Blackadder (TV Series) Born to Be King (1983) User Reviews

Better than the first episode.

[general-melchett · 8/10 · 31 August 2006]

"Let's see the Black Adder wriggle out of this one!"

This episode was better than The Foretelling, and also introduced us to some new faces. The slapstick was stronger, and the humorous lines were done with more vigour. Edmund is still a weed and a wimp in this one, but it only serves to make it funnier. However, his sharp wit and expertly delivered nasty comments are what really gives the later series their kicks.

Born to be King improves on the weaknesses of The Foretelling and gave me a more humorous viewing, but Blackadder's excessively long dialogue scenes in his quarters still aren't that funny. On the whole, it is a relatively good episode, and shows how much Richard Curtis and Rowan Atkinson have developed their humorous writing since The Foretelling. However, the episodes still get funnier from here. It gets an 8 out of 10 rating from me, only losing out from a 9 because it still hasn't got the right deliveries of certain lines.

A little bit of a step down after the first episode, but great nonetheless

[tenshi_ippikiookami · 8/10 · 28 August 2016]

The second episode of "The Black Adder" has our "beloved" Edmund in trouble as his lands are given to McAngus, his father's commander. Edmund will try to get rid of McAngus and get his lands back.

This second episode keeps the same structure of the first, with lots of humor and silliness permeating every frame of the episode, but it falls short of the greatness of the Black Adder's introduction that we had the chance to enjoy in the first episode. Atkinson's and everyone's acting is still really good and the timing for the jokes amazing (even though Brian Blessed shouts a little bit too much...), but the jokes are not as good and some moments feel way too long. The dialogue also lacks the bite of the previous episode, and some times falls into the juvenile (well, something normal in this series).

Nonetheless, "Born to be King" is another awesome proof of how funny this series was.

A bit of a disappointment...

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 31 May 2010]

I noticed that one reviewer felt was better than the first episode that was aired. Well, to each his own--I feel exactly the opposite and felt this second show was the disappointment. However, second-rate Black Adder is still well worth seeing.

The semi-deranged Richard IV is off to the Crusades. In his place, he leaves his favored older son in charge, while Edmund, as usual, gets the short end of everything--begin forced to do piddly jobs like arrange for entertainment--such as bearded ladies, jumping Jews and eunuchs. All in all, things couldn't get much worse--that is, until a visitor from Scotland arrives and Henry gives him pretty much all of Edmund's possessions and titles. But, there is a possible upside--perhaps this visitor is actually Harry's father--making him illegitimate and Edmund the rightful future king! Considering how Edmund's plans always fail, tune in to see how this go awry.

While I loved the vicious ending and much of the show, the chemistry seemed a tad off here. Not a bad episode but certainly one of weaker ones of the first season.

Another excellent episode.

[BA_Harrison · 1 January 2010]

Episode 2, Born To Be King, was originally shown as episode 4, and is a remake of the un-aired pilot, which featured a slightly different cast; it sees Prince Edmund (Rowan Atkinson) plotting revenge against a wild Scottish warrior, McAngus (Alex Norton), who has been granted ownership of Edmund's lands by Prince Harry (Robert East) as reward for his bravery in battle against the Turks. However, slimy Edmund alters his plan to kill Douglas when he discovers that the man is in possession of letters written by his mother, the Queen, which cast doubt over Harry's lineage.

Baldrick (Tony Robinson) dressed as a bearded woman; a troupe of jumping Jews (including a young Angus Deayton); an entertainer by the name of Jerry Merriweather, whose chickens lay eggs; Edmund offering a collection of wigs, codpieces and a grundlestretcher (whatever that may be) in exchange for his life: just some of the amazingly silly and utterly hilarious moments cooked up by writers Richard Curtis and Rowan Atkinson for this sidesplitting episode of The Black Adder. No opportunity to mock medieval history is missed, with the terminology used by the Queen in her racy love letters being the highlight of the show, (especially with Edmund relishing every last salacious word).

My favorite's from the series.

[ciokens2 · 9/10 · 14 October 2006]

Why? Mainly because of same intrigue. King Richard (Brian Blessed) gone to the crusade (because as the God said: "love your neighbors like yourself, hardly they're Turkish") and Harry became a regent. Edmund of course want's to take his place. And then to the castle arrives most capital character of episode- McAngus (Alex Norton), Richard's Scottish crusade colleague. He is like typical barbarian, wears leathers, horribly laughs, but... he also know's how Edmund can became a king. From this moment Edmund loves him, and from that moment intrigue is really superb, brilliant humor, changes of situation and unexpected end. As I sad all actors are great but Norton- yes, that's his episode.

