Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Britcoms: Blackadder II: Bells (with spoilers)

Blackadder II (1986)
A sequel to the original Blackadder (1982), which was an alternate history in which Rowan Atkinson played Edmund Blackadder who accidentally kills Richard III, so that his father, Duke of York, becomes King.

For Blackadder II, Edmund is that Edmund's grandson, 1000% smarter (although still surrounded by idiots, placed once again by Tony Robinson as Baldrick and Tim McInnery as Percy) and the six episodes take place in the Elizabethan age.

Although "Bells" is treated as the first episode (both on Netflix and on the IMDB) in the Blackadder II series, it is clearly the second episode. (In "Head," the actual first ep, McInnery has a beard which he shaves off in the beginning of this ep, and it is never seen again.)

A young girl dresses as a boy and journeys to London to look for a job. She applies to Lord Blackadder. Blackadder is fascinated by "him", in love even, but is afraid of what this will do to his social position. He tries various ways to fall out of love, then admits it. Kate/Bob reveals she's a woman, they are to get married, but Lord Flasheart spoils Edmond's special day.


Kate and her father. They are so poor, he wants her to become a prostitute.


Rowan Atkinson as Edmund Blackadder


Tony Robinson as Baldrick. He has just been shot in the privates by an arrow.


Tim McInnery (later on the ep, after he's shaved)


Gabrielle Glaister disguised as a boy.


Miranda Richardson as Queen Elizabeth


Steven Fry as Lord Melchett


Patsy Byrne as Nursie.


Edward Jewesbury as Kate's father


John Grillo as Dr. Leech.


Sadie Shimmin as young crone


Barbara Miller as the Old Wise Woman


Edmund and Bob having a wrestle the way healthy boys do. But Edmund can't resist...but Baldrick walks in at just this second.


Edmund mocking Baldrick's appearance, Kate calling him Mr. Grumpy.




Rik Mayall as Edmund's old schoolchum, Flashheart


Kate falls in love with him instantly, and they run away together. Kate has discovered she prefers wearing boy's clothes, and Flashheart has always felt more comfy in a dress.

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