What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedBlackadder
Richard Curtis · Series · 1983
If you loved Blackadder, start with Blackwater: The Complete Caskey Family Saga (Blackwater, #1-6) (Michael McDowell, 1983) — a book on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 films and 2 podcasts, each matched to Blackadder across media.
If you loved Blackadder, you likely crave that specific blend of biting social cynicism and the masterful, devious orchestration of absolute chaos.
Books on the same thread
Candide
Voltaire · Book · 1984
Explores: Optimism vs. Pessimism, Social Commentary, The Absurdity of Life.
Voltaire’s masterpiece mirrors the cynical worldview found in Blackadder, using sharp wit and relentless absurdity to dismantle the optimistic delusions of those living in a cruel, unfeeling world.
Discworld
Terry Pratchett · Book · 1983
Explores: Social Commentary, Bureaucracy, Anthropomorphic Personification.
The Discworld series captures the same bureaucratic incompetence and satirical bite that defined Blackadder, transforming the mundane frustrations of societal structures into a hilarious, sharp-tongued literary landscape.
A Series of Unfortunate Events
Lemony Snicket aka Daniel Handler · Book · 1999
Explores: Orphans, Conspiracy, Misfortune.
Much like the scheming Edmund Blackadder, Count Olaf embodies the delightful villainy and persistent incompetence of adults that makes this dark, satirical series a perfect successor to your favorite show.
Blackwater: The Complete Caskey Family Saga (Blackwater, #1-6)
Michael McDowell · Book · 1983
Explores: Generational trauma, Small-town secrets, Matriarchy.
While darker in tone, this saga shares the historical weight and generational scheming found in Blackadder, offering a complex, character-driven narrative that revels in dark secrets and familial maneuvering.
Films on the same thread
Blazing Saddles
Mel Brooks · Film · 1974
Explores: Racism as Satire, Political Corruption, Breaking the Fourth Wall.
Mel Brooks delivers the same level of historical parody and irreverent satire as Blackadder, gleefully deconstructing western tropes with an anarchic energy that respects absolutely no authority figures.
The Producers
Mel Brooks · Film · 1968
Explores: Show Business, Greed, Political Incorrectness.
The Producers mirrors the self-serving, greedy schemes of Edmund Blackadder, focusing on two flawed men whose desperate, hilarious attempts to exploit a system lead to inevitable and messy failure.
Heathers
Michael Lehmann · Film · 1989
Shares 2 threads with Blackadder: Cynicism, Dark Comedy.
Heathers provides a modern, high school-set evolution of the social politics and dark, murderous wit that made Blackadder such a brilliant exercise in cynical, character-driven black comedy.
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Terry Jones · Film · 1975
Shares a thread with Blackadder: Satirical Comedy.
This film matches the historical absurdity and biting bureaucratic satire of Blackadder, following a group of incompetent figures as they bungle their way through a quest for meaning.
Podcasts on the same thread
Friday Night Comedy from BBC Radio 4
Podcast
Shares a thread with Blackadder: satirical comedy.
These BBC panel shows channel the same sharp, irreverent British wit and political skepticism that defined Blackadder, keeping the tradition of biting social commentary and topical satire alive.
Here Comes The Guillotine
Podcast
Shares 2 threads with Blackadder: cynicism, satirical comedy.
The subversive, darkly funny dissent offered by these comedians echoes the cynical, anti-establishment spirit of Blackadder, providing a modern platform for the same type of biting social critique.
Keep exploring
Common questions
What is the historical scope of Blackadder?
Blackadder traces the lineage of various Edmund Blackadders across different eras of British history. The series spans from the muck of the Middle Ages through several time periods, ultimately concluding with the character on the frontline of the First World War.
Is Blackadder a cynical series?
Yes, Blackadder is defined by the deeply cynical and self-serving nature of its central character. Throughout the various iterations of Edmund Blackadder across British history, the show maintains this consistent tone of cynicism as he navigates different historical settings.
Does Blackadder follow one character throughout history?
Blackadder follows the lineage of various Edmund Blackadders rather than a single individual. The show depicts different versions of the character appearing across multiple time periods, ranging from the Middle Ages to the First World War.
How does Blackadder portray the life of Edmund Blackadder?
Blackadder portrays the life of Edmund Blackadder as a series of self-serving experiences across British history. The show explores how these various incarnations of the character operate in different environments, starting from the Middle Ages and ending on the frontline of the First World War.