy. Although made in the 1980s the political topics are still frighteningly relevant to today. There are plenty of clips on RUclips from which you can get a flavour of the humour (or flavor of the humor being American!). As fans of Mr Rees-Mogg and his gentle wit I think you'd enjoy it.
@@madzec A lot of the humour is not even spoken, e.g. mannerisms or things like Baldrick being booted onto the floor so Black Adder could lay on the bed.
One of my favourite scenes in Blackadder goes forth is when Rowan Atkinson and Hugh Lawrie are in no man's land and Hugh asks what he should do if he steps on a mine and Rowan replies dryly, the usual procedures is to jump 200 feet in the air and spread yourself over a wide area.
Peter Brown Or when Blackadder reminds George to take his swagger stick and George says “thanks cap, I wouldn’t want to face a German machine gun without this”
The prelude to that even funnier. George looking at the map and thinking they were in a field of mushrooms. Blackadder tells him to read the legend on the map, and George says, "It says 'mine', so the mushrooms belong to the person who made the map".
Haha my favourite is when Melchett is preparing for his date with Georgina...and he's researching what he's going to say to her in the mirror...but Darling interrupts...and he says something like "will you shut up darling? You really are such a complete arse"...and Darling says "well, I wouldn't say that sir" 😂
Robert Urquhart+ this is one of the Americanisms that I really like, it makes sense to have a different word for the whole thing 'Series' and each year's batch of episodes 'Season' to use 'Series' to mean both things is not as good IMHO doh
It doesn't work so well with Black Adder though as each series is almost like a different show. Few TV shows jump through time periods like this one does.
"The Blackadder" which is the first series wasn't the best but it sets the characters. In the first series Lord Blackader is heir to the throne of England and he works his way down the social scale in each series. At the end of each series Blackadder is killed so each new series Blackadder is the offspring, several generations on. The very last episode of the the last series, Blackadder Goes Forth" is one of the most moving scenes in UK TV. The whole four series are worth watching, from the beginning and of course Blackadder Christmas Carol.
Personally I would skip the first series. Even they admit that the first series was very confused and they didnt really understand what they wanted the characters to be and not be until they had done.
Sarah Baker I loved the first series. It made it realistic some of the settings and being out doors for some of the episodes. Also had Brian blessed and the jumping Jews of Jerusalem ..
To understand a lot of the insults in Blackadder you need to know something of British history and culture or you'll never get the joke. Example: the Lady Godiva at Royal Ascot joke. Lady Godiva was a real noblewoman from about 1000 years ago but she's only really known because of a 13th Century legend about how she pleaded with her husband to lower taxes for the poor and he said he'd only do it if she rode naked through the streets. She called his bluff but asked everyone to stay indoors while she did it. One man decided to spy on her nudity and was supposedly struck blind. That man was called Peeping Tom and is the origin of that phrase. Royal Ascot is a horseracing event that is famous because royalty like the Queen attend it as they usually have their own horses running. Because of this it attracts the upper classes and wealthy elites and the women who attend compete over who can wear the most showy/outrageous outfits. Therefore, the joke is that if the noblewoman Lady Godiva turned up at Ascot she'd be claiming that she had to turn up naked because she didn't have any outfits that were suitably outrageous.
Lady Godiva's ride though Coventry was featured in a radio show decades ago, it was called ' Ray's a Laugh ' with Ted Ray. The assembled crowd were instructed to close their shutters - a voice shouted " brace and bit ! brace and bit ! " " She certainly is ! " came the response.
Yes but they were also confused by the 'up diddly up up'[sic] which Felipe thought it was about breasts (probably because he was thinking of a woman with literally nothing to wear) rather than a reference to the film 'Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines'.
SadPeterPan1977, I agree you do need to know a little British history to get the jokes, but I think your example was a little to basic. I don't think there is a person in the English speaking world that doesn't know the story of Lady Godiva and if anyone has seen My Fair Lady they are certainly familiar with Ascot. Most of the jokes or in this case insults were understandable and easily crossed culture.
I agree, I never get tired of watching Fawlty towers and I think it's one of the best sitcoms ever. However even John Cleese himself has said that there are scenes and gags which didn't go as planned. Nothing is perfect, thank goodness, because perfect things (tv shows included) are boring.
Internet Entity I still use ‘ bugger me with a fish fork’...........after hearing it 30 odd years ago.......I think it’s the best line in the whole 4 series.
Missing one of my favourites when Pitt says his brother is standing for election: "And which Pitt would that be: Pitt the toddler? Pitt the embryo? Pitt the glint in the milkmans eye?"
The ending to Blackadder goes fourth is the only comedy series moment that made me cry. Watching g the build up and them running to their deaths as it fades to a poppy field was very real to watch.
King George V what on earth gave them the idea that a compilation is a good thing for a child to watch, they will be asking so many questions and then to just tell her to be quiet because your making a video exploiting your "progressive" family is just a little deranged, but maybe not abuse, just very worrying.
This is the wrong way to watch it. Skipping between series and watching only short clips out of context. It's not a sketch show. You need to watch the full episodes in sequence.
First time I saw him he was hosting a special in American TV and, at the time, I had never heard of him and it was pre-internet so I had no way to know who he was or what was going on. It was hilarious and I remember various family members debating on f he was a man or a mannish woman. :)
Blackadder is a really great series, but like many others have said here, much of it may be lost on an audience less familiar with British culture and History. The joke about Lady Hamilton particularly springs to mind.
You guys have a lovely and intuitive daughter. As a Brit, it's good to have an unbiased and innocent view. Sarcasm is normal for us and it's nice to see that it doesn't always travel.
Rowan Atikinson's big break was in a satirical show called "Not the Nine O'clock News". Blackadder is probably the more well known of his early stuff and ended about the same time that Mr Bean started. If you watch Blackadder, I'd leave the first series to the end as it's quite a bit different to the other series and that puts people off.
The reason i watched the others is because the first was so good. Sure the Blackadder in the first one is not the same type of person. But they very cleverly portrayed characters to the period and history of the time. Half the time these things are true people.
One notable thing about the Blackadder series is that it actually depicts the fall from grace of a British family tree... in the first series Edmund is the king's son (and sometimes heir), in the second one he's high nobility, in the third he's the butler to the Prince Regent and in the fourth he's a career captain in the army.
@@DMNDR butler to the king would presumably be like "lady in waiting" to the queen ... it's a position taken by the aristocracy, not an actual servant but a secretary/companion/etc
American humour is slapstick where the funny bit is obvious but British humour is based on sarcasm, self effrontery, guile, wit and a few kegs of lager.
It's 4 series, each one in a different time period, but the social roles have changed with most of them. Blackadder goes from medieval prince (1st series, which is by far the worst), A lord in Queen Elizabeth I court (2nd series), butler to the Prince Of Wales at the time of American Independence/Napoleonic Wars (3rd series) to a WW1 army Captain in the 4th series. Baldrick is always his servant or underling, who gets more stupid and filthy with each descendant , George was a Prince, then an army Lt, but from a very rich background, Melchet (Stephen Fry) was Queen Elizabeth 1's main adviser, then Duke Of Wellington, then an mentally ill army Colonel, etc. Blackadder's status falls with each series, but the other people's status (apart from Baldrick) always stays above his status. You'd need to watch each episode to get the full flavor of the show (each episode from a series doesn't have much bearing on any of the other episodes apart from the setting).
