Blackadder Goes Forth Review: Comedy in the Trenches
9.5/10 — Blackadder Goes Forth (1989)
Pros
- Brilliant cast
- Sharp writing
- Devastating final episode
Cons
- Short series
- Simplified history
Captain Edmund Blackadder, Private Baldrick and Lieutenant George try to escape the trenches of the First World War, under General Melchett and Captain Darling. It’s the final series of Blackadder.
What works
The writing by Richard Curtis and Ben Elton is sharp, and Rowan Atkinson, Tony Robinson, Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie are all excellent. The final episode, ‘Goodbyeee’, turns from comedy to heartbreak in a moving final scene.
Where it falters
It’s short at six episodes, and the satire of generals as buffoons is a simplification of history.
Verdict
Funny, bitter and unforgettable.
