BlackAdder Remastered The Ultimate Edition DVD

Written on October 29, 2009 by Marc Eastman in Television

The Eagle has landed! BlackAdder Remastered The Ultimate Edition is available on DVD. Easily one of the best comedy creations ever, this set includes everything that has ever had BlackAdder* in the name. Not only the Rowan Atkinson stroke of sheer brilliance that delivered to us the least illustrious name to ever darken the door of history, but also the cunning plan that introduced to the world – Baldrick!

On six discs, and in the most stunning of packaging since double-leather bound books with gold inlay that come with their own wench to turn the pages for you, the complete collection can now be yours!

The Black Adder -

Cursed by ridiculous hair, and decked out in fabulous tights, Blackadder slinks and skulks his way through the dark (well, darkish) ages to no great effect whatsoever. His crazy schemes, and crazier sidekicks are all for naught, and in so many senses. The hilarity begins, and it’s the funniest thing since upside-down day at the dungeon.

Blackadder II -

It’s 1558, and the line has come to the decidedly interesting point of producing a title. Lord Edmund Blackadder is rather a cad, but he does alright. Unfortunately, he is often given the supreme gift of being in the same room with Queen Bess, who is completely mad and liable to have your head at a moments notice. She’ll probably forget the whole thing just as fast, but she may not, and executioners aren’t always the layabouts you hope. Some of Baldrick’s highest moments of the series come from marginally-avoiding living in the sewer and/or bringing it along with him anyway.

BlackAdder the Third -

Spinning into new points of misery for the rather clever, but birth-circumstance challenged of history, our Blackadder from 1700-someodd is George Prince Regent’s gentleman’s gentleman. Only they didn’t call them that then. They just called them, “Hey you! Git!” Blackadder now finds himself having to do everything his cunning plans can come up with to keep himself in a fairly decent position, by keeping his idiot master (Hugh Laurie) out of trouble.

Blackadder Goes Fourth -

Captain Blackadder is a wise, but worn down veteran, who now finds himself in a trench staring down millions of German guns. Led by a lunatic general, and dodging the seriously dodgy efforts of a rival Captain trying to suck his way to the top, Blackadder has his hands full just keeping himself out of suicide missions.

Blackadder’s Christmas Carol -

In a vaguely Dickensian time, a Blackadder mutation has appeared on the scene, and his name is Ebeneezer Blackadder. A kind and generous soul, Ebeneezer is haunted by ghosts of the past, and told that he’d bloody well better shape down and fly crooked.

Blackadder The Cavalier Years -

King Charles is in dire straights with only Blackadder and Baldrick loyal to him, and it’s about time for a cunning plan to show up and do some dancing if Blackadder wants to save his King from Oliver Cromwell.

Blackadder Back and Forth -

The cast of BlackAdder reunites after ten years, and the 21st Century Blackadder is going to do some time travelling.

Starring Rowan Atkinson, Tony Robinson, and quite frequently Tim McInnerny, Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie.

One of the best things for real fans about this release is going to be the remastered quality. Now with great detail, all the shows look brilliant, and going back as far as the first series, that’s truly worth a great deal.

The set also includes some great bonuses, probably the most interesting will be the commentary tracks. The second, third, and fourth series of the show each include a handful of episodes with such tracks, and feature – writers Richard Curtis and Ben Elton, producer John Lloyd, Rowan Atkinson, Stephen Fry, Tony Robinson, and Tim McInnerny in some combination or other. These are indescribable treats for fans, similar to the decidedly special feature of watching Fawlty Towers with John Cleese on that recent release.

The final disc has Blackadder Rides Again, an hour-long documentary which revisits the creation of the series. A fascinating effort that follows Atkinson around, any fan has to see it. From simply visiting the locations, to discussions on the ideas of the various instantiations of Blackadderness, it’s a fun ride.

Also included on the final disc are new interviews with – Rowan Atkinson, Stephen Fry, writers Richard Curtis and Ben Elton, Tony Robinson, Miranda Richardson, Hilary Bevan Jones, Hugh Laurie, and Rik Mayall. These range from around twenty minutes for the main characters, to quick, about five-minute strolls down memory lane for the others. All of them are a lot of fun if you know the show, and having a quick chat with “Hugh Laurie on set in Hollywood,” is pretty cool.

There is really no higher rating to give a DVD release. From the subject matter alone to the quality and major effort in bonuses, this is just an absolute winner.