Right then, settle back into that comfy armchair, maybe grab a biscuit (or five), because we're dusting off a slightly later entry that still feels like pure, distilled essence of British telly gold, beamed straight from the cusp of the new millennium: Blackadder: Back & Forth (1999). You might not have found this one tucked between Die Hard and Ghostbusters at Blockbuster back in '89, but when it did hit VHS (and yes, it absolutely did!), it felt like discovering a secret reunion episode of one of the absolute titans of 80s comedy.
Forget fuzzy tracking for a moment; this one arrived with a bit more polish, commissioned specifically for the grand opening of London's Millennium Dome. Yet, despite its slightly glossier Y2K sheen, the heart beating beneath is pure Blackadder. The premise is gloriously simple and perfectly suited for a celebratory one-off: Lord Edmund Blackadder (Rowan Atkinson, master of the exasperated sneer) hosts a New Year's Eve dinner party in 1999, boasting to his dim-witted acquaintances (including modern descendants of Melchett and George, played by Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie respectively) that he's built a working time machine. Naturally, his loyal, turnip-obsessed dogsbody Baldrick (Tony Robinson, stepping back into the role like he never left) has messed up the calculations, sending them hurtling through history on a quest to get back home before the champagne goes flat.
History Gets a Hilarious Beating
What follows is less a carefully plotted narrative and more a gleeful excuse to revisit beloved historical settings and allow writers Richard Curtis (Love Actually, Four Weddings and a Funeral) and Ben Elton (The Young Ones, Upstart Crow) to unleash their signature blend of cutting wit and inspired silliness. The joy here isn't just the sharp dialogue – though lines like Blackadder’s disgusted reaction to Roman Britain ("Right, Baldrick, pack your bags. This is the dullest place I've ever been.") land perfectly – it's seeing Atkinson and Robinson effortlessly slip back into their iconic dynamic. It's like they filmed the last series just yesterday.
Remember the sheer absurdity of Baldrick's 'cunning plans'? Well, his approach to time machine construction, using easily identifiable household objects cobbled together with dubious wiring, feels perfectly in character. It’s this tangible, slightly ramshackle quality, even in a time-travel plot, that connects it back to the feel of the original series. They didn't need slick CGI; the humour comes from the performances and the brilliantly ludicrous situations. Director Paul Weiland, who worked extensively on Mr. Bean, understood perfectly how to frame Atkinson's physical comedy and deadpan delivery.
A Millennium Budget and Cameos Galore
Now, let's talk about the context. This wasn't just some quick TV special; it was a cornerstone attraction for the £789 million Millennium Dome! Reportedly, Back & Forth itself cost around £3 million – a staggering amount for a 33-minute film designed to be screened multiple times a day within the Dome experience. That budget certainly shows in the surprisingly lavish (for Blackadder) sets and the absolutely insane roster of cameos they managed to pull in.
Keep your eyes peeled: that's Colin Firth popping up as William Shakespeare, Kate Moss as Maid Marian (opposite a returning, bellowing Rik Mayall as Robin Hood – pure comedic dynamite!), and even racing driver Damon Hill makes an appearance. It feels like half the British entertainment industry dropped by the set. Apparently, securing these cameos was less about hefty paychecks and more about the sheer affection everyone had for the Blackadder legacy. It adds a wonderfully chaotic, celebratory feel to the whole affair. We also get brief, wonderful reappearances from series regulars Tim McInnerny (as Archdeacon Darling, a descendant of Captain Darling) and the magnificent Miranda Richardson reprising her iconic Queen Elizabeth I.
Does it Hold Up, Baldrick?
Is it peak Blackadder? Perhaps not quite. The rapid-fire historical jumps mean some scenarios feel a little rushed compared to the more developed settings of the original series. The sheer density of jokes and cameos occasionally threatens to overwhelm the core Blackadder/Baldrick dynamic. It feels more like a greatest hits compilation than a new album, revisiting familiar territory (Romans, Sherwood Forest, Wellington at Waterloo) with updated punchlines.
However, judging it purely against the towering achievements of Blackadder II or Goes Forth might be missing the point. This was a joyous, celebratory reunion, a gift to fans bridging the gap between the beloved 80s series and the new century. Seeing Atkinson deliver those withering put-downs, Robinson bumble with earnest idiocy, and the return of familiar faces (even briefly) is an undeniable treat. It captured the spirit of Blackadder perfectly, even if the format was different. It was certainly a highlight for many visitors to the otherwise somewhat controversial Millennium Dome, and its subsequent broadcast and home video release brought that joy to a wider audience. I distinctly remember catching it on TV, feeling that rush of excitement seeing the familiar theme tune and opening crawl – it was like welcoming old friends back into the living room.
Rating: 8/10
The rating reflects its status as a hugely enjoyable, funny, and brilliantly performed reunion special. It’s packed with laughs, clever writing, and that unique Blackadder magic. While perhaps not reaching the absolute comedic zeniths of the full series due to its shorter, sketch-like structure and cameo-heavy nature, it's an essential piece of the Blackadder puzzle and a delightful slice of turn-of-the-millennium nostalgia.
Final Thought: Back & Forth might lack the grainy, unpredictable charm of a worn-out VHS tape of the original series, but it's a wonderfully polished time capsule in its own right – proving that even with a bigger budget and Y2K looming, some cunning plans are simply timeless. Definitely worth seeking out for a guaranteed dose of historical hilarity.