Blackadder Back & Forth

This Episode: 1999 New Year’s Special
Black Adder Overall: Special 4
Airdate: 31 Dec 1999
Written by Ben Elton & Richard Curtis
Directed by Paul Weiland

Notes

• This was billed as the “final episode” of the Black adder saga (it’s in the opening titles).
• The end credits say “Blackadder: Back & Forth 2 coming Summer 3000”. :)
• The only episode of Blackadder made in 16×9 (more accurately 2.20:1 in the cinema) – all other episodes and specials are in 4×3.  Additionally it was the only episode shot on film.
• This was set on 31 Dec 1999, coincidentally the date of its original broadcast at the Millennium Dome in London. It showed there several times a day through the year 2000.  It aired on Sky One on 1 Oct 2000, then on BBC One on 21 Apr 2002.
• The first episode of Blackadder to have lyrics in the closing credits (in full) since the finale of Series II (“Chains“).
• Nearly all of the regular cast of Series II, III, & IV appear here as variants of their established characters.
• Rik Mayall appears here as Robin Hood (who basically acts like Flashheart).
• There is a photo of Captain Blackadder from Series IV on the wall at the dinner party at the start of the episode.
• The episode contained newly filmed scenes set in Series II similar to Blackadder’s Christmas Carol, but due to the increased budget, they looked far more elaborate the original series counterparts.
• There was supposed to be a new scene filmed for Series I as well bringing back Brian Blessed, Elspet Gray, & Robert East, but had to be changed to the battle of Waterloo due to Brian Blessed being unavailable at the time.
• In the replaced scene, Stephen Fry reprises his character ‘The Duke of Wellington’ from the Series III episode “Duel & Duality“, although the visual look is very different.
• For the first time in the history of the series, one of (dumb) Baldrick’s “cunning plans” actually works and saves everything. (Series 1’s not as dumb Baldrick had a plan that worked too).
• There is a special produced for this as a making of titled “Baldrick’s Diary: A Blackadder In The Making”.  It is done in character as Baldrick, but it is just a making of, as such I didn’t make a separate entry for it.
• The opening titles say “… in association with Baldrick Dodgy Catering Co.” – a possible reference to Series IV’s “Captain Cook“?

Closing Credits Lyrics

Let joy fill every Briton’s heart,
for now our country’s going to make it.
At last a king who looks the part,
at least a queen who looks good naked.

Blackadder, Blackadder,
a monarch with panache.
Blackadder, Blackadder,
he’s got a nice moustache.

Everything he wants he’ll get,
the world is now Blackadder’s oyster.
Most prime ministers are wet,
but Baldrick is even moister.

Blackadder, Blackadder,
a dog who’s got his bone.
Blackadder, Blackadder,
a bastard on the throne.

Blackadder, Blackadder,
his beard is neatly curled.
Blackadder, Blackadder,
he’s going to rule the world.

Links

[ Wikipedia | Blackadder Wiki | IMDB | BBC Website | BBC Alternate | Amazon US DVD | Amazon UK Blu-Ray ]