Blackadder: Difference between revisions

* [[Buffy-Speak]]: Several times.

** ''Blackadder II'' - Edmund is trying to avoid drinking because he [[Can't Hold His Liquor]].

** ''Blackadder the Third'' - Edmund is attempting to bring the dim-witted Prince up to speed on the state of the nation.

* [[Bumbling Sidekick]]: Baldrick is a well-love example of the trope (and indeed the former [[Trope Namer]]), appearing from the second and subsequent seasons.

* [[But You Screw One Goat!]]: A running gag across all four series.

** Lord Melchett, Lord Melchett, intelligent and deep. / Lord Melchett, Lord Melchett, a shame about the sheep!

* [[Butt Monkey]]: Baldrick is probably the most obvious, but Percy, George, Darling and Edmund himself all fit the bill in some way as well.

Blackadder, Blackadder – life deals him a bum hand! }}

* [[The Casanova]]: Flashheart.

* [[Catch Phrase]]:

'''Melchetts''': "[[But You Screw One Goat!|BAAAAA!]]"<br />

'''Blackadder''': "...well quite." }}

* [[The Chain of Harm]]: Discussed (and simultaneously played out) in ''[[Blackadder]] III'':

'''Blackadder:''' Nothing. You are [[Butt Monkey|last in God's great chain]]. }}

* [[Characterization Marches On]]: As already mentioned, Blackadder was far less competent in the first series whereas Baldrick was far more intelligent.

* [[The Gump]]: Captain Blackadder from ''Blackadder Goes Forth'' is the only incarnation who isn't a friend/relative of a government figure. However, he did save Field Marshall Haig from a mango-wielding pygmy at Mboto Gorge. The intro to ''Blackadder: Back & Forth'' lampshades this with a montage of various incarnations throughout history, including one Desert Rat giving the bird to [[Winston Churchill]] behind his back.

* [[High Turnover Rate]]: Archbishop of Canterbury in the first series, Lord High Executioner in the second. And you can probably guess who gets both those jobs, just after the [[High Turnover Rate]] is commented on in detail.

* [[Historical Beauty Update]]: Discussed on the trope page.

* [[Historical In-Joke]]: The entire premise of the show (particularly the first series) with many references helpfully explained on the DVD collection for those of us unfamiliar with British history. The best of these is the final episode of the third series, which explains why the moronic Prince George is remembered by history as a man of wit and character.

* [[Unsympathetic Comedy Protagonist]]: Particularly the season three Blackadder, who is a thief and a murderer several times over by the finale.

** In season two, no one - including the balladeer - cares about him much:

Blackadder, Blackadder – who gives a toss? No one! }}

* [[Upperclass Twit]]: Several, most notably Lord Percy Percy [second season] and Prince Regent George (the future George IV) [third season]. Not that Percy's season 1 ancestor is any better, as he appears to be quite a bonehead.

* [[The Middle Ages]]: The setting of the first series. (See also [[The Late Middle Ages]])

* [[My Name Is Not Durwood]]: The King has a habit of calling Edmund by different names (Occasionally {{spoiler|(read: deliberately and [[Once an Episode]])}} forgetting Edmund's his son at all). The King finally calls him Edmund in the last episode {{spoiler|after he wakes from his torture-induced coma}}, leading to this exchange:

'''King Richard''': Sorry, Edgar. }}

* [[Pet the Dog]]: Edmund reading a bedtime story to his child wife at the end of "The Queen of Spain's Beard".

* [[Ax Crazy]]: Queenie enjoys beheading everyone and anyone for the slimmest of reasons. She just has other people do the beheading for her.

* [[Bawdy Song]]: Several examples in "Beer", all of which are also [[Drunken Song|Drunken Songs]].

Isn't the goblin sweet? }}

*** YES!

* [[Buffy-Speak]] (Notably in "Beer")

** In "Money", Edmund (usually a master of similes) says: "The grave opens up before me like a... big hole in the ground."

* [[But You Screw One Goat!]] / [[Noodle Incident]]

Lord Melchett, Lord Melchett - a shame about the sheep! }}

* [[Can't Hold His Liquor]]: Edmund, in "Beer"

The art of boozing he has not mastered. }}

* [[Chew Toy]]: Baldrick obviously, but also Percy, which is a bit of a [[Woobie]] since he is sincerely a good friend of exceptional loyalty. Everyone (especially Edmund) is this to Queenie, too.

* [[Couch Gag]]: Three per episode: In the opening credits, the episode title is accompanied by the object to which it refers. In the closing credits, the theme song has different lyrics and the minstrel accosts Edmund in different ways, although the last one ("Chains") has Edmund finally catch the bugger and drown him.

