3. Blackadder Blackadders Christmas Carol
Victorian moustache shop owner Ebenezer Blackadder is renowned as the kindest man in England. And hes constantly taken advantage of by people because of it. Then on Christmas Eve, Ebenezer is visited by a Spirit (Robbie Coltrane) who shows him just how awful his ancestors really were.
A Christmas Carol has now officially been done to death. Everything from
The Muppets to
Doctor Who has done their own version of it. So whys this one so special? First of all because its
Blackadder, but also because it takes the concept and really puts its own stamp on it rather than strictly following the Dickens story. Instead of Ebenezer seeing his past present and future, we revisit
Blackadder II and
Blackadder The Third in new scenes set at Christmas, and see two potential outcomes for the Blackadder dynasty in the far future depending on how Ebenzer lives his life. The biggest thing though is the reversal of the storys overall character arc and outcome. Ebenezer Blackadder is a thoroughly decent man but then has an epiphany about how his ancestors had the right idea about life. As well being an ingenious reworking of
A Christmas Carol, most of the jokes are spot on with the entire casts of
Blackadder II and
Blackadder The Third reprising their roles, and guest appearances from Jim Broadbent, Miriam Margoyles, and
Doctor Who companion Nicola Bryant. Easily as good as the novel its based on.
Best Moment: Ebenezer Blackadder realising that the path to true happiness is being a complete b****d. Only to have it blow up in his face spectacularly.