Blackadder
Dish and Dishonesty
TV Flash files “Dish and Dishonesty” as a desk essential hour — Blackadder (1983–1989) on BBC One, season 3, episode 1, aired 1987-09-17, 30 min.
From the desk
How this hour is filed
This leaf is S03E01: listed hour 13 of 24 in the Blackadder guide, first listed hour of season 3. It aired 1987-09-17 (30 min). The listed hour before it is “Chains” (S02E06). Next is “Ink and Incapability” (S03E02).
Essential hour: “Dish and Dishonesty”. Dish and Dishonesty opens the Regency rung: upper-class vacancy loading, the export already peak 1980s UK comedy.
Catalog log
Broadcast listing — not a TV Flash recap.
England, 1760-1815 - golden age of wealth, power and discovery. But not for E Blackadder Esq, butler to the Prince Regent. The new Prime Minister Pitt the Younger (aged 13 and 3/4) plans to bankrupt the Prince. As usual, Blackadder takes his master's side (and indeed his wallet).
Viewer FAQ
Where does Dish and Dishonesty sit in the Blackadder guide?
S03E01 is listed hour 13 of 24 — first listed hour of season 3, season 3 episode 1.
When did Blackadder S03E01 air?
Dish and Dishonesty aired 1987-09-17 and is listed at 30 minutes.
Do I watch in historical order?
The series eras escalate: medieval, Elizabethan, Regency, then the trenches. Start anywhere for the snark; finish in the mud. Goes Forth's last episode still drops the floor out of the joke.
In the series
Why this series still plays
Rowan Atkinson's historical snark escalator: medieval, Elizabethan, Regency, then the trenches. Baldrick's cunning plans, Hugh Laurie's upper-class vacancy, and a final Goes Forth episode that still drops the floor out of the joke. Peak 1980s UK comedy export — start anywhere, but finish in the mud. Tony Robinson's dogsbodies are the secret engine.
The escalator is the form. BBC, 1983–1989 across four series eras: cunning antihero Blackadder schemes through English history with idiot sidekick Baldrick — medieval snark to a WWI gut-punch. Blackadder is Rowan Atkinson with Tony Robinson, plus Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie in rotating upper-class vacancy, from Richard Curtis, Atkinson, and Ben Elton. Escalating quality across series; global cult via PBS and video. Baldrick's cunning plans as eternal meme. If you came for a blotter item about a finale that still…
Filed against
- Rowan Atkinson as Edmund Blackadder
Rowan Atkinson’s Edmund Blackadder rode a historical snark escalator from medieval to the trenches — Baldrick’s cunning plans, a Goes Forth closer that still drops the floor — then traveled without a translator as Mr. Bean’s almost-silent…
- Tony Robinson as Baldrick
Tony Robinson’s Baldrick turned Blackadder’s historical snark escalator into cunning plans that never were — medieval, Elizabethan, Regency, then the trenches. Rowan Atkinson’s sneer needed a servant with a turnip for a scheme. TV Flash…
- Stephen Fry as Melchett / various
Stephen Fry’s Melchett bellowed Blackadder’s historical snark — upper-class vacancy beside Atkinson’s insult escalator, a Goes Forth closer that still drops the floor — then entered The Dropout’s turtleneck scam as prestige limited-series…
- Hugh Laurie as George / Prince Regent
Hugh Laurie’s George / Prince Regent made Blackadder upper-class vacancy a blood sport — 1980s catalog historical snark, then House stretching the instrument into a cane, Vicodin, and a whiteboard America could not quit. TV Flash files…