Written by series star Rowan Atkinson and Richard Curtis, the pilot episode of the satirical British comedy series The Black Adder (aka Blackadder is substantially the same as the latter episode "Born to Be King," with the scurrilous Prince Edmund (Rowan Atkinson) being charged with the responsibility of arranging a birthday party for the Queen of England (Elspeth Gray) -- all the while planning the assassination of fraudulent Scottish war hero McAngus (Alex Norton) and casting doubts on the legitimacy of his brother (and heir to the throne) Prince Harry. All in all, Edmund lives up to his family motto "Veni Vidi Castratavi Illegitimos" ("I Came, I Saw, I Castrated the Bastards!") Major differences include the presence of Philip Fox in the role of Baldrick rather than Tony Robinson, John Savident instead of Brian Blessed as King Richard IV, and Robert Bathurst instead of Robert East as Prince Harry. This pilot episode was never aired, though it has been released to home video.
by Hal Erickson
synopsis
