Original artwork, not a still
Percy, far from being a fit consort for a prince of the realm, you would bore the leggings off a village idiot.
— Blackadder · 1983
Behind the line
What it means
Our interpretation.
Edmund dresses a simple dismissal in the language of royal judgement. Percy has failed to entertain a man who thinks he deserves a more impressive entourage, but the grand speech exposes the prince's vanity as much as Percy's dullness. It is an early version of the dynasty's favourite skill: making contempt sound like a carefully considered professional opinion.
Context reviewed
In context
Spoilers for BlackadderShow the scene
In ‘The Black Seal’, the final episode of The Black Adder (1983), Prince Edmund decides that his existing followers are too feeble for his ambitions. He dismisses Percy with a speech that begins as an assessment of his suitability for royal service and rapidly becomes a catalogue of insults. The prince intends to replace his familiar companions with a band of dangerous men who can help him seize the throne.
Sources (2)
- The Black Seal — episode subtitle transcriptThe Black Adder — The Black Seal; quoted conversationReference checked
- The Black Adder — WikiquoteThe Black SealReference checked
Context reviewed
