For decades, MASH has reigned as one of the smartest, most heartfelt, and downright funniest wartime comedy series of all time. With its perfect blend of biting satire and genuine human emotion, the show turned the Korean War into the backdrop for some of television’s most memorable characters and moments. Hawkeye (Alan Alda), Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan (Loretta Swit), and Radar (Gary Burghoff) became household names, and episodes like “Abyssinia, Henry” and “Goodbye, Farewell and Amen” are still celebrated today. Its influence is undeniable, and its ability to balance anti-war messaging with razor-sharp wit remains unmatched.
With this in mind, when someone claims there’s a funnier show than MASH, it’s not something to be said lightly. Here’s the thing, though: there is one. As surprising as it may seem, a 1980s British comedy set during World War I managed to push the wartime sitcom to even greater heights. This series holds a flawless 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and it’s every bit as intelligent, just as emotionally layered, and somehow, even more unflinchingly hilarious. Blackadder Goes Forth may not have the same untouchable legacy as MASH, but it still managed to do wartime comedy better.
Blackadder Season 4 Captured Everything That Made Mash Great
This WWI-set British Sitcom Perfected The Same Mix Of Humor And Heartbreak That Made MASH A Classic
Blackadder Goes Forth debuted in 1989 as the fourth and final season of Blackadder, and it’s arguably the most brilliant of them all. Set in the trenches of World War I (each season of the show covered a different historical era), Blackadder Goes Forth follows Captain Edmund Blackadder (Rowan Atkinson) as he attempts to escape the brutal futility of war through increasingly desperate, and hilarious, schemes.
Every episode sees Blackadder trying to manipulate his way out of the next offensive, only to be thwarted by a mixture of idiotic superiors, miscommunications, and the sheer absurdity of military bureaucracy. What makes Blackadder Goes Forth a natural fit for fans looking for a funnier show than MASH is that it shares so much of the same DNA.
Blackadder Goes Forth uses lightning-fast wit and verbal gymnastics to skewer military incompetence
Both Blackadder and MASH are unapologetically anti-war in their humor. Both understand that gallows comedy, when done right, can be a powerful tool for both laughter and reflection. And both blend broad slapstick with biting satire, placing human folly and systemic absurdity side by side.
However, Blackadder ramps things up with a distinctly British flavor. Where MASH had a slow-burn, emotionally charged rhythm, Blackadder Goes Forth uses lightning-fast wit and verbal gymnastics to skewer military incompetence and the class divisions of the era.
Characters like Baldrick (Tony Robinson), George (Hugh Laurie), and General Melchett (Stephen Fry) all act as foils to Blackadder, giving the show a strong ensemble dynamic that echoes MASH’s strength in character interplay. For those in search of a funnier show than MASH that still carries weight beneath the laughs, Blackadder Goes Forth is essential viewing.
MASH’s Cast Was Iconic, And So Was Blackadder’s
Rowan Atkinson, Hugh Laurie, And Stephen Fry Brought The Same Star Power And Chemistry That Made MASH’s Cast Unforgettable
Part of what made MASH so deeply loved was its cast. Every actor brought something unique to the ensemble, creating a rare chemistry that made even the silliest moments feel grounded and human. Alan Alda’s sardonic charm, Jamie Farr’s comic timing as Klinger, and David Ogden Stiers’ nuanced portrayal of Winchester were all crucial to the show’s success.
Without these performances, MASH would never have reached the heights it did. The same holds true for Blackadder Goes Forth. Though the show had seen various cast lineups in previous seasons, season 4 cemented the dream team.
For anyone seeking a funnier show than MASH that also captures its ensemble-driven brilliance, Blackadder more than delivers.
Rowan Atkinson leads with a pitch-perfect performance as the acerbic, scheming Blackadder – a man whose intelligence and cowardice make him uniquely relatable. Then there’s Hugh Laurie as Lieutenant George, an upper-class buffoon so cheerful and naïve he becomes tragically endearing. Stephen Fry delivers a hysterically pompous performance as General Melchett, while Tim McInnerny steals scenes as the sycophantic Captain Darling, completing the absurdist military hierarchy.
Each of these actors would go on to major success in their own right, especially Laurie, whose later American fame with House mirrors Alan Alda’s own transition into prestige drama. Their comedic timing, rapport, and ability to shift between absurdity and sincerity gave Blackadder Goes Forth the same emotional core that MASH thrived on. For anyone seeking a funnier show than MASH that also captures its ensemble-driven brilliance, Blackadder more than delivers.
Blackadder Goes Forth Didn’t Shy Away From The Realities Of War
Like MASH, Blackadder’s Final Season Blended Comedy With Powerful Anti-War Messaging
For all its one-liners and sight gags, Blackadder Goes Forth never loses sight of the tragedy behind the humor. Just like MASH, which frequently tackled the senseless loss and emotional toll of combat, the British sitcom isn’t afraid to get serious. In fact, its series finale, “Goodbyeee,” is one of the most emotionally devastating endings in TV history.
After all the failed attempts at escape, Blackadder and his men are finally ordered over the top of the trenches. Every episode of Blackadder season 4 made it clear that charging the German lines was a death sentence, and so the moment it finally happened was beyond impactful. The jokes stop. The visuals slow. The screen then silently fades – not to black, but to a quiet field of red poppies.
“Rather hoped I’d get through the whole show, go back to work at Pratt and Sons, keep wicket for the Croydon Gentlemen, marry Doris. Made a note in my diary on the way here. Simply says: “Bugger”.” – Darling (Tim Mcinnery), in the Blackadder Goes Forth finale.
The emotional punch is no accident. The entirety of the fourth season of Blackadder builds toward this moment, with every episode subtly reinforcing the idea that these men are trapped in a war that makes no sense. Blackadder’s every hilarious and convoluted scheme is motivated by a desire to not die in a pointless charge.
Yet, despite all his intelligence and effort, he can’t beat the system. It’s this mixture of satire and sorrow that makes Blackadder Goes Forth not just a funnier show than MASH, but in some ways, a bolder one.
While MASH spanned 11 seasons and had time to explore a range of tones and ideas, Blackadder needed just six episodes to do something just as profound. It’s proof that even the most laugh-out-loud comedy can carry deep emotional weight – and that wartime sitcoms like MASH and Blackadder, at their best, are about much more than jokes.
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M*A*S*H
Release Date
1972 – 1983-00-00
Showrunner
Larry Gelbart
Directors
Larry Gelbart
Writers
Larry Gelbart, Richard Hooker
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Loretta Swit
Margaret Houlihan
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Blackadder
Release Date
1983 – 1989-00-00
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Rowan Atkinson
Edmund Blackadder
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