Talk:Historical anomalies in Blackadder
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
If anyone else has spotted any for any of the series, please put them here. I'll be back to do the rest some other time. Cheers --Crestville 19:56, 10 Aug 2004 (UTC)
Contents |
[edit] error in historical dates
In the final episode of "Blackadder goes forth", "Goodbyeee", the solders are about to go over the top to what is almost certain death. Thinking that the British artillery stopping signals the end of the war, Captain Darling mentions that the war lasted from 1914 to 1917 (when the battle they are about to be involved in occured). However, in the earlier episode "Major Star", it is mentioned that the Russians have overthrown the Czar and abandoned the Eastern front. This occured in 1918 so Captain Darling's comment about the war ending is 1917 is wrong.
- Hm... well The Tsar abdicated in March 1917 and the Russian forces defence from then on was chaotic to the point of abandonment. So I don't think this is an anomaly Mintguy (T) 08:53, 31 Aug 2004 (UTC)
I think it should be pointed out at the top of the page that, interesting as spotting these things is, they shouldn't be regarded as "faults" or mistakes in the program. Blackadder is a sitcom, not a historical reenactment. --Pete
Can we really say that Blackadder III is worse than the others? I've only seen the first two as yet, but the inaccuracies in Blackadder II seem comparable to those listed for the third series, and the first series makes no real effort to even use real historical figures (except Richard III and Henry Tudor, of course). john k 21:59, 14 Jun 2005 (UTC)
[edit] another inaccuracy
I've checked and there is no reference to a "general Melchett" serving in the British army in the 1st world war. I suspect the character of Blackadder was also made up. Morwen - Talk 12:22, 12 July 2005 (UTC)
[edit] Pencils - Blackadder II
I believe that there is a mention of pencils in Blackadder II (my life without you is like a boken pencil... pointless), and Baldrick was a pencilcase at the fancy dress party in the last episode, but pencils did not come about until rather later than Elizabeth I if I am not mistaken.
- The English made the first pencils from plumbago in about 1565, so it's just possible Blackadder and Elizabeth used them. Jess Cully 08:21, 14 August 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Blackadder IV - General Hospital!
Blackadder asks the german spy (nurse) which of the great universities her lover went to, "Oxford, Cambridge or Hull" when in-fact the University of Hull was established in 1927. Beatallica 12:56, 1 September 2006 (UTC)
- Well actually 1954 would be the better date for the "university" - in 1927 it was "University College Hull" and didn't become a university with a Charter and degree awarding powers until 1954. But either way it wasn't around during the war. Timrollpickering 13:24, 1 September 2006 (UTC)
-
- fair enough! now add it please :) Beatallica 18:31, 5 September 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Blackadder's Christmas Carol
Removed the following text:
*Early in the episode Prince Albert complains that Victoria is so busy ruling India however she only became Empress of India in 1877 whereas Albert died in 1861.
Although Queen Victoria was only declared Empress of India on 1 May 1876 (a situation confirmed by the Royal Titles Act 1876), the British possessions in India had been under the rule of the Crown (as opposed to the East India Company, as previously) since the Government of India Act 1858, three years before the Prince Consort's death. So this is not an historical anomaly. Opera hat 02:33, 28 December 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Fruit knife
"Richard IV is depicted as capturing Constantinople from the Turks with a fruit-knife."
I'm impressed that in this sentence, the only anomaly pointed out is the fact that the Turks never lost control of Constantinople/Istanbul. Orpheus 07:34, 10 March 2007 (UTC)
