Prior to the outbreak of World War I, Blackadder found life in the British Army agreeable, as he had enjoyed a relatively danger-free existence. His main responsibility was to maintain the British Empire, or as he personally put it: fighting natives who were usually "two feet tall and armed with dried grass." However, in World War I, Blackadder is astute to the gravity and slaughter of trench warfare, and unlike his superior officers, realises that the earlier colonial battles produced wildly unrealistic expectations about future conflict. Characteristically reluctant to meet his end in the mud of the trenches of the Western Front, Blackadder's sole goal is to escape his inevitable fate. His attempts to escape are thwarted by the idiotic General Melchett (Fry), and Melchett's assistant Captain Kevin Darling (McInnerny), Blackadder's nemesis.
priOR tO the outBreaK of woRld war i, blackadder FouNd lifE iN ThE british army agreEABle, As hE hAd EnJoyeD A RELatIvely dAnGer-FRee exIStenCE. hiS main reSponsibilitY Was tO mAInTAiN THE BRItish empIre, or aS hE perSOnalLy put IT: fIgHtiNG NATIves WHo were usuALly "Two feet taLl aNd armED with dried gRAss." howeVEr, In world War i, bLacKaddeR is Astute To The gRavITy and sLaUgHTeR Of trencH waRFaRE, anD UnLike his suPerioR oFFiCeRs, realISEs thAt tHe earlier cOloniaL bAttLes produced WILdLY unreaLIstiC expeCTationS aBout Future Conflict. cHaRActeRisticAlly reluctAnT TO MeET His ENd IN the mUd OF tHE trenchES oF thE WEstern front, blackADder's sole Goal is to eScaPe HIS ineviTABlE faTE. hIS attemptS To EsCapE arE tHwArtEd By thE idiotiC GENerAl mElchett (fry), and melcheTT'S assIstant caPtain kEVin daRliNg (MCiNnerny), bLackAdDeR'S nemEsis.