The episode begins with a dying nobleman being pestered by King Richard IV and the Archbishop to leave them his property upon death. With a threat of eternal damnation, the man decides to give it to the church--and that really, really ticks off the incredibly violent King.
Following this death, something is happening to the Archbishops--they keep dying by 'accident'. Because becoming Archbishop is so dangerous, Edmund is hoping that his brother, Harry, will be appointed the next Archbishop of Canterbury. But, when the King appoints Edmund instead, he worries that he is the next to die--but the King, as usual, couldn't seem to care less. How will Black Adder manage to escape a very early demise this time? Tune in and see.
There is a lot to like in this show. One of my favorite moments is when the new Archbishop tries to convince a dying nobleman NOT to leave his possessions to the church but trying to convince the guy that Hell is a cool place! All the fun and debauchery and evil is played up to the hilt and he manages to get the man to reject the church in favor of everlasting evil! I also loved the business Baldrick and Edmund develop in order to sell fake relics to unsuspecting pilgrims.
All in all, a nice episode with a nasty little variation on the death of Thomas a Becket after a curse uttered by Henry II in the 12th century. It's very sacrilegious, but considering how worldly the papacy was back in the 15th century and the widespread practice of selling fake relics, it all seemed rather appropriate...and clever.
Following this death, something is happening to the Archbishops--they keep dying by 'accident'. Because becoming Archbishop is so dangerous, Edmund is hoping that his brother, Harry, will be appointed the next Archbishop of Canterbury. But, when the King appoints Edmund instead, he worries that he is the next to die--but the King, as usual, couldn't seem to care less. How will Black Adder manage to escape a very early demise this time? Tune in and see.
There is a lot to like in this show. One of my favorite moments is when the new Archbishop tries to convince a dying nobleman NOT to leave his possessions to the church but trying to convince the guy that Hell is a cool place! All the fun and debauchery and evil is played up to the hilt and he manages to get the man to reject the church in favor of everlasting evil! I also loved the business Baldrick and Edmund develop in order to sell fake relics to unsuspecting pilgrims.
All in all, a nice episode with a nasty little variation on the death of Thomas a Becket after a curse uttered by Henry II in the 12th century. It's very sacrilegious, but considering how worldly the papacy was back in the 15th century and the widespread practice of selling fake relics, it all seemed rather appropriate...and clever.