“He's a cheery old card,” grunted Harry to Jack. As they slogged up to Arras with rifle and pack. But he did for them both by his plan of attack. - Siegfried Sassoon
start at season 2 and follow through to season 4. the last episode of season 4 is very poignant but you need to watch the whole season to better feel the emotion.
I had the audiobooks for these series that I would listen to when driving my children to visit their mother. My daughter knew all the words and would mouth them as the tapes played. She even did the incidental music. She was five.
flicksey Father Ted was created by the British independent production company 'Hatrick Production's' for Channel 4 making it a British Comedy even though the series is based on 3 father's in Ireland. The writer's themselves are Irish but how do we base if it's an Irish Comedy or British Comedy, the writer's, the characters and location the comedy is based on or the production company who created it. Just Google Father Ted and you'll see it's a British Comedy.
Rex The Younger Please Google Father Ted and you will see that it's actually a British Comedy as it was produced by a British independent production company 'Hatrick Production's' just because the writer's are Irish and the characters are Irish and based in Ireland doesn't make it an Irish comedy. Just think if the writer's were Japanese would it make it a Japanese comedy or better still if it was based on Spanish characters in Spain would it make a Spanish comedy. No it wouldn't.
It is set in Ireland with an Irish writer and Irish cast dealing with mainly Irish cultural issues. but yeah it is British.. get over yourself slightly will ya. Ridley and Tony Scott are Brits (geordies) but they make Hollywood movies not "British" ones. you see how this works?
It's even more amazing in that that whole ending wasn't originally how they were going to film it. They filmed them charging out of the trench at normal speed and dying almost comically. It's awful and they knew it so they tried slowing down the playback and realised that the slow motion explosion made it look much more impressive. They then tried slowing down the audio to match and they ended up with that spine-chilling final scene. Add a poignant piano version of the theme tune over to the top and you get a surprisingly good tribute to those who fought and died in WW1. I remember being shown the last 15 minutes of this episode in school a few days before Armistice Day. We'd all seen it before obviously but it made you think about it in ways that we hadn't at the time.
Agreed - and the context about WW! was so right - "A war which would be a damn sight simpler if we just stayed in England and shot fifty thousand of our men a week."
Each series is set in a different time period. 1nd is Medieval, 2nd is elizabethan, 3rd is Georgian I think Hugh Laurie plays the Prince of Wales, and series 4 is ww1. Only 6 episodes per series sadly made in the 80's and an hour long special was done in '99 for the millennium. Baldrick starts off as the smart one and blackadder the thicko but as the centuries progress that changes. He characters families are all there in some capacity. It was a great series. Here's another insults video if your interested. ruclips.net/video/qnFeJzOfvxQ/видео.html It aint 'alf hot mum was funny too. Made in the 70's so different time with what they could do so you'll need to keep an open mind about that one.
If you go on BBC iPlayer the first two episodes of Blackadder Goes Forth are available to watch now. BBC Four is doing a rerun on Thursday nights. Episodes 3 & 4 are on this coming Thursday at 10pm.
As an Englishman, I apologize on behalf of all the arrogant, humourless people below me who think that Americans just don't get "our superior British humour" such rubbish. Blackadder is by far my favourite classic comedy series. Rowan Atkinson's delivery is second to none one of the all time greats Steven Fry's character in the fourth series is utterly sublime as well. You don't need to get all the references to get the jokes, I didn't as a kid in the 90's it's all about the performances and delivery of the lines. I'd love to see how you react after you've gotten to know the characters . I remember as a a 10 year old welling up at the final scene of the fourth season, knowing that the series was over in such a dark way. I think that's the genius of the show, it's crude, silly, ridiculous but over time you bond with, and identify with all of the characters. It's the mark of a great comedy that can have you in hysterical laughter one moment and the next in genuine tears of greif the next.
That is a very kind comment. At this point I'm not surprised by the attitude demonstrated here--it's sprinkled here and there in many comment sections of our videos. But I'm always pleased by the very kind and genuine comments from Brits with a great deal of patience for a family trying to actually spend time learning about you!
Yeah I don't get it why anyone who truly loves something would take such an elitist view over other who take an interest. I'm usually really not into these kinds of channels but I have to say I find your family so charming that I genuinely enjoy watching your content. It's beautifully put together and has a certain innocence to it that's so refreshing to see in this day and age. One thing I'm sure you havn't missed is how jaded we are in the UK, everything is just another excuse to be miserable and what I love about Americans (in general) is that undying gritty optimism that made the USA the greatest nation on earth. I'm glad that you can see the good in this little island nation the same way that I can.
Another very flattering comment, thank you so much. You hit it right on the head--there is an onslaught of jaded, cynical reactions toward what we do in genuine innocence. We love the patrimony of this country, particularly as America is very much a child of this Island. It pains us to see what self-loathing there is, what betrayal of that patrimony, here in this green and beautiful land. I'm glad we are getting through some of you Brits, and hope there are more. I hope we can drag Brits kicking and screaming into loving their nation with that pure innocence it deserves!
Alexander Howarth You must understand the references to fully understand many of the jokes, however you can still find humour in the delivery and the obvious meaning behind them. Those that do require knowledge of the subject are infinitely funnier when you have it.
They don't most of the time, however in this case I agree with "The Postmodern Family" that it isn't as funny as people think it is. People are constantly recommending comedy shows mainly by the BBC in the 1980's or earlier, which I think are massively overrated or quite simply shit. If the people recommending those shows repeatedly bothered to widen their search, they'd realise that most of the best comedies of all time have come out in the last 30 years, a lot of which aren't by the BBC.
The Blackadder (1st Season) he is Prince Edmund, Duke of Edinburgh Blackadder II (2nd Season) He is Edmund, Lord Blackadder (great grandson of the first Blackadder) Blackadder the Third (3rd Season) he is Mr. Edmund Blackadder Esquire, butler to the Prince Regent, George, the Prince of Wales. And Blackadder Goes Forth (4th Season) He is Captain Edmund Blackadder of the British Armed Forces in World War I.
you really should watch the final episode of "Blackadder goes Forth" the ending for one of the best ever comedy classics is amazing, and really tugs at your heart strings.
You need to watch the entire thing. Its best to start with series 2, which is funnier then series 1. I was thinking of getting my 14 year old nephew this for Christmas
Do "Auf Wiedersehen Pet" next. The look of bewilderment and confusion on you faces is something all us Brits will treasure for many years to come. 😂 Episode 1 series 1 is on RUclips.
It's a shame you don't think you'd like to watch the full series of Fawlty Towers. Personally, I believe FT to be amongst the greatest sitcoms ever written, and every second of every scene is perfectly choreographed for placement of the players, the timing of every line delivered is superb, and the writing is genuinely witty and exquisitely crafted.
They need to see the entire episode for context otherwise it won't have the full effect! That scene should NOT be the first scene anyone sees of Blackadder!
I don't think I've ever been reduced to tears before by watching a comedy, as I was while watching the last 15 mins of the last Blackadder Goes Forth episode. Harrowing and very, very moving indeed.
