Blackadder
The Foretelling
Series 1, episode 1
"Blackadder receives a message from three witches after killing Richard III at the battle of Bosworth field."
Episode Guide - Quotes - Analysis - Notes
Episode Guide
Begins with random historical points followed by the title screen. Caption appears annpincing it’s the eve of the battle of Bosworth Field. The king Richard III and his general, Richard IV discuss using Blackadder as arrow fodder.
Baldrick comes round serving drinks and meets Blackadder. They talk of the battle tomorrow. A scene of the generals inspiring their troops is shown but then it flashes back to Blackadder who has slept in. He quickly gets up and heads for the battle.
They arrive at the battle but Blackadder is less confident when they get there. The king has lost his horse but tells Richard IV that he will go find one. He sees Blackadder’s horse and goes to take it not realising that its Blackadder’s. Blackadder not seeing who it is, comes up behind him and decapitates him.
Baldrick arrives. They drag the body into a building but the head is lost. Percy arrives with the head. They flee back to the castle. Henry 7th’s army arrives at the castle however it turns out to be Richard IV heading the victorious troops back.
King Richard’s body is later brought in. Richard IV is crowned king. Blackadder is later asked how many people he killed in the battle. He says 450 peasants and several lords. It’s at this point he takes the title ‘The Black Adder’ (until now he was just Lord Edmund).
Blackadder sees Richard III sitting in is room covered in blood and wounds but seemingly alive. He turns out to be a ghost. At the banquet Richard III continues to haunt Blackadder. He goes searching for some reason and rides out of the castle into the forest where he find three witches. They tell him he will one day be king.
After the credits they discuss how Blackadder looks different than they expected unlike the man who rode past earlier. They realise they have given the message to the wrong person as it was intended for Henry Tutor.
Quotes
Blackadder: “Oh goodness no. I thought I would fight with the enemy.”
Blackadder: “Now I am afraid there is going to have to be a certain amount of violence.”
[ to Blackadder who is in bed ]
Blackadder’s mother: “Did you want to go to the battle this morning?”
[ when asked who he killed ]
Blackadder: "Ah I think Lord Coverdale"
Records guy: "He fought on our site I believe"
Blackadder: "Oh yes, groin job"
Analysis
Notes
Although the witches prediction was not ment for Blackadder it does come true in the last ever episode made for the Millenium Dome - Blackadder Back & Forth.