"Blackadder II" (1986) TV series

User Rating:

9.1/10   

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

9 January 1986 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy | History

Tagline:

The original may be dead... but now his bastard great-great grandson swaggers around Renaissance London with a big head and a small beard.

Plot:

Lord Edmund Blackadder is now seeking the approval of Queen Elizabeth I with the "help" of Lord Percy Percy and Baldrick.

Plot Keywords:

Queen | Queen Elizabeth I | Servant | England | Alcohol

Cast

Rowan Atkinson	...	Edmund Blackadder / ... (6 episodes, 1986)
Tim McInnerny	...	Lord Percy (6 episodes, 1986)
Tony Robinson	...	Baldrick (6 episodes, 1986)
Miranda Richardson	...	Queen Elizabeth I (6 episodes, 1986)
Stephen Fry	...	Lord Melchett (6 episodes, 1986)
Patsy Byrne	...	Nursie (6 episodes, 1986)
Tony Aitken	...	Minstrel / ... (6 episodes, 1986)

(more)

Series Directed by
Mandie Fletcher		(6 episodes, 1986)

Series Writing credits
Richard Curtis		(6 episodes, 1986)
Ben Elton		(6 episodes, 1986)

Series Produced by
John Lloyd	....	producer (6 episodes, 1986)

Series Original Music by
Howard Goodall		(6 episodes, 1986)

Series Film Editing by
Chris Wadsworth		(2 episodes, 1986)

Series Production Design by
Antony Thorpe		(6 episodes, 1986)

Series Costume Design by
Annie Hardinge		(6 episodes, 1986)

Series Makeup Department
Victoria Pocock	....	makeup designer (6 episodes, 1986)

Series Production Management
Prue Saenger	....	production manager (6 episodes, 1986)

Series Art Department
Monica Boggust	....	properties buyer (6 episodes, 1986)
Graham Kern	....	graphic designer (6 episodes, 1986)

Series Sound Department
Neil Sadwick	....	studio sound (6 episodes, 1986)
Nick Way	....	deputy sound supervisor (5 episodes, 1986)
John Mooney	....	sound (3 episodes, 1986)

Series Special Effects by
Chris Reynolds	....	special effects technician (6 episodes, 1986)

Series Stunts
Marc Cass	....	stunts (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Ron Green	....	senior camera operator / senior cameraman (4 episodes, 1986)
Don Babbage	....	studio lighting (3 episodes, 1986)
Henry Barber	....	studio lighting (3 episodes, 1986)
John Dailley	....	senior cameraman (2 episodes, 1986)

Series Editorial Department
Heather Gilder	....	vision mixer (6 episodes, 1986)
Chris Wadsworth	....	videotape editor (4 episodes, 1986)

Series Other crew
Sarah Gowers	....	assistant floor manager (6 episodes, 1986)
Amita Lochab	....	production assistant (6 episodes, 1986)
Ray Hider	....	technical coordinator (4 episodes, 1986)

Production Companies

• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Distributors

• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Also Known As:

Black-Adder II

Runtime:

30 min (6 episodes)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:M | Singapore:PG | Iceland:L

Filming Locations:

Wilton House, Wilton, Salisbury, Wiltshire, England, UK

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

The writers realized that they had to rewrite the character of Queen Elizabeth I after they saw Miranda Richardson's wonderfully silly interpretation.

Quotes:

Blackadder: The path of my life is strewn with cowpats from the Devil's own satanic HERD.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Little Britain: Biggest House of Cards (#1.5)" (2003)

Excellent and original

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.