The line about Lady Godiva was about the women who rode into town on a horse completely naked, so her complaint about having literally nothing to wear was the joke. ‘I don’t care how many times they go up diddely up up, they’re still gits’ is a reference to the song ‘those magnificent men in their flying machines’ Blackadder thinks the Flying Corps are show offs and not worthy of the admiration.
Everything you have seen has obviously floated over your head because Rowan Atkinson wrote comedy based on well known historical facts to us the British, so find something you weren't sure about in this montage, then look up the references within and let us know what your reaction was. Trust me you will have fits of laughter because you then understand it :)
If your licence fee is paid up you can get the entire series of Blackadder 2 on iPlayer www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0078vmr/blackadder-blackadder-ii-1-bells It´s best to watch full episodes to get the insults in context.
I love the bullet joke, that's up there with 4 candles for me 😂 You know, as soon as he says you know how they say, exactly where this one's going...cracks me up every time 😂
To clarify the background, Blackadder has 4 separate series, each one set in a different historical periods: the Middle Ages, Queen Elizabeth I, Prince George and the First World War. The characters in each series are descendents of the previous one but the position in society can go up or down. The first series is a bit weaker than the rest. Ben Elton came on as a writer from the second series and the Black Adder character found its niche as a cynical, smart-mouther hussler.
I haven't seen that for years, it always seemed to be on when I went round my granny's house in the early 90's. And I saw the first episode where he gets "retired" from his job on UK Gold only about 10 years ago. "That black box is my replacement?" "Oh yes, it does everything you do... except complain about the air conditioning"
Definitely worth investing in. You might find the first series a struggle, often shot on location, and not much budget. From the second series onwards, having been commissioned, really came into its own with more developed characters. The final 'goes forth' is just legendary.
HAHAHAHA you hit the nail on the head. this is weird and has a very un-natural feel. if you want a good reaction channel watch "nikki and steven react" 1000x better then these robots haha
The best bit about the last series set in the trenches of WW1 is that it spends the entire time mocking war and how bad it is and the horrible leadership of the British Generals. The final scene is quite moving as Blackadder delivers a speech mocking the murderous frontal attacks that they were just about to embark out on one. Then they charge into gunfire. Put all this to Rowans marvelous wit and sarcasm and its British comedy gold.
There's 4 distinct stand alone series, the first set in medieval times, 2nd Elizabethan, 3 in Georgian times and the last series set during ww1. There's a core of main character types, but all got assigned totally different roles in each era. Each series has a different culture and atmosphere and examined how circumstances changing affects each character and also chronicles the stories of their families over time.
Two men in the same double bed Morecambe and Wise without any gay connotations, just like Laurel and Hardy, and the awful jokes of Eric Morecambe always made me smile
it has added the phrase 'I've got a cunning plan' into the language, usually said with a slight nasal tone. The only time blackadder nearly got upstaged was the Elizabethan era with 'Queenie' , I think her name was Amanda Richardson, she was absolutely superb!
The different times periods are from different incarnations of the TV show Blackadder. The same actors are in all of them, with Rowan Attckinsons Blackadder character being the central in all.
Blackadder is an iconic British sitcom, starring some extremely talented comedic actors and writers, well-known both in the UK and beyond. The most iconic is of course Rowan Atkinson, best known as Mr. Bean, but also for the series The Thin Blue Line. He's done many films, as well. The best season of Blackadder was arguably the second, which was set in Elizabethan England. It's hilarious.
The Major in the last Blackadder (based around the first world war) was Stephen Fry, who was a close friend and comedy partner of Hugh Laurie in the 1980's. They were students at Cambridge University and when graduating spent a few years traveling around the UK universities with their stand up comedy act in the 1980's. I saw them at my university in the mid 80's and thought they were hilarious. They then went on to do some TV comedy, for example, Jeeves and Wooster, where Laurie played an English Aristocrat with his head in the air and Fry played the butler who was extremely intelligent and manipulative. They were popular right through the 90's then Fry had a nervous breakdown. Laure then went to America where he became famous for a few roles he played.
The 3rd series is Regency. Although the series starts in 1755 which is 56 years before the Regency period started (artistic licence!); some characters were real people & are are historically accurate for each series (give or take a few years). For example Prince George, the Prince Regent (Hugh Laurie) was born in 1762 & Dr Johnson (Robbie Coltrane) published the 1st English dictionary in 1755. You don't necessarily need to watch each series in chronological order.
I guess you may have seen it by now, but Blackadder has 4 series (seasons). Each series is set in a different time period whereby he plays descendents of the original Blackadder. 1st season was set around 12th century I think, another during the reign of Elizabeth 1st, one I can't remember off hand and finally the 4th set during WWI. He usually dies at the end of each series. The funniest episode in my opinion is the one with the funny shaped turnip. You should check it out.
The joke about Lady Godiva refers to Godiva riding naked through the streets of Coventry to have taxes reduced as her husband The Earl Leofric had raised them quite substantially. As a few people have already mentioned there are a number of history lessons that can be taken from these 4 series. A good tip would be to Google names as you hear them as see if they are worth discovering something about.
+T khan Eh, it's certainly a good wee laugh, relatable to most folk who went to school in the Isles in recent decades, but I can't at all condone calling it the funniest series in the UK. :P
The Americans always try to remake our shows and always seem to fail. they tried to make Fawlty Towers with the lanky woman from the golden girls as Basil :o they went for a man instead and produced the forgettable series 'Payne'. they took Steptoe and son and turned them black. they took shameless and the office and made them unfunny.
Why are you allowing your child to watch this? Blackadder was scheduled after the "watershed" in the UK, specifically so children would not be watching. Reckless behaviour IMO.
I have no idea how I ended up here on the RUclips rabbit hole! However you have a lovely family and your daughter is so sweet. Thank you for making me smile.
Another great one guys and one I was proud to share with the American USAF Forces during my time in the RAF, (Blackadder goes Forth), stationed in Al Khobar, Dahran, Saudi Arabia in 1994. They loved it as much as we Brits did.
The gag reel is really for fans who know the series. If you want to try out Blackadder, try watching an episode. I recommend anything from series 2 onward (though I secretly like the first series!)
These need to be watched from the start because it is not only fine comedy but has pathos too. It should be 1, 2, 3, Christmas Carol and Goes Forth. Order the box set you won’t be disappointed.
I recommend some Fry and Laurie clips, especially the John and Peter bits. If you can't find them let me know and I'll post a link. Thanks for the video. :)
Each separate series of 'Blackadder' ( four in total ) was set in a different time period in English and European history - they didn't go from one era to another within the same series or episode. To my mind, the fourth series, set in the trenches of World War One, was the best. It touched upon just about every common myth and perception of that war.
Series 4 was a masterclass of historical satire, slapstick, absurdism and wordplay. I also back the opinion on Fawlty Towers. While some episodes are classic, a lot are merely cringey and haven't aged well
The third and fourth series (each just 6 30 minute episodes) are fantastic but Blackadder Goes Forth is some of the best TV comedy of the last 50 years. They mocked everything but the heroism of the millions fighting on all sides. The final scene is poignant and devastating and a remarkable tribute to members of the military who give their lives. Even if you don't watch all 4 series watch the 6 episodes of Blackadder Goes Forth. I remember nearly 30 years ago the whole family laughing for nearly half an hour and then everyone became silent as the reality of it all sank in. Across the country you could have heard a pin drop with that final scene. It is a piece of television history.
