This is one of two individual "film episodes" of Blackadder, separate to the series, although each of the two films has references to the series. Out of Blackadder Back and Forth and this, I prefer Back and Forth, but this is still a hilarious delight to watch. At the beginning, Ebenezer Blackadder is the opposite of Ebenezer Scrooge, being nice to everyone - even Baldrick, surprisingly enough. He is so kind he ends up giving away all their Christmas presents and food for the next day - and their mini Christmas tree (the people who do this include Queen Victoria and Albert, who dress up as peasants to meet Blackadder). That night, the ghost of Christmas past, present and future comes to meet Blackadder and congratulates him for being very nice - unlike his ancestors. The ghost shows Blackadder some things that have happened and will happen, transforming Blackadder in unusual ways...The cast:The lovely, kind Blackadder (:-O ???): Rowan Atkinson. The sweet, brainless Baldrick: Tony Robinson. Lord Melchett: Stphen Fry. The happy, bumbling Queen Vicky: Miriam Margoyles. The silly Albert: Jim Broadbent. The jolly, magical ghost of Christmas past, present and future: Robbie Coltrane. + people from the second and third parts of the series.I recommend this to anyone who likes Blackadder, anyone who likes good humour and people who like Christmas! Enjoy! :-)8 and a half out of ten.

SPOILERS Every Christmas it is the same thing. You wake up on Christmas Day, you spend the day with family and you eat Turkey. Every year as well, we always have at least one version of Charles Dickens' classic novel "A Christmas Carol". Talking about the transformation over night of Ebenezer Scrooge from nasty to nice, the tale is one of the most well known around.In 1988 however, we had an alternative to life. A spoof of Dickens' novel saw the light of day. Poking fun at the story and fitting it into the Blackadder family, we were given a Christmas present to remember.In Victorian London, one of the nicest men around was Ebenezer Blackadder (Rowan Atkinson). A kind businessman who constantly gave money and food away to the poor, Blackadder and his associate Baldrick (Tony Robinson) were short of money, but happy none the less. On Christmas Eve however, Blackadder was visited by the Spirit of Christmas (Robbie Coltrane) and things were about to change.This retelling of the classic tale but in a sort of reverse is brilliant because it allowed us to see new sketches for the Elizabethan and Georgian Blackadders. Bringing back all the old characters, Melchett (Stephen Fry), Queen Elizabeth (Miranda Richardson), Nursie (Patsy Byrne) and Prince George (Hugh Laurie), this episode also granted us a view into the future with the two ways the Blackadder family might evolve.Not without flaws, this episode did contain the incredibly annoying character of Millicent (Nicola Bryant), but written that way, it's difficult to really fault the character. Likewise the three fat orphans and their master Beadle (Denis Lill). Ultimately though, whether these characters are irritating or not, it is so good to see the old ones return, as well as a spirited performance (get it?) by Robbie Coltrane as the Ghost of Christmas, that all the negative characters are forgiven.All in all, "Blackadder's Christmas Carol" is brilliant. Funny throughout, it reminds us of why we love the series and it continues to entertain after multiple viewings. Well worth getting a copy of.

A grand reversal of "The Christmas Carol".Very funny, but *perhaps* viewing the BlackAdder series is a prerequisite so you know the characters. (Well at least the first 3 series.)Amanda Richardson does the switch from Elizabeth I to the future perfectly.And BlackAdder's progression, vs. Baldrick's progression are shown well.An annual event here!

(POSSIBLE SPOILER) If all people sincerely practiced good will toward others and businesses only marketed their goods to spiritually enlighten their customers during the Yuletide season, BLACKADDER'S CHRISTMAS CAROL would've been pointless and repugnant. But since at Christmas time, many people only behave nicely in order to impress others and businesses peddle a variety of junk- including crass holiday movies- for money, what could be a greater relief from all this humbug than a reverse Scrooge story about "the nicest man in England" who after seeing ghostly visions on Christmas Eve, becomes "the horridest man in the world."Even if one is not familiar with the popular BLACKADDER series with Rowan Atkinson as the scheming, sharp-witted Blackadder and Tony Robinson as his moronic assistant Baldrick, one can still enjoy this Christmas special. Much of the appeal of the special is the "turning of the worm" theme. Because the pre-visions Ebenezer Blackadder (Atkinson) is thoroughly sweet and generous, he is an easy pushover for avaricious hangers-on. He also seems repressed by his saintliness. Atkinson expresses his amiability in a strained manner, particularly when spouting inanities like "Well, bless my ten toes!"Therefore Atkinson's transformation after witnessing the humorously despicable behavior of his ancestors and descendant (also played by Atkinson) is not only cathartic but thoroughly convincing. As he effortlessly and buoyantly expresses his meanness toward his tormenters, one is convinced that Ebenezer's character hasn't actually changed. Rather, he has shed a facade in order to divulge his true nature. The final sequence suggests that benevolence, not misanthropy, is the key to true happiness. Yet it is presented in the same irreverent humorous manner as the rest of the program and avoids sentimentality so the viewers aren't betrayed. A wickedly funny show with hilarious performances (particularly Robbie Coltrane as a fumbling Christmas Spirit and Jim Broadbent as a dense Prince Albert) and witty dialogue ("Think nothing of it, Baldrick- I, after all, think nothing of you."), BLACKADDER'S CHRISTMAS CAROL can be enjoyed any time of the year.