to think that the first 'Blackadder' series was the best?

[Dragonwoman]

Watching a programme about best bits of Blackadder a couple of nights ago. I enjoy all the series, but they always go on about how the first one was a bit of a flop & the concept was rescued by Ben Elton who co-wrote series 2,3 & 4 - these being much better.

Now maybe my memory is affected by nostalgia as I was just entering my teens when Blackadder first started, but I LOVED series one. It was hilarious. It's still hilarious now. Blackadder was much more inept than in later series, Brian Blessed was great as his father who could never remember his name, all the cast & the sets were excellent. All my school friends at the time loved it too.

Who could not enjoy the episode with the Spanish Enfanta? Or the one where they were on trial for witchcraft? I think they were fantastic.

Is it just me? Is my sense of humour stuck at age 13 forever?

Cheeseandwine

I was younger than 9 when I started watching Blackadder so I wouldn't worry about it. The rude bits just went over my head but I still found loads of it funny.

I'd let my 7 yr old watch them. But I am a bit lax with stuff like that.

I don't think you are being unreasonable but I do think you are being a bit odd. Series one is my least favourite. I think either three or four are my favourites, but there are bits to love in all of them. The Spanish Infanta episode is, to be fair, one of the best.

I would think it's fine for a nine year old because the vast majority of the comedy is wordplay, not physical, so any innuendo and so on he doesn't get will just go straight over his head. I used to watch stuff like this (and this, but not all of it till I got the boxset last year) loads when I was a kid and it's only watching it back as an adult that I realise how much I miss. For example in The Brittas Empire, I watched the whole of that as a child and then when I was about twenty and remembered it fondly but not with any clarity, I watched it again and was astonished to discover that Gavin and Tim were together. Apparently because they didn't actively state it that just went straight over my head!

OP - YAsoNBU

The first series was definitely the best - so much wittier and cleverer than the others. I feel know it word for word... Infanta to the Queen: "What's he like?" Queen: "Well, there's this pudding..." Infanta, "No, what's he ... LIKE?"

I liked Baldric in it, he was clever & sly, but in the later series he was just stupid. And Brian Blessed was fantastic as the King.

Second or fourth are best, surely. Second for sheer humour and Queenie also Flashheart ("hello bridesmaid, liek the beard - gives me something to hang on to"), fourth for the pathos as well.

Also "Morning Darling" (4th one) never fails to make me laugh.

YANBU. It's my favourite too.

Yeah - I like Brian Blessed - I find his shoutyness amusing!

Yes, yes you are right I'm sure. Thanks!

I just know he'll love it. I have visions of me having to explain the reasons for the comedy breasts .

YABU. Second and Forth. The final scene in Forth was the product of much discussion with the veterans who were then still alive; there were concerns that the ending shouldn't cheapen the reality of what had gone on.

My 9yr old DD loves Blackadder (just above Horrible Histories); as pissovski says, the dodgy bits go over her head.

I just loved series one! it was my out and out favourite!

I actually haven't seen as much of S1 so will have to reserve judgement. I will agree with Elizibethan Edmond being rather appealing.

The last episode of S4 is, IMO, the greatest moment in television. The only WW1 drama that comes close is the film Joyeux Noel, which is a must see.

YANBU re the Spanish Infanta being brilliant, but YABU re Series 1 being the best one.

MM is fabulous whatever the role. As Lady Whiteadder in series 2 - 'Chairs!! You have chairs in your house??!!' SLAP SLAP. Plus a memorable turn as Queen Vic in A Christmas Carol.

Series 2 and 4 for me, and another one who against all my better judgement fancied Edmund with a ruff and a beard.

This thread is timely, as Blackadder The Third was on last night - the one with the actors, the enormous pants, the oppressed mass and the vastness of the bosom.

Jesus. YAB so off the scale U.

Have you ever seen series 2? Or Blackadder's Christmas Carol? I am so I can hardly bear it.

Queenie (When the sky is dark, and the dogs go....bark); Nursey (aka Bernard); Lord Percy (discovering 'green')...OP I beg you, stop with this silliness immediately.

YABU. It was always Blackadder the Second for me. Just perfect, RA made me swoon and it and still makes me laugh like a drain. I've grown very fond of the other series over the years, but they are not in the same league.

Having said that, I find myself a bit catsbum mouth about all of the series in the light of what utter lickspittle, establishment nobbers Elton, Curtis and Atkinson have become. I will never forgive them for Love Actually (Crap, Actually), Mr Bean, the Thin Blue Line and any dilly dallying with Andrew lloyd Webber.

Yep. Seen the lot. Many many times. Christmas Carol is the one I like least actually.

My brothers and I loved Blackadder-we recorded series 2,3 and 4 (didn't have a video player when series 1 was on) and could quote them all-even now there is still a relevent Blackadder quotation for most situations! We always said that the best order should be 2, 3, 4, then 1.

However-we (me, certainly-being the youngest) hadn't really seen much of series 1 and when I married DH, I realised that he loved it-he has the same opinion as the OP. He'd watched it when it was on and it was a big thing at school. Since I've been with him, we've watched that more than the others and actually, I now think that's comic genius!

I also think that the last episode of Blackadder 4 wins all sorts of 'Top 100 tearjerkers/best comedy/saddest comedy/funniest comedy' etc and I now really hate that episode. Yes-I thought it was good and emotive, but it was nowhere near the best episode and yet it's the only one that ever gets mentioned.

I love...
the Spanish Infanta and 'Edmund-can I have a glass of water?'
the blue stone of Galviston
How many is some beans plus some beans
I'll be back interfrastically (we use this often-along with Xmas Atmos)
Two people you know well have exchanged coats... (so when's the porpoise arriving)
Jane...bury me in a Y shaped coffin...

ooh, there are sooo many!

Teacher - is your DH around 40 now? Maybe there was a peak age at the time for 'getting' the series!
Love Queenie too BTW.
'Lord Percy - it's up to you - either you can shut up or you can have your head cut off'

Ha ha ha ha ha haaaaa! SO many of my favourite moments mentioned here :) As with other posters, some of these quotes have become family sayings for us.

I think YAB a bit U OP, though the Infanta + very bored-sounding interpreter are brilliant... 'Again please'.

Trying to remember when The Wise Woman appeared...S2 was it? Cocking brilliant. 'Two things must ye know about the Wise Woman....'

Yeah the wise woman was when he was worried about being attracted to 'Bob' and so consulted her. 'I'd sleep with him if I were you!'

YANBU - the first series was brilliant. I must get it on DVD - haven't seen it for years but I remember just finding it the funniest thing ever when it originally came out. I'm early forties now so maybe you're right OP and it is an age thing as well.

YANBU The first series was pure comedy genius. I liked them all but series one is definitely the best.

I've never seen an episode of Blackadder.

Oh my, you're in for a treat OvO.

Oh the first series was brilliant. I've never understood why everyone slates it so. Brian Blessed was fab "Chiswick!! Fresh horses" Although as a line "The enemy is coming, run for the hills" "My Lord, they're coming from the hills" "Run away from the hills, run away from the hills" takes some beating for me.

That's said series 4 is probably my favourite.

Dragonwoman-yes, DH was 40 last week!