Potato (Blackadder)

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“Potato”
Blackadder II episode

Walter "Rather a Wally" Raleigh
Episode no. Season 2
Episode 3
Written by Ben Elton
Richard Curtis
Directed by Mandie Fletcher
Guest stars Tom Baker
Simon Jones
Original airdate 23/01/1986
Episode chronology
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List of Blackadder episodes

"Potato" is the third episode of the BBC sitcom Blackadder II, the second series of Blackadder, which was set in Elizabethan England from 1558 to 1603.

[edit] Plot

The episode opens at Black Adder's flat as people are gathering to celebrate the return of Sir Walter Raleigh (Simon Jones). Black Adder is typically sour and endures much taunting from children to which he retaliates by shooting one with an arrow. Shortly thereafter Melchitt arrives and offers Black Adder a potato to smoke, hence the episode name. At the court Sir Walter Raleigh (Simon Jones) and his tales of discovery greatly impress the Queen. Blackadder, hoping to regain the Queen's favour, declares he is to set out for the dangerous sea around the Cape of Good Hope, expecting only to travel to France, then return several months later and lie about the journey to impress the Queen. His captain Redbeard Rum (Tom Baker) is, however, mad (with no legs and no idea where France is) and so they travel far off course and become hopelessly lost and go on a dangerous journey (in which Captain Redbeard is eaten by cannibals in Australia) returning two and a half years later to discover the Queen is no longer interested in sailors. Blackadder gives Captain Rum's beard to Nursie, as a memento of him, a boomerang to the Queen, and some of Baldrick's urine disguised as wine to Melchett and Sir Walter when the Queen demands he also gives them a gift.

[edit] Trivia

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  • Both Simon Jones and Tom Baker are well-known for their roles in British science fiction television. Jones played Arthur Dent in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (as well as the original radio series and LP records), while Baker was the Fourth Doctor in Doctor Who.
  • It is implied that Blackadder and crew actually reach Australia in their travels, as one of the gifts Edmund bears the Queen is a "stick that comes back" (i.e. a boomerang). Unfortunately the Queen is little impressed -- "when I throw something away, I don't want it to come back!" -- until Percy attempts to dispose of it and hits himself in the head with it.
  • The unique locations of this episode were the pub where Blackadder meets Captain Redbeard, and the interior of their ship.
  • The Queen's demand for presents is echoed in Blackadder: Back & Forth in which Blackadder arrives back in her court during his wild time travels and offers her mint polos. This time the Queen is duly impressed.
  • When Blackadder, Baldrick, Percy and Redbeard are arguing with each other inside the ship, Redbeard can be heard repeatedly saying "Roobarb roobarb" as the characters all shout at each other at the same time. This is an amateur theater trick to give the audience the impression the actors in a play are discussing something (usually if the scene involves a large, loud crowd) when they have nothing specific to say.
  • The episode is referenced in an episode of Little Britain, where Tom Baker says : "With nothing on the telly but repeats of Dr Who, Medics and that episode of Blackadder 2 I'm in, Lou and his friend Andy choose a video tape".

[edit] Music

As with all the episodes in this season, there is a distinct song sung describing the story in that particular episode. In this episode, it goes:

Sir Francis and Sir Walter had
Discovered new worlds and new nations.
And though Black Adder thought them mad,
He tried his hand at navigation.
Black Adder, Black Adder. He saw the ocean's foam.
Black Adder, Black Adder. He should have stayed at home.
Black Adder, Black Adder. He heard the new world's call.
Black Adder, Black Adder. He discovered bugger-all.
v • d • e
Blackadder episodes
The Black Adder
Blackadder II
Bells | Head | Potato | Money | Beer | Chains
Blackadder the Third
Blackadder Goes Forth
Specials