New documentary, “Footnotes in Time”, “Blackadder: Back and Forth”, “Blackadder: Christmas Carol”, commentary tracks

Before Mr. Bean Rowan Atkinson was best known in the UK and to a small, select audience in the U.S. as the nefarious Edmund Blackadder who schemes to gain the throne throughout history. Assisted (and I’m being generous here with that description) by the hilariously incompetent Baldrick (Tony Robinson), Blackadder jumped from one historical period to another (with Rowan Atkinson playing each descent of the original Edmund Blackadder as well as Tony Robinson playing variations on Baldrick—that’s if you take this from a practical narrative point-of-view)and raising havoc, creating hilarity and blowing his every opportunity at Blackadder becoming the crown prince of England. ***

Featuring a terrific supporting cast including Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie (“House”) and Miranda Richardson among others, “Blackadder” rose to popularity in the 1980’s on the BBC. Filled with the type of physical comedy and adept wit that has been a trademark of Atkinson’s work (you either like him or you don’t but even those who couldn’t stand Atkinson’s bumbling Mr. Bean a variation on the many bumbling characters that Peter Sellers played in films and before that on radio with the Goons)might like Blackadder. He reminds me of just about every politician that we’ve had since the 60’s (or you could imagine him as a comedic variation of former President Richard Nixon around the Checkers or Watergate eras before he regained his crown as disgraced but respected elder statesman among many Republicans and—gulp!—even some Democrats). ---

Image & Sound:

“Blackadder” looks quite good this remastered version is a bit sharper with slightly better definition and color evident throughout. It’s not a huge improvement but if you haven’t gotten around to purchasing this set now’s the time. The show was originally produced during the 1980’s so keep that in mind when watching the show. Outside of some sort of miracle on Blu-ray this is probably the best the shows are ever going to look. ***

Audio sounds quite good as well with a nice solid mono presentation. ---

Mmmm. I’m a bit puzzled here. If this is the COMPLETE “Blackadder” why don’t we get the never aired pilot (that we see clips of in the enclosed documentary on the series)? The aforementioned 1 hour documentary “Blackadder Rides Again” put together for the 25th anniversary of the series is quite good with plenty of recent interviews, clips and behind-the-scenes footage. ***

Strangely, the 2001 extras have, for the most part, been excised for this edition? Why? I don’t know. The cause might be due to idiocy or perhaps Blackadder won the day after all when traveling through time. We do however get the “Footnotes to History” focusing on the real events that inspired Atkinson and his team to create Blackadder and write the various episodes. It’s essential for those who are unaware of English history and will hope make the experience richer if you watch it. ***

We also get “Blackadder: Back & Forth” a half hour special that was produced for the BBC in 1999 as part of the celebration for the Millennium Dome unveiling in London. It was also included in the 2001 set. Blackadder and Baldric travel through time and mess with history in this half hour episode. This is a previously unavailable version with it with the aspect ratio adjusted for widescreen TV in an anamorphic presentation (the previous version was in a 1.33:1 aspect radio in other words full screen) and **”sigh**we get an added laugh track that was used for the special airing by the BBC back in 1999 (as if we need something to clue us in as to when it is funny). ***

We also get some solid commentary tracks that weren’t on the previous 2001 edition of the set(s) that gives us plenty of background information on the writing, creation and obstacles that the creative team faced when planning and shooting these back in the 1980’s. ***

We also get a censored version (probably an accident) of the “Blackadder Christmas Carol” which is missing some dialogue that U.S. audiences might have found offensive at the time. The 2001 used the RIGHT master for this we, unfortunately, get the WRONG (or “corrected”) one that aired in the United States. Are those bits of dialogue and a scene or two important? Probably only if you’re a purist (and if you are you’re probably going to buy this set so the answer would be a big resounding “yes”)but I enjoyed it even with the excised dialogue.

Final Words: