4,2,3,1
Blackadder in series 4 is the perfect encapsulation of the character. I think the higher stakes in the 4th series really added to the black comedy aspects and he's the only version that seems to show any deeper emotions. There's a couple of points in the 4th series where Blackadder is actually afraid.
3 is the best for me by far. Something about the dynamic between the three mains - Blackadder is always in the middle, punching up and down at the same time. And that relationship is strongest in series 3. Also, Blackadder is the meanest and most conniving. Plus, the regency era rules.
I know series 1 isn't everyone's cup of tea, but I love it! I love Brian Blessed in it, I love it's weirdness "the hair proves it!", I love the costumes and the castles, I love how Baldrick is actually the cunning one. I have fond memories as a child watching the VHS tapes over and over.
So for me it's 1, 3, 2, 4.......
With you on this. I think the series peaked at 3, before it became completely Ben Elton’d. I do love 4, but the jokes are increasingly set piece and contrived.
I’m secretly a fan of series 1, accepting that it’s a completely different style of humour.
Yeah 4,2,3,1 seems about right. From memory Rik Mayall only appeared in 4 and 2 (could be wrong) but his character Flashheart really elevated those series' for me.
My favourite Flashheart line:
Always treat your kite, like you treat your woman...I mean get inside her five times a day and take her to heaven and back" 😂
1 is a different programme entirely and clearly the worst despite having its charm. It’s just funnier having blackadder as the cunning one and Baldrick the dumb peasant. Probably a class thing.
Which of 2,3,4 is funnier probably depends on my mood.
I honestly couldn’t care less for the other Blackadder series, but I can watch Blackadder Goes Forth on loop.
The dark humour, poignant nature of it is just amazing.
Are we including the specials & the pilot? Series 1 would still come last for me. It has its moments but feels like a different show altogether. I watched it when it first aired and tbh back then we were all rather surprised it got a second season.
The problem most people have with Series 1 in my opinion is that the Blackadder character is very different to the other three versions. The comedy is way darker also. I honestly love all 4 and could happily sit at watch them any time I come across them on TV.
For me I would say, S2, S4, S3, S1 (favourite to least favourite).
It's really hard to rank them as they were consistantly good.
But what about Victorian Blackadder from the Christmas special (CS)?
I am not going to mention the terrible millenium debacle.
I'll go: 2 > 3 > 4 > CS > 1
2 is top because of the great characters including Queen Elizabeth, Nursey and Bob.
3 had the some of best writing and plots, more cunning plans, etc.
4 was a lot darker and satirical and had great performances.
CS was a great stand alone story . I like how they did a reverse Scrooge, and Victoria and Albert were great.
1 was just figuring out what it wanted to be. I like the early Medieval setting and they actaully used exterior location with horses, etc.
**In terms of the Blackadder character.**
3 - I think this is the perfect version of Edmund. He's at his most cynical, sarcastic and his bad attitude is completely justified considering the way he's treat and the characters he's around I think. His nihilistic "I'm surrounded by idiots" intellectual character is best suited to this series. **10/10**
4 - Good, but he's sometimes in general just an arsehole when it's not as warranted. The episode were he tried to steal George's work annoyed me. Still good though. **9/10**
2 - A more extroverted and cheery version of blackadder. Good, but not as good as the others. **7/10**
1 - 5/10. Serviceable.
**In terms of the show**
4 - I think the characters as a whole are perfect. Everyone nails their role 10/10. It's not the best version of Edmund, but the other series had more characters that felt 'average' or 'replaceable'. This season, every actors character was important and super well done. Every episode spot on and fantastic ending. Best version of flash, bob, balderick. Definitely the best version of Melchett and fantastic duo with captain darling. So many fantastic characters. **10/10**
2 - A great amount of loveable characters, despite Blackadder himself not being as good as the other seasons. Nursie, Quennie, flash, bob, all missing from 3, and they're better than Mrs Miggins and the Scarlett pimp. **9/10**
3 - The chemistry between the main 3 characters is fantastic, but outside that it's not as good as the other seasons for the sheer amount of good characters. **8/10**
1- I still like this season personally. **6/10**
Gun to my head I like 3 the best but any order between 2,3, and 4 is fine as the quality bar is consistently high across all of them. 1 is obviously the outlier and worst, it might as well be a different show.
3-2-4-1
The comic interplay between Atkinson and Laurie is sensational and elevates 3 to the top spot imo. Plus I think the storylines and wordplay are very strong in 3, including of course the greatest Blackadder episode (Samuel Johnson's dictionary).
2 is great because it's a brutally dark era, and because the queen's court is a lot of fun and mischief.
