Having established itself properly in the previous episode, this episode starts with a quick reminder of how Blackadder and Baldrick have been re-characterised into the comedy traditions we know and love.
One of series two's funniest moments is the opening scene from this episode as Edmund tries to teach Baldrick about adding (the ape creature of the Indies have mastered this) using beans and getting such results as 'some beans', 'some beans and that one' and the best of all 'a small casserole'. To you, Baldrick, the Renaissance was just something that happened to other people wasn't it? Where WERE you three years earlier, Elton?!
The plot gets going quickly as Blackadder is given the job as the new minister for religious genocide (i.e. Lord High Executioner), something a later Edmund will do again in a way in "The Cavalier Years", but we don't actually see or hear any executions this time.
That's not really what "Head" is about though. The story we're told is about how he chops someone's block off two days early only for the victim to get an early reprieve. Edmund knows someone'll have to be punished, telling Percy "Let's face it: It's you." How kind.
Cunning plans come thick and fast from there as Edmund goes to get the head only to be interrupted by the Queen (PERHAPS YOU'D LIKE TO WALK WITH ME A WHILE IF YOU'RE NOT TOO BUSY!!!) forcing him to hide the head behind him, dumping it in his trousers as one does, then trying to pass himself off as the dead man with a bag on his head and with his missing arm and booming voice so that pumpkinny-wumpkinny will believe her husband hasn't died yet.
The best moments include the Ploppies, Melchett's list of candidates and everything Percy does standing atop his box and getting ignored.
Great episode overall, but only worthy of 8/10 because it does turn into farce at times with is never a good thing for such an intelligent show as Blackadder.
One of series two's funniest moments is the opening scene from this episode as Edmund tries to teach Baldrick about adding (the ape creature of the Indies have mastered this) using beans and getting such results as 'some beans', 'some beans and that one' and the best of all 'a small casserole'. To you, Baldrick, the Renaissance was just something that happened to other people wasn't it? Where WERE you three years earlier, Elton?!
The plot gets going quickly as Blackadder is given the job as the new minister for religious genocide (i.e. Lord High Executioner), something a later Edmund will do again in a way in "The Cavalier Years", but we don't actually see or hear any executions this time.
That's not really what "Head" is about though. The story we're told is about how he chops someone's block off two days early only for the victim to get an early reprieve. Edmund knows someone'll have to be punished, telling Percy "Let's face it: It's you." How kind.
Cunning plans come thick and fast from there as Edmund goes to get the head only to be interrupted by the Queen (PERHAPS YOU'D LIKE TO WALK WITH ME A WHILE IF YOU'RE NOT TOO BUSY!!!) forcing him to hide the head behind him, dumping it in his trousers as one does, then trying to pass himself off as the dead man with a bag on his head and with his missing arm and booming voice so that pumpkinny-wumpkinny will believe her husband hasn't died yet.
The best moments include the Ploppies, Melchett's list of candidates and everything Percy does standing atop his box and getting ignored.
Great episode overall, but only worthy of 8/10 because it does turn into farce at times with is never a good thing for such an intelligent show as Blackadder.