* [[Curse Cut Short]]: In "Beer":

* [[Despair Speech]]: A very short one, which is also a [[Shout-Out]] to ''[[Richard II]]'':

* [[Dry Crusader]]: the Whiteadders are these--at least until the end of the episode.

* [[Eats Babies]]: [[Exactly What It Says on the Tin|The Baby-Eating Bishop of Bath and Wells]].

* [[Fiery Redhead]]: Queenie

* [[Freud Was Right]]: In-universe; she doesn't realize it, but Queenie's description of her dreams suggest that [[Incredibly Lame Pun|The Virgin Queen badly wants to get laid]]:

* [[Freudian Excuse]]: Prince Ludwig.

* [[Freudian Slippery Slope]]: Blackadder greeting his wealthy aunt and uncle in "Beer" (though it's likely he was doing it on purpose to less-than-subtly drop hints that he wanted to discuss his inheritance):

* [[Fridge Logic]]: Prince Ludwig permanently impersonating Queen Elizabeth nicely explains the whole virgin queen thing.

** Also, Prince Ludwig is very likely an ancestor of Prince George (George IV) from Blackadder the third. George IV's great grandfather was Georg Ludwig of Germany. Which explains the uncanny resemblance (both are played by Hugh Laurie)

* [[Groin Attack]]: Twice in "Bells": Blackadder kicks Percy down there, and shortly afterwards, Percy shoots Baldrick with an arrow.

** Also part of the plan Blackadder and Melchett use to escape their German captors in "Chains."

* [[Hello, Sailor!]]: The episode "Potato" is ''full'' of jokes about gay sailors, because it revolves around explorers and sea voyages. In "Money," Baldrick winds up being pimped out to sailors down at the docks.

* [[Insult Backfire]]: In "Beer", two incidents involving Lady Whiteadder:

'''Lord Percy Percy''': (Completely nonchalant) Oh yes. }}

* [[Insult Misfire]]

'''Lady Whiteadder''': How dare you speak to my husband like that! }}

* [[Irony as She Is Cast]]: Miriam Margolyes, who played the Puritanical Lady Whiteadder, is not only openly gay but Jewish.

* [[Noodle Incident]]: In Potato it is revealed a horse was elected Pope. The details of this vibrant, dynamic, and exciting Papacy has sadly been lost to history.

* [[One-Note Cook]]: Mrs. Ploppy, in "Head".

'''Mrs. Ploppy''': Oh, yes, sir. Provided they ask for sausages. Otherwise, they tend to get a tiny bit disappointed. Sausage is all I got. }}

* [[One-Scene Wonder]]

Lord Flashheart, Lord Flashheart - you're sexier by far! }}

* [[Only Sane Man]]: Along with Blackadder, Melchett also tends to steer towards this, obviously humouring Queenie throughout the series. He's still considerably more loopy, however, especially once we learn about a [[Noodle Incident|past affair]] involving a [[But You Screw One Goat!|sheep]]... that [[The Reveal|wasn't quite]] [[Squick|as it seemed]].

* [[Psychopathic Manchild|Psychopathic Womanchild]]: Queenie

* [[The Renaissance]]: Well, most of the time.

* [[Retool]]

* [[Royal Brat]]: Queenie

* [[Shaped Like Itself]]: When Blackadder asks the Young Crone how to find the Wise Woman in "Bells":

'''Blackadder:''' [[Deadpan Snarker|...she is wise?]] }}

* [[Shout-Out]]: In "Bells", Blackadder says "Come, [[Kiss Me Kate]]!"

* [[Two-Timer Date]]: Blackadder's attempt to hold simultaneous parties in "Beer".

* [[What Do You Mean It's Not Heinous?]]: In "Head", Blackadder has accidentally had Lord Farrow executed (or so he thinks) ''before'' his wife is supposed to meet him one last time, so is forced to impersonate him by putting a bag over his head. In a meeting with Lady Farrow beforehand, he tries to prepare her for this by saying her husband has 'changed', which she takes to mean he's been tortured:

'''Blackadder:''' We have put... ''([[Dramatic Pause]])'' ...a bag over his head! }}

* [[What Happened to the Mouse?]]: In series 2, when Lord Farrow is believed to have been executed before he met his wife, Edmund attempts to [[Crowning Moment of Funny|impersonate him with...]] [[Paper-Thin Disguise|a bag on his head]]. It is later revealed that Baldrick has executed Ponsonby in place of Farrow, so Edmund must then [[Crowning Moment of Funny|impersonate Ponsonby with...]] [[Paper-Thin Disguise|a bag on his head. And a lisp. Hopping.]]. So, when Edmund was impersonating the actually-alive Farrow, where was he if not in his cell?

* [[Anachronism Stew]]: The series is set in the Regency era (1811-1820) yet features [[William Pitt the Younger]] who died in 1806 (and was actually 24 when he was elected), [[Samuel Johnson]] finishing his dictionary, which happened in 1755, the French Revolution (1790s), and planning the Battle of Trafalgar, which was in 1805.

