Blackadder II (TV Series) Bells (1986) User Reviews

Comedy bliss, outlandish, bawkish, totally hilarious.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 9/10 · 10 January 2016]

Kate tricks Edmund by becoming his new man servant 'Bob,' he forms an unlikely attachment to Bob dismissing poor Baldrick in the process, Blackadder even seeks the help of the wise woman, a wild woman who is clearly a little insane. Edmund learns Bob's secret and the pair agree to marry, Edmund's friend Lord Flasheart arrives and causes a big problem.

I wasn't the biggest fan of the original Blackadder series (must re- watch,) but Blackadder II is utter comic gold, funny from start to finish. If anything it got funnier with each episode.

Bells is criminally funny, Rowan Atkinson is at his all time best, cutting, witty, sarcastic and strangely attractive. The introduction of the entire new lineup is magical, Miranda Richardson is utterly iconic as Queenie, it's one of my favourite all time performances, Tim McInnerny, Stephen Fry, Tony Robertson all just utterly wonderful, one of the best ever lineups.

Gabrielle Glaister did a cracking job as Bob, as did her father, some of the lines between them were absolutely hilarious. 'Yes Kate I want you to become a prostitute,' I don't think they could get away with that now. Awesome performance from Rik Mayall, just magical.

So much richness to this episode, Baldrick in his bridesmaid's dress, hilarious!!

One of the funniest sequences of all time when Blackadder goes to visit the Wise Woman, 'here is a purse of monies, which I'm not going to give you.' Utterly hilarious!! I could watch that sequence over and over, it never tires.

Blissful viewing. 9/10

Much needed revamp of the show.

[zacpetch · 8/10 · 1 December 2014]

"Bells" is different to all its predecessors from the word go as it's obviously not taking itself too seriously. We meet Kate, disguising herself as a boy called Bob, who becomes the object of Edmund's affections much to his disgust. We're swiftly taken to the court of the Queen Elizabeth I and her Nurse Bernard and trusted friend, Edmund's rival, Melchett. Returning is Percy from series 1, with very little change in his character. He's the only thing from series 1 to remain the same, which is just as well. Blackadder is much cleverer and less of the blundering fool. Baldrick is an idiot. Suddenly all is well.

The filming is all done in sets now and that's how Blackadder will always be from now on which is no bad thing. Ben Elton is a welcome addition - He's the one who revamped the look and feel of a struggling show and it's just as well that he did, too.

The episode is based upon Edmund's inner strife as he realises he's falling for a man which is frowned upon in Elizabethan society. Eventually he learns of Bob's true identity and the two plan to wed. It's here that the true highlight of the episode comes when we meet the fan-favourite Lord Flashheart (Rik Mayall) who shows up, makes woofing sounds, says too many innuendos to count and then steals the bride - And the show.

Blackadder II is often regarded as the first series to truly capture the spirit of what this show should be and it gets off to a cracking start. While the plot is not realised to quite its full potential the series has definitely become a cultural icon now and so it shall remain for the rest of its run - And beyond! Good show by all involved.

I didn't like it at first, but "Bells" is a very good first episode.

[general-melchett · 8/10 · 1 September 2006]

"I like you, Bob, you've got balls!"

Let me open my comment by saying this - Blackadder II does not have the atmosphere of its predecessor. However, this is not all bad - the lack of real emotion actually makes it funnier, and lets us feel that we are watching proper comedy - not dark historical dramas. And this is how Blackadder shall be like from here on - not delivering the thrills and the shocks, but delivering the laughs, like it is meant to.

"Bells" starts off funny, and only gets funnier, and proves how stupid Blackadder, Baldrick and Percy really are. Also joining the Blackadder comedy cast are Stephen Fry (Lord Melchett), Miranda Richardson (Queen Elizabeth I), and a new character called Nursie, who is the Queen's old carer. The presence of these three makes the episode and series even more funny, and betters the comic appearances of Prince Harry, the Queen and Richard IV in Blackadder 1. Ben Elton's new role as the second writer of Blackadder has made the show more funny, and likely to be enjoyed by all. The first series tries to be taken seriously, but this series was a bigger success in not being serious and being lighter and more openly funny.

