Right of the top, this is one of the best TV series I have ever seen. Single season with 6 episodes or mini series is all the same. Important thing is that even now, 25 years later this series is still watched and talked about, and recently it was even remade by the same director who directed the original. Written by Troy Kennedy Martin and directed by Martin Campbell, Edge of Darkness is a series you simply must see.

Production

During the preproduction period, there were a lot of tensions about the script and some aspects, and conflicts between the writer, director and series star actor lead to some rewrites that proved to be good for the series. Edge of Darkness is one of the rare political dramas BBC made at the time, and it during 1985 was aired twice on the television, with 4 million viewers initially, rerun managed to double the number of viewers. Critics were also very generous in their praises for the series. Finally in 1986 series won 6 BAFTA awards.

One of the most memorable things about the series is amazing soundtrack and great title theme all composes by Michael Kamen and Eric Clapton. For the soundtrack they won BAFTA award.

Story

I am not going into much details of the story, because it’s very complex, layered and it really deserve for you to see it and to be immersed into it. But, I will tell you that it’s influenced by the political situation concerning the nuclear energy industry and implications of involvement of British and US governments with activists of GAIA environment group.

Original ending of the series was very unconventional and was eventually written off, but it would be interesting to see main character dying and turning into a tree. But even without that, main character Craven is constantly having dialogs with his dead daughter, and in some ways she is leading him own to find out the truth.

Story starts as a simple murder case, but soon spirals out of control and reaches international level to uncover a conspiracy. And the only negative thing I can say about it is that maybe it should have been a bit shorter, because one episode less would add much to dynamics. But this is something I noticed only after 3 viewing, maybe is not really relevant at all.

Bob Peck as Ronald Craven

Characters

Series casting is simply spot on. Casting Bob Peck in the lead role was maybe a gamble, since he was known actor but with not many important TV roles to his credit. But, his performance in the series is really amazing. He is stricken down with personal tragedy, trying to find his daughter killer, but he tries to remain cool headed, to think rationally, and yet, you can see in his eyes that he is slowly loosing that control, that all hope is gone. And his talks with dead daughter will help him in solving the puzzle, but will also disturb him deeply. And his performance is one that truly takes us deeper into the darkness, he is not on anyones side, he doesn’t care about the conspiracy, he only cares to find out the killer.

The rest of the cast is also great. Starting with Joanne Whalley as Craven’s daughter and Joe Don Baker as American spy and CIA agent Darius Jedburgh, more veteran British actors like Ian McNeice and Charles Kay. You can’t find a single one that is not giving his best.

Remake

I must talk a bit about remake movie released few weeks ago. Directed by the same director as the mini series and starring Mel Gibson, movie is but a pale copy of the original. Story is much simpler, with many important aspects removed. While Gibson performance is good, you will hardly notice anyone else in the cast. Once again, this proves why most of the remakes fail to live up to the original.

Conclusion

This is a must series, a perfect combination of drama and political thriller, with complex story and great cast. Series such as this are not made any more, and that’s a damn shame. So, buy the DVD and watch it. I guarantee that you will watch it many times. Edge of Darkness is one of the greatest TV series ever made.

The final full season of the history of Blackadders, creators choose setting of The First World War. It’s the 1917, Western front and we are in the trenches with the British troops. Between them and German troops is so called no-man’s-land. This season originally aired in the 1989, and reunites the all-star actors from all previous seasons, some of them as guest stars in a single episode. Shame that this is the last season of the series.

Cast

Blackadder is now captain in the army and again he is there with now Private Baldrick and Lieutenant George. Their commanding officer is General Melchett who has a personal secretary Captain Kevin Darling. George is idealistic and again not very smart as his predecesor Prince George was. Hugh Laurie again did an excellent job with this role.Stephen Fry is back for a full season in the role of general, and he is brilliant. This role is much stronger that the role of Melchett in the second season. Tim is back as Captain Darling and he also does a great job.

Blackadder Goes Forth

Among guest stars there is Geoffrey Palmer as Field Marshal Haig, Rik Mayall again as Captain Flashheart and Miranda Richardson as a nurse.

Writing

This season is more satirical then previous seasons was, and writing is still very intelligent and funny. For the most part, this season delivers a anti-war message and shows how pointless the war was, and how bad was conducted on the part of the commanding officers involved.

Conclusion

Another great season of Blackadder. As I said, shame it was the last. And apart from few specials this is the end of the series. Next, and for now last review will be about these extras and specials aired over the years.

Few centuries after the first Black Adder we are now in the 16th century, on the court of Queen Elizabeth I. Edmund Blackadder is now a Lord and close friend with queen. Unlike his predecessor, this time Edmund is intelligent and good looking, but inside he is the same, still scheming and plotting to advance further. But, no matter how different Edmund seams to be, good thing is that Blackadder will always be Blackadder.

Cast

There were some changes in the cast. Blackadder and Baldrick are still here. And so is Percy. But this time we have the Queen, played by Miranda Richardson, here nanny Nursie, played by Patsy Byrne and Lord Melchett, played by Stephen Fry. I think that Queen is a bit overplayed and annoying at times, but I think that was a general idea on how to show her. Stephen Fry is great as always.

Edmund, Baldrick and Percy

Writing

As the story goes, this is maybe the weakest in the series. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still good, but seasons 3 and 4 are much better. Rowan Atkinson wasn’t involved in writing process in this season as he was in the first one. And ending of the season is a sort of introduction of the next season and Hugh Laurie plays crazy german Prince Ludwig.

Production

In terms of production, this season is much better, and sets the standard for the following seasons. Music is in style of the first season. Costumes are really great, and at times really over the top, but all that is done on purpose.

Conclusion

Blackadder is really a great series, and the second incarnation of Edmund is really a must see. Not the best in the series, but still better than the most comedies you are likely to see on TV.

The Black Adder show is created more than 25 years ago, but still it’s one of the greatest TV shows ever created. Everything started with the fist season that is the first chapter in the history of Edmund Blackadder. This first story is set in the 15-th century on the court of King Richard III and is actually the ‘secret history’ of the period. Edmund is a prince, son of Richard III, he has a brother and searching for a way to became a king himself.

Show is created by Rowan Atkinson and Richard Curtis. Rowan Atkinson also stars as Edmund and does amazing job. Blackadder has a servant named Baldrick (Tony Robinson) and a ‘friend’ Percy (Tim McInnerny). Richard III is played by Brian Blessed and it’s a pity that he is only part of the cast of this first season. Edmund is a sneaky, cunning and sometimes if needed evil character with only one idea on his mind, he wants to became a king. And the things he would do for that, it’s really amazing to see some of his ideas. And, eventually all of them will fail.

Writing

First season is much different in terms of humor than the later seasons, because it relies much more on visual comedy and historical satire and less on sarcasm that is used much more later. But, because of them some of the dialogs can be hard to follow if you are not well versed in the period. But, if you give it the time and watch it few times, I am sure that you will be able to get much more of the subtle humor. Also, this is the only season that has a narrator to lead the story and his parts are very, very funny.

Production

Well, this is something where first season fails at the times, and it looks like that there is not much money invested into the series. But most of the BBC series from that period suffered the same problem most likely do to many shows produced in the same time. Important thing is that you will not even notice the problems because characters and story are really great.

Conclusion

So, grab the box set with all four seasons and many extras and start from the beginning. Blackadder’s history is really worth a watch.