Blackadder Series 2, episode 6: Chains
The Plot:
When Blackadder and Melchett are kidnapped by the evil Prince Ludwig, the Queen is given an impossible choice. She can only pay the ransom on one of them, but which one? She decides to spend the money on a big party instead. The boys buy their freedom by giving Ludwig some vital information that will enable him to assassinate the Queen: they tell him that, at the Queen’s fancy dress parties, Nursie always goes as a cow. The boys escape, rush home, and kill the cow (they knew it was Ludwig in the cow costume, because, “Ludwig was a master of disguise, whereas Nursie is a sad, insane old woman with an udder fixation. All I had to do was kill the one that looked like the cow.”) All ends happily until, after the end credits, it is revealed that Ludwig came back, killed the whole court, and has now taken over the country, disguised as the Queen.
Baldrick’s words of wisdom:
Poor Balders doesn’t have much to do in this episode at all. But he does turn up the fancy dress party as a pencil case.
Insult of the episode:
Blackadder: Nursie is a sad, insane old woman with an udder fixation.
Shakespeare gave me a hand with the title, but the rest is all my own work:
Melchett bemoans their cruel fate with, “As private parts to the gods are we, they play with us for their sport.” This is a take on Gloucester’s line in King Lear:
“As flies to wanton boys, are we to the gods,
They kill us for their sport.”
Words to closing song:
Beware, all ye who lust for fame!
The path of life is most uncertain.
Prince Ludwig thought he’d won the game,
But now, the Kraut’s gone for a Burton.
Blackadder, Blackadder,
He beat the Hun by luck.
Blackadder, Blackadder,
He’s smarter than a duck.
Lord Melchett, Lord Melchett,
Intelligent and deep.
Lord Melchett, Lord Melchett,
A shame about the sheep!
Quotes:
Queenie: If we went around punishing people for being stupid, Nursie would have been in prison all her life.
Blackadder: Oh, God, God, God! What on earth was I drinking last night? My head feels like there’s a Frenchman living in it.
Ludwig: You find yourself amusing, Blackadder.
Blackadder: I try not to fly in the face of public opinion.
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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