I loved Black Adder. It was funny to hear the dialogue of a snob surrounded by idiots but also because Black Adder always got his comeuppance. The final scene of the entire series broke my heart. It was so tragic I wept for an hour. It was voted one of the best moments in British TV. I know big tough rugby players who cried like babies.
Would you read full books in a library before choosing which one to take home to read, or would you form some initial opinion by browsing through several first, before wasting precious time?
We are browsing through British comedies before deciding which to invest in-and including you guys in that process. Does that make sense?
We thank you for all the comments about watching full episodes, it goes to show how much you love these shows.
The Postmodern Family you don't need to watch all seasons of black adder. They are all totally different and don't follow on. Just set in important time periods of British history. Don't bother with season 1 it was not the best...but DEFINITELY 100% watch the last watch black adder goes fourth. ESPECIALLY The ending......trust me watch the whole black adder goes fourth and comment or do a video on the final episode....it' has a very special finally. And was the last one ever made.
Fawlty Towers is brilliant and they deliberately only made 2 series with 6 episodes in each so that the quality of stories and the comedy wasn't diluted by lower quality episodes, if you give the series a chance and your not put off by its age then you'll love the quality of the writing and the acting, it really is a brilliant series. Blackadder on the other hand is a set of 4 series set in 4 different historical time periods, which are the Middle Ages, the Elizabethan, the Georgian and WW1 era. Ironically the first series is seen as the weakest and least popular by not just the viewers but by those behind the series itself and it is nowhere near as good as the 2nd, 3rd and 4th series. The comedy series Fools and Horses ran for 10 years with around 16 Xmas Specials spaced over 22 years with the last one being aired in 2003. it also very much a British comedy and out of the 3 you mention is probably the one least suited for other nationalities. Hope this helps a little..
And all those comments re: watching full episodes are correct. Your point regarding choosing books in a library.... I see what you're trying to say to defend this video but it's a flawed metaphor. You choose a book based on the description on the back cover, or maybe the first couple of pages, not random pages midway through the book which may spoil things and probably won't make sense. Likewise, most of the jokes in this montage only work in context once you know the plot (overall series and individual episode), characters and background, and so your experiment of "Will I like this?" is flawed because you're starting on an automatic back-foot. Lastly, back to your defence of "wasting precious time". this video was 15 minutes long. An episode is 30 minutes long. A better experiment without all the flaws I pointed out above would have been to simply watch one full episode and get a proper idea of whether you'd like it or not. Because you definitely wasted 15 minutes of your precious time with this idea.
You have a beautiful family and I hope you enjoy living in the UK and are being made to feel welcome by all. I agree with other commenters, miss out Series (season) 1 of Blackadder. All fans, even the writers and actors themselves have went on record to say that it's not good and not representative of the show overall. Season 2 is where to watch from. You don't need to know previous series (seasons if you're American) because it's an anthology. Each series (season) is unconnected.
Also, this isn't a criticism of your video or anything like that, but just a friendly recommendation. Blackadder isn't really a children's or family comedy. the humour and references only really appeal to adults. that's not to say you shouldn't watch it with your daughter at all! Just expect her not to get most of it and to ask a lot of question or probably get bored :)
I would thoroughly recommend watching Yes, Minister and Yes, Prime Minister, especially if you enjoy clever, witty comedy. Although made in the 1980s the political topics are still frighteningly relevant to today. There are plenty of clips on RUclips from which you can get a flavour of the humour (or flavor of the humor being American!). As fans of Mr Rees-Mogg and his gentle wit I think you'd enjoy it.
Yeah, nobody likes the first series including the people who made it. I tried to watch it once, I couldn't even get through one episode.
Proof that some British humour DOES go straight over Americans heads.
some not all they missed about minimum 1/3rd of jokes....
@@madzec Yea I did say some.
@@madzec A lot of the humour is not even spoken, e.g. mannerisms or things like Baldrick being booted onto the floor so Black Adder could lay on the bed.
One of my favourite scenes in Blackadder goes forth is when Rowan Atkinson and Hugh Lawrie are in no man's land and Hugh asks what he should do if he steps on a mine and Rowan replies dryly, the usual procedures is to jump 200 feet in the air and spread yourself over a wide area.
I agree...one of the best lines in the whole series...
Peter Brown Or when Blackadder reminds George to take his swagger stick and George says “thanks cap, I wouldn’t want to face a German machine gun without this”
Blackadder : wahhhhh
Baldrick : Barbed wire sir?
Blackadder : No, I've put my elbow in a blob of ice-cream.
Edmund Blackadder, king of sarcasm.
The prelude to that even funnier. George looking at the map and thinking they were in a field of mushrooms. Blackadder tells him to read the legend on the map, and George says, "It says 'mine', so the mushrooms belong to the person who made the map".
Haha my favourite is when Melchett is preparing for his date with Georgina...and he's researching what he's going to say to her in the mirror...but Darling interrupts...and he says something like "will you shut up darling? You really are such a complete arse"...and Darling says "well, I wouldn't say that sir" 😂
"Don't worry Baldrick has a cunning plan" was spray painted on the Berlin wall :)
omg, i have a small piece of the wall, wish it said that, lololol
Careful, Walls have ears... and sausages!
I have a plan so cunning you could put a tail on it and call it a weasel .
and "better crazy than a kraut" among other things
That's why we didn't take the risk and go over the top anyway we always lost at penalties.
Hi, each season was a separate story line and was set in a different era
watchtheskies you have to know a bit about British history to get the best out of it.
little jo Yeah.
Its a series, not a bloody season doh
Robert Urquhart+ this is one of the Americanisms that I really like, it makes sense to have a different word for the whole thing 'Series' and each year's batch of episodes 'Season'
to use 'Series' to mean both things is not as good IMHO doh
It doesn't work so well with Black Adder though as each series is almost like a different show. Few TV shows jump through time periods like this one does.
"The Blackadder" which is the first series wasn't the best but it sets the characters. In the first series Lord Blackader is heir to the throne of England and he works his way down the social scale in each series. At the end of each series Blackadder is killed so each new series Blackadder is the offspring, several generations on. The very last episode of the the last series, Blackadder Goes Forth" is one of the most moving scenes in UK TV. The whole four series are worth watching, from the beginning and of course Blackadder Christmas Carol.
Do not forget the millennium special 'Back and Forth'
Well worth watching but not really suitable for younger children.
Personally I would skip the first series. Even they admit that the first series was very confused and they didnt really understand what they wanted the characters to be and not be until they had done.
Couldn't agree with this more. First series not too great the rest amazing and the end of the fourth was pretty beautiful for a comedy.
Sarah Baker I loved the first series. It made it realistic some of the settings and being out doors for some of the episodes. Also had Brian blessed and the jumping Jews of Jerusalem ..
To understand a lot of the insults in Blackadder you need to know something of British history and culture or you'll never get the joke.
Example: the Lady Godiva at Royal Ascot joke. Lady Godiva was a real noblewoman from about 1000 years ago but she's only really known because of a 13th Century legend about how she pleaded with her husband to lower taxes for the poor and he said he'd only do it if she rode naked through the streets. She called his bluff but asked everyone to stay indoors while she did it. One man decided to spy on her nudity and was supposedly struck blind. That man was called Peeping Tom and is the origin of that phrase.
