The Black Seal

This Episode: Season 1, Episode 6
Black Adder Overall: Episode 6
Airdate: 20 Jul 1983
Written by Rowan Atkinson & Richard Curtis
Directed by Martin Shardlow

Notes

• The castle scenes were filmed at the real life location “Alnwick Castle“.  The same castle appeared in Downton Abbey as Brancaster Castle.
• The tradition of having someone die in the final episode to the series starts here – it carries on through the subsequent second, third, and fourth series, varying from one person to the entire cast dying.
• The first appearance of Rik Mayall in Black Adder, although not as the character (Lord Flashheart) which he was more well known for.  Here he plays “Mad Gerald” someone who was imprisoned with Edmund.
• Edmund’s Black Adder does briefly become King of England, only to die almost immediately afterwards.  This fulfilled the prophecy of the witches in the first episode.  This is referenced in the closing credits of the Series II episode “Head“.
• “The Hawk” is played by Patrick Allen.  Allen is the person who did the voiceovers for every episode of the series.
• One of the prison guards is played by Stephen Frost, but uncredited.  This is the same guard character he played in the prior episode (where I have more notes on him in on that page).

Closing Credits Lyrics

So now the age of sin is paid
The blade has stuck the black steed grazes
The only sound across the glade
Is Edmund pushing up the daisies

Black Adder Black Adder
A shame about the plan
Black Adder Black Adder
Farewell, you horrid man

Links