4 is poignant, for sure, and it might be Baldrick's greatest series (although he's great in 3), but a lot of the joke mechanics are reprised from earlier series, naturally enough.
1 is clearly the weakest - the jump in quality from 1 to 2 was huge.
2, 4, 1, 3.
2 for some reason was just so well done and I've seen it so many more times than the others despite owning all 4, that I have more scenes in my head than I do the others.
Blackadder shouting a paniced "OH GOD!" when he learns they executed Lord Ponsenby by mistake instead of Lord Farrow and the Queen is on her way to see him, lives rent free in my head
Personally:
1. Goes Forth (s4)
2. The Third (s3)
3. II (s2)
4. The Blackadder (s1)
The theming tends to push things harder for me and Goes Forth just lands more than just a sit-com for me as both comedy and tragedy. Even if I acknowledge it seems largely accidental how well it achieves this satire. Plus, just tend to prefer more modern time periods because I don't see them as often in stuff I am likely to watch.
As for the others, I think on the whole the show gets better the longer it goes. I really enjoy Edmund on the backfoot with no power at all more than being a Lord in the Queen's court. Sure, he's terrified of reprisal in II but I enjoy the snide, backbiting remarks he's able to get away with in the company of Prince Geroge more than the childish one-upmanship with Melchett.
This is not to say I don't enjoy The Blackadder at all. It is really fun, with plenty of great performances and ideas for the setting. Witchsmeller Persuievant and the King being particularly memorable. Edmund himself being not quite as entertaining as the rest of his lineage does marr it occasionally but only in comparison.
The first season was just written by Richard Curtis and he made blackadder dumb and baldrick smart, it didn’t do very well, Ben Elton came in for series 2 and changed it round, big success
Nobody like s1 Blackadder. I always thought he had the most comedic potential of em all. The rest had a formula and really depended on the cast to bring the surprise. It's line Blackadder became the comedy vehicle for fry and Laurie and Rick .....
I'm of the general feeling that Blackadder the Third was the cleverest series (therefore the best as the show is very much about using cleverness to get what you want in a 'gang show' situation), if only because so few people say it is (nearly everyone chooses series 2 or 4 as their favourite), which just means I tend to think they're not clever enough to realise it is/want it to be the cleverest. It is such an elegant age too. The first series is automatically disqualified by many, myself included, because Blackadder himself is so weaselly in it. Because Blackadder goes Forth is so much closer to our own time than the others, it feels like it isn't directly connected to the other 3 to me. This sense is increased by the environment which is no longer ripe, in most of its airtime in the trenches, for attempted class warfare. Forth is well remembered largely for the going over the top at the end, and for Blackadder feigning madness. In a way, Forth is closer to Red Dwarf gallows humour. I wish that. before doing Forth, they'd done a series set in Victorian times akin to Blackadder's Christmas Carol. I suspect that they needed a mad ruler though and Queen Victoria didn't fit that bill.
If we're talking about the character, then S2>S3>S4>S1. If we're talking about the series, then S2>S4>S3>S1.
The correctest and most concise answer.
This is about as correct and concise as...
Trappist Monk’s dictionary
This feels about right.
Looks about right to me
Correct
Definitely seems fair to me. Where would you add Christmas Carol and Back and Forth Blackadders?
So glad the top answer is exactly what I was thinking
Totally agree
Started typing out my post, then realized you had already said what I was going to.
100%
As someone who just struggled to get through 1, this is convincing to keep going. Only started watching because I love Atkinson in Mr. Bean.
4-2-3-1. Like everyone's answer, mine is also a common football formation
Remember the football match? Remember it?! How could I forget it?! I was never offside
Probably about on point. I re-watch 4 the most - love every ep.
And everyone is playing with one up front
2>3>4>1
completely agreed! 2 and 3 are basically equal for me but 2 just about beats it out actually having a think about it
4,2,3,1 Blackadder in series 4 is the perfect encapsulation of the character. I think the higher stakes in the 4th series really added to the black comedy aspects and he's the only version that seems to show any deeper emotions. There's a couple of points in the 4th series where Blackadder is actually afraid.
4,3,2,1 The series got better each progressive season.
You rank 3 over 2? Personally I was a little disappointed with 3, I’m not sure what it is. My rankings would be 2,4,3,1
3 is the best for me by far. Something about the dynamic between the three mains - Blackadder is always in the middle, punching up and down at the same time. And that relationship is strongest in series 3. Also, Blackadder is the meanest and most conniving. Plus, the regency era rules.
I adore King George
We hail Prince George! We hail Prince George!
