Blackadder goes forth final episode

[JarrowClaret]

I watched Blackadder goes forth the final episode yesterday. Prompted by Remembrance Day and something on Twitter. That final scene it still gets me now even though I have seen it hundreds of times. laughter followed by eyes welling up and sat in silence more or less the same as when I first watched in the Barracks all them years ago.

My question is has there ever been a more poignant thought provoking ending to a British TV series as that? For me it is perfection and came across it by total chance by all accounts.

[LordBob]

Brilliant post I do the same and some years ago there was a mini documentary about that final episode and it set out to do exactly what you have felt it' does, it leaves you feeling lost and wondering why???? the stupidity of a few.

[JarrowClaret]

I think also the sheer bravery of the many, not what this is about but there are many important lessons and criticisms of that war in the series hidden within the humour.

[Devils_Advocate]

Not quite as good but the final scene of the Mr Bean series where the train door closes showing it bound for Moscow is both hilarious and a real tear jerker at the same time.

Rowan Atkinson definitely had the knack of how to end a comedy series in style

[claptrappers_union]

In Only Fools and Horses where Del gives Rodney a pep talk in the hospital about being strong and brave before going into the see Cassandra after she's miscarried. As they walk in, theres a moment of seriousness and Casandra looks at Rodney as she's she's sorry. Then, Del dramatically bursts into tears and leaves the room to Rodneys bemusement.

Really good writing by addressing the serious plotline while respecting the tone of the characters and the show as well.

[WadingInDeeper]

It’s my favourite ending to a series as well. The realisation that after all those episodes of cunning plans there isn’t going to be one, because, as he says, who would notice another madman there.

To then have the five characters of a mad general, one scared of what is to come, one optimist, one trying to find a way out of it then blackadder resigned to their fate, encompasses what must have been going on.

That cut to slow-mo as they go over the top, with their sticks, then fade to a field, does it for me. You know at that point that is it, as it was with for far too many.

[JarrowClaret]

Exactly wading, my son watched the last 10 minutes with me. He also had tears in his eyes looked at me and said they all died didn’t they dad? I didn’t answer but he knew the answer before he asked the question.

[JarrowClaret]

[*]

In Only Fools and Horses where Del gives Rodney a pep talk in the hospital about being strong and brave before going into the see Cassandra after she's miscarried. As they walk in, theres a moment of seriousness and Casandra looks at Rodney as she's she's sorry. Then, Del dramatically bursts into tears and leaves the room to Rodneys bemusement.

Really good writing by addressing the serious plotline while respecting the tone of the characters and the show as well.

Good one claptrappers that was another good one definately, loved only fools my favourite ever scene was dell boy falling threw the bar “play it cool trigger” that’s another discussion topic though.

[elwaclaret]

Pretty much the best representation of WW1 brought to the public through comedy.

Two weeks before the War the German chancellors still expected Britain to join them. The British refused to accept that their were lessons that could be learned from the American civil war experience of trench warfare that would have saved thousands of lives.

Britain basically could not ignore Belgium’s continued use of slavery in their African colonies and could not ignore the threat Bismarck’s new German naval build up presented to British naval domination of the sea lanes for trade.

[Vino blanco]

I saw a tv documentary a long while ago about the making of the Blackadder series and after shooting the last scene of that series the director asked if they should shoot a retake, which was often the norm. Rowan Atkinson said that he and his fellow actors were so emotionally moved and distressed by the scene that they, to a man, all said “no, impossible “ and walked off the set in silence.

[Vino blanco]

Pretty much the best representation of WW1 brought to the public through comedy.

Two weeks before the War the German chancellors still expected Britain to join them. The British refused to accept that their were lessons that could be learned from the American civil war experience of trench warfare that would have saved thousands of lives.

Britain basically could not ignore Belgium’s continued use of slavery in their African colonies and could not ignore the threat Bismarck’s new German naval build up presented to British naval domination of the sea lanes for trade.

Bismarck died in 1898, 16 years before the war started. Kaiser Wilhelmin II was the ruling power in Germany at the time.
Germany invaded Belgium and Luxembourg as part of the Schlieffen Plan in an attempt to capture Paris by attacking through these neutral countries. It was this particular action that technically caused the British to enter the war as they were bound by an International Agreement to protect Belgium in the event of war.