Royal Ascot is a horseracing event that is famous because royalty like the Queen attend it as they usually have their own horses running. Because of this it attracts the upper classes and wealthy elites and the women who attend compete over who can wear the most showy/outrageous outfits.
Therefore, the joke is that if the noblewoman Lady Godiva turned up at Ascot she'd be claiming that she had to turn up naked because she didn't have any outfits that were suitably outrageous.
Lady Godiva's ride though Coventry was featured in a radio show decades ago, it was called ' Ray's a Laugh ' with Ted Ray. The assembled crowd were instructed to close their shutters - a voice shouted " brace and bit ! brace and bit ! " " She certainly is ! " came the response.
Yes but they were also confused by the 'up diddly up up'[sic] which Felipe thought it was about breasts (probably because he was thinking of a woman with literally nothing to wear) rather than a reference to the film 'Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines'.
I thought it may have been Blackadder calling the Airmen "Gits" which Felipe misheard as "Tits"
SadPeterPan1977, I agree you do need to know a little British history to get the jokes, but I think your example was a little to basic. I don't think there is a person in the English speaking world that doesn't know the story of Lady Godiva and if anyone has seen My Fair Lady they are certainly familiar with Ascot. Most of the jokes or in this case insults were understandable and easily crossed culture.
She never rode naked tho
I will hear nothing detrimental said about Fawlty Towers. Every episode is a gem of comedy. Every scene was carefully thought through.
Many people consider it the perfect sitcom.
I'd agree. 100% English in terms of comedic snobbery & insanely real life scenarios. Every cast member perfect in the role.
I agree, I never get tired of watching Fawlty towers and I think it's one of the best sitcoms ever. However even John Cleese himself has said that there are scenes and gags which didn't go as planned. Nothing is perfect, thank goodness, because perfect things (tv shows included) are boring.
Fawlty Towers is shit
Shoxx Wrong. Wroooong. Wroong.
Oh, well bugger me with a fish fork... how can you understand complex British insults without the supporting context?
Internet Entity I still use ‘ bugger me with a fish fork’...........after hearing it 30 odd years ago.......I think it’s the best line in the whole 4 series.
Yes, do go on and watch the whole series properly. You may not regret it too much.
Missing one of my favourites when Pitt says his brother is standing for election:
"And which Pitt would that be: Pitt the toddler? Pitt the embryo? Pitt the glint in the milkmans eye?"
its a shame pitt the younger wasnt in the collection lol. classic
Your daughter might be more interested to watch "Maid Marian and Her Merry Men", which is probably best described as 'Blackadder for kids'.
Horrible Histories. Fun for all the family.
very good idea, Blackadder is more for her secondary school years I think, Maid Marian was awesome when I was a kid :D great show
I loved that when I was younger!
Seriously, I’d recommend watching a few episodes for context. The first series wasn’t great but 2, 3 and 4 are genius.
The ending to Blackadder goes fourth is the only comedy series moment that made me cry. Watching g the build up and them running to their deaths as it fades to a poppy field was very real to watch.
Bless your daughter lol she hadn't a clue what was going on but had the patience to sit there throughout, do watch Blackadder it's brilliant
CallitHowISeeIt
6:30 "stop talking" these parents clearly abuse her.
King George V what on earth gave them the idea that a compilation is a good thing for a child to watch, they will be asking so many questions and then to just tell her to be quiet because your making a video exploiting your "progressive" family is just a little deranged, but maybe not abuse, just very worrying.
Alceste De Ambris
Exactly, like let the kid go play with dolls, poor child must be so bored watching videos that not even their parents understand.
Alceste De Ambris
Look what the dad does at 3:27
King George V I saw that...was he putting her hand down or something?
This is the wrong way to watch it. Skipping between series and watching only short clips out of context. It's not a sketch show. You need to watch the full episodes in sequence.
Just a baffling choice
“Why is he wearing a woman’s dress?” This may be a question asked often when curious about British humour.
Yeah, it's a really amusing thing about British comedy. I'm America (from Texas no less) and I love British comedies so much.
Google lilly savage
Remeber Dame Edna?
Chris McWilliams oh yeah!! Sadly I've never seen much of his work but what few bits i did see had me in fits!XD
First time I saw him he was hosting a special in American TV and, at the time, I had never heard of him and it was pre-internet so I had no way to know who he was or what was going on. It was hilarious and I remember various family members debating on f he was a man or a mannish woman. :)
Blackadder is a really great series, but like many others have said here, much of it may be lost on an audience less familiar with British culture and History. The joke about Lady Hamilton particularly springs to mind.
You guys have a lovely and intuitive daughter. As a Brit, it's good to have an unbiased and innocent view. Sarcasm is normal for us and it's nice to see that it doesn't always travel.
Rowan Atikinson's big break was in a satirical show called "Not the Nine O'clock News". Blackadder is probably the more well known of his early stuff and ended about the same time that Mr Bean started.
If you watch Blackadder, I'd leave the first series to the end as it's quite a bit different to the other series and that puts people off.
The first season isn't the best, but it certainly has its moments and is well worth watching too.
ProcolHarum1967 I loathed Mr Bean - unfunny rubbish.
The reason i watched the others is because the first was so good. Sure the Blackadder in the first one is not the same type of person. But they very cleverly portrayed characters to the period and history of the time. Half the time these things are true people.
I enjoyed the first series but I know it puts a lot of people off.
I disagree. Leaving the first series until last spoils the timeline of the Blackadder saga. Besides which it WAS a good series!
One notable thing about the Blackadder series is that it actually depicts the fall from grace of a British family tree... in the first series Edmund is the king's son (and sometimes heir), in the second one he's high nobility, in the third he's the butler to the Prince Regent and in the fourth he's a career captain in the army.
Mind you, Captain in the army is a higher ranking position than lowly butler.
@@DMNDR butler to the king would presumably be like "lady in waiting" to the queen ... it's a position taken by the aristocracy, not an actual servant but a secretary/companion/etc
@@DMNDR was thinking the same thing
You say this but one day lord black adder rules the universe
American humour is slapstick where the funny bit is obvious but British humour is based on sarcasm, self effrontery, guile, wit and a few kegs of lager.
It's 4 series, each one in a different time period, but the social roles have changed with most of them. Blackadder goes from medieval prince (1st series, which is by far the worst), A lord in Queen Elizabeth I court (2nd series), butler to the Prince Of Wales at the time of American Independence/Napoleonic Wars (3rd series) to a WW1 army Captain in the 4th series. Baldrick is always his servant or underling, who gets more stupid and filthy with each descendant , George was a Prince, then an army Lt, but from a very rich background, Melchet (Stephen Fry) was Queen Elizabeth 1's main adviser, then Duke Of Wellington, then an mentally ill army Colonel, etc.
Blackadder's status falls with each series, but the other people's status (apart from Baldrick) always stays above his status.
You'd need to watch each episode to get the full flavor of the show (each episode from a series doesn't have much bearing on any of the other episodes apart from the setting).
Was the army Colonel mentally ill? I thought he represented one of the "donkeys that led the lions"
Mentally Ill is the easiest way to describe Melchett, although maybe not the most technically accurate.
Cath Robilliard "cheerfully and disastrously incompetent " would be the kindest description ....
