When the plague rages through Europe everyone blames "witches". When Edmund fails a "test" everyone suddenly becomes his enemy.When the plague rages through Europe everyone blames "witches". When Edmund fails a "test" everyone suddenly becomes his enemy.When the plague rages through Europe everyone blames "witches". When Edmund fails a "test" everyone suddenly becomes his enemy.
Photos
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaTony Robinson singles out this episode as the one in which Baldrick's catchphrase, "I have a cunning plan", was firmly developed. The phrase had featured in previous episodes - it had been used in The Foretelling (1983), and in Born to Be King (1983), Prince Edmund and Baldrick develop it whilst plotting against Dougal McAngus. Robinson recalls that during the filming of this episode, he realised that re-using the word "cunning" could be an effective comedic device and he inserted it into his line "I have a plan" as Baldrick conspires with Edmund to escape from the dungeon.
- GoofsThe witchsmeller uses two eggs, one white and one brown, while explaining his function to Harry. In close-up, the brown egg is in his lower hand representing evil. In the long shot (after crushing both eggs), the brown egg shell is in his upper hand, representing good.
- Quotes
Prince Edmund: [to the Witchsmeller Pursuivant] I've been hearing about your work in Taunton. Imagine that - every single person having an affair with the same duck.
- Crazy creditsCast in Order of Witchiness
- ConnectionsReferences The Night of the Hunter (1955)
Featured review
Important episode with some great dark humour
The King has the plague and they send for the Witchsmeller Pursuivant to investigate.
This is a very strong episode that lampoons the witch trials of the Middle Ages, with the conformity, corruption, moral panic and mass hysteria that goes along with it.
The plot is silly but fascinating, with something that is essentially quite frightening being presented in a half-hour comedy episode. Just thinking about people being executed in this manner is pretty shocking and it's important that it's preserved in a piece of important popular culture such as Blackadder.
As with most subject matter Blackadder looks at it from a darkly humorous perspective. How do you make a subject like this funny? You put funny characters at the centre of it and put you on their side. Considering the material, the humour is excellent. Not all the jokes land, but it is amusing enough to make you remember it.
The trial is brilliant, particularly the women who keep fainting at the horror of every accusation the Witchsmeller keeps throwing at Edmund. The sight-gags are strong, especially the obvious evil characters lurking in the background that nobody notices. The final resolution to the plot is also very enjoyable.
I think this is one of the most important Blackadder episodes in the entire show as the subject has been relevant throughout history right up to today. It's not as extreme, but there are still multiple examples of individuals tried and convicted by entities where evidence is either circumstantial or non-existent. Organisations are pressurised into disconnecting themselves with people for expressing opinions or going against the grain in highly emotive or politicised circumstances, which for me is all in the same vein.
There are a number of great performances in the episode but Rowan Atkinson and Frank Finlay dominate.
For me it is an 8.5/10 but I like to round upwards for IMDB.
This is a very strong episode that lampoons the witch trials of the Middle Ages, with the conformity, corruption, moral panic and mass hysteria that goes along with it.
The plot is silly but fascinating, with something that is essentially quite frightening being presented in a half-hour comedy episode. Just thinking about people being executed in this manner is pretty shocking and it's important that it's preserved in a piece of important popular culture such as Blackadder.
As with most subject matter Blackadder looks at it from a darkly humorous perspective. How do you make a subject like this funny? You put funny characters at the centre of it and put you on their side. Considering the material, the humour is excellent. Not all the jokes land, but it is amusing enough to make you remember it.
The trial is brilliant, particularly the women who keep fainting at the horror of every accusation the Witchsmeller keeps throwing at Edmund. The sight-gags are strong, especially the obvious evil characters lurking in the background that nobody notices. The final resolution to the plot is also very enjoyable.
I think this is one of the most important Blackadder episodes in the entire show as the subject has been relevant throughout history right up to today. It's not as extreme, but there are still multiple examples of individuals tried and convicted by entities where evidence is either circumstantial or non-existent. Organisations are pressurised into disconnecting themselves with people for expressing opinions or going against the grain in highly emotive or politicised circumstances, which for me is all in the same vein.
There are a number of great performances in the episode but Rowan Atkinson and Frank Finlay dominate.
For me it is an 8.5/10 but I like to round upwards for IMDB.
helpful•00
- snoozejonc
- Jan 21, 2021
Details
- Runtime30 minutes
- Color
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