Blackadder the Third (TV Series) Sense and Senility (1987) User Reviews

The actors are revolting!

[planktonrules · 9/10 · 5 June 2010]

Edmund is less than thrilled that he and the thicky, George, are going to the theater. Part of this is due to the actors' overacting but most is that George is so dim he thinks it's all real--at one point yelling out in the middle of "Julius Caesar" to "look behind you, Julius!" when the actor is about to get stabbed! Unexpectedly, however, in the middle of the play an anarchist makes an attempt on the thicky's life. So the Regent decides to make a nice speech to show the common people that he loves them. But, as he's a thicky and can barely talk, the plan is to have a couple famous actors help coach him on how to deliver his speech.

When the actors arrive, they are pompous and annoying. Not surprisingly, Edmund hates them--and vice-versa. So, when the two actors begin rehearsing a play involving regicide and Baldrick and George think they are plotting to kill the Regent, Edmund takes advantage of this to make a few pounds AND rid himself of the annoying actors.

Overall, a very funny episode--one of the better ones of season three. Silly, funny and well-written. Plus the actors are such trolls that when bad things happen to them, the audience is left laughing!

I just have one thing to say to you... Macbeth.

[zacpetch · 9/10 · 2 December 2014]

ROOOAR..........this is a great slice of Blackadderiness that every fan needs to see.

The episode highlights the stupidity of "the stupid prince" and manages to give us a nice cameo from Ben Elton early on. Elton plays an anarchist who attempts to assassinate the prince at a theatre and the prince, having believed the entire play to be real (Look Behind You Caesar!) believes this to be fake. Of course, he's wrong as usual and ends up injured.

He decides to hire the two actors they've seen, who promptly insult Edmund at every given opportunity, to help him prepare a speech to connect with the public and he too is led to insult Edmund also. Once too many and his "Thicky Butler Weed" leaves for Sardinia where Napoleon needs someone to be king.

The actors take some time off (when George goes for a while) to practise their play about the murder of a prince "methinks is time to hack the prince to death" which Baldrick overhears and believes to be real. When Edmund returns soon after he finds Baldrick and the prince hiding (they're rather attached to their exquisite floppily-doppilies it appears) under a table and Edmund, who knows about their play, gets his chance to have revenge by getting the actors executed for treason using their play-script as their vain confession. This brings his body-count to six this series and they'll be one more added in the next episode.

The best part of the episode is the part I've quoted in my summary, the superstition never to mention the name of a play connected to Scotland: Macbeth. The superstition is mocked relentlessly by Blackadder throughout and seeing the actors' daft chant every time he does it is hilarious as the pinch of their noses hurts them more and more each time. It serves as a wonderful piece of physical comedy that just raises the episode's status as a member of the Blackadder continuity making it on of the best Blackadder has to offer.

9/10 because it lacks the brilliance of, say, "Ink And Incapability" or "Goodbyeee" but is still a superb addition to the series.

Baldrick uncovers a plot to kill Prince George sort of

[Tweekums · 9/10 · 17 November 2015]

This episode sees Blackadder attending the theatre with Prince George… the evening does not go well; first the Prince believes the on-stage murder was real then when an anarchist throws a real bomb at him he assumes it is part of the play. Once it becomes apparent that it was a real attack he decides that he must make a speech to the people. Unfortunately his delivery is poor so Blackadder gets some professional help; actors Keanrick and Mossop. These two immediately irritate Blackadder but he gets them back by repeatedly saying 'Macbeth' leading them to perform a little ritual each time. Soon they are coaching the Prince but Blackadder has had enough of their, and the Prince's insults and decides to leave… as he departs he bets Baldrick a groat that he'll be needed within four minutes. A few minutes later Baldrick hears the actors rehearsing a play and believes it is a plot to kill the prince… Blackadder wins his bet!

This series has been pretty reliable so far and this episode is no exception. Having Prince George believe what he saw on stage was real may have been a bit obvious it was also rather funny. There were plenty of opportunities for Rowan Atkinson to deliver some great lines, mostly dripping with sarcasm, as Blackadder. The two actors were amusingly hammy; it was fun watching Blackadder torment them; I feared the Macbeth gag might be over-used but it sent on just the right amount of time before being returned to later in a perfectly timed finale. There is also an amusing running gag where Prince George keeps mistaking Baldrick for an anarchist. Overall another really funny episode.

Macbeth

[bevo-13678 · 10/10 · 2 April 2020]

I like the bit where they do that funny thing every time someone says Macbeth.

The second best episode of Series 3!

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

Sense and Senility is another great episode - this probably contains the most hilarious moments and lines of the whole series. Mossop and Keanrick are good characters, but they aren't exactly hilarious, and their plots to kill the prince at the end start to sound a bit stupid instead of funny. However, this is the only episode in which Blackadder himself actually has a human side - he actually displays stress and proper emotions in this one, instead of just being like a comedy robot. Once again, the episode proves to be very predictable, but Blackadder always is, and we don't expect big twists from this sort of show, and as long as it stays funny and sharp throughout, that is enough to float my boat. It lacks the intelligence and good writing of Ink and Incapability, though it is just as funny, and has no plotting weaknesses. Good work. 10/10

Outstanding

[Kingslaay · 10/10 · 16 June 2019]

Blackadder is simply in a league of its own. A great and brilliant episode, one you can rewatch and still appreciate. Beautiful dialogue, hilarious interactions and just out of the top drawer. If people cite British comedy as the best then Blackadder is an example of this.

Very strong episode with a funny guest double act

[snoozejonc · 9/10 · 1 February 2021]

With the help of two actors, Prince George plans a speech to the impoverished masses of the country.

This is strong episode with great performances from main and guest stars and great satire of the economic divide.

The plot is a funny piece of economic satire showing the tensions between bourgeois and proletariat through a theatre scene where George is confronted by an anarchist and his resulting paranoia. This works well following on from Nob and Nobility which was centred around the French Revolution and its treatment of the aristocracy. It also lampoons theatre actors through the persona of the two guest characters and their superstition. As always Blackadder is hilariously cynical and hostile to everything and everyone throughout it all.

All the dialogue is sharp as ever and one running joke that gets constantly repeated never seems to get tiresome. In fact it keeps getting funnier every time Blackadder says it.

The main cast are excellent as ever, but this one features a very funny double act by Kenneth Connor and Hugh Paddick as the aforementioned thespians.

For me it is an 8.5/10 but I like to round upwards.

Sense and Senility

[Prismark10 · 10/10 · 17 May 2021]

All the world's a stage for Blackadder. Unfortunately for the Prince Regent, an anarchist played Ben Elton tries to kill him.

This is an arena that Ben Elton would revisit three decades later in Upstart Crow. The world of thespians.

Blackadder hires two hammy actors to give the Prince some elocution lessons so he can give a sincere speech to the masses.

It is notable that Blackadder is stressed out with being butler to a stupid Prince. He even looks for alternative job opportunities.

It is also a bridging of a generation. Kenneth Connor and Hugh Paddick play the stage actors who find themselves wound up by Blackadder who keeps mentioning Macbeth.

It is a funny episode, sharply satirical.