“He's a cheery old card,” grunted Harry to Jack. As they slogged up to Arras with rifle and pack. But he did for them both by his plan of attack. - Siegfried Sassoon
He was General Melchett.
start at season 2 and follow through to season 4. the last episode of season 4 is very poignant but you need to watch the whole season to better feel the emotion.
why would you skip over series 1?
DeathMetalRegulator
Even the people who made it feel it isnt very good.
well i disagree
i cant watch season 1, but the rest are class
Boom Shanka 1 is dodgy. 2-4 are fantastic.
I had the audiobooks for these series that I would listen to when driving my children to visit their mother. My daughter knew all the words and would mouth them as the tapes played. She even did the incidental music.
She was five.
Series 2 (the Tudor period) is an absolute gem!
Blackadder goes forth is as good as British comedy gets.
.....................along with ....jeez, where do you start?
You need a decent knowledge of British and European history to appreciate Blackadder but it is exceptional.
Blackadder, Father Ted, Fawlty Towers and Only Fools and Horses. Some of the best British comedy.
Father Ted = Irish
As flicksey has pointed out Father Ted is Irish not British. the creator Graham Linehan did give us 'The I.T Crowd' though.
flicksey Father Ted was created by the British independent production company 'Hatrick Production's' for Channel 4 making it a British Comedy even though the series is based on 3 father's in Ireland. The writer's themselves are Irish but how do we base if it's an Irish Comedy or British Comedy, the writer's, the characters and location the comedy is based on or the production company who created it. Just Google Father Ted and you'll see it's a British Comedy.
Rex The Younger Please Google Father Ted and you will see that it's actually a British Comedy as it was produced by a British independent production company 'Hatrick Production's' just because the writer's are Irish and the characters are Irish and based in Ireland doesn't make it an Irish comedy. Just think if the writer's were Japanese would it make it a Japanese comedy or better still if it was based on Spanish characters in Spain would it make a Spanish comedy. No it wouldn't.
It is set in Ireland with an Irish writer and Irish cast dealing with mainly Irish cultural issues. but yeah it is British.. get over yourself slightly will ya. Ridley and Tony Scott are Brits (geordies) but they make Hollywood movies not "British" ones. you see how this works?
Series 4 is the best...and sad at the end.
A brilliant series with a brilliant ending, cleverly and sensitively done
It's even more amazing in that that whole ending wasn't originally how they were going to film it. They filmed them charging out of the trench at normal speed and dying almost comically. It's awful and they knew it so they tried slowing down the playback and realised that the slow motion explosion made it look much more impressive. They then tried slowing down the audio to match and they ended up with that spine-chilling final scene. Add a poignant piano version of the theme tune over to the top and you get a surprisingly good tribute to those who fought and died in WW1.
I remember being shown the last 15 minutes of this episode in school a few days before Armistice Day. We'd all seen it before obviously but it made you think about it in ways that we hadn't at the time.
SadPeterPan1977 Ever heard of a Spoiler?
Can’t watch the last episode anymore
Agreed - and the context about WW! was so right - "A war which would be a damn sight simpler if we just stayed in England and shot fifty thousand of our men a week."
I grew up watching this show on PBS out of Dallas Texas and loved it so much. Made watching "House" years later impossible.
12:42 My parents would have switched the TV straight off if I'd been watching this at that girl's age.
Each series is set in a different time period. 1nd is Medieval, 2nd is elizabethan, 3rd is Georgian I think Hugh Laurie plays the Prince of Wales, and series 4 is ww1. Only 6 episodes per series sadly made in the 80's and an hour long special was done in '99 for the millennium.
Baldrick starts off as the smart one and blackadder the thicko but as the centuries progress that changes. He characters families are all there in some capacity. It was a great series.
Here's another insults video if your interested.
ruclips.net/video/qnFeJzOfvxQ/видео.html
It aint 'alf hot mum was funny too. Made in the 70's so different time with what they could do so you'll need to keep an open mind about that one.
tydfil 1st series is terrible
There was also a special one-off version of the Christmas Carol set in the Victorian era.
true, it was the 80's mind and it did get better
Series 1 is definitely my least favorite, but I do believe it improves on repeat viewings. It just wasn't as instant as the follow up series were.
I've seen the pilot episode for the first series, it was much closer to the other 3 series! I wonder what made them go the direction they did with it.
I'd love to see these guys react to Red Dwarf (the British version). Also their daughter clearly didn't get any of it.
There's an American version??
@@DMNDR We don't talk about that
In fairness nether did the parents
If you go on BBC iPlayer the first two episodes of Blackadder Goes Forth are available to watch now. BBC Four is doing a rerun on Thursday nights. Episodes 3 & 4 are on this coming Thursday at 10pm.
As an Englishman, I apologize on behalf of all the arrogant, humourless people below me who think that Americans just don't get "our superior British humour" such rubbish. Blackadder is by far my favourite classic comedy series. Rowan Atkinson's delivery is second to none one of the all time greats Steven Fry's character in the fourth series is utterly sublime as well. You don't need to get all the references to get the jokes, I didn't as a kid in the 90's it's all about the performances and delivery of the lines. I'd love to see how you react after you've gotten to know the characters . I remember as a a 10 year old welling up at the final scene of the fourth season, knowing that the series was over in such a dark way. I think that's the genius of the show, it's crude, silly, ridiculous but over time you bond with, and identify with all of the characters. It's the mark of a great comedy that can have you in hysterical laughter one moment and the next in genuine tears of greif the next.
That is a very kind comment. At this point I'm not surprised by the attitude demonstrated here--it's sprinkled here and there in many comment sections of our videos. But I'm always pleased by the very kind and genuine comments from Brits with a great deal of patience for a family trying to actually spend time learning about you!
Yeah I don't get it why anyone who truly loves something would take such an elitist view over other who take an interest. I'm usually really not into these kinds of channels but I have to say I find your family so charming that I genuinely enjoy watching your content. It's beautifully put together and has a certain innocence to it that's so refreshing to see in this day and age. One thing I'm sure you havn't missed is how jaded we are in the UK, everything is just another excuse to be miserable and what I love about Americans (in general) is that undying gritty optimism that made the USA the greatest nation on earth. I'm glad that you can see the good in this little island nation the same way that I can.
Another very flattering comment, thank you so much. You hit it right on the head--there is an onslaught of jaded, cynical reactions toward what we do in genuine innocence. We love the patrimony of this country, particularly as America is very much a child of this Island. It pains us to see what self-loathing there is, what betrayal of that patrimony, here in this green and beautiful land. I'm glad we are getting through some of you Brits, and hope there are more. I hope we can drag Brits kicking and screaming into loving their nation with that pure innocence it deserves!
Alexander Howarth You must understand the references to fully understand many of the jokes, however you can still find humour in the delivery and the obvious meaning behind them.
Those that do require knowledge of the subject are infinitely funnier when you have it.
They don't most of the time, however in this case I agree with "The Postmodern Family" that it isn't as funny as people think it is.
People are constantly recommending comedy shows mainly by the BBC in the 1980's or earlier, which I think are massively overrated or quite simply shit.
If the people recommending those shows repeatedly bothered to widen their search, they'd realise that most of the best comedies of all time have come out in the last 30 years, a lot of which aren't by the BBC.
