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"The Black Adder" (1983) More at IMDbPro »

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35 out of 40 people found the following comment useful :-
The Original and Best, 13 December 2000
Author: GoonerMan from Hampshire, England

This is the first, and in my opinion, the best of the Blackadder series - although the second installment runs a very close second. This series, in retrospect, is often dismissed as less funny than its successors and this may be due to its different style and sense of humour. This comparison unfortunately causes the viewer to miss what makes this series such an excellent piece of comedy writing and production.

The whole series centres on Edmund (Rowan Atkinson), the son of the younger of the two princes who in history were murdered in the Tower of London, allegedly by Richard III. In this take on history, where real history is dismissed as being rewritten by Henry Tudor, the princes were not murdered and Richard Duke of York grows up 'to be a strong boy'. The first episode of the series lays the foundation, explaining how Richard III dies, how Edmund's father becomes King and also the important, accidental, foretelling by three Witches (a clever alude to the witches in Shakespeare's Macbeth) to Edmund that one day he will be King. The rest of the series follows Edmund in his attempts to realise this foretelling.

Edmund's definite goal throughout the series, which forms the basis of the subsequent plotlines, gives it a direction perhaps missing in the following series, and it also gives his character more depth. Blackadder (as he names himself), in this series, is significantly different to his persona of the subsequent time-periods - being slimy, selfish and not particularly bright. There is a definite bond between the main characters, Blackadder and his sidekicks, Percy and Baldrick (excellently played by Tim McInnerny and Tony Robinson respectively) and although Blackadder treats his underlings with contempt at times, they collaborate as a team throughout in a series of 'cunning plans'. Baldrick is indeed the intelligent character of the group, the man in the know and his character has much more depth than his smelly and stupid character of later series.

Each plot in the series follows a similar pattern - Blackadder getting himself into a situation and having to get himself out of it. The humour presented is more subtle, relying more on the use of visual comedy, language and historical satire than on blind sarcasm. Many of the gags are implied and expect the viewer to work out the meaning as opposed to ramming it down their throats. Additionally, the script contains a number of lines that cleverly misuse Shakespeare for added effect, a classic example being Richard III calling for 'my horse, my horse my kingdom for a horse' in the style of someone calling for his dog. The supporting cast all play their part superbly, particularly Brian Blessed as Richard IV, the maniacal war-monger who hates his slimy son and fails to get his name right. The late, great Peter Cook also makes an appearance as Richard III in the first episode.

This series must be watched out of context with what followed. It was not written for the popular market, being first screened on BBC2. Watch it, laugh, then watch it again to catch some of the gags you missed the first time. Comedy written this well is unfortunately extremely rare, and to dismiss it without appreciating its aims does not do it justice. This series not only shows Rowan Atkinson at his very best, but also the writing of Richard Curtis (and Atkinson) and it is an overlooked classic of British comedy.

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21 out of 23 people found the following comment useful :-
Filled with wit, 26 September 1999
Author: Josef Tura-2 from Washington DC

If you are having trouble defining wit, sarcasm or tongue-in-cheek watch one episode of "Black Adder". It's all there and then some. Each episode mints a new insult or sly comeback. The art of verbal humor has finally found a champion in the authors and actors of Black Adder.

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12 out of 14 people found the following comment useful :-
Why not Sir Rowan?, 16 October 2006

Author: Sylvia Marciniak (sylviastel@aol.com) from United States

I love Rowan Atkinson. I think he's the best contemporary British comedian around. Rowan has a great talent especially playing Edmund Black Adder. Edmund, the Black Adder, begins the series in the Black Plague or Black Death. The second series is a lot better with Queen Elizabeth I played by the wonderful Miranda Richardson (I wondered what happened to her). This role was before her Oscar nominating role in Damage. She is hysterical as the Virgin Queen which I bet is the funniest Queen Elizabeth I in history. I love the costumes, the language. The series got better as it went along. I loved Hugh Laurie as the dumb prince. Tony Robinson as Baldrick always made me laugh. The Black Adder kept moving on until World War II. Don't you think it's time that Rowan Atkinson became knighted.

