Queen: Then he’s vanished. Completely vanished.
Percy: Like an old oak table.
Queen: ‘Vanished,’ Lord Percy, not ‘varnished’.

Now that’s what I call a coincidence: I’ve browsed the IMDB today, where they always feature a “Born today” star, which in this case is Hugh Laurie. That name was kind of familiar, even though I couldn’t place his face. A quick search gave me the answer: Laurie was in two episodes of “Blackadder”, and now guess what I have watched just yesterday. Right, “Blackadder II” :D .

Being a novice to this famous British comedy series, I’ve apparently started with the most funny season of the existing four: namely the second one, which is set during the Renaissance at the court of a rather imbecile Queen Elizabeth I. I suppose only the Brits can pull something so wickedly funny off while at the same time displaying such a keen interest in history :D !

“Blackadder” lives mainly through it’s superb acting from the cast consisting of Rowan Atkinson (known as Mr. Bean and Johnny English), Tim McInnerny, Tony Robinson, Miranda Richardson, Stephen Fry and Patsy Byrne but also through the sheer absurdity of the situations Lord Blackadder gets himself into: he goes on an expedition to France and ends up in Africa, he falls in love with his man servant, who turns out to be a girl, his efficency in the beheading business almost costs him his own head… and that all is served with the finest black humor this side of the Atlantic. Just a little sample:

Blackadder: I seek information about a Wisewoman.
Young Crone: Ah, the Wisewoman… the Wisewoman.
Blackadder: Yes, the Wisewoman.
Young Crone: Two things, my lord, must thee know of the Wisewoman. First, she is… a woman. And second, she is…
Blackadder: Wise?
Young Crone: You do know her then?
Blackadder: No, just a wild stab in the dark which is, incidentally, what you’ll be getting if you don’t start being a bit more helpful. Do you know where she lives?
Young Crone: Of course.
Blackadder: Where?
Young Crone: Here. Do you have an appointment?
Blackadder: No.
Young Crone: Well, you can go in anyway.
Blackadder: Thank you young crone. Here is a purse of money… which I’m not going to give to you.

To find out more about “Blackadder”, have a look at the official BBC site.