Blackadder the Third (TV Series) Ink and Incapability (1987) User Reviews

The definitive (pun intended) episode.

[zacpetch · 10/10 · 2 December 2014]

"Ink And Incapability" is THE Blackadder episode to show to someone new to the show. And no, I'm not overselling it.

The premise is about Dr Samuel Johnson lending the prince his newly completed dictionary to be its patron only for Baldrick to burn it when he leaves. This forces Blackadder, Baldrick and George to rewrite the entire dictionary, which originally took ten years, in a single night.

The episode also informs us about Edmund's magnum opus: A Butler's Tale (filled with sizzling gypsies). We also get Baldrick's semi-autobiographical work about a little sausage named Baldrick.

Struggling to come up with definitions is a really clever idea for Curtis and Elton to play with as our hero must define 'A' and 'Aardvark' whilst his servant defines 'Dog' (not a cat) and for the letter C 'a big blue wobbly thing with fish'.

Suffice to say that the randomly hilarious dream-sequence is a deserving fan-favourite moment as Baldrick becomes an Alsatian and Blackadder falls in love with Dr Johnson before his aunt drops by... It's deliciously ludicrous.

By far the best 'main series' episode of them all, except possibly "Goodbyeee". 10/10

An absolutely great episode - the best of Series 3!

[general-melchett · 10/10 · 31 October 2006]

"Ink and Incapability" is great from the start. It is far funnier than "Dish and Dishonesty", and is intelligently written - Blackadder's sticky situations really make you feel part of the show. The idea to have an episode around Dr Johnson and his dictionary was an absolutely great one, and one that is brought well to the silver screen. The stupidity of Baldrick and Prince George is at its best here - them helping Blackadder rewrite the dictionary was bound to bring out their extreme thickness. Yes, it is predictable, and the ending should have been done slightly better, but this is a 10/10 episode all the way - I hugely enjoyed watching this, and never has a bad moment. This is the highlight of Series 3, and is a worthy one at that - it is historically accurate (well, in some aspects) and very funny. This is one of the greatest Blackadder episodes ever - no others in Series 3 will recapture its dizzy heights. A great job! 10/10

Excellent historical and literary satire with a memorable cameo from Robbie Coltrane

[snoozejonc · 9/10 · 30 January 2021]

The famous Dr Samuel Johnson asks Prince George to be patron of his new book.

This is an excellent episode that mixes historical literary figures and comedy perfectly.

It has a fairly simple plot where Dr Johnson is introduced as somewhat of an antagonist and a mistake by Baldrick puts Blackadder in a seemingly impossible position to escape.

As always the banter is fantastic with Blackadder looking to do intellectual battle with Johnson and the results are hilarious. In the same breath George is equally funny in his ignorant indifference towards Johnson's magnum opus.

Rowan Atkinson and Robbie Coltrane dominate this one with epic charisma and great verbal sparring. Hugh Laurie and Tony Robinson both provide excellent support.

His magnificent octopus...

[planktonrules · 9/10 · 4 June 2010]

Like the rest of the episodes of the third series, it really helps to understand the history of the time in which it was set. For example, you need to know who Lady Hamilton was and her relationship with Admiral Nelson, who Samuel Johnson was, etc. to fully enjoy the jokes. However, you don't need to be a history professor either, as the chronology of what occurs is often wrong and most of the jokes are understandable even if you never took British history....but it helps!

This particular episode concerns Samuel Johnson's dictionary--the first in the English language and a work considered one of the greatest of the age. Because it's such an important work, he comes to the thickie (George, the Price Regent) to gain his patronage. But, since Goerge IS a total imbecile, he cannot in any way comprehend what a dictionary is--and he keeps wondering who the hero in the story is! To make things worse, after completely insulting Johnson, George and Baldrick burn the manuscript!!! A bit later, Edmund learns that Johnson's anachronistic friends (various annoying 19th century poets) will kill anyone who would destroy this work! In response, Edmund spends all weekend trying to re-create the dictionary--hoping no one will be the wiser! The twist at the end of the show is painful to watch and thus, quite entertaining! For those who have no idea what British history is about, I'd give this one a 7. For history-lovers, history teachers (like myself) and professors, this would earn a 10. An overall score of 9 seems reasonable.

Class Act

[tedg · 23 March 2008]

I've been hearing about this TeeVee series for years and finally watched an episode.

Its probably not a fair assessment because the gimmick depends on accretive jokes. But I was fairly impressed.

The reason is that the basis for the story and many of the jokes depends on a literary awareness. Its a bit of a pleasure. No, the jokes weren't any better in formation than what you usually see. But there's something deep and lasting in literate humor, even silly puns. I wonder why this is so rare, even in films.

This is superimposed on relationship situations. Most sitcoms are, but because this is intelligently British, its not based on friends and lovers, but on class. Even for this non- Brit, that element goes deeper.

If I were going to mess with TeeVee shows, this would be near the top of the list.

Ted's Evaluation -- 3 of 3: Worth watching.

My favorite episode of all television ever

[wordshifter · 10/10 · 9 February 2022]

Everything about this episode is beautiful. The jokes, even after so many rewatches, still make me laugh out loud. The acting is hilarious. I majored in English, focusing in Georgian texts, so this episode was basically made for me.

Ink and Incapability

[Prismark10 · 10/10 · 18 February 2021]

Both Ben Elton and Richard Curtis get to engage in some wordplay in this episode. They also poke fun at literary figures such as Shelley, Byron and Coleridge.

Robbie Coltrane guest stars as the pompous Dr Samuel Johnson who has spent 10 years completing his magnificent opus, the English dictionary.

He wants Prince George to be patron of the dictionary. The Prince hopes this would turnaround his reputation of being a thicko. Although the Prince is put out that the book does not have much of a plot.

Blackadder is upset at Johnson because he has not given any feedback to a manuscript that Blackadder sent him. Blackadder has written a story of a lowly butler under a female pseudonym.

When Johnson arrives to see Prince George. Blackadder pokes fun at Johnson by using long words with many syllables. An insulted Johnson rushes out leaving his dictionary behind but proclaiming Blackadder's novel as the greatest ever.

Later Baldrick burns a manuscript which causes consternation for Blackadder. He needs to write a new dictionary pronto.

Series 3 of Blackadder continues with another strong episode. The writers must have raided a dictionary to come up with some of the words that Blackadder uses.

The story still has all the elements of basic sitcom tropes which is cleverly and amusingly done. A switcheroo and a funny dream sequence.

Baldrick burns Dr Johnson's Dictionary

[Tweekums · 9/10 · 27 May 2015]

Prince George has been asked to be the patron for Dr Johnson's Dictionary of the English Language; but can't see what it can be for; who will be interested in a book without a dashing hero and his love interest!? Meanwhile Blackadder, who dislikes Johnson because he ignored his novel, taunts him with words that aren't in his dictionary. Johnson storms out forgetting to take his dictionary with him; he tells Blackadder to get if for him but by then it is too late Baldrick has burnt it! Blackadder must come up with a cunning plan if he is to escape the wrath of Johnson and his friends Byron, Shelly and Coleridge.

This is a fine episode which is helped if you know something about the history of the time… even if the story plays fast and loose with that history. The regular cast are as funny as we've come to expect and Robbie Coltrane is great as Dr Johnson; a serious character who is made funny by his own pomposity. The attempts to rewrite the burnt dictionary are amusing as is the subplot involving the novel written by Blackadder under a feminine pseudonym even if it does lead to an ending that isn't much of a surprise. Overall a really good episode.

Cat

[bevo-13678 · 10/10 · 2 April 2020]

Great book Ha ha he left out sausage. And aardvark lol