BBC and Baked Goods 3

 Or, British History is Sexier than Yours

You might wonder how one “gets into” British television. Opportunity? Attraction? What is it that draws one in and keeps them there for life. I can tell you at least for <thumbs to self> it was this man:

But it’s too easy for me to talk about the saturday morning hijinks of Mr. Bean. Or how I watched the feature film BEAN more than any human should (though never owned it). Or HOW AWESOME Rowan Atkinson LIVE! is. Because it is. It just is. I mean, click that link and tell me it wasn’t the best hour you ever had. (HINT: You can’t).

No. Let me tell you about the series about British history that is way sexier than comedy has any right to be:

Blackadder

24 Episodes

1983-1989

(not including various specials)

Plot Hash: In Series 1, Blackadder accidentally kills King Richard III at the battle of Bosworth and makes his father, Henry IV, king. Series 2 takes place in Queen Elizabeth I’s court. Series 3 with the mad King George. Series 4 in the trenches of WWI. Throughout these historical events (while nothing really happens), a little shit named Blackadder gets involved either as a member of the court or a servant. Usually he is very morose, clever, and makes attempts at villainy and advancement, but without success. Most seasons end with everyone meeting a terrible demise. 

Community: "Pillows and Blankets" - Brother Against Brother...

I'm a fan of the television show Community. This is hardly a disputed point on this blog, as week after week after hiatus I find new superlatives for it, and new ways to celebrate how unique it is. The way it combines character development and genuine, relevant high stakes into elaborate pop-culture homages pays dividends that few shows can ever claim to have scored.

It almost seems quaint thinking back to "Modern Warfare"and "Contemporary American Poultry", back in season one. They were bold episodes of a sitcom finding its voice and paving new ground, and having a lot of fun. The idea of homage had been done, but they threw the additional curveball in of keeping the characters' development going and grounding the stories in something real. It continued through season two, and I was already content to put Community on a list of my favorite shows, and sometimes even at the top of that list. Season by season it makes its way closer to my all-time list.

Last night, Community jumped onto THE all-time list. Not of outstanding television comedies, mind you, but outstanding television shows. For last night, Community produced art.