| “ | I, therefore, have absolutely no hesitation in announcing that the sentence of this court is that you, Captain Edmund Blackadder, be taken from this place and suffer death by shooting tomorrow at dawn! Do you have anything to say? | „ |
| ~ General Melchett sentencing Blackadder to death. |
General Sir Anthony Cecil Hogmany Melchett is the main antagonist of the 1989 TV series Blackadder Goes Forth. He is a British Army General serving in the First World War, who is the commanding officer of the series protagonist, Captain Blackadder and his entire unit.
Unlike the earlier incarnation of Lord Melchett in Blackadder II, General Melchett was a more villainous role as he had no qualms about sending his men to his death while failing to understand the realities of the dangers of World War One.
He was portrayed by famous actor Stephen Fry.
Biography
General Melchett was a descendant of Lord Melchett, an advisor of Queen Elizabeth I. Melchett had a long and distinguished millitary career, eventually becoming General. During World War One, General Melchett was a commanding officer of the British army who were fighting the Germans. The men under Melchett's command included Captain Edmund Blackadder, Captain Kevin Darling, Lieutenant George and Private Baldrick.
While Blackadder, George and Baldrick were stuck in the trenches facing constant danger, Melchett and his right hand man, Captain Darling, were safe in their chateau far away from the shot and shell.
Although Melchett shows respect for distinguished servicemen like Captain Blackadder, he has no qualms about sending Blackadder to his death via dangerous situations.
In the first episode 'Captain Cook', Melchett takes advantage of Blackadder (really George's) talent for painting by getting Blackadder and his men to go into no-mans land in order to draw a map showing the positions of mines. To trick Melchett, Blackadder and his men give their commanding officer ficitional sketches of armament factories and elephants. Not deterred, Melchett orders his men over the top. Blackadder, Baldrick and George manage to avoid death by posing as Italian chefs and subsituting the role of Melchett's chef in order to poison Melchett and Darling.
In 'Corporal Punishment', Melchett again orders his men over the top and sends the message via his personal carrier pigeon 'Speckled Jim'. Blackadder, however, decides to shoot the pigeon dead and eat the evidence for lunch, as shooting carrier pigeons have become a court-martial offence. On arriving at the trench to enquire why the men haven't advanced into No Man's Land, Melchett discovers Blackadder's crime. As Speckled Jim was his pet, Melchett tries to kill Blackadder himself, but is restrained by Captain Darling, who instead has Blackadder arrested. Blackadder is tried for his offences, but since Melchett is the judge it is as Kevin Darling puts it "an open and shut case", and "The Flanders Pigeon Murderer" as Melchett calls him is quickly found guilty. Blackadder is only saved at the last second by Geroge's uncle Rupert, who is the Minister of War and therefore has the power to override Melchett's command.
Melchett is shown to be less villainous in 'Major Star', 'Private Plane' and 'General Hospital', requiring Blackadders assistance in two of these (Major Star and General Hospital), and encouraging him to join the Royal Flying Corp in Private Plane. Never the less, he still sends Blackadder and his friends back to the trenches as soon as they are finished.
Perhaps his most villainous role though was in the series final episode 'Goodbyeeee'. Melchett yet again ordered another advance but visited the trenches personally after being informed by George that Blackadder had gone insane. In truth though, Blackadder was only pretending and had simply put his underpants on his head, stuck two pencils up his nose, and was frequently saying "Wibble". Upon arriving Melchett informed George that a whole platoon in the Sudan tried a similar trick, and Melchett shot them all for it. Blackadder, of course, hears all of this and is quickly cured. Following a brief discussion in which Melchett verbally insulted Darling, praised George and Blackadder, and literally punched Baldrick, the General bade Blackadder, George and Baldrick good luck and left them behind (unaware that it was the last time he would see any of them alive). Later that evening Melchett had a heart to heart conversation with Captain Darling, telling him that he was grateful for Darlings years of service and that he viewed him as his son (though of course, not a favourite son). As such he had arranged a little treat for Darling; a commission for the front line. Darling pleaded for the General to reconsider, but Melchett misinterpreted this desperation as enthusiasm coupled with a desire not to leave Melchett. In the end, Darlings pleas fell on deaf ears and he was sent to the front line, with Melchett never realising that he had just commended his loyal aide to death.
Melchett spoke to Blackadder one final to inform him of Darlings arrival. The fate of the men is never revealed but if the final scene is anything to go by he never saw them again. As such, Melchett was the only guaranteed surviving member of the main cast at the end of Blackadder Goes Forth. His fate is never revealed.
Personality
In contrast to his Elizabethan ancestor, General Melchett is a loud, childish, unintelligent, incompetent, pompous warmonger. He is often abusive to his assistant Captain Darling and has tried to have Captain Blackadder shot by firing squad in an unfair court martial. Although Melchett shows kindness towards fellow Cambridge graduate Lt. George, he had previously killed George's pet rabbit 'flossy' when George was a child. Melchett is able to admire distinguished servicemen such as Captain Blackadder. He never once realised that his poor military decisions were condemning hundreds if not thousands of men to death on a daily basis, and as such he had no problem ordering Blackadder, his companions and eventually even Darling to climb over the trenches to their deaths. He also appears to be insane, as in Private Plane when Blackadder tried to get time off to 'recuperate' from his experience in a German prison, Melchett said that Blackadders commanding officer would have to be mad to refuse him. Melchett, of course, is that commanding officer, and when asked by Blackadder immediately refuses him.
Trivia
- When discussing the character in Blackadder's Most Cunning Moments, Stephen Fry who played Melchett described the First World War as 'a moment of madness in human history, one that no one would ever want to repeat' and that Melchett represented 'the absolute insanity of that war'.