Blackadder Goes Forth the effects on the soldiers who suffered over its course. The idea that the soldiers suffered whilst their commanders remained safely distant from the action was also referenced on many occasions, such as when Melchett says to Baldrick, "Don't you worry my boy, if you should falter, remember that Captain Darling and I are behind you!", to which Blackadder responds, "About 35 miles behind you!". In the episode "Corporal Punishment", Blackadder justifies the shooting for food of a carrier pigeon (which turns out to be Melchett's pet, Speckled Jim) by saying, "With 50,000 men getting killed a week, who's going
Blackadder the Third decided not to continue playing the character of Lord Percy for fear of being typecast, although he appeared in a guest role in episode three. In addition to McInnerny, Stephen Fry and Miranda Richardson, who had played major parts in "Blackadder II", appeared in guest roles. Fry and McInnerny would return as regular performers for the fourth series of "Blackadder". The opening theme is this time a minuet played on a harpsichord, oboe and cello over close-ups of Blackadder searching a bookcase. The credits and title appear on the books' spines, and each has a condition and script to match