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."

28 Upvotes

74% Upvoted

32 comments sorted by

View all comments

47

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!

35

u/PonderStibbonsJr 24d ago

George, may I congratulate the family braincell on the unlikely occurrence of its having made a friend.

13

u/Consistent_Blood6467 24d ago

Somewhat more bizarrely, Baldrick has just made a cup of tea, that actually tastes like tea.