The Blackadder (1st Season) he is Prince Edmund, Duke of Edinburgh
Blackadder II (2nd Season) He is Edmund, Lord Blackadder (great grandson of the first Blackadder)
Blackadder the Third (3rd Season) he is Mr. Edmund Blackadder Esquire, butler to the Prince Regent, George, the Prince of Wales.
And Blackadder Goes Forth (4th Season) He is Captain Edmund Blackadder of the British Armed Forces in World War I.
My favorite ever scene was the one with Spanish Inquisition playing Charade (miming words )
you really should watch the final episode of "Blackadder goes Forth" the ending for one of the best ever comedy classics is amazing, and really tugs at your heart strings.
God bless Rik Mayall , the people's poet !!
You need to watch the entire thing. Its best to start with series 2, which is funnier then series 1. I was thinking of getting my 14 year old nephew this for Christmas
Steven Cassidy series one is gold with a brilliant Brian Blessed
Do "Auf Wiedersehen Pet" next. The look of bewilderment and confusion on you faces is something all us Brits will treasure for many years to come. 😂 Episode 1 series 1 is on RUclips.
Hahahahahaha
It's a shame you don't think you'd like to watch the full series of Fawlty Towers. Personally, I believe FT to be amongst the greatest sitcoms ever written, and every second of every scene is perfectly choreographed for placement of the players, the timing of every line delivered is superb, and the writing is genuinely witty and exquisitely crafted.
You might want to check out the final scene of “Blackadder goes forth”.
They need to see the entire episode for context otherwise it won't have the full effect!
That scene should NOT be the first scene anyone sees of Blackadder!
Fran Ohmsford yeah you’re probably right. By all accounts series 1 should probably be bypassed.
I don't think I've ever been reduced to tears before by watching a comedy, as I was while watching the last 15 mins of the last Blackadder Goes Forth episode. Harrowing and very, very moving indeed.
One of the greatest ever scenes in British tv
The line about Lady Godiva was about the women who rode into town on a horse completely naked, so her complaint about having literally nothing to wear was the joke.
‘I don’t care how many times they go up diddely up up, they’re still gits’ is a reference to the song ‘those magnificent men in their flying machines’ Blackadder thinks the Flying Corps are show offs and not worthy of the admiration.
Everything you have seen has obviously floated over your head because Rowan Atkinson wrote comedy based on well known historical facts to us the British, so find something you weren't sure about in this montage, then look up the references within and let us know what your reaction was. Trust me you will have fits of laughter because you then understand it :)
The problem is also that most American's tend not to really get sarcasm. There goes most British comedy for this family!
Except it was written by Ben Elton and that bloke who wrote those crappy Hugh Grant romcoms
I did not realise that the Blackadder series was actually written by Rowan Atkinson.
@@brianrodney5202 He didn't. He co-wrote series 1, then Ben Elton took over..
@@robgrant1312 Thanks for the correction.
The final episode of Blackadder Goes Forth and especially the final 'over the top' scene is one of the best pieces of television ever broadcast.
I like this couple - I like this family.
If your licence fee is paid up you can get the entire series of Blackadder 2 on iPlayer www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0078vmr/blackadder-blackadder-ii-1-bells It´s best to watch full episodes to get the insults in context.
I love the bullet joke, that's up there with 4 candles for me 😂 You know, as soon as he says you know how they say, exactly where this one's going...cracks me up every time 😂
To clarify the background, Blackadder has 4 separate series, each one set in a different historical periods: the Middle Ages, Queen Elizabeth I, Prince George and the First World War. The characters in each series are descendents of the previous one but the position in society can go up or down. The first series is a bit weaker than the rest. Ben Elton came on as a writer from the second series and the Black Adder character found its niche as a cynical, smart-mouther hussler.
Try One foot in the grave next
don't
Archie Woosung One Foot is good, but doesn't really fit into short clips.
I haven't seen that for years, it always seemed to be on when I went round my granny's house in the early 90's. And I saw the first episode where he gets "retired" from his job on UK Gold only about 10 years ago.
"That black box is my replacement?"
"Oh yes, it does everything you do... except complain about the air conditioning"
Definitely worth investing in. You might find the first series a struggle, often shot on location, and not much budget. From the second series onwards, having been commissioned, really came into its own with more developed characters. The final 'goes forth' is just legendary.
Another good comedy you should watch is Red Dwarf. Just one thing, if you watch an episode called Polymorph... best not to watch it with kids. LOL
Yes, the boxers and groinal attachment scene comes to mind!
Blackadder is one of the best British comedies, it ain't half hot mum is another brilliant British comedy
It’s like watching three very basic robots trying to follow a conversation. They got NOTHING!! I’ve just waisted my life.
kevin paul halliday i misspelt a word!! You got me!!! How will I ever get over the shame?
And you have quite probably admitted to being an imbecile.
HAHAHAHA you hit the nail on the head. this is weird and has a very un-natural feel. if you want a good reaction channel watch "nikki and steven react" 1000x better then these robots haha
Ben Elton ...? Is ... is that .... YOU?!
This calls for ten minutes on the Naughty Step.
The best bit about the last series set in the trenches of WW1 is that it spends the entire time mocking war and how bad it is and the horrible leadership of the British Generals. The final scene is quite moving as Blackadder delivers a speech mocking the murderous frontal attacks that they were just about to embark out on one. Then they charge into gunfire. Put all this to Rowans marvelous wit and sarcasm and its British comedy gold.
Your daughter was awesome - just watching, and asking the odd question.
The rest of the time, she was very content and thoughtful.
So focused.
She is a gem
There's 4 distinct stand alone series, the first set in medieval times, 2nd Elizabethan, 3 in Georgian times and the last series set during ww1. There's a core of main character types, but all got assigned totally different roles in each era. Each series has a different culture and atmosphere and examined how circumstances changing affects each character and also chronicles the stories of their families over time.
In the immortal word of Eric Morecambe - "Ruggish!"
Stuart of Blyth And to the sound of a police siren, "He won't sell many ice creams traveling at that speed."
Not now, Arthur.
Two men in the same double bed Morecambe and Wise without any gay connotations, just like Laurel and Hardy, and the awful jokes of Eric Morecambe always made me smile
Can't believe they didn't do anything from the Elizabethan series. That was my favourite series.
They did - a bit of 'bob' and Percys Ruff
Percy's ruff was from the first season.
Red dwarf is amazing you should check it out
I reckon they based ace Rimmer off flashart
it has added the phrase 'I've got a cunning plan' into the language, usually said with a slight nasal tone.
The only time blackadder nearly got upstaged was the Elizabethan era with 'Queenie' , I think her name was Amanda Richardson, she was absolutely superb!
react to Some Mother's Do 'Ave Em
They have .
This and Red Dwarf are 2 of the finest comedies this country has to offer 👍🏻
Nice channel you have here :D
Thanks!!!
It's one of the best historical comedies that's ever been produced.
I always enjoy seeing the man who brought Dr House to life, using his real voice!
My sister's youngest was so confused by that.
The different times periods are from different incarnations of the TV show Blackadder. The same actors are in all of them, with Rowan Attckinsons Blackadder character being the central in all.
Can you react to Fawlty Towers?
Blackadder is an iconic British sitcom, starring some extremely talented comedic actors and writers, well-known both in the UK and beyond. The most iconic is of course Rowan Atkinson, best known as Mr. Bean, but also for the series The Thin Blue Line. He's done many films, as well. The best season of Blackadder was arguably the second, which was set in Elizabethan England. It's hilarious.
