Ep 11. Episode 11

Set in the same vein as its first season, Horrible Histories Season 2 Episode 11 offers a fun-filled, educational experience for both adults and children. Aimed at making learning history more enjoyable, the episode is packed with laughs and historical anecdotes.

The episode begins with a sketch about the dangers of everyday things, including the historically significant but dangerous materials like lead, arsenic, and asbestos. Through hilarious reenactments, the cast highlights how people from the past harmed themselves by using these everyday items. The sketch provides an entertaining way of teaching the audience about the harmful materials that were commonly used before.

In the following sketch, viewers revisit one of the most famous battles in history, the Battle of Hastings in 1066, in which the Normans defeated the Anglo-Saxons. They highlight the conflict between the two leaders, William the Conqueror and Harold Godwinson, including the controversial story of the arrow that blinded Harold.

The episode then shifts its focus to the history behind the Scottish rebellion led by William Wallace, who was famously portrayed by Mel Gibson in the movie, Braveheart. Through lively sketches, the show talks about how Wallace's gruesome death and subsequent beheading have become emblematic of the never-ending struggle for freedom.

For the next sketch, the show talks about the significance of William III of Orange, also known as William of Orange. The sketch provides comic relief as it humorously depicts William as the "Dutch Uncle," who becomes England's king after overthrowing James II. The amusing segment also highlights William's connections to cheese and gin.

In another segment, Horrible Histories invites viewers into the world of medicine during the Plague years. By using various sickly characters and their signs and symptoms, the show walks the viewer through the process of treating people with leeches, cups, and herbal medicine. The scene also touches on why the Plague subsided, as well as what the doctors were doing wrong before its outbreak.

The final sketch takes viewers back to the Tudor Dynasty, specifically to the life of King Henry VIII. The focus of the skit is Henry's obsession with beheading his wives and his anger towards Thomas Cromwell, who orchestrated Anne Boleyn's downfall. The segment features the "beheaded" heads of each of Henry's dead brides, and some crude humor highlighting the king's infamous appetite for food and wives.

Horrible Histories Season 2 Episode 11 is a delightful offering for viewers of all ages. It offers the perfect mix of educational tidbits and witty humor, making it an excellent way to learn history as well as providing some entertaining time. Indeed, the episode is another shining example of how Horrible Histories can make learning about the past an enjoyable experience.