While the times of Henry VII, Elizabeth I and George III were hilarious settings for the Black Adder series, World War One was NOT. Probably because, try as they might, a war in which MILLIONS were killed is pretty much a comedy killing subject. How, exactly, can you make poison gas, carnage and pointless death that funny? Maudlin, yes--funny, no. Episode after episode consist of Black Adder trying to avoid certain death until in the final episode, he and his men are killed after they are ordered to storm the enemy lines. WOW--that's not much fun! World War I, II or the black plague--all topics that I strongly advise AGAINST using as a backdrop for this series!
UPDATE: I have just watched this series once again and this time it did play a bit better. There were some definitely good episodes....but still, some amazingly maudlin and awful ones. I stand by most of what I originally said but must admit my first review was a tad too harsh--just a tad.
UPDATE: I have just watched this series once again and this time it did play a bit better. There were some definitely good episodes....but still, some amazingly maudlin and awful ones. I stand by most of what I originally said but must admit my first review was a tad too harsh--just a tad.