"Blackadder II" (1986) TV series

User Rating:

9.1/10   

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

9 January 1986 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy | History

Tagline:

The original may be dead... but now his bastard great-great grandson swaggers around Renaissance London with a big head and a small beard.

Plot:

Lord Edmund Blackadder is now seeking the approval of Queen Elizabeth I with the "help" of Lord Percy Percy and Baldrick.

Plot Keywords:

Queen | Queen Elizabeth I | Servant | England | Alcohol

Cast

Rowan Atkinson	...	Edmund Blackadder / ... (6 episodes, 1986)
Tim McInnerny	...	Lord Percy (6 episodes, 1986)
Tony Robinson	...	Baldrick (6 episodes, 1986)
Miranda Richardson	...	Queen Elizabeth I (6 episodes, 1986)
Stephen Fry	...	Lord Melchett (6 episodes, 1986)
Patsy Byrne	...	Nursie (6 episodes, 1986)
Tony Aitken	...	Minstrel / ... (6 episodes, 1986)

Also Known As:

Black-Adder II

Runtime:

30 min (6 episodes)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:M | Singapore:PG | Iceland:L

Filming Locations:

Wilton House, Wilton, Salisbury, Wiltshire, England, UK

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

The opening title sequence of the snake crossing a marble table is a parody of the title sequence of "I, Claudius" (1976). Patsy Byrne, who played Nursie in "Blackadder II" (1986) appeared as Martina in "I, Claudius".

Quotes:

Blackadder: Shut up, Balders. You'd laugh at a Shakespeare comedy.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Breakfast: (2006-08-22)" (2006)

Excellent and original

Blackadder II is a vast improvement over its less popular predecessor. The second series was almost not made due to the lack of success of the original, and clearly the writers re-considered Blackadder's character. He, rather than the now dull-witted Baldrick, is the more intelligent of the pair and his character is now quick-witted, cunning and offers much in sarcastic humour. This, and possible Blackadder goes Forth, is the best of all the Blackadder series. Blackadder's new character is much funnier and Atkinson plays it masterfully. The series itself takes place some one hundred years after the first, just before the turn of the 17th century. I recommend it to all comedy fans.