Going Over the Top | Blackadder Goes Forth | BBC Comedy Greats

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#comedy

[RamblinRick_]

I've read the script for this episode. The last two lines are stage directions. They read:
They go over the top.
They don't get very far.

[hoilst]

Darling gets the darkest line ever committed to television - "The Great War: 1914...to 1917!" That's absolutely brutal.

[gezzarandom]

When Blackadder says, “Well I’m afraid it’ll have to wait.” Look at Darling’s reaction at that exact moment, you can just see his heart sink knowing this is it. Brilliantly acted by Tim McInnerny.

[R.J._Lewis]

Everytime I see this it strikes me how good a soldier Blackadder was in the end. He held everyone together, he accepted that he would have to perform his mission and do his duty, and he was the first man in the line to step forward when the company had to advance the one pace. He is the best example of real bravery I've seen on film: he knew it was stupid and pointless, he knew he might die, but he did the job he signed up for regardless, when the time came.

Also, the joke Darling unintentionally makes about 1914-1917 is one of the darkest ones I've ever heard.

[jackwood]

The moment George says he's scared, that he's the last of his friends alive, is absolutely heartbreaking.

[raffae]

"Who would've noticed another mad man around here?" Really captures the reality of war

[keeperofthecheese]

That line "I'm... scared sir" changes everything. Masterpiece.

[mrmarkgor]

WWI veterans described this scene as the most accurate of the series. Captain Darling's desire to see it through, go back to his old job, keep wicket for his local club and marry Doris, summed up what most veterans hoped for.

[WillRock]

"I'm scared sir"

The moment you realised this ending was going to hit different.

[monsider]

As soon as he said, "1917" ... my heart broke.

[TheLordSheogorath]

When I realised George is actually saying he is the last one of his friends who enlisted that is alive, that just broke my heart. He was such a jolly, purehearted young man. Like many other who sadly lost their lives.

[isaaclawrence]

My favourite part of this is actually Blackadder's reaction to Baldrick's announcement of his 'cunning plan'. Throughout the series he's always been pissed off and cynical about Baldrick's continuous stupidity, but here he's almost saying 'Go on then Baldrick. For old times sake.'

[fraserwebster]

My favourite part of this is Captain Darling. You go through the six episodes loving Blackadder and hating Darling, then with two minutes to go you realise they’re exactly the same. Both trying to avoid their almost certain fate, all that separates them is one chose scheming and one chose bootlicking, but both had the same aim. The slow escalation in his 3 unfulfilled wishes also rips your heart out. Back to his old job, back to his loved hobby, back to marrying the woman he loves. All ripped away for totally pointless reasons. What a show.

[joemoe]

It's extraordinary to listen to the audience initially very heartily laughing at all the clever banter going back and forth, but as the scene goes on you hear the laughter begin to diminish and become a bit nervous as they realize that all of these characters are saying their last words and last goodbyes to each other.

It transitions from comedy to tragedy before the audience quite realizes it.

An amazingly poignant ending to an extraordinary series.

[ragzaugustus]

"Marry Doris", that one line basically turned Darling into a sympathetic character, all that arrogance and so, just so he could get home and marry Doris.

[megastack]

The lines "I'm scared sir" and "marry Doris", really set the tone. You're laughing at his silly ambitions then hits you with that. The way the lines are delivered are masterful.

[Atomicrow]

When George admitted he's scared, you know there's no hope for any of them.
Despite being such an optimistic idiot with a heart of gold, always seeing the light in every situation that he's put in, this time he can't beat around the bush. He knows deep down that when he goes over the top, he's not going back and that terrifies him.

[dennisjk]

"Bugger"
Last word in Cpt Darling's diary.

[Damar]

I love how the audience goes quiet at Darling revealing he has someone back home he wanted to marry and now won't ever have the chance.

[andrewbull]

The laughter turned to tears in the blink of an eye ....R.I.P. all those men who died during the 2 wars .