[bobinho]

Can’t remember exactly the words, but it was along the lines of:

“So the plan is, we are going to attack in exactly the same way as the last 17 times Sir?”

“Yes. Brilliant isn’t it, they won’t be expecting it again?”

Some generation was that… lions led by donkeys.

[elwaclaret]

Bismarck died in 1898, 16 years before the war started. Kaiser Wilhelmin II was the ruling power in Germany at the time.
Germany invaded Belgium and Luxembourg as part of the Schlieffen Plan in an attempt to capture Paris by attacking through these neutral countries. It was this particular action that technically caused the British to enter the war as they were bound by an International Agreement to protect Belgium in the event of war.

The tripartite agreement preceded the war, tying Britain to France in North Africa and Russian interests in the Baltic. Bismarck had been building the German Navy and his plan was continued after his passing. Belgium became a protectorate of Britain and France as part of the agreement that saw Belgium’s North African colonies divided between Britain and France, cementing the Tripple alliance…. All pre-war. As we know the war started in the Balkans, but Britain was already tied to France and the Russians; something the Germans expected Britain to back out of.

I have been very fortunate to have been able to read the diplomatic messages that ran between the countries as part of my degree and even two days before it became official Germany still didn’t know which side Britain would join. It was far more complicated than Germany invading Belgium.

[Steve1956]

The final scene from Still Game watched it many times,gets me every time.
https://youtu.be/irWNA2T8_qI

[elwaclaret]

The tripartite agreement preceded the war, tying Britain to France in North Africa and Russian interests in the Baltic. Bismarck had been building the German Navy and his plan was continued after his passing. Belgium became a protectorate of Britain and France as part of the agreement that saw Belgium’s North African colonies divided between Britain and France, cementing the Tripple alliance…. All pre-war. As we know the war started in the Balkans, but Britain was already tied to France and the Russians; something the Germans expected Britain to back out of.

I have been very fortunate to have been able to read the diplomatic messages that ran between the countries as part of my degree and even two days before it became official Germany still didn’t know which side Britain would join. It was far more complicated than Germany invading Belgium.

Just to add. Germany’s main belief was that WWI would be an internal European war and that at worst Britain would declare as neutral… there were a lot of very unhappy Germans when that didn’t happen, not least The Keizer

[Vino blanco]

The tripartite agreement preceded the war, tying Britain to France in North Africa and Russian interests in the Baltic. Bismarck had been building the German Navy and his plan was continued after his passing. Belgium became a protectorate of Britain and France as part of the agreement that saw Belgium’s North African colonies divided between Britain and France, cementing the Tripple alliance…. All pre-war. As we know the war started in the Balkans, but Britain was already tied to France and the Russians; something the Germans expected Britain to back out of.

I have been very fortunate to have been able to read the diplomatic messages that ran between the countries as part of my degree and even two days before it became official Germany still didn’t know which side Britain would join. It was far more complicated than Germany invading Belgium.

The German Navy during the time of Bismarck was very small and intended purely for coastal defence. It was Kaiser Wilhelm II, under the influence of Admiral Alfred Von Tirpitz, who greatly expanded the size and quality of the Kaiserliche Marine. Regarding this statement of “Belgium’s North African colonies” , I am not aware that Belgium had any North African colonies. They had the Belgium Congo and after the war they had military control of Rwanda, which had been a German colony of some sort. So I don’t quite follow your argument.

[JarrowClaret]

The final scene from Still Game watched it many times,gets me every time.
https://youtu.be/irWNA2T8_qI

Not something I have ever seen or heard of before Steve whilst it clearly isn’t the same it seems it have a similar message. Was the clip supposed to have no sound?

[elwaclaret]

The German Navy during the time of Bismarck was very small and intended purely for coastal defence. It was Kaiser Wilhelm II, under the influence of Admiral Alfred Von Tirpitz, who greatly expanded the size and quality of the Kaiserliche Marine. Regarding this statement of “Belgium’s North African colonies” , I am not aware that Belgium had any North African colonies. They had the Belgium Congo and after the war they had military control of Rwanda, which had been a German colony of some sort. So I don’t quite follow your argument.