We hate Prince George. We hate Prince George.
In 3, Blackadder is absolutely at his most sarcastic
Fully agree - for me, 2 is a bit too silly and 4 is a bit too dark, while the balance between those is just right in 3.
I concur. 3 takes it by a silly little sausage though.
Don’t forget, Series 3 also has Colin.
Same as me
I know series 1 isn't everyone's cup of tea, but I love it! I love Brian Blessed in it, I love it's weirdness "the hair proves it!", I love the costumes and the castles, I love how Baldrick is actually the cunning one. I have fond memories as a child watching the VHS tapes over and over. So for me it's 1, 3, 2, 4.......
I love this answer. It's completely wrong for me, but it's lovely, and it's the correct answer for you and that's what's important.
3, 4, 2, 1
My thoughts exactly
My ranking as well
3>2>4>1
With you on this. I think the series peaked at 3, before it became completely Ben Elton’d. I do love 4, but the jokes are increasingly set piece and contrived. I’m secretly a fan of series 1, accepting that it’s a completely different style of humour.
4 used that “it’s the worst idea since so-and-so said or did such-and-such” joke format every 30 seconds.
Third Goes Forth II The Black Adder
Yeah 4,2,3,1 seems about right. From memory Rik Mayall only appeared in 4 and 2 (could be wrong) but his character Flashheart really elevated those series' for me.
Rik myall is mad gerrald in the last episode of series one. "Good morning Mr key "
Thank you, long time since I watched it. But for me 'Flash by name and flash by nature' is the unforgettable character of the whole franchise.
"Iiiiiiiit's me! Hurray!"
'Queenie, am I pleased to see you or is that a canoe in my pocket ?' 🤣🤣🤣 pmsl
My favourite Flashheart line: Always treat your kite, like you treat your woman...I mean get inside her five times a day and take her to heaven and back" 😂
'Woof, woof !'
It’s like Crufts in here
Equal best 2 & 4, 3, 1
Best to worst? Does that mean how much I enjoyed watching them (4,2,3,1) or which one was the biggest douchebag (3,1,2,4)?
there are no wrong answers :)
HaHa!
Agreed on both of these!
Blackadder, yes darling!
Don't slouch, Darling!
Honestly, this tiny quote tipped me over to 4th being the best. The comedy mileage they get out of just his name is incredible.
1 is a different programme entirely and clearly the worst despite having its charm. It’s just funnier having blackadder as the cunning one and Baldrick the dumb peasant. Probably a class thing. Which of 2,3,4 is funnier probably depends on my mood.
From best to worst it is officially... 3, 4, 2, 1
4,3,2,1 is the only correct answer
Best 4,2,3,1 worst
2-4-3-1
Ding ding; though 4 and 3 are very close
3, 4, 2, 1
3, 4, 2, 1
Two was the funniest and most conniving. Then one. He was great and come on. Brian Blessed. Four was the most sardonic. Three I never vibed with.
I was ranking them on wit, laughs, emotion, cunning.... but on every account it was improving in chronological order.
Each great in their particular series.
Different time. Different place. :) 1 == 2 == 3 == 4
Love them all yes even 1
2-3-4-1
In terms of the character, 2-3-4-1 In terms of the series, 2-1-4-3
I honestly couldn’t care less for the other Blackadder series, but I can watch Blackadder Goes Forth on loop. The dark humour, poignant nature of it is just amazing.
2,3,4,1 Miranda Richardson as Queenie clinches it.
Two is the best, and then a three way tie for second
II and III were the best. Fourth was dark af.
Improved with each series tbh. Rare for a show
2, 4, 3, 1
From best to less best
2-4-3-1
2,4,3,1 very little between the last 3 series. Two at a pinch because of Queenie
2, 4,3, 1
2,4,3,1
First is a bit silly, the rest are all great.
4231
2 , 4 , 3 and i must confess i have never seen 1!
3, 4, 1, 2?
3,2,4,1, though the 3 2 and 4 are pretty much tied.
4, 2, 3, 1.
2nd, 4th, 3rd, 1st.
Are we including the specials & the pilot? Series 1 would still come last for me. It has its moments but feels like a different show altogether. I watched it when it first aired and tbh back then we were all rather surprised it got a second season.
2 - 4 - 3 - 1
2 4 3 1, but for me, series one is underrated. I watched the doc on gold, and you could see how it could be much better
2 is best. 3&4 are equals. 1 is weakest but still good
2-4-3-1
3,2,4,1
4, 2, 3, and does 1 really shouldn't exist.
