Oh wow that ending hits really hard. I was not expecting that. It has some nice social commentary.
Or is Sudan campaign simply a convenient back story prior to the First World War? Wouldn't Boer campaigns make more sense in terms of horror of combat?
Last two episodes from 10pm on BBC4. Enjoy the best episode of any British comedy. Then cry a bit.
Hugh Laurie (George) is effectively cast in what would be Percy’s role (both he and Percy were upper class twits, but in Goes Forth he’s of lower status to Edmund - or at least outranked by him - much like Percy was in the first two Adders, whereas in the Third Edmund was George’s Butler, and had to use manipulation tactics lacking the ability to simply order him about, sort of like an evil Jeeves from Jeeves and Wooster, or a more hostile Baldrick to George’s even dimmer Series 1 Black Adder. Another way he’s more like Percy than George is that he’s a kind, well-meaning, lovely individual who just so happens to be a bit of a thicko, rather than a pompous, foolish, daft, young git).
Tim McInnery (Percy) is in turn effectively cast in Melchett’s role (subservient weasel to the insane authority figure).
Stephen Fry (Melchett) is furthermore effectively cast in Queenie’s role (an incompetent psychotic childish moron who doesn’t even seem to register that other human beings are alive and wish to stay that way).
And Miranda Richardson (Queenie) appears in one episode playing a totally original character. Pity she didn’t play a George-esque role to bring things full circle, although it’d be pretty tricky to fit such a character into the trenches of Word War I (or, hospitals, as the case may be).