* [[Bawdy Song]]:

Had an enormous horn... }}

* [[Beleaguered Assistant]]: Blackadder

* [[Bottomless Magazines]]: Amy's flintlock pistol [[Rule of Funny|never seems to need reloading]] in "Amy and Amiability".

* [[Breaking the Fourth Wall]]: This lovely bit at the beginning of "Duel and Duality":

'''Baldrick''': Yeah, and I could be played by some tiny tit in a beard. }}

* [[Buffy-Speak]]: Blackadder: "Disease and depravation stalk our land like... two giant... ''stalking'' things." Also: "We're about as similar as two completely dis-similar things in a pod."

* [[Death by Sex]]: {{spoiler|Prince George}} in "Duel and Duality," despite Blackadder's best efforts to prevent it.

* [[Dream Sequence]]: In "Ink and Incapability"

* [[Dude Not Ironic]]:

'''Baldrick''': Yes, it's like goldy and bronzy only it's made out of iron. }}

* [[Duel to the Death]]: "Duel and Duality"

* [[Informed Attribute]]: Done deliberately - Blackadder and Baldrick both reference Prince George's disgusting obesity - as the historical figure indeed was - even though he's played by the lanky Hugh Laurie.

* [[Inter Class Romance]]: From the episode "Amy and Amiability":

'''Hardwood''': The Pope! Yes, yes, all right. }}

* [[Leaning on the Fourth Wall]]: During the episode 'Duel And Duality'.

'''Baldrick''': Yeah, and I could be played by some tiny tit in a beard.<br />

'''Blackadder''': Quite. }}

** And in 'Amy and Amiability':

* [[Legacy of Service]]: The Baldricks to the Blackadders.

* [[Lifes Work Ruined]]: [[Double Subverted]] in "Ink and Incapability" in a very odd way. {{spoiler|It turns out that Dr. Johnson's dictionary was never burned at all, despite what Blackadder and Baldrick spent most of the episode believing; the book that was burned was in fact ''Blackadder's'' novel, which both he and Johnson thought was a masterpiece.}} It then {{spoiler|gets burned by Baldrick while he's making a fire}}.

** I think you misunderstood. [[Blatant Lies|he said "lovely". "Prince George is a lovely."]]

* [[Swapped Roles]]: "Duel and Duality"

'''George:''' Oh, yes, yes. [[Sustained Misunderstanding|"The Prince and the Porpoise and the Pauper".]] }}

* [[Unaccustomed as I Am to Public Speaking]]: Parodied by George.

== Tropes Present in ''Blackadder Goes Forth'' ==

* [[Actually Pretty Funny]]:

'''Blackadder''': ''(bitterl)*'' ...Charming. }}

** While it's not intentional, Blackadder is mighty amused when Melchett says his new girlfriend (actually George in drag) has "more spunk than most girls."

* [[Amoral Attorney]]: Blackadder wants to hire a very good one for his court-martial.

* [[Armchair Military]]: Melchett, and also Darling - until the finale.

** It's notable that Darling enjoys his easy assignment and is trying to get an even easier one in the Royal Women's Auxiliary Balloon Corps.

* [[Badass Mustache]]: General Melchett is hardly a badass, but damn if his lip-cover isn't an impressive specimen!

* [[Bawdy Song]]: Melchett and George's version of "Row, Row, Row Your Boat".

'''Blackadder''': [[Deadpan Snarker|Fabulous. University education; you can't beat it.]] }}

** You forgot the hip thrust at "Hooray!".

** The {{spoiler|fade out into a field of poppies}} is also the very last shot. No [[Closing Credits]]; just a small BBC production copyright in the corner of the screen for the final few seconds. [[Fade to Black]].

* [[Evil Gloating]]: But terminated gloriously.

'''Flashheart''': '''[[Take That|WHAT A POOF!]]'''" }}

* [[Hanging Judge]]: General Sir Anthony Cecil Hogmanay Melchett becomes one in a military court. He's completely ready to have Blackadder shot for shooting '''his''' prize pigeon.

*** It also should be said that Rowan Atkinson used the EXACT same tone and diction when he said "his" name in series 2.

** Also, General Melchett's speech about how "pooh-pooh" can have devastating effects on morale in which [[Crowning Moment of Funny|he repeats the term "pooh-pooh" an inordinate number of times.]]