Improvement from the first episode, and my second favourite episode from the first series.

[tomplotagonbusiness · 8/10 · 9 March 2020]

This was the second episode of The Black Adder, and a big step up from the rather disappointing first episode.

Again, Brian Blessed is amazing, and Dougal McAngus is funny. This is most entertaining episode in my opinion, and the second funniest.

A Giant Leap Forward From Episode One But Still Not Quite Nailing It Yet.

[zacpetch · 6/10 · 2 December 2014]

This is the second episode overall and the episode is an interesting one to witness since it's the first time we get what we'd expect from Blackadder, and yet at the same time we don't.

The plot sees The King leave to fight a crusade leaving Prince Harry in charge and Edmund is tasked with shepherding the flocks of sheep with little success. He then learns that the king will be back for St Leonard's day and that he must arrange celebrations for the occasion. All the usual St Leonard's entertainment (Eunuchs and Bearded Ladies) cancel on him forcing him to book a play called "The Death Of The Pharaoh" and The Jumping Jews Of Jerusalem (who make me laugh more than they should) but the whole thing looks to be a shambles.

Enter Dougal McAngus, the Scotsman, who gets granted all Edmund's lands on whim by Harry. Now we have our story development. Edmund is angry but has it pointed out to him that he can't just kill McAngus in front of everyone because then they might suspect him. Instead he arranges the play to be redone as "The Death Of The Scotsman" offering McAngus the lead role with "not much acting required". Before he goes on stage he tells Edmund that he has letters proving Harry might not be a legitimate heir to the throne which gets Edmund's interest but he doesn't know where they are because McAngus goes on stage to get his "accidental" death.

Edmund is forced to save the Scotsman to find out what the letters prove only to read them in front of everyone proving the truth about the lineage of... Himself. It's a brilliant twist from an otherwise unremarkable episode and McAngus' taunt "Let's see how The Black Adder can slither his way out of this" is great, but disappointing when it comes to nothing much. A potentially great moment wasted.

Meh. A huge improvement on "The Foretelling" but that's not saying much really. Watchable but fairly dull.

Wow

[bevo-13678 · 10/10 · 2 April 2020]

I like the bit how his cunning plan backfired on him

Strong episode with humorous story and dialogue

[snoozejonc · 9/10 · 18 January 2021]

Edmund looks to dispose of this father's comrade in arms McAngus.

I enjoyed this episode for the wicked plot, funny dialogue and excellent performances.

The story is an amusing example of Edmund's greedy ambition going badly wrong whilst providing some background on lineage. It's presents a number of comical situations that work well with the characters involved.

I found the humour to be stronger than The Foretelling with characters and dynamics a bit more settled and the dialogue quite a bit stronger. Right from Brian Blessed's hilarious opening line, for me there were a lot more moments when I experienced involuntary laughter. I particularly enjoyed Edmund's reaction to the prospect of handing over some of his land to McAngus and the banter between the Queen and her Lady In Waiting.

Rowan Atkinson mixes silliness and nastiness to great effect and shows signs of the sharper, cynical and more contemptuous character he becomes in later series. Other strong performances include Brian Blessed, Tim McInnerny and Alex Norton.

For me this is an 8.5/10 as the punchlines are delivered with better timing than usual for series 1.

Who is Harry's father?

[Tweekums · 8/10 · 14 December 2014]

When King Richard IV is away on the crusades Prince Harry acts as regent. It is expected that the king should be back by St Leonard's Day so Edmund is ordered to prepare the celebrations… bearded women, eunuchs and morris dancers. He is having trouble getting everybody and things turn worse for him when Scottish knight; McAngus, Duke of Argyll, returns from the crusades and is given lands that belonged to Edmund as a reward. Edmund must find a way to kill the Scotsman but before he does he learns that McAngus as letters which draw into question the parentage of Prince Harry; letters that could put Edmund on the throne… one day.

This, the second episode to be broadcast but officially the fourth episode, has plenty of good laughs. Alex Norton is a welcome addition as McAngus; an entertainingly over the top caricature of a 'Barbaric Scotsman'; the scene where he fights a duel with Edmund was particularly funny thanks to the latter's grovelling for mercy. Edmund's character is also seen to develop; he is a snivelling worm of a man but he is starting to show a degree of cunning. Overall a good episode.