The
King has had to murder three successive Archbishops of Canterbury (they disobeyed
his commands) so Blackadder is understandably concerned when he is the next appointment. Determined
not to be the next prelate to be brutally slain in a freak accident, he brilliantly
persuades a rich nobleman to donate all his lands to the King and not the Church.
However, in a knowing nod to Thomas à Becket, the King accidentally orders
Blackadder's murder anyway.
Review:This was one of the first
episodes to make heavy use of one-liners and farce - not to mention a bit of good
old fashioned slapstick. Edmund's desparation is wonderfully portrayed, and Percy
displays his stupidity to admirable effect. The pace is relentless, and
the jokes just keep coming - the Church had a lot to offer a good satirist, in
those troubled times - look out for the 'selling the relics' vignette, where the
profit motive briefly overcomes loftier concerns. Credits:
| Director: | Martin Shardlow |
| Writer: | Richard Curtis and Rowan Atkinson |
| Additional Dialogue | William Shakespeare |
| Joyce Grant | Mother Superior |
| Carolyn Colquohoun | Sister Sara |
| William Russell | The Duke of Winchester |
| Bert Parnaby | Cain |
| Roy Evans | Abel | | David
Nunn | Messenger | | Bill Wallis |
Sir Justin of Boinod | | David Delve |
Sir George de Boeuf | | Leslie Sands |
Lord Graveney | | Paul McDowell |
Herbert | | Arthur Hewlett |
Godfrey
William | | 
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