One of the finest pieces of TV ever

IMHO but it best sums up the futility of war. A scene that made us all laugh and cry.

I was lucky that the majority of my family were miners so were in a reserved occupation.

Unfortunately I have lost a former pupil in Iraq. Can remember watching Tv and a story came up about a roadside bomb killing 4 soldiers in Iraq and his face came up. Adam Smith was his name - he was a little monkey in school but he had found an escape route to what he thought was a better life.

So let's remember all the fallen dead this weekend.

 

I said the exact same thing last night so I knew what this post was going to be about. This episode has a level of pathos you would struggle to find in most dramas.

Add to that, it must be one of the most quotable programmes of all time. Genius.

 

Great post LR. The final scene in the final episode of Blackadder is very poignant. Being ex Army I always spare a thought or two for ex colleagues who were killed or badly injured while I was serving.

 

Thank you - my cousin is in the army and she has done several tours in the war zones - luckily returned home safely everytime.

 

I remember it so well probably the finest finale to any show I've ever watched when it ended we had complete silence in our house for a while and at that time believe me that didn't happen often
Great post, thank you

 

It was some ending that to a half hour comedy programme. We all sat there and said "Wow" at that final scene. Absolutely stunning.

 

Didn't they "accidentally" end up with the ending as it plays now? I watched a documentary with Richard Curtis a while back and he said that they weren't happy with the ending as it was initially filmed, and it was during a slow motion playback (with a view to them editing it), with the sustained gunfire and artillery sounds echoing and stretched out shouting that just left then gobsmacked. They added the slow piano music of the Blackadder theme and had created the poignant ending.

The bit that really gets me is the very end where the image of characters fades out leaving the poppy field and skylark singing, just briefly.

Great original post.

 

And may God continue to bless her so she returns home safely from future tours. It's hard being on tour but it's equally difficult for their families and loved ones back in blighty.

 

I've thought about this from time to time, and still can't fathom how the families in the home country cope with their loved one being thousands of miles away in a combat zone. Knowing that any phone call could bring news that will destroy their lives.

 

There is a very strong sense of community amongst military families, especially those who live in the married quarters. In regiments they're all in the same position, all their husbands and Dad's are away together so they all know what each of them are going through. But you're right they must dread seeing an officer walking up the path and knocking on their door.

 

Weird how tv in general has got much better but the quality of British TV is now universally appaling.

 

Very sobering. My life is so easy.

 

I spent 6 months in Afghanistan in 2011 and I have attended too many repatriation ceremonies that have had a lasting impact on me. I will never forget and feel proud to be still serving.

 

Miners still went to war, My dad’s dad was killed in action during WW2

 

Some did but majority didn't - don't think any less of him for not going. Spent his time in the home guard as well - won a trophy for football with them that's still in the town hall

 

We have had countless television programs and documentaries about war - but the last scenes in the last ever episode of Black Adder is the most powerful television event that best sums up the futility of war.
A scene that I find difficult to watch.
If a scene can be used to prove to children at school how futile war is - it's that one.