The Blackadder - The Historic First Series [1983] [DVD]

The episodes collected here are: "The Foretelling", in which Richard III, played by Peter Cook in a brilliant parody of Olivier, wins Bosworth only to get in an unseemly argument about a horse; "Born to be King" in which Edmund, lumbered with providing bearded ladies, morris dancers and eunuchs for a festival, discovers some indiscreet love letters; "The Archbishop" in which after his father has the Archbishop of Canterbury killed, Edmund starts his intrigues again; "The Queen of Spain's Beard" in which Blackadder's father's international schemes call for Edmund to make a dynastic marriage to Miriam Margolyes as the Infanta of Spain, and Jim Broadbent plays a peculiarly irritating interpreter; "Witchsmeller Pursuivant" in which Edmund falls foul of the demonic witchsmeller, played with more gusto than is quite credible by Frank Finlay; and "The Black Seal", wherein Edmund assembles a group of villains as his personal retinue (Rik Mayall plays a mad prisoner).

On the DVD: No extras here at all, aside from subtitles in English, SDH, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, French, Spanish, Portuguese and Italian, and chapter points within each episode. --Roz Kaveney

Throughout the ages men of flair, faculty and outstanding courage have contributed to England's glorious heritage. Others, like snivelling worm Edmund, Duke of Edinburgh (alias the Black Adder), the bitter and twisted son of a medieval king, have emerged from the dust of dodgy documents to claim their wrongful position in history.

The Foretelling - With Peter Cook as Richard III from out of the swirling mists of the Dark Ages comes a lone horseman cursed from youth by a deformed haircut and sporting a particularly evil pair of tights.

Born To Be King - Treachery, murder and Morris-dancing break out in all their full horror when an orange-faced stranger arrives at court.

The Archbishop - The landscape is littered with dead Archbishops of Canterbury. Edmund's cunning plan is to get his deadliest rival appointed to the vacancy

The Queen Of Spain's Beard - With Miriam Margolyes as Princess Maria, the King's international treachery gives the hideous Edmund a chance to press his clammy body against one of Europe's most eligible princesses.

Witchsmeller Pursuivant - With Frank Finley as the repulsive Witchsmeller, the King is a bit under the weather with the Black Death. Witchcraft is diagnosed by the Black Adder and only one man can root it out.

The Black Seal - With Rik Mayall as Mad Gerald, in a final gesture of defiance Edmund rides forth to seek out the Seven Most Evil Men in the land and return with them to seize the throne.