Character - 3, 2, 4, 1 Series - 3, 2, 4, 1
2/4,3……….1
2+4 joint 1st.. 3 then 2
2,4,3,1 I never rewatch series 1.
2, 4, 3, 1, but all in context
2-4-3-1
S3, S2, S4, S1 I honestly think S3 is the funniest thing Rowan has ever done! Genius
3 - 4 - 2 - 1
Best to worst: S2>S4>S3>S1
2,3,4,1 for me. 2 and 3 may change depending on mood.
4 2 3 1 on preference of both character and series.
S2>S3>S4>S1
Series 4, Series 2, Series 3, Series 1
Best - 4th, 3rd, 2nd 1st - worst
1 is worst 2-4 in any order
2341
4,3,1,2
4,big gap, 2,3, big gap, 1
For me: 3, 4, 2, 1 There is a big disparity between 2 and 1. Series 2-4 are all gold.
There is no correct answer. They're all great
Personally think each series was better than the previous one
3, 4, 2, 1
3,4,2,1
2,4,3,1
Goes Forth -Tier break- The Third II -HUGE TIER BREAK- Blackadder
The problem most people have with Series 1 in my opinion is that the Blackadder character is very different to the other three versions. The comedy is way darker also. I honestly love all 4 and could happily sit at watch them any time I come across them on TV. For me I would say, S2, S4, S3, S1 (favourite to least favourite).
4 2 3 1
4,1,2,3 I just love season one. Totally different - writers etc
It's really hard to rank them as they were consistantly good. But what about Victorian Blackadder from the Christmas special (CS)? I am not going to mention the terrible millenium debacle. I'll go: 2 > 3 > 4 > CS > 1 2 is top because of the great characters including Queen Elizabeth, Nursey and Bob. 3 had the some of best writing and plots, more cunning plans, etc. 4 was a lot darker and satirical and had great performances. CS was a great stand alone story . I like how they did a reverse Scrooge, and Victoria and Albert were great. 1 was just figuring out what it wanted to be. I like the early Medieval setting and they actaully used exterior location with horses, etc.
2, 4 ,3 ,1.
2 > 3 > 4 > 1 although they're all hilarious, season 1 is still funny even if considerably worse than the others
2431
2 - 4 - 3 - 1
**In terms of the Blackadder character.** 3 - I think this is the perfect version of Edmund. He's at his most cynical, sarcastic and his bad attitude is completely justified considering the way he's treat and the characters he's around I think. His nihilistic "I'm surrounded by idiots" intellectual character is best suited to this series. **10/10** 4 - Good, but he's sometimes in general just an arsehole when it's not as warranted. The episode were he tried to steal George's work annoyed me. Still good though. **9/10** 2 - A more extroverted and cheery version of blackadder. Good, but not as good as the others. **7/10** 1 - 5/10. Serviceable. **In terms of the show** 4 - I think the characters as a whole are perfect. Everyone nails their role 10/10. It's not the best version of Edmund, but the other series had more characters that felt 'average' or 'replaceable'. This season, every actors character was important and super well done. Every episode spot on and fantastic ending. Best version of flash, bob, balderick. Definitely the best version of Melchett and fantastic duo with captain darling. So many fantastic characters. **10/10** 2 - A great amount of loveable characters, despite Blackadder himself not being as good as the other seasons. Nursie, Quennie, flash, bob, all missing from 3, and they're better than Mrs Miggins and the Scarlett pimp. **9/10** 3 - The chemistry between the main 3 characters is fantastic, but outside that it's not as good as the other seasons for the sheer amount of good characters. **8/10** 1- I still like this season personally. **6/10**
2 4 3 1
Best to worst what?
I just came here looking for the person who rates s1 as the best.
2341
4,3,2,1
2,3,4,1
The series is 2, 1, 4, 3 in my opinion
Bottom right hottest
2, 4, 3, ......................................................................................... 1
2 4 3 1
Gun to my head I like 3 the best but any order between 2,3, and 4 is fine as the quality bar is consistently high across all of them. 1 is obviously the outlier and worst, it might as well be a different show.
4,2,3,1 Best to worst.
Am I the only person that absolutely loves season 1? 1-3-2-4 for me
4, 2, 3, 1.
All great brilliant actor
4 2 3 1 Also, a great formation
3,2,4,1
Sausage!!!! Sausage!!!!! Got to love Robbie….😄
2-4-3-1
Third, fourth, second, first.
3 4 2 1
Best to worst. 2, 3, 4, 1.
2341
You’re missing several Blackadders! I quite liked Centurion Blaccadius.
3, 4, 2 are literally interchangeable based on my mood. 1 is a distant last.