"Bells" contains some clever humour, some great new characters and a whole new era - a good opening to the second historic series! I give it an 8 out of 10.

Bells

[Prismark10 · 10/10 · 24 May 2020]

Here is a joke from a traditional club comedian in the mid 1980s: What is the definition of alternative comedy? Someone that is not funny.

The first series of Blackadder was decent and sporadically funny. It was also very expensive with a lot of location shooting.

So it was a bit of surprise for a second series to be shown three years later. Ben Elton was drafted in as co-writer along with Richard Curtis. According to Elton, then controller of BBC1 Michael Grade only gave the go ahead with two changes. The budget was to be cut down by a third and he wanted more jokes.

In a sense this was a very economical series with more laughs per pound. It was also the first sit com made by alternative comedians to receive widespread praise and high viewing figures.

The first episode sets the tone of this new Blackadder. Rowan Atkinson's character is more wisely cynical, cunning and full of put downs. I think it was the first time Atkinson saw himself as a romantic hero rather than a gawky person.

The story is simple. Kate is so impoverished that her father wants her to become a prostitute. She goes to London and disguises herself as a boy called Bob to make a fortune.

Quick as a flash Baldrick is out on the streets as Bob becomes Blackadder's new manservant. Problem is both fall for each other leading to Blackadder going on a course of leeches to get rid of his affliction of fancying his manservant.

It is a barrel of laughs. I watched it 1986, seen it countless times since. Just to make sure that the memory did not cheat. I watched it again, even in the 2020's this one still stands up.

I can still remember the funny lines. Rik Mayall steals the show as Lord Flashheart. An absolute classic.

A great introduction to the 'Elizabethan Blackadder'

[Tweekums · 10/10 · 20 January 2015]

It is now Elizabethan England and our protagonist is a Lord rather than a prince; he is also somewhat more intelligent than his Plantagenet forebear; he is still friends with a Lord Percy and has a servant called Baldrick though.

As this episode opens we see an old man tell his daughter that because of their poverty she must become a prostitute to support them; she refuses and dresses as a boy to seek her fortune in London. Here she offers her services to Blackadder and, being surprisingly attracted to young 'Bob' he quickly dispenses with Baldrick and hires her. They enjoy each other's company and soon rumours reach court; eventually Blackadder seeks a 'cure' but that is no use. Luckily for him 'Bob' has fallen for him too and later reveals her true gender. A wedding is arranged and Blackadder invites his old friend Lord Flashheart to be his best man… a big mistake.

While I never agreed with those who found the first series poor this episode certainly showed that a Blackadder's character had developed in a good way. The story is full of laughs from start to finish; a little crude at times but never really offensive. Rowan Atkinson is great as Blackadder and new additions to the regular cast; Miranda Richardson, as Queen Elizabeth, Stephen Fry, as Lord Melchett, and Patsy Byrne, as Nursie, are most welcome. Gabrielle Glaister is likable as the cross-dressing 'Kate – It's short for Bob' however it is Rik Mayall who steal the show as Lord Flashheart; he may only be in for three minutes but it is one of the most memorable three minutes in all of the Blackadder series!

Subtle, it ain't!

[planktonrules · 10/10 · 1 June 2010]

When I watched this first episode of "Blackadder II", I soon realized it was quite different from the first series. It wasn't just that the episode was almost completely filmed in the studio but that the show was so much less subtle (as well as sexual) than those of the previous series--not that they were always that subtle! The show begins with a crazy old man telling his grown daughter that they are penniless and she has to go to work...as a prostitute. But, she has different plans--to become a man-servant to some rich guy. Naturally, this leads to her going to work for Blackadder--a more handsome and despicable incarnation of the same character from the first series.

