As mentioned before, Blackadder is on trial for shooting a carrier pigeon in this episode. His sentence was handed down by court martial and then to death by firing squad. The judge who gives him this sentence is immediately against Blackadder. The jury also decides that Blackadder is guilty before the trial even begins. This is similar to the play Wasps, as characters like Philocleon make their decision for the trial in advance, meaning the trial itself is just a waste of time. During the carrier pigeon trial, the judge, General Melchett, also happens to be the owner of the carrier pigeon that Blackadder kills, calling Blackadder a "pigeon murderer". The humorous device used here is known as hyperbole. The trial shows how corrupt the justice system is, as it highlights how biased the justice system really was at that time. In the play Wasps, Philocleon is fond of giving those on trial a guilty verdict, which is similar to Blackadder Goes Forth, as people like General Melchett were able to be the judge, even if their opinion is biased towards the