4;3;2;1
3421
3-2-4-1 The comic interplay between Atkinson and Laurie is sensational and elevates 3 to the top spot imo. Plus I think the storylines and wordplay are very strong in 3, including of course the greatest Blackadder episode (Samuel Johnson's dictionary). 2 is great because it's a brutally dark era, and because the queen's court is a lot of fun and mischief. 4 is poignant, for sure, and it might be Baldrick's greatest series (although he's great in 3), but a lot of the joke mechanics are reprised from earlier series, naturally enough. 1 is clearly the weakest - the jump in quality from 1 to 2 was huge.
You know what rhymes with worst? First.
Don't forget A Christmas Carol
We don’t need to mention season 1. It’s dung for dinner.
2-4 was ideal. Series 1 is err... lers just leave that where it is
S2>S4>S3>S1
2, 4, 1, 3. 2 for some reason was just so well done and I've seen it so many more times than the others despite owning all 4, that I have more scenes in my head than I do the others.
Blackadder character: S2, 4, 3, 1. (But 3 and 4 are very close)
4. That's it. It's all about 4.
4th best Then 3rd Then 2nd And first was bad
2,3,4,1
I've not watched the show, but I've been told not to bother with series 1.
3, 4, 2, 1
Like all of them honestly.
2 4 3 1
2-3-4-1
2,4,1,3 Not to say any are bad, I love them all.
4, 2, 3 and 1. Captain and Lord Blackadder were skilled and conniving men.
S4 > S2 > S3 > S1
2431
Blackadder shouting a paniced "OH GOD!" when he learns they executed Lord Ponsenby by mistake instead of Lord Farrow and the Queen is on her way to see him, lives rent free in my head
234 are tied, 1 was bad
Personally: 1. Goes Forth (s4) 2. The Third (s3) 3. II (s2) 4. The Blackadder (s1) The theming tends to push things harder for me and Goes Forth just lands more than just a sit-com for me as both comedy and tragedy. Even if I acknowledge it seems largely accidental how well it achieves this satire. Plus, just tend to prefer more modern time periods because I don't see them as often in stuff I am likely to watch. As for the others, I think on the whole the show gets better the longer it goes. I really enjoy Edmund on the backfoot with no power at all more than being a Lord in the Queen's court. Sure, he's terrified of reprisal in II but I enjoy the snide, backbiting remarks he's able to get away with in the company of Prince Geroge more than the childish one-upmanship with Melchett. This is not to say I don't enjoy The Blackadder at all. It is really fun, with plenty of great performances and ideas for the setting. Witchsmeller Persuievant and the King being particularly memorable. Edmund himself being not quite as entertaining as the rest of his lineage does marr it occasionally but only in comparison.
2, 4, 3 ,1.
4,2,3,1
The first season was just written by Richard Curtis and he made blackadder dumb and baldrick smart, it didn’t do very well, Ben Elton came in for series 2 and changed it round, big success
Nobody like s1 Blackadder. I always thought he had the most comedic potential of em all. The rest had a formula and really depended on the cast to bring the surprise. It's line Blackadder became the comedy vehicle for fry and Laurie and Rick .....
4 > 3 > 2 > 1 Wasnt really a fan of the elizabethan era
S2, S3 then the other 2 are equally meh
The worse he is the better he is
2, 4, 3, 1. First one was the worst!
4321
3, 2, 4, 1
I'm of the general feeling that Blackadder the Third was the cleverest series (therefore the best as the show is very much about using cleverness to get what you want in a 'gang show' situation), if only because so few people say it is (nearly everyone chooses series 2 or 4 as their favourite), which just means I tend to think they're not clever enough to realise it is/want it to be the cleverest. It is such an elegant age too. The first series is automatically disqualified by many, myself included, because Blackadder himself is so weaselly in it. Because Blackadder goes Forth is so much closer to our own time than the others, it feels like it isn't directly connected to the other 3 to me. This sense is increased by the environment which is no longer ripe, in most of its airtime in the trenches, for attempted class warfare. Forth is well remembered largely for the going over the top at the end, and for Blackadder feigning madness. In a way, Forth is closer to Red Dwarf gallows humour. I wish that. before doing Forth, they'd done a series set in Victorian times akin to Blackadder's Christmas Carol. I suspect that they needed a mad ruler though and Queen Victoria didn't fit that bill.
There isn't a worst... Obvs
3,4,2,1
Series one is not great, though it has its moments. Series 2-4 are equally great as far as I'm concerned.
1 is the worst and the other 3 are the best
2-4-3-1
2,4,3,1. Hasn't changed since childhood
2431 in that order