Tripoli. The Belgium Congo was not ‘the Congo’

[elwaclaret]

The German Navy during the time of Bismarck was very small and intended purely for coastal defence. It was Kaiser Wilhelm II, under the influence of Admiral Alfred Von Tirpitz, who greatly expanded the size and quality of the Kaiserliche Marine. Regarding this statement of “Belgium’s North African colonies” , I am not aware that Belgium had any North African colonies. They had the Belgium Congo and after the war they had military control of Rwanda, which had been a German colony of some sort. So I don’t quite follow your argument.

You are right about Tirpitz though, he wanted an aggressive Navy to dominate Europe and more or less railroaded Wilhelm into backing him, the Keizer was more inclined to stick with Bismarck’s plan. I’m not a naval specialist and was mixing up my World War Two battleships.

[Steve1956]

Not something I have ever seen or heard of before Steve whilst it clearly isn’t the same it seems it have a similar message. Was the clip supposed to have no sound?

Try this one Jarrow Jack & Victor climb Ben Lomond like they always said they would,Still Game is a rib tickling Scottish comedy not to be missed catch it on iplayer laugh out loud comedy https://youtu.be/X3DIF07ep2Y

[Vino blanco]

Tripoli. The Belgium Congo was not ‘the Congo’

I have just read a brief history of Tripoli and can find no trace of Belgium having any colonial interest in Tripoli. It was for many years part of the Ottoman Empire and then after a short military intervention by Italy it became, in the Treaty of Lausanne a protectorate of Italy. This was in the early 20 th century just before the First World War, so I still fail to understand this statement of Belgium being involved in any colonial interest in North Africa.

[Steve1956]

If you watch every series of Still Game which is a must you fall in love with every single character in it...and at the end I guarantee you won't beable to not shed a tear

[elwaclaret]

I have just read a brief history of Tripoli and can find no trace of Belgium having any colonial interest in Tripoli. It was for many years part of the Ottoman Empire and then after a short military intervention by Italy it became, in the Treaty of Lausanne a protectorate of Italy. This was in the early 20 th century just before the First World War, so I still fail to understand this statement of Belgium being involved in any colonial interest in North Africa.

Hi Vino not sure how much it goes into the division of North Africa but I’m not going to argue with any of this..

https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/edu ... undcs1.htm

[Vino blanco]

Hi Vino not sure how much it goes into the division of North Africa but I’m not going to argue with any of this..

https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/edu ... undcs1.htm

Thanks for posting the mini potted history of the reasons for the commencement of the First World War. It tells me everything I already knew and confirms my comments as correct. End of discussion for me, thanks.

[elwaclaret]

Thanks for posting the mini potted history of the reasons for the commencement of the First World War. It tells me everything I already knew and confirms my comments as correct. End of discussion for me, thanks.

As you wish and you’re welcome. You might want to look into North Africa more closely though, it was majorly important in informing Britain’s decision to go to war; though to be fair I don’t know how much of it is open access.

[tiger76]

Can’t remember exactly the words, but it was along the lines of:

“So the plan is, we are going to attack in exactly the same way as the last 17 times Sir?”

“Yes. Brilliant isn’t it, they won’t be expecting it again?”

Some generation was that… lions led by donkeys.

The last few minutes herehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vH3-Gt7mgyM

Some behind the scenes footage herehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbR9-etyN6I

Definitely one of those haunting sequences that many will never forget, and it ended at precisely the correct moment, best to leave what happened next to the viewers imagination, but it doesn't take a genius to surmise the ultimate outcome.

[IanMcL]

I watched Blackadder goes forth the final episode yesterday. Prompted by Remembrance Day and something on Twitter. That final scene it still gets me now even though I have seen it hundreds of times. laughter followed by eyes welling up and sat in silence more or less the same as when I first watched in the Barracks all them years ago.

My question is has there ever been a more poignant thought provoking ending to a British TV series as that? For me it is perfection and came across it by total chance by all accounts.

Agreed Jarrow. Always gets me too.

I was once asked to stage a 'We will remember them' evening and had, at my disposal, a WW1 performer/story teller/history re-teller.