Unfortunately for Edmund, he and his new 'boy' get along too well--so well that he begins having carnal thoughts about 'him'. This leads to some funny scenes and confusion of his part, though eventually it all works out as Bob (as she called herself) is lady. They fall in love and decide to marry. However, given that Blackadder is the perennial loser (except in the third series), you know this cannot work out--leading to one of the bawdiest and funniest weddings I've seen in some time! Overall, this is a very funny and clever episode--probably the best in the series, though this second series is jam-packed full of memorable shows. I only have one small reservation. While all the Blackadder shows are a bit crude and have a lot of adult language, this initial episode is among the worst on this account. Do NOT show it to young kids or your mother-in-law!

Classic episode with great performances and dialogue

[snoozejonc · 10/10 · 24 January 2021]

Lord Blackadder falls in love with his new servant.

I thoroughly enjoyed this episode when I saw it many years ago and recently on a rewatch.

The story is a simple and effective comic farce where a deception spins out of control, but it ends on a quite unexpected note.

All the humour, which is mostly situational combined with razor sharp dialogue is excellent. Ben Elton and Richard Curtis started their writing partnership in style by reinventing the three central characters so the comedy dynamic works perfectly.

All performances are perfect with Rowan Atkinson, Tony Robinson, Tim McInnery, Stephen Fry, Miranda Richardson, Patsy Byrne and Rik Mayall all fantastic. Even other minor roles like the Wise Woman, peasant woman and doctor all add to the entertainment. Gabrielle Glaister plays the straight role well as the object of Blackadder's affection. Edward Jewesbury is very funny is his brief appearance as her father.

This is one of the classic episodes of the show, I would award 10/10 if not for a few minor technical flaws, but definitely a 9.5/10 and for IMDB as always I round upwards.

A welcome change

[ericksonsam60 · 9/10 · 6 April 2015]

After, an unsuccessful first series, the BBC had reluctantly agreed to a second one and we should be glad that they did. Set during the Elizabethan times, the show changes for the better as Ben Elton replaces Rowan Atkinson as co-writer alongside Richard Curtis. From here, a great deal of the jokes comes from the one-liners, as the humor now veers towards being more droll and sarcastic. We also see a change in Blackadder himself, as he is no longer the sniveling, cowardly schemer that he was in the first series but rather a slick, blissfully nasty S.O.B. that we would come to know and love. Altogether, these changes would help turn the show into one of the funniest British sitcoms of all time.

In "BlackAdder II", we also see the return of Blackadder's sidekick's Percy and Baldrick, played by Tim McInnerny and Tony Robinson. However, this time Baldrick is now an imbecile just like Percy. You could say he has been "dumbed down" for the better, as he now becomes the perfect comic foil for Blackadder. Also among the supporting cast this time is Miranda Richardson, who is superb as the childish, execution-happy Queen Elizabeth. Also, Patsy Byrne, who is also a delight as Nursie. Not to mention, Stephen Fry as the grave Lord Melchett. Fry, along with Hugh Laurie, would later go onto becoming a regular for the rest of the BlackAdder sequels that follow.

"Bells" is the first episode of this second series. The plot uses the cross-dressing elements of Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night." A girl disguises herself as a boy to seek a fortune in London and falls in love with her employer, Edmund Blackadder. However, when he finds that he is getting to close for comfort with his supposed "man-servant" and he becomes confused over what to do about it.

The episode is immensely funny. The entire scene in beginning with Blackadder, Percy, Baldrick, and the arrows has pitch perfect comedic timing. Blackadder has some of his most witty lines here too ("This is *the* Jane Herrington? Jane "bury-me-in-a-Y-shaped-coffin" Herrington"), in fact just by him saying the word "Bob" it makes you laugh. The hilarity continues as we are later introduced to The Leech Doctor and followed then by "The Wise Woman." Let's not forget the ending with Lord Flashheart, played by the late, great Rik Mayall. A truly zany character that upstages everyone when he appears on screen.

All in all, "Bells" makes for a fine first episode for the second series, which marks a turning point where the show would only get funnier from here.

Bob

[bevo-13678 · 10/10 · 2 April 2020]

Ha ha what an idiot. Bob is a woman pretending to be a man. How can he not notice!!!!! Lol