You need to watch Still Game..
Stephen McDowall excellent sitcom!
I doubt they'd understand the Glesga slang and accents.
yes but only S1-S6
The Major in the last Blackadder (based around the first world war) was Stephen Fry, who was a close friend and comedy partner of Hugh Laurie in the 1980's. They were students at Cambridge University and when graduating spent a few years traveling around the UK universities with their stand up comedy act in the 1980's. I saw them at my university in the mid 80's and thought they were hilarious. They then went on to do some TV comedy, for example, Jeeves and Wooster, where Laurie played an English Aristocrat with his head in the air and Fry played the butler who was extremely intelligent and manipulative. They were popular right through the 90's then Fry had a nervous breakdown. Laure then went to America where he became famous for a few roles he played.
You obviously have no clue about British humour. Black adder, barring season one was and is one of the funniest programmes ever aired.
The 3rd series is Regency. Although the series starts in 1755 which is 56 years before the Regency period started (artistic licence!); some characters were real people & are are historically accurate for each series (give or take a few years). For example Prince George, the Prince Regent (Hugh Laurie) was born in 1762 & Dr Johnson (Robbie Coltrane) published the 1st English dictionary in 1755. You don't necessarily need to watch each series in chronological order.
Try 'The League of Gentlemen' series. Weird, but darkly funny...
That was dark and wonderful. The transvestite taxi-driver with the hairy forearms gave me sleepless nights.
I doubt they'll understand Papa Lazarou !!
I guess you may have seen it by now, but Blackadder has 4 series (seasons). Each series is set in a different time period whereby he plays descendents of the original Blackadder. 1st season was set around 12th century I think, another during the reign of Elizabeth 1st, one I can't remember off hand and finally the 4th set during WWI. He usually dies at the end of each series. The funniest episode in my opinion is the one with the funny shaped turnip. You should check it out.
The series with Flashhart was the best - woof!
Kites and women. I know the analogy is in the margin and wrong, but I love it.
The grand entrance of Flashart in the Tudor episode was something else.
wof WOF
Did he claim to be "packing the kind of tackle that you expect to find between the hind legs of a grand national winner" in one of his cameos?
brian rodney Apparently entirely ad-libbed too
The joke about Lady Godiva refers to Godiva riding naked through the streets of Coventry to have taxes reduced as her husband The Earl Leofric had raised them quite substantially. As a few people have already mentioned there are a number of history lessons that can be taken from these 4 series. A good tip would be to Google names as you hear them as see if they are worth discovering something about.
Dad's Army next if you haven’t seen it.
Yes. But also learn it's back story. Arnold Ridley and his character are both more fascinating to watch when you have.
I Cant believe so many people said dont watch the 1st series .
It is As good as any of the others .
It's a bit darker, but still great.
@@mrmonstermunch3925 Exactly . Plus Brian Blessed being an absolute fool makes it worthwhile
Also please react to the inbetweeners funny moments. It is the funniest tv series in the uk and the us tried to remake it but it was awful
T khan also Friday Night Dinner the dad and Jim are incredibly funny characters
THAT'S JUST A TYPICAL VILE BRASH EXAMPLE OF SO -CALLED MODERN''HUMOUR'' ?? TAKE AWAY THE COARSE CRUDE LANGUAGE, AND YOU HAVE NOTHING
+Philip Croft Much akin to your comment and the caps lock.
+T khan Eh, it's certainly a good wee laugh, relatable to most folk who went to school in the Isles in recent decades, but I can't at all condone calling it the funniest series in the UK. :P
The Americans always try to remake our shows and always seem to fail. they tried to make Fawlty Towers with the lanky woman from the golden girls as Basil :o they went for a man instead and produced the forgettable series 'Payne'. they took Steptoe and son and turned them black. they took shameless and the office and made them unfunny.
Atkinson started out in a sketch show called Not the Nine O'clock News, but Blackadder came shortly after.
Why are you allowing your child to watch this? Blackadder was scheduled after the "watershed" in the UK, specifically so children would not be watching. Reckless behaviour IMO.
Alison Wünderland That was a while ago, nowadays the kids would eat it up.
IshtarNike they don’t make good reactors however.
Alison Wünderland
Keep your Opinion to yourself as nobody is intrested in it and it counts for Diddly Squat.
Seems like more people are interested than in your comment. Besides, this is the place where I can voice my opinion.
Laughing my pants off!
I have no idea how I ended up here on the RUclips rabbit hole! However you have a lovely family and your daughter is so sweet. Thank you for making me smile.
I love all the little girls questions
Blackadder is a very sarcastic comedy series indeed. You have to be a fan of sarcasm to appreciate it 😊 😊
Welcome to the UK Felipe and Lillian. If i was u i would watch the whole of these shows to really get them. Enjoy ur channel.
Another great one guys and one I was proud to share with the American USAF Forces during my time in the RAF, (Blackadder goes Forth), stationed in Al Khobar, Dahran, Saudi Arabia in 1994. They loved it as much as we Brits did.
The gag reel is really for fans who know the series. If you want to try out Blackadder, try watching an episode. I recommend anything from series 2 onward (though I secretly like the first series!)
Keep an eye out for Blackadders Christmas Carol. It tends to be on TV around xmas but it really likes to play with the original story.
Blackadder is different ages in different series's starting with the first series Black adder as the Black Prince in medieval England
These need to be watched from the start because it is not only fine comedy but has pathos too. It should be 1, 2, 3, Christmas Carol and Goes Forth. Order the box set you won’t be disappointed.
I recommend some Fry and Laurie clips, especially the John and Peter bits. If you can't find them let me know and I'll post a link. Thanks for the video. :)
Each separate series of 'Blackadder' ( four in total ) was set in a different time period in English and European history - they didn't go from one era to another within the same series or episode. To my mind, the fourth series, set in the trenches of World War One, was the best. It touched upon just about every common myth and perception of that war.
Series 4 was a masterclass of historical satire, slapstick, absurdism and wordplay.
I also back the opinion on Fawlty Towers. While some episodes are classic, a lot are merely cringey and haven't aged well
All the gags are written by Ben Elton, he was brought in after the first series to up the comedy. Elton has done stand up and written several books.
Whilst you can enjoy much of Blackadder, a knowledge of British history will considerably add to the pleasure.
The third and fourth series (each just 6 30 minute episodes) are fantastic but Blackadder Goes Forth is some of the best TV comedy of the last 50 years. They mocked everything but the heroism of the millions fighting on all sides. The final scene is poignant and devastating and a remarkable tribute to members of the military who give their lives. Even if you don't watch all 4 series watch the 6 episodes of Blackadder Goes Forth. I remember nearly 30 years ago the whole family laughing for nearly half an hour and then everyone became silent as the reality of it all sank in. Across the country you could have heard a pin drop with that final scene. It is a piece of television history.
I loved Black Adder. It was funny to hear the dialogue of a snob surrounded by idiots but also because Black Adder always got his comeuppance.
The final scene of the entire series broke my heart. It was so tragic I wept for an hour. It was voted one of the best moments in British TV.
I know big tough rugby players who cried like babies.
Blackadder is slowburn comedy. The momentum of a story gets you in the right place to enjoy the jokes.