Overview: The Black Adder

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The Black Adder is a different and distinctive comedy. It varies greatly from the next three series in both budget and characterisation, and, as is typical, this made the show much better. Despite that, BA1 is still entertaining and funny - just a different form of humour.
     Rowan Atkinson tends to prefer physcial comedy to witty speech, as seen in his Mr. Bean roles, and his influence on the writing team really shows. This is the only series in which assistant Baldrick, played by Tony Robinson, acts as the more intelligent and witty of the two. This dynamic would later serve to form the core of the series' comedy.
     Also unique to this series was the role of Brian Blessed, who added a violent sense of fun. BA1 never had a subtle delivery, and it seems fitting that the stereotypically loud Blessed be cast as King Richard (IV). Along with this greater focus on visual styles, the bigger budget meant that sets and shots were often large and extravangant - something that didn't necessarily improve the quality of the comedy.
     Overall, it's quite a fun watch, taking a mixture of farce, historical in-jokes and political satire to decent direction and large amounts of research. Low viewing figures led to Blackadder II being given a much lower buget, and thus the Blackadder that we know was born. Join me next Thursday when I review Blackadder II.

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