He did his own thing for a few mins and then I bought his performance to an end by focusing the only light on him, forward stance, bayonet drawn, as though going into battle. Lots of machine gun fire, his head dips, white light turns to red and then extinguished for just a few seconds. Then he exited and when the lights go up, just the memory left.

Audience very moved. Thank you Blackadder.

[JarrowClaret]

The last few minutes herehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vH3-Gt7mgyM

Some behind the scenes footage herehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbR9-etyN6I

Definitely one of those haunting sequences that many will never forget, and it ended at precisely the correct moment, best to leave what happened next to the viewers imagination, but it doesn't take a genius to surmise the ultimate outcome.

Thanks Tiger I had meant to link it but forgot, the whole series is currently available on BBC iPlayer as well.

[JarrowClaret]

Agreed Jarrow. Always gets me too.

I was once asked to stage a 'We will remember them' evening and had, at my disposal, a WW1 performer/story teller/history re-teller.

He did his own thing for a few mins and then I bought his performance to an end by focusing the only light on him, forward stance, bayonet drawn, as though going into battle. Lots of machine gun fire, his head dips, white light turns to red and then extinguished for just a few seconds. Then he exited and when the lights go up, just the memory left.

Sounds special that Ian

Audience very moved. Thank you Blackadder.

[karatekid]

Bismarck died in 1898, 16 years before the war started. Kaiser Wilhelmin II was the ruling power in Germany at the time.
Germany invaded Belgium and Luxembourg as part of the Schlieffen Plan in an attempt to capture Paris by attacking through these neutral countries. It was this particular action that technically caused the British to enter the war as they were bound by an International Agreement to protect Belgium in the event of war.

I thought it started because some guy called Archie Duke shot an ostrich

[JarrowClaret]

I thought it started because some guy called Archie Duke shot an ostrich

There was definitely an Ostrich involved

[Vino blanco]

Unfortuately, the ostrich died in vain.

[yTib]

it never fails to touch me.

television at its best.

[boatshed bill]

I thought it started because some guy called Archie Duke shot an ostrich

A series of alliances led to the war in 1914.
Can't remember whose ostrich it was.

[Silkyskills1]

'rhymes with clucking bell' had my students in fits of laughter. A few minutes later 'who would notice another madman around here' was met with a stoney silence. I didn't need to say anything.

[Herts Clarets]

When the double decker bus goes off the cliff after smashing through a billboard of Cliff and lands at the bottom of the quarry. Phew, that was a close one. And then boom, its the end for Mike, Vyvyan, Rik and Neil.

[JarrowClaret]

When the double decker bus goes off the cliff after smashing through a billboard of Cliff and lands at the bottom of the quarry. Phew, that was a close one. And then boom, its the end for Mike, Vyvyan, Rik and Neil.

Hmmm not seen the end of Young ones herts I wasn’t really in to it if honest, that sounds interesting though thanks.

[IanMcL]

I thought it started because some guy called Archie Duke shot an ostrich

Not everything can be blamed on Prince Harry and his family!

[Herts Clarets]

Hmmm not seen the end of Young ones herts I wasn’t really in to it if honest, that sounds interesting though thanks.

I can more or less quote word for word all The Young Ones episodes. I recorded both series on VHS and used to watch an episode almost daily back in the day.

604 Toxteth O'Grady USA

[Vintage Claret]

Last episode of Blackadder was a piece of TV history.

Superbly acted but the writing was just brilliant

So many laugh out loud funny lines yet the message of the futility and sacrifice of war was never lost throughout the episode cumulating in the death of all those characters we'd come to know and love.

As Captain Darling said in typically British stiff upper lip understated fashion....

"Made a note in my diary on the way here (to the front line), ....simply said....

"Bugger"

[MrVmax]

I can more or less quote word for word all The Young Ones episodes. I recorded both series on VHS and used to watch an episode almost daily back in the day.

604 Toxteth O'Grady USA

To this day I cant stand in a queue In a bank without saying out loud " they should have had more staaafff on" or find myself reciting "white riot, stand down Margaret". Don't know what that says about me as a person
Rip Rik Mayall comedy genius