Chains (20 Feb. 1986)

Blackadder and Melchett are kidnapped by a neurotic German spy just after the Queen announces she is sick of paying ransom to kidnappers.

Director:

Mandie Fletcher

Writers:

Richard Curtis (by), Ben Elton (by)

Stars:

Rowan Atkinson, Tim McInnerny, Tony Robinson

Cast

Episode cast overview:
Rowan Atkinson	...	Edmund Blackadder
Tim McInnerny	...	Lord Percy
Tony Robinson	...	Baldrick
Miranda Richardson	...	Queen Elizabeth I
Stephen Fry	...	Lord Melchett
Patsy Byrne	...	Nursie
Hugh Laurie	...	Prince Ludwig
Max Harvey	...	Torturer
Mark Arden	...	1st Guard
Lee Cornes	...	2nd Guard

Storyline

Following a spate of kidnappings, Queen Elizabeth declares that she will no longer pay the perpetrators their ransom demands. Almost immediately, Edmund Blackadder and Lord Melchett are kidnapped by the demented German spy Ludwig, who may have more on his mind than just money. Knowing that the Queen will not pay for their release, Blackadder and Melchett must outwit their half-wit captors in order to escape.

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Plot Keywords:

german | ransom | escape | kidnapping | hit on the head | 

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Genres:

Comedy | History

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 February 1986 (UK)

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Technical Specs

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

Many viewers have speculated and found it strange that, though Prince Ludwig is German, his torturer seems to be Spanish.

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Goofs

In his pantomimed conversation with the torturer in Prince Ludwig's dungeon, Blackadder interprets one of the torturer's gestures as meaning that he (Edmund) is "head over heels" in love with Satan. In fact, at that point the torturer had his heels over his head instead of the other way around.

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Quotes

Blackadder: Get out, get out libidinous swine! And take that horse-slut painted strumpet with you. May you both rot in the filth of your own fornication!
Queen Elizabeth I: And what did you say to him?
Blackadder: Say, Madam? I said nothing. I simply pulled up my tights and jumped out of the privy window.
Queen Elizabeth I: Oh Edmund, you're so naughty!
Blackadder: Well, I try, Madam. And then, ten minutes later when I've got my breath back, I try again.

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Connections

Featured in Blackadder's Most Cunning Moments (2008)

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Soundtracks

"Funeral for a Friend"
Written and performed by Elton John
The opening plays over the scene after the credits as the camera pans over the murdered bodies of the characters.

User Reviews

Chains is a good close to a great series!

On the whole, Series 2 was better than Series 1, and elevated Blackadder's status from slightly dull to a must-see. Thank God for Ben Elton is all we can say. Series 2 may have ended, but Blackadder is far from over. It has reached a peak, and will stay at that peak forever, and become one of Britain's best comedies, and a highlight of the 80s. Anyway, let's start the review of the episode.

Chains spends no time lingering on details - Blackadder is kidnapped about 3 minutes into it, with Melchett. Blackadder's true colours are revealed in this episode - he is nasty to everyone, even if he is stuck with them, and never loses his cool. Hugh Laurie is great as Prince Ludwig - from here onwards, he will appear in every Blackadder episode. The episode once again reaches hilarious heights - Melchett's shameful past is revealed too subtly, though. We once again switch between Blackadder's situation and Queenie's situations, but while Blackadder's scenes have brains, Queenie's situations aren't brilliantly written and should have been left out. The episode is clearly resolved in the end - as it is with all Blackadder episodes - but there is a surprise ending

• do not press stop on the credits sequence.

On the whole, Chains is a very funny episode, and a worthy close to what has now become a great comedy. Spiffing close to a spiffing series, which is soon to become even greater. 9/10