"The Black Adder" Born to Be King (1983)

User Rating:

7.7/10   

Director:

Martin Shardlow

Writers:

Richard Curtis (written by) and
Rowan Atkinson (written by) ...

TV Series:

"The Black Adder" (1983)

Original Air Date:

22 June 1983 (Season 1, Episode 2)

Genre:

Comedy | History

Plot:

When Edmund's Scottish lands are given to the King's Supreme Commander, Douglas McAngus, he plots revenge. |

Plot Keywords:

Black Adder | King | Battle | England | Dark Ages

Cast

Rowan Atkinson	...	The Laird of Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles
Brian Blessed	...	Richard XII of Scotland
Alex Norton	...	McAngus, Duke of Argyll
Tim McInnerny	...	Percy, Duke of Northumberland
Elspet Gray	...	Gertrude, Queen of Flanders
Robert East	...	Harry, Prince of Wales
Tony Robinson	...	Baldrick, Bachelor of the Parish of Chigwell
Angus Deayton	...	Jumping Jew of Jerusalem
Joolia Cappleman	...	Celia, Countess of Cheltenham
Martin Clarke	...	Sir Dominick Prique of Stratford
Martin Soan	...	2nd Wooferoonie
Malcolm Hardee	...	3rd Wooferoonie
David Nunn	...	Messenger

Country:

UK

Color:

Color

Trivia:

"The Black Adder: Born to Be King (#1.2)" (1983) is a remake of the original unaired pilot, with the following differences: - The King is not at the crusades, but at home. - Edmond's plot to kill McAngus involves a hanging with a fake rope, not a staged stabbing with a real dagger. The plan backfires in much the same way. - The King, Prince Henry and Baldrick are played by different actors, respectively John Savident, Robert Bathurst and Philip Fox. - Edmund's personality is much more like his decadents in the other series, much more sarcastic and intelligent.

Quotes:

Prince Edmund: You come in here! Fresh from slaughtering a couple of choccos when their backs were turned! And you think you can upset that harmony of a whole kingdom? I challenge you to a duel!
McAngus: TO THE DEATH!
Prince Edmund: [meekly] Uhm... yes, all right.

Movie Connections:

Remake of "The Black Adder: Original Pilot (#1.0)" (1982)

Better than the first episode.

"Let's see the Black Adder wriggle out of this one!"

This episode was better than The Foretelling, and also introduced us to some new faces. The slapstick was stronger, and the humorous lines were done with more vigour. Edmund is still a weed and a wimp in this one, but it only serves to make it funnier. However, his sharp wit and expertly delivered nasty comments are what really gives the later series their kicks.

Born to be King improves on the weaknesses of The Foretelling and gave me a more humorous viewing, but Blackadder's excessively long dialogue scenes in his quarters still aren't that funny. On the whole, it is a relatively good episode, and shows how much Richard Curtis and Rowan Atkinson have developed their humorous writing since The Foretelling. However, the episodes still get funnier from here. It gets an 8 out of 10 rating from me, only losing out from a 9 because it still hasn't got the right deliveries of certain lines.