MovieChat Forums > Blackadder Goes Forth (1989) Discussion > Did anyone feel sorry for Captain Darlin...

Did anyone feel sorry for Captain Darling?

posted 8 years ago by The-Last-Prydonian
7 replies | jump to latest

Did anyone else feel any sympathy towards Captain Darling in the final episode when he learns he's going to be sent to the front line to go over the top in the next big push? I know he was a slimy, brown nosing suck up but when I look back on it I can't help but feel just a bit sorry for him. Just watching him break down is quite sad and in a way quite haunting. It's so sad during that scene when there's just no laughter what so ever from the audience. Yes, Melchett's being oblivious to the fact that Darling doesn't want to go over the top that could be seen as a attempt at humour but still, never the less.

[–] FortunaMarie 8 years ago

Yes, I did. Especially after he said this to Blackadder:

Rather hoped I'd get through the whole show, go back to work at Pratt and Sons, keep wicket for the Croydon Gentlemen, marry Doris. Made a note in my diary on the way here. Simply says: "Bugger".

And Melchett's being so oblivious to Darling's wish not going to battle made me despise Melchett even more. What a complete despicable arse! ;-)

PS: Besides 'Bugger' summed up this war quite nicely... Nothing more to say about it. :-(

Fahrbier find ich gut.

[–] 8 years ago

[deleted]

[–] FortunaMarie 8 years ago

Yeah, that is true. Until then he was wuite onedimensional. But with the line 'marry Doris' you suddenly realise, like you said perfectly, that he is also a person with hopes and dreams and that he also had better plans for his life than this horrible war. The whole time we see him just as a pain in the a..., whom you can only dislike, but after that line it is clear that there are also people who love and miss him and who would be deeply saddend by his death.
Such great lines in such a great last episode of the series.
You just cannot help to feel for all of them.

Fahrbier find ich gut.

[–] Floss-Is-Boss 8 years ago

I also liked the lead into the speech with Blackadder asking "How are you feeling, Darling?"

Don't know why but I just love the way Rowan Atkinson delivers this.

[–] FortunaMarie 8 years ago



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[–] The-Last-Prydonian 8 years ago

I'd like to further add to this that I feel Tim McInnerny, a wonderful, undervalued actor in my honest opinion, never quite got the credit he deserved in his performance of not only Captain Darling but Lord Percy. With Darling he really managed to really achieve a lot with a character which as everyone says was rather one dimensional overall. He made something out of nothing.

[–] FortunaMarie 8 years ago

Agreed! :-)

Fahrbier find ich gut.