Blackadder Series 1, episode 2:
The Plot:
To celebrate the King’s imminent return from the crusades, Harry instructs Blackadder to organise an evening of traditional entertainment. The supreme commander of the King’s army, Lord Dougal McAngus, arrives home early and is awarded Blackadder’s Scottish lands as a reward for his bravery in battle. Enraged, Blackadder hatches a plot for McAngus to be stabbed on stage during the entertainment. However, he changes his mind about the assassination when McAngus offers him documents showing that Harry is illegitimate. Inconveniently, the letters prove that the Queen’s adultery took place nine months before Blackadder’s birth, not Harry’s. Blackadder destroys the evidence and, cunningly, blows McAngus’ head off.
Moment of pure evil:
Blackadder assassinates McAngus by persuading him to stick his head down a loaded cannon.
Brush up your Shakespeare:
Blackadder substitutes a real blade for a harmless one to assassinate McAngus, echoing the trick played by Laertes and Claudius on the unsuspecting Hamlet.
This week’s most interesting fact:
In 1486, the egg replaced the worm as the lowest form of currency.
Quotes:
Blackadder: Morris dancing is the most fatuous, tenth-rate entertainment ever devised by man. Forty effeminate blacksmiths waving bits of cloth they’ve just wiped their noses on. How it’s still going on in this day and age I’ll never know.
King Richard: Blood! Death! War! Rumpy pumpy! Triumph!
Blackadder: Don’t be absurd. Such activities are totally beyond my mother. My father only got anywhere with her because he told her it was a cure for diarrhoea.
Read the other episode guides:
Series 1:
1. The Foretelling
2. Born to Be King
3. The Archbishop
4. The Queen of Spain's Beard
5. Witchsmeller Pursuivant
6. The Black Seal
Series 2:
1. Bells
2. Head
3. Potato
4. Money
5. Beer
6. Chains
Series 3:
1. Dish and Dishonesty
2. Ink and Incapability
3. Nob and Nobility
4. Sense and Senility
5. Amy and Amiability
6. Dual and Duality
Series 4:
1. Captain Cook
2. Corporal Punishment
3. Major Star
4. Private Plane
5. General Hospital
6. Goodybyeee
These guides were brought to you by the BBCi Comedy website.
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