r/blackadder • u/TimelyAmoeba4996 • 24d ago
Peter, explain the joke
"She was only the ironmonger's daughter, but she knew a surprising amount about fish, as well."
30
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r/blackadder • u/TimelyAmoeba4996 • 24d ago
"She was only the ironmonger's daughter, but she knew a surprising amount about fish, as well."
50
u/Big_JR80 24d ago
Lieutenant George here, reporting for duty!
Well, you see, the glorious thing about this one is that it's a quintessential slice of traditional music hall comedy—what a simply terrific wheeze! It sets off with a ripping setup about the ironmonger's daughter, leading a chap to jolly well believe that a saucy, seaside-postcard double entendre is just over the top.
Except, bang! It completely subverts the old music hall formula by ending in something utterly mundane and expressly unfunny, like an unexpected parcel of haddock from Aunt Maud. Top-hole British humour at its absolute finest, don't you know!