Captain Blackadder: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

Captain Edmund Blackadder was the main character in the fourth and final series of the popular BBC sitcom Blackadder. He was played by Rowan Atkinson.

The fourth series was set in the trenches of the First World War. Naturally, Blackadder spends most of his time trying to get out of the trenches before the insane General Melchett gives him the order to 'cilmb out of the trench and walk slowly towards the enemy'. Blackadder's attempts to escape are usually opposed by General Melchett, who does not seem to realise the futility of sending men to their certain deaths, and Captain Darling, who does. As a result of the mutual personal distaste between Darling and Blackadder, Darling would gladly see Blackadder mown down by German machine-guns.

Captain Blackadder claims to have joined the army in 1888, when Britain was still fighting colonial wars during the Scramble for Africa, and when 'the prerequisite for any battle was that the enemies should under no circumstances carry guns'. He described it as having been 'little more than a travel agency for men with unusually high sex drives'. He was hailed as the 'Hero of Mboto Gorge' in 1892, where he had faced 'ten thousand Watutsi Warriors armed to the teeth with kiwi fruit and dry guava halves'. He even saved the life of Douglas Haig, (later Field Marshal Douglas Haig) when he was nearly killed by a pygmy woman with a seriously sharpened mango. Needless to say, Blackadder was more than a little shocked when 500,000 very large, very German Germans 'hove into view'.

Blackadder was, as always, accompanied by Private S. Baldrick, and also Lieutenant George. The lack of appreciation for their predicament, and general incompetence of George and Baldrick acts as a major hindrance to Blackadder's escape attempts, which include posing as Italian chefs, joining the British Air force (guided by Lord Flashheart) and sticking two pencils up his nose, putting his underpants on his head and saying 'Wibble' (Blackadder admits this plan was particularly stupid. Soberingly, he adds 'who'd notice another mad-man around here?')

In the final scene of the series, Blackadder shows his first sign of genuine bravery. Finally deciding it would be futile to keep running, he accepts his fate and leads Captain Darling, Lieutenant George and Private Baldrick over the top of the trench and out into No man's land for the 'big push'.

It is believed that Captain Blackadder was killed 'going over the top' in 1917.