I used the first of January to binge-watch the whole first season. I can't say it's not good, but it disappointed me a bit. It wasn't nearly as witty and funny as I expected based on the memories I have from a couple of decades ago. As far as my memory serves, it seems that they haven't caught the momentum in the first season, so it is significantly below the level of what followed.
The plot is set in the Middle Ages, and Atkinson is a younger prince who, like Iznogud, plots "to be Caliph in the place of the Caliph." I don't like that Edmund's character is like Mr. Bean thrown into the alternative history of England, unlike the following seasons in which Atkinson's character is much more complex and in a way the opposite of Mr. Bean, while the humor is too primitive and forced for my taste. Atkinson himself does not like this season, although it is the only one he wrote himself. Also, this is the only season without Hugh Laurie, and without him, that simply isn't it.
On the other hand, the season had a high budget and was largely filmed outside the studio, so the Middle Ages were superbly evoked. And there's also the addictive "Blackadder Theme" that makes the credits perhaps the most fun part of every episode.
The BBC almost canceled the series because it is too expensive and not fun enough. Fortunately, they agreed to give it another chance if the budget is cut and the series is reduced to a studio sitcom. Because of that, we waited for several years for the next season, and the series, despite the smaller budget and production reduction, justified the trust and in the following seasons entered the legend.
7/10
The plot is set in the Middle Ages, and Atkinson is a younger prince who, like Iznogud, plots "to be Caliph in the place of the Caliph." I don't like that Edmund's character is like Mr. Bean thrown into the alternative history of England, unlike the following seasons in which Atkinson's character is much more complex and in a way the opposite of Mr. Bean, while the humor is too primitive and forced for my taste. Atkinson himself does not like this season, although it is the only one he wrote himself. Also, this is the only season without Hugh Laurie, and without him, that simply isn't it.
On the other hand, the season had a high budget and was largely filmed outside the studio, so the Middle Ages were superbly evoked. And there's also the addictive "Blackadder Theme" that makes the credits perhaps the most fun part of every episode.
The BBC almost canceled the series because it is too expensive and not fun enough. Fortunately, they agreed to give it another chance if the budget is cut and the series is reduced to a studio sitcom. Because of that, we waited for several years for the next season, and the series, despite the smaller budget and production reduction, justified the trust and in the following seasons entered the legend.
7/10