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Blackadder: Complete Series 2 (Blackadder II)
RRP: £19.99
Our Price: £6.81 (subject to change)
Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review
Although now regarded as the opening salvo of a classic series, the original Blackadder series was not considered a great success, either among critics or many viewers, so a major rethink took place when it was recommissioned. On the writing front, future-Four Weddings And A Funeral scribe Richard Curtis was joined by Ben Elton, while the expensive War of the Roses-era sets were replaced by cosier Elizabethan ones. The most important change, however, was with Rowan Atkinson's eponymous character who, in the first series, had been a fairly weak-willed idiot but now emerged as the familiar Machiavellian fiend which would cement Atkinson's place in the pantheon of great British sitcom actors. Moreover, even if so many of the script's lines have been subsequently ripped off by lesser hands that it can't help but occasionally sound dated, the central performances of Atkinson, Tony Robinson (Baldrick), Tim McInnery (Lord Percy), Stephen Fry (Lord Melchett) and, of course, Miranda Richardson as the childishly psychotic Queen Elizabeth ("I love it when you get cross. Sometimes I think about having you executed just to see the expression on your face") remain note perfect. Yet the real pleasure for viewers may be in rediscovering the raft of excellent guest star performances--not least Tom "Doctor Who" Baker's berserk turn as a literally legless old sea dog given to guzzling his own urine long before the drinking water has run out. --Clark Collis
Blackadder Sequel Showing Promise
Review date: 2008-01-26 Rating: 8 out of 10
On first watching `Blackadder II' I found it a big disappointment as I was a big fan of `The Black Adder'. That the episodes were virtually entombed in sitcom set's lost some of the depth of the first series which was mainly shot on location on film. Also that the stories were more traditional sitcom farce and underplayed the historical significance of some of the characters seemed a wasted opportunity. The shift from Medieval to Elizabethan England was possibly a bigger jar but the transition was harmonised by the Shakespeare connections.
Subsequent re-watching bears out this shift from the original series but it makes up for these shortcomings by a sharper script and by making Edmund the dominant character with Baldrick as a hapless assistant The shaper dialogue was no doubt caused by Rowan Atkinson stepping down from writing to be replaced by Ben Elton whom had shown his sitcom pedigree on `The Young Ones'. That said I think the writers were still finding there combined voice as the quality of the episodes increases as the series progresses until the final and best episode `Chains'. This increase in quality as the series progressed went some way to offset the disappointment of a lack of a complete narrative through the series. Not the best of the Blackadder chronicles but a work in progress showing us where these characters could take us.
Similar Products
- Blackadder: Complete Series 3 (Blackadder III) [1987]
- Blackadder: Complete Series 4 (Blackadder Goes Forth)
- Blackadder: Complete Series 1
- Blackadder's Christmas Carol
- Fawlty Towers: Complete Series 1
Reviews
They don't make them like this anymore...
Review date: 2007-08-02 Rating: 10 out of 10
Hilarious. That is the first word that springs to mind when I think of Blackadder. This really is a classic, modern comedies don't come close. In this series, Blackadder is cunning, shrewd and witty as a complete juxtaposition with the original Blackadder, and this works to stunning effect.
Perhaps the greatest thing about Blackadder is that you can watch it again, and again and find things you didn't see the first time and still laugh at most of the jokes. This really is British comedy at it's best.
Role reversal for Blackadder and Baldrick
Review date: 2007-05-06 Rating: 8 out of 10
Blackadder II is a vast improvement over its less popular predecessor. The second series was almost not made due to the lack of success of the original, and clearly the writers re-considered Blackadder's character. He, rather than the now dull-witted Baldrick, is the more intelligent of the pair and his character is now quick-witted, cunning and offers much in sarcastic humour. This, and possible Blackadder goes Forth, is the best of all the Blackadder series. Blackadder's new character is much funnier and Atkinson plays it masterfully. The series itself takes place some one hundred years after the first, just before the turn of the 17th century. I recommend it to all comedy fans.
Purse
Review date: 2006-11-28 Rating: 10 out of 10
Whilst perhaps not quite as good as series 4 this is still amongst the finest British comedy series ever produced.
As with series 3 & 4 Rowan Atkinson delivers his lines with a bite and comic timing that is only matched by John Cleese in Fawlty Towers. Atkinson is an obvious highlight, but the other cast members are all superb. Miranda Richardson's marvellously childish but scary Queen is inspired and Tim McInnery's idiotic Lord Percy is the perfect fall guy for Blackadder.
There are a few guest appearances, perhaps the most noteable is Tom Bakers completely nutty Captain Rum - "You have a womans purse my Lord"! This series is as good to watch now as it was 20 years ago and remains effortlessly brilliant.
'Chains' - one of the finest comedy episodes ever written.
Review date: 2006-06-10 Rating: 10 out of 10
It has what I regard as the best comedy sequence ever. The torture scene, where Blackadder has to learn Spanish pronto.
We can't look at a scythe the same way ever again.
Oh, and Hugh Laurie's Mad Prince Ludwig. "I vill vreak my rewengay". Baahahaa
The rest of the series is pretty good too...
Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
Ronald Lacey
Miranda Richardson
Rowan Atkinson
Stephen Fry
Tony Robinson
Recording label: 2 Entertain Video
Manufacturer: 2 Entertain Video
EAN: 5014503101923
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: Full Screen, PAL,
Release date: 2000-11-06
Number of discs: 1
Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
Audience rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 175 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1986-01-09
Language: English (Subtitled)
Language: English (Original Language)