'''Melchett:''' Well, I hope so, Blackadder. You know, if there's one thing I've learnt from being in the Army, it's never ignore a pooh-pooh. I knew a Major, who got pooh-poohed, made the mistake of ignoring the pooh-pooh. He pooh-poohed it! Fatal error! 'Cause it turned out all along that the soldier who pooh-poohed him had been pooh-poohing a lot of other officers who pooh-poohed their pooh-poohs. In the end, we had to disband the regiment. Morale totally destroyed... by pooh-pooh! }}

*** Melchett is also a fan of 'gobeldegook' and makes a note to use it more often in conversation.

*** "Wibble"

* [[Jerk with a Heart of Gold]]: Blackadder, to a very slight extent. He's still not remotely a nice person, but he can bring himself to feel sympathy for Darling and wish the others good luck in the final episode. Also, despite being a soldier, he is the only Blackadder in the four seasons ''not'' to commit murder - unless you count Speckled Jim and Mboto Gorge, where they "massacred the peace-loving pigmies of the Upper Volta and stole all their fruit" according to Darling. He also seems genuinely horrified when he learns he's sent an innocent woman to the firing squad in "General Hospital"; hard to imagine his heartless Regency ancestor being so shaken. He is genuinely complimentary regarding George's painting ability too (though planning to use it for his own ends). Sincere compliments from a Blackadder are as rare as something very rare.

'''Blackadder''': You might at least have told us you ''had'' a trumpet! }}

** It's worth noting that this Blackadder, in contrast with his forebears, is uninterested in scheming his way to power or wealth. He's merely trying to [[Series Goal|save himself]]. {{spoiler|Too bad [[Failure Is the Only Option]].}}

* [[Obfuscating Insanity]]: Briefly attempted by Blackadder in "Goodbyeee", until he overhears Melchett tell the others that he had to shoot an entire platoon for pulling the same stunt. Of course, as he trenchantly observes at the end, it probably wouldn't have worked anyway. "[[World Gone Mad|I mean, who would have noticed another madman around here?]]"

* [[Obfuscating Stupidity]]: George might be an example of this, as in "Private Plane" he demonstrates a distressing combination of wooden-headed stupidity and remarkably keen insight.

'''George''': Your dog! }}

** Nurse Mary, in "General Hospital", uses a mild version of this. ("My fluffy-bunny act", as she calls it.)

* [[Overranked Soldier]]: General Melchett.

* [[Precision F-Strike]]: In the final episode.

** Averted in the same episode with a [[Narrative Profanity Filter]]:

* [[Pun-Based Title]]: It is, after all, the ''fourth'' series.

** As well as the episode titles, which play on various military ranks.

* [[Second Face Smoke]]: Nurse Mary does this to Blackadder.

* [[Something That Begins With Boring]]: Which ends rather unusually.

'''''KA-BOOM''''' }}

* [[Smoking Hot Sex]]: Blackadder and Nurse Mary, in "General Hospital".

* [[Smug Snake]]: Captain Darling

* [[Soldiers At the Rear]]: Darling is happy to be General Melchett's aide-de-camp because that way he doesn't have to be in the trenches. In the last episode he gets sent there anyway.

* [[Time for Plan B]]: Every episode.

* [[Telegraph Gag STOP]]: In "Major Star", used as a joke by Blackadder to insult [[Charlie Chaplin]], and in the same episode Chaplin takes revenge in the same format.

'''Captain Darling:''' We received a telegram from Mr Chaplin himself at Sennett Studios: Twice nightly filming of my films in trenches: excellent idea STOP But must insist that E. Blackadder be projectionist STOP P.S. Don't let him ever... STOP. }}

* [[Unfortunate Names]]: Captain Darling. The creators said that as soon as they came up with the name for him, he went from a totally empty character to one who'd been steeped in a lifetime's worth of bitterness and resentment from being called "darling" by everyone.

* [[Verbal Tic]]: General Melchett's trademark "Baa!" has been variously attributed to madness, asthma, and an ancestor's illicit relationship with Flossie the sheep. [[Stephen Fry]] has said it really originated from his imagining that Melchett had haemorrhoids and would yell out every time he sat down or got up.

* [[Wham! Line]]: At the very end:

'''Darling''': Thank God. We lived through it. The Great War, 1914 to 1917. }}

** In the scene just prior:

'''George''': I'm...scared, sir. }}

* [[What Happened to the Mouse?]]: We never do find out if Blackadder or Darling were able to prevent Nurse Mary's firing squad execution in time.

* [[Throw the Dog a Bone]]: Things finally end happily for (one descendant of) Edmund and Baldrick in ''Blackadder: Back & Forth'' as they alter time and history for fame and fortune.

* [[Yet Another Christmas Carol]]: An inversion and parody. Indeed, when Ebenezer Blackadder, the [[White Sheep|only good and friendly member of the Blackadder bloodline]], sees that his descendant would rule all of the universe if he became a spiteful miser like his ancestors (instead of being a slave to future Baldrick, which would happen if he were to remain kind and generous), he lampshades it gleefully:

 

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