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12 out of 14 people found the following comment useful :-
watch all the Blackadder shows..., 2 June 2004
Author: crimped357 from louisville, kentucky

I have always been a fan of British TV comedy and this is one of my favorites. It's a good start to the whole series and "side" shows. It's interesting to note that the main character Edmond is silly and immature in this show while his henchmen come off has somewhat smarter. In later shows, Blackadder II, III, and go's forth, Edmond becomes ever smarter while the henchmen become as dumb as a box of rocks! It's also funny how he slides down the social ladder from duke to commoner. I highly recommend the whole series. It's appeal crosses all age groups with a few "blue" jokes but nothing remotely vulgar. As Blackadder mite put it "It's a show so clever, you could stitch on a tail and call it a weasel"

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19 out of 31 people found the following comment useful :-
15 years of saying pardon., 26 January 2004
Author: varsania from London, England

The best of the lot. Very funny script, brilliant cast, superbly acted. I prefer Edmund as this type of meek, slimy character than in later series. Also Balders is better suited as intelligent than stupid, that character is already brilliantly done by Percy.

Each episode has a uniquely funny story. The Archbishop one where Baldrick makes holy artifacts is extremely funny. Especially as Percy thinks he bought a real artifact only to discover that it's one of Baldricks.

He marries an 8 year old princess in another episode. Very original humour, and the little princess herself is extremely funny. The way she laughs at the Vicar is hilarious.

Witchsmeller Persuivant, another great episode, possibly the best but its difficult to distinguish which is the best as they are all so good. Frank Finlay is so believable as the witch, his voice, expressions, the way he cross examines Edmund in court and entraps him. Pure genius.

The last one is fantastic. I love the way he finally gets revenge on his dad by forming an army of the 6 most evil men in England. All with uniquely evil attributes.

I don't think 6 episodes is enough for this first series. There is so much comedy there to fill 12 episodes at least. Still the second and third series, although inferior did not disappoint. The fourth however did.

Will always remain as one of the great British classics.

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7 out of 8 people found the following comment useful :-
promising start to an excellent series, 27 September 2003
Author: didi-5 from United Kingdom

Although series 2 ('Elizabethan'), 3 ('Regency'), and 4 ('Great War') were probably better overall, this was the series that introduced Edmund Blackadder to the TV-watching world twenty years ago. In series 1, however, it was Edmund who was spineless and Baldrick who really did have the sense; in subsequent series these roles would be somewhat reversed and the idea then really took off.

I do like series 1 for the following reasons: strong casting aside from Rowan Atkinson, Tony Robinson and Tim McInnerny; this series included Brian Blessed, Robert East as regulars and guests like Peter Cook (brilliant in the very first episode), and Alex Norton (as McAngus). The eagle-eyed will also spot a very young Angus Deayton in the St Leonard's Day episode. While the three following series were sharper and more studio-based (not always a good thing ...) I do think the wild open spaces of The Black Adder helped enormously to get some sense of the Middle Ages into comedy, even if all four series have played havoc with historical fact!

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4 out of 4 people found the following comment useful :-
A good start to the Blackadder legacy, but not the best., 12 November 2006

Author: general-melchett from United Kingdom

I've always liked epic things, be they on TV, film or even in computer games, and this is really a cross between "Lord of the Rings" and "Monty Python". Though the show's epic settings aren't there for humour - just to bleed the BBC dry of money - they really do make this the best series to look at visually, and there are some good special effects on show (Richard III's head flying off its body is pretty well done). But this is meant to be COMEDY - and unfortunately, this is the least funny series, if I must admit. Episode 1 "The Foretelling" ain't too great, but Episode 6 "The Black Seal" is brilliant - I hugely enjoyed Edmund's attempts to take over the throne. There is no doubt at all that the series gets better as each episode passes. Get a load of the epic settings while you can - the second series is going to be much cheaper, but it will also be funnier as well. This first series is a good start, and should be watched because it is unique to all the other Blackadder series, but if you aren't used to seeing Blackadder stupid, Baldrick smart, and no Stephen Fry or Hugh Laurie in the cast, you would be best off watching this series first.

