Stars: Rowan Atkinson, Tony Robinson, Stephen Fry, Miranda Richardson, Rik Mayall, Tom Baker, Miriam Margolyes, Tim McInnerny, Hugh Laurie, Ronald Lacey

Summary: The entire historic second series of the TV comedy. Six Episodes: 'Bells', 'Head', 'Potato', 'Money', 'Beer' and 'Chains'.

The degradation of the grand and proud tradition that is the British monarchy continues as the loathsome Blackadder (Rowan Atkinson) snivels his way through the 16th century into the court of Queen Elizabeth I. This collection includes the six episodes comprising both "Parte the Firste," and "Parte the Seconde." Episodes are "Bells," "Head," "Potato," "Money," "Beer," and "Chains."

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Although now regarded as the opening salvo of a classic series, the original Blackadder series was not considered a great success, either among critics or many viewers, so a major rethink took place when it was recommissioned. On the writing front, future-Four Weddings And A Funeral scribe Richard Curtis was joined by Ben Elton, while the expensive War of the Roses-era sets were replaced by cosier Elizabethan ones. The most important change, however, was with Rowan Atkinson's eponymous character who, in the first series, had been a fairly weak-willed idiot but now emerged as the familiar Machiavellian fiend which would cement Atkinson's place in the pantheon of great British sitcom actors. Moreover, even if so many of the script's lines have been subsequently ripped off by lesser hands that it can't help but occasionally sound dated, the central performances of Atkinson, Tony Robinson (Baldrick), Tim McInnery (Lord Percy), Stephen Fry (Lord Melchett) and, of course, Miranda Richardson as the childishly psychotic Queen Elizabeth ("I love it when you get cross. Sometimes I think about having you executed just to see the expression on your face") remain note perfect. Yet the real pleasure for viewers may be in rediscovering the raft of excellent guest star performances--not least Tom "Doctor Who" Baker's berserk turn as a literally legless old sea dog given to guzzling his own urine long before the drinking water has run out. --Clark Collis

Aspect Ratio:	4:3 Full Frame
Main Language:	English
Region:	Region 2
Special Features:	Graphic Features, Scene Selection
Subtitles:	English
Year:	1986
Release Date:	November 6, 2000
Runtime:	175 minutes
Certification:
Catalogue Number:	B B C D V D 1019
Keywords:	Black, Comedy, Blackadder, General, Series, Historic, Second, Tv, Ii, Adder
Genre:	Comedy