BlackAdder Season 2 Episode 1 Bells

Blackadder is a popular British sitcom that first aired in 1983. The series was created by Rowan Atkinson and Richard Curtis, and it follows the misadventures of a group of characters throughout British history. The second season of the show debuted in 1986, and it remains one of the most beloved seasons of the entire series.

The first episode of season two is titled "Bells," and it begins with the introduction of a new character, Lord Melchett. Melchett is played by Stephen Fry, who joins the cast this season as Blackadder's superior and occasional nemesis. In this episode, Melchett arrives at Blackadder's home with some bad news: the queen has demanded that they produce a Christmas play, and Blackadder and his fellow actors must create one by the following day.

Blackadder is less than thrilled about this news, as he considers himself a serious actor and not a buffoon like most of his colleagues. However, Melchett insists that "The Queen demands, and we must obey," and Blackadder agrees to put on the play as long as he can play the lead role of "Henry VII" the way he wants.

As they prepare for the play, Blackadder and his actors discover that a rival theatre company is putting on their own production of "Henry VIII". Blackadder realizes that this competition could ruin his play and his reputation, so he decides to sabotage the rival show by sending one of his actors, Baldrick, to steal their bell, which they use as a prop.

Baldrick successfully steals the bell, but he accidentally drops it and breaks it in the process. This creates a new problem, as the "bells" referred to in the title of the episode are actually the church bells that were supposed to ring during the play. Without the bells, the play will be ruined, and Blackadder will be humiliated.

Blackadder decides to replace the broken bell with one from a nearby church, but in order to do so, he must sneak past the queen's guards, who are in the middle of a game of football. Blackadder manages to get the bell and return it to his players just in time for the performance.

The play begins, and Blackadder is pleased to see that it's going well. However, during his big monologue, he accidentally sets his wig on fire and must run offstage to put it out. When he returns, he finds that his rival has stolen his audience and is performing their own version of "Henry VII."

Blackadder is devastated, but just as he's about to give up, the church bells begin to ring, thanks to Baldrick, who has stolen them from the nearby church. The bells add an element of excitement to the play, and Blackadder is able to finish the performance to much acclaim.

The episode ends with Blackadder celebrating his victory, but it's clear that he hasn't seen the last of Lord Melchett and his shenanigans.

In conclusion, "Bells" is a classic Blackadder episode that showcases the show's unique blend of history, humor, and absurdity. The introduction of Stephen Fry's character adds another layer of complexity to the show, and the performances by the entire cast are top-notch. Fans of the show will not want to miss this hilarious and entertaining episode.