Blackadder the Third (TV Series) Amy and Amiability (1987) User Reviews

Blackadder must find a wife for Prince George

[Tweekums · 9/10 · 6 January 2016]

When Blackadder finds himself a little short of cash he thinks he'll just pop upstairs and ask Prince George for a raise; instead George asks him for some money. He explains that his friends have introduced him to a game called 'Cards' where the objective is to get rid of your money as fast as possible! With no other sources of money available Blackadder decides it is time to George to get a wealthy wife. It won't be easy as all the princesses he can think of are too old, too young, insane or have met him. Eventually he settles on Miss Amy Hardwood; the daughter of a northern industrialist; it is just a pity that she wants to meet the prince before they marry. Unfortunately just as it appears that everything is going to plan it becomes apparent the Amy's father is broke. This leads to Blackadder being desperate enough to follow one of Baldrick's cunning plans; he becomes a highwayman… and is promptly robbed by The Shadow; a famous highwayman who isn't quite what he seems.

This episode was a lot of fun; as expected the main cast did a fine job providing plenty of laughs. There was also the treat of seeing Miranda Richardson, who play Queen Elizabeth in "Blackadder II" return in the role of Amy; she was on top form here. Warren Clarke was also entertaining as the gruff Mr Hardwood. The plot was rather silly of course but that is part of the fun; the shock of learning The Shadow's identity was particularly amusing as was her dislike of squirrels. Overall a really good episode where almost every joke hit its mark… the only week gag was the one involving a tray in the final scene.

Wonderful edition of Blackadder.

[zacpetch · 9/10 · 3 December 2014]

One of the other reviewers on here has criticised this episode calling it a letdown. The person who said that is entitled to their opinion, but has got it totally wrong this time.

This series we get lots of cameos from series two cast members. Two episodes earlier Tim McInnerny showed up and in the next one we'll see Stephen Fry return. This time round it's Miranda Richardson.

She plays the title character of Miss Amy Hardwood, a daughter of an industrialist, who Edmund plans to have marry the short-on-cash prince that he might get some more money for himself. The wedding's called off swiftly enough when it turns out that the Hardwoods are broke too and Edmund is horrified to see his master has already spent the cash he was expecting to receive.

The scene where the prince serenades Amy is the funniest moment on show as Edmund pretends to be him leading to some memorable lines that get a laugh every time (Phwoar crike-eee!, Sausage Time!) and shows off yet again the idiocy of George juxtaposed to Edmund's wit and intelligence.

Seeing our hero as a highwayman (complete with Baldrick as the horse 'Quicksilver') is also a highlight of the show, as is the moment when we see the elusive Shadow (having mentioned him throughout) is none other than... Amy! It's a great twist and her fake manly voice is a clever idea that is very well realised by the production team. It shouldn't work but it does.

The final line of the episode is one of the best of any Blackadder episode as the reward money Edmund has earned is stolen by the prince - "Fancy a game of cards?". It's an excellent way to end the episode as we see how George has learnt NOTHING from his Amy-Wamy's death and is preceded by some hilariously out-of-place effects as we see a dropped tray fly back into Edmund's arms.

This is everything we need from a good Blackadder: A clever plot, good one-off characters, witty one-liners and a funny ending with several dead squirrels thrown in (including one after the credits). Not one to be missed. 9/10

Not the best of Series 3 - still good, though.

[general-melchett · 8/10 · 31 October 2006]

Amy and Amiability proved to be a bit of a letdown. The main problem with the episode was Amy's immense wetness - it made this episode hard to watch, though her father was pretty funny. The squirrel effects in this episode were so hideously cheap and nasty - they were like squeezy toys being dropped from above. The episode was funny, and at least we actually got to see Blackadder as a highwayman, but once again, the ending was a letdown - it was so predictable and easy. The last scene in the bedroom was pretty funny, and did have one half-decent visual effect in which a dropped tray jumped into Blackadder's hands (not quite Matrix stuff, but OK). Overall, the episode was funny, witty, sarcastic and original in parts like the rest of them, but lacked something that made all the other episodes great (I don't quite know what), and wasn't the best. On the whole, I don't think this is an episode to be skipped, but I don't think it's the greatest ever. But it is enjoyable. 8/10

A lovely episode...

[planktonrules · 10/10 · 5 June 2010]

The idiot Regent, George, is totally broke--thanks to his being a complete thicky. So, Edmund comes up with an idea--find George a rich wife so that he can be solvent again--and thus be able to pay his servants. Unfortunately, the best he can come up with is an annoyingly cloying woman (Miranda Richardson)--one who practically induces vomiting when she talks! And, hearing her and George in their love banter was hilarious with her "lovey-wovey" and his "I have a nice German sausage for you" talk! Fortunately for this episode, the prospective bride is not just a soggy and annoying lady--she harbors a hidden secret and personality. She turns out to be a vicious highway robber--much like Margaret Lockwood in "The Wicked Lady". How do we find this out--well, because when Edmund becomes a highwayman himself, he meets up with her--as she is his competition. This all leads to a very funny conclusion--one of the better ones of the series. Overall, it's one of the best shows of the 3rd season--clever, funny and memorable.

By the way, get a load of the highwayman's horse!! And, Miranda's accent when she is a robber!

Raffling Nancy

[bevo-13678 · 10/10 · 2 April 2020]

I like the bit where he makes fun of Germans for having bad personalities

Another strong episode with great banter and performances

[snoozejonc · 8/10 · 3 February 2021]

Prince George's financial problems force him to contemplate marriage.

I enjoyed this one for some of the great banter from Edmund, Baldrick and some of the supporting characters.

The financial woes here, similarly to the Blackadder II episode 'Money', call for desperate measures and although its George who has the biggest problem, it rolls downhill to Edmund who needs to find a solution. In his search for economic survival he gets into a number of funny situations.

The dialogue is as sharp as ever, with great material for Edmund during the highwayman scenes and his later interaction with Baldrick and Mrs Miggins. I also enjoyed the the interaction between Edmund, Amy and Mr Hardwood.

Performances are great as ever, with Hugh Laurie on good from showing the obnoxious qualities of Prince George. Warren Clarke has a short but hilarious cameo as Hardwood, the northern industrialist and inventor of the Ravelling Nancy.

Amy and Amiability

[Prismark10 · 10/10 · 28 June 2021]

Blackadder has money problems again. It's bills, bills and more bills.

Luckily he has a bank that he can dip into. It's called the Prince Regent.

Only problem, the prince is broke because he loses his money playing cards.

Blackadder wants to fix the prince by marrying him off with a daughter of a rich northern industrialist.

Only thing is Amy is wetter than a wet lettuce. Her father is also not as rich as he made out to be.

Blackadder has to take up becoming a highwayman but the elusive Shadow is not far behind. The Shadow is a notorious highwayman who is halfway there as the new Robin Hood.

Miranda Richardson returns to Blackadder and she is a hoot as well as having a hatred of squirrels.

It is very clever plotting and some of the jokes were relevant to the late 1980s. Prince Charles fondness to talking to plants was covered.

There were some wonderful one liners and very funny.