The Black Adder is very funny in parts, but all things get better as they go along, and whereas we do have some good episodes in this first series, the following three series are funnier and sharper. On the whole - good. 8/10

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5 out of 6 people found the following comment useful :-
Fun to be had, but not quite up to later standards, 28 June 2003
Author: grendelkhan from Xanadu

I first saw Black Adder when it was broadcast on A&E, in the mid-80's. It was a fun show, but not quite as good as the second series, also broadcast on A&E, at that time.

The series does establish the historical satire and even sends up Shakespeare. Prince Edmund is a schemer, but is more inept than his descendants. In this version, Baldrick is the smarter of the two, a situation reversed in later shows.

The acting is first rate, although Brian Blessed chews more scenery than a regiment of moths. Rowan Atkinson is superb, as always, as is Tony Robinson as Baldrick. Great guest appearances by Peter Cook and Frank Finlay.

The show gets better as it progresses, but, I still prefer the later series. I find it interesting that each succeeding Black Adder is worse off than the last. He starts out as a prince, is reduced to a lord, then a butler to the Prince Regent, then a captain in the army. Granted, he recoups the family fortunes at the turn of the Millenium. Definitely worthwhile.

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7 out of 10 people found the following comment useful :-
A flawed precursor to better things, 27 April 1999
Author: Simon Perkins from Santa Fe, USA

The first series of Black Adder reminds me a lot of Monty Python films - full of hilarious moments but somehow not quite all there as a whole. I'm not a huge Bean fan and there's too much Bean here for my liking.

On the other hand, the second, third and fourth Blackadder series represent some of the best British comedy around (different script writer) and so the first series is worth watching just to introduce the characters. Watch this, but don't be put off the others if you don't like it!

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8 out of 12 people found the following comment useful :-
See it gloriously uncut, 16 July 2001
Author: Bobs-9 from Chicago, Illinois, USA

Much has been written here about `Black Adder' already, and even if you haven't seen it yet, you probably know whether or not you like the dry, sarcastic style of British comedy that this show typifies. Don't misunderstand, though. It's not all high-toned satirical treatment of British history. There's great low comedy, as well. I found it clever and multifaceted enough so that repeat viewing enhances my appreciation of it. For those not well-educated on the aspects British history and monarchy that this show sends up (as I am not), they also become clearer with repeat viewing. So if it doesn't quite register with you at first, you may want to revisit it again. However, DO NOT base your supposed knowledge of British history on this show, as they make things up for the sake of comedy.

With the recent release of the wonderful `Complete Collector's Set' of Blackadder series on DVD, I had the chance to watch them all again. If you've only ever seen these shows on American TV, you may be surprised at a few of the bits you hadn't seen before. The most striking example of this is the episode in the first series where Edmund Blackadder is named Archbishop of Canterbury. To my surprise, I found an extended version of the scene where Edmund, Percy and Baldrick discuss the marketing of fake religious relics, a scene in which occurs a large and intimidating codpiece known as the `Black Russian,' and of course, the scene wherein Baldrick subdues a troublesome bishop by beating him with a crucifix. Obviously, Satan and his pitchforks hold no fears for the posteriors of Black Adder's producers, while American TV execs still fearfully guard their nether regions, if not from the Devil's minions, at least from religious protesters. Political correctness will be the death of comedy, yet.

Among the special features of the DVDs are brief history lessons on certain historical figures, events, places, and cultural references in the shows, explained by Tony Robinson in Baldrick's wonderful, melodious working-class accent. Also, they cover not just all four series, but every special show and skit associated with Black Adder, making it truly `complete.' The packaging design of the Complete Collector's Set is so cunning, you could brush your teeth with it, though I wouldn't recommend it.

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