History Recap / BlackadderS4E1CaptainCook

-->'''Blackadder:''' Certainly not, I just think that more could be achieved by giving them some real toilet-paper.

* BottleEpisode: This is the only episode of the season that features only the main cast (indeed the whole programme).

* IdiotBall: Despite his earlier scepticism of Blackadder having produced a painting, even enumerating the reasons why, Darling is seemingly easily fooled by the alleged Pope Gregory III and Italian chefs that subbed in for Melchett's usual kitchen staff. However, his [[SarcasmMode tone]] when assuring Melchett of the...[[LethalChef food's]] quality suggests he was in on the scheme, to trick Melchett into eating it.

* AluminumChristmasTrees: WWI generals deliberately ordering hopeless attacks on well-defended enemy positions just to lull them into a false sense of security ahead of a more viable attack on a different location? That happened in the actual conflict. Granted, the real-life counterparts of Melchett weren't insane enough to sacrifice whole battalions in the process, instead relying mostly on air and artillery bombardments ... but they weren't above getting ''some'' soldiers to throw their lives away to give credibility to their feints.

The first episode of the fourth series opens with Blackadder desperately trying to find a way to get out of an upcoming assault on the German trenches. Having shot down Baldrick's plan of getting out of the trenches by joining the catering corps ([[LethalChef for fairly legitimate reasons]]), Blackadder finds himself summoned to General Melchett's office, where he's informed there's an opening for the position of official war artist. Initially uninterested, Blackadder soon perks up when he hears the job comes with a posting to Paris. The only problem? Edmund can't paint to save his life. Upon discovering Lieutenant George is a fairly competent painter, Blackadder has him do something particularly stirring, then [[BlatantLies passes it off as his own work]] and gets the job...only to find out as war artist, he is in fact being sent out to take sketches of the German defences. When Blackadder's (largely fabricated) sketches only convince Melchett a full scale attack is needed, Edmund falls back on Baldrick's original plan and joins the catering corps, both getting out of the attack and getting [[LaserGuidedKarma some much needed payback on Melchett and Darling]].

* AluminumChristmasTrees: WWI generals deliberately ordering hopeless attacks on well-defended enemy positions just to lull them into a false sense of security ahead of a more viable attack on a different location? That happened in the actual conflict. Granted, the real-life counterparts of Melchett weren't insane enough to sacrifice whole battalions in the process, instead relying mostly on air and artillery bombardments... but they weren't above getting ''some'' soldiers to throw their lives away to give credibility to their feints.

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* PetTheDog: Melchett's quite friendly with George, passing on regards from George's uncle Bertie and promising him a weekend off so he won't miss the Oxford-Cambridge boat race.

* DumbassHasAPoint: Baldrick. Becoming a cook at staff HQ would certainly ensure that he'd get out of the trenches and enjoy a comparatively cushy existence. The only problem with the plan can be seen below, under LethalChef.

* DumbassHasAPoint: Baldrick. Becoming a cook would certainly ensure that you would get out of the frontlines and live cozily behind it. The only problem with the plan can be seen below.
* ExactWords: Blackadder and his men are sent into No Man's Land to draw enemy troop dispositions. When George remarks that it's too dark to see, Blackadder [[EurekaMoment realizes]] that they can just make anything up and get themselves out of danger. He encourages George to "use [his] imagination"...which results in a picture that's light on arms factories but has plenty of elephants.

* LethalChef: Baldrick.

-->'''Blackadder''':There are amoeba on Saturn who can boil a better egg than you. Your Filet Mignon in sauce Bernaise look like dog-turds in glue...Your plum-duff tastes like it's a molehill decorated with rabbit-droppings...And your cream custard has the texture of cat's vomit If you were to serve one of your meals in staff HQ you'd be arrested for the greatest mass poisoning since Lucretia Borgia invited 500 of her close friends around for a wine-and-anthrax party.

** Blackadder genuinely praising George's paintings, possibly a first for the Blackadder line. Of course it's quickly subverted when Blackadder takes credit for them when showing them to Melchett.

* BottleEpisode: This is the only episode of the season that features only the main cast (indeed the whole programme)

* BottleEpisode: This is the only episode of the season that features only the main cast.

* PetTheDog: Melchett's quite friendly with George, passing on regards from George's uncle Bertie and promising him a weekend off so he won't miss the Oxford-Cambridge boat race.

-->'''Blackadder''':There are amoeba on Saturn who can boil a better egg than you. Your Filet Mignon in sauce Bernaise look like dog-turds in glue.
''[...]'' Your plum-duff tastes like it's a molehill decorated with rabbit-droppings ''[...]'' And your cream custard has the texture of cat's vomit If you were to serve one of your meals in staff HQ you'd be arrested for the greatest mass poisoning since Lucretia Borgia invited 500 of her close friends around for a wine-and-anthrax party.

--'''Baldrick''': Oh yeah, that's right.
--'''Blackadder''':There are amoeba on Saturn who can boil a better egg than you. Your Filet Mignon in sauce Bernaise look like dog-turds in glue.