Reviews & Ratings for
"Blackadder Goes Forth" Corporal Punishment (1989)

3 out of 4 people found the following review useful:

Corporal Punishment - a complete classic of an episode.

Author: general-melchett from United Kingdom
7 November 2006

Corporal Punishment is easily the best of all the first three Blackadder Series 4 episodes - it has an endlessly quotable script and a funny yet serious theme - generals were prepared to kill men for things as stupid and minor as shooting pigeons. Baldrick's stupidity was at it's most life-threatening in this episode, as shown by his rubbishy escape kit and the line "We didn't receive any messages, and Captain Blackadder definitely did not shoot this delicious plump-breasted pigeon," - right in front of General Melchett, who was enquiring into the matter. The scene in court was hugely funny, and showed that Baldrick and George were always stupid, and would never change. Yes, it is very predictable, and Blackadder himself could have done with a more humane side (a scene in which he broke down completely would have been a very cunning plan), but we can forgive Ben Elton and Richard Curtis that - after all, the character of Blackadder has been displayed these past 20 episodes to not be known to break down and to stay calm and cool in even life-threatening situations. Not even the pigeon-shooting scene was badly done, but we don't watch Blackadder for its brilliant, epic special effects (which it clearly doesn't have) - we watch it for its sharp, dry, witty sense of humour, interesting mix of history and comedy, and the stupidest comedy characters ever (i.e Baldrick). And on the second aspect, Corporal Punishment engages.

Another great episode and addition to the Blackadder series, Corporal Punishment is a huge success, and like the firing squad leader said to Blackadder, "we aim to please". Well, you have done with this episode. Bravo! 10/10

0 out of 1 people found the following review useful:

A huge improvement over the first episode.

Author: planktonrules from Bradenton, Florida
7 June 2010

Captain Blackadder is, as usual, trying to avoid being killed. His latest plan is pretty simple--pretend that the phone lines are down so he does not have to order his men over the top. Headquarters then responds by sending telegrams. When these are ignored, they send carrier pigeons--which Blackadder and his men eat! When this is discovered by General Melchett (who adores his pet pigeons), Blackadder is arrested and awaits court martial! Unfortunately for him, George agrees to represent him--meaning he is totally screwed. During the trial, I had a laugh as Melchett was far, far more upset at the loss of his pigeons than Blackadder disobeying orders. I also had a laugh because George turned out to be even stupider and less helpful than I'd expected!! There's a lot more to the episode than this and unlike the first show of this series, most of it is quite funny. A very good second episode--too bad there weren't more like this in "Blackadder Goes Forth". And, considering it's only the second episode, it's safe to assume this one will NOT end in the death of our cowardly anti-hero.

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