Review of Blackadder 3

Introduction

The complete third series arrives on DVD, just as it is announced that all four series plus the Dome special will be released in region 1. With extras. Regular readers of my column will know my feelings on this matter already.

As with the second series, the characters have again improved and there are some changes. Edmund Blackadder has now become the Edmund Blackadder that we know and love and Baldrick is his usual dim self (and we do learn his forename). After guesting in the second series, Hugh Laurie joins the principal cast as the Prince Regent.

The new regulars are once again backed up by a great guest cast, which includes a brief return for series 2 regular Miranda Richardson and an appearance by another series 2 regular in Stephen Fry. There`s also a brief return for Tim McInnery (series 1`s Percy/series 4`s Captain Darling), and many other guest stars including Robbie Coltrane, Nigel Planer, Chris Barrie and series co-writer Ben Elton.

Video

The video quality seems to have improved a bit further on the previous season. There`s still a lot crammed on to the disc (nearly 3 hours worth) but it all looks fairly good. It might be fair to say that the DVD version highlights some things in the original recording that the VHS version doesn`t. Definitely better than VHS though.

Audio

A DD2.0 track is on offer, which is perfectly adequate and does the job fine. Dialogue is clear and understandable (something that is of the utmost importance with this kind of comedy). And there`s not a lot else to say about the sound.

Features

Nothing. Which is even more annoying now that we know that the region one discs will all have extras.

Conclusion

Like I said in my reviews of the first two discs, as a sitcom the Blackadder franchise is still excellent, as a DVD it is still not brilliant, a fact that is underlined by the forthcoming release of the series plus extras in region 1.

Quality-wise, it`s a slight improvement on the previous disc, and as before it`s difficult to pick out a single episode here as they are all very good indeed.

One for Blackadder fans, but you might want to wait until May 2001 when the region 1 releases arrive with an array of extras.