Red Dwarf, this weekend

[Mr Awe]

Well, I enjoyed it. It wasn't fantastically hilarious. But, it was a warm comfortable trip to an old favorite show. I saw all 3 parts in one sitting. It should've been aired that way, a 1 hour special. I was surprised at how quickly each ending came and it would've disrupted the flow if I weren't watching them all at one go. It definitely felt flat at the beginning. Probably a combination of the cast losing their chemistry over the years and probably the fact this was distractingly low budget. Which is saying something because I loved seasons 1 & 2 (particularly 2).

However, by the end, they were back to themselves. I didn't care for the, RD is a TV show aspect. That might've worked had it been one episode in a regular series. It's just a one off surrounded by other stories. It would've worked better in that contest, just like Back to Reality which is one of my favorites. I didn't wait for a decade to see RD as a TV series though. Even though that turned out to not be the case it detracted from particularly the middle episode.

To wrap up, a flat start, not totally hilarious, but like visiting an old friend. I hope there's more if they can pick up from where they left of, which means no more RD is a TV series stuff.

Mr Awe

 

[Rob Grant]

People slag the kids but I thought the gag with the boy astonished that the girl knew how movies about Titanic and Jesus would end was pretty funny.

Eurgh! that scene was shit..

London Buses havent looked like that since 1996.

The surroundings were NOT London..

The kids were not Londonish.. they were fucking Northern Chavs..

(and the boy was the worst kind of Ginger)

 

[Mr Awe]

I tell you what, the second one was not so great, the laughter was a little too loud. But god damn, I actually laughed at bits I didn't find funny yesterday. The laughter track makes so much difference.

It's an interesting phenomenon that is. The content is the same, but our rating of that content is affected by hearing the emotional reactions of others, even when that emotional layer is completely artificial.

So the rating we make of the programme is more attributed to this psychological witchcraft, than letting the content speak for itself.

It's almost like they knew this all of those years that they used it! And, on all of those other programs too!

Mr Awe

 

[Jadzia]

It's almost like they knew this all of those years that they used it! And, on all of those other programs too!

Mr Awe

Of course. But it is still interesting (and a bit pathetic) that opinions can be controlled like that.

 

[Mr Awe]

It's almost like they knew this all of those years that they used it! And, on all of those other programs too!

Mr Awe

Of course. But it is still interesting (and a bit pathetic) that opinions can be controlled like that.

I was being sarcastic but I agree with you that it is both interesting and pathetic. I'm sure marketing people could elaborate on many more interesting tricks like that which play with people. But, observing others definitely influences your own reaction and a deep level. Down to whether you think it's even funny or not.

Mr Awe

 

[Bob The Skutter]

It's almost like they knew this all of those years that they used it! And, on all of those other programs too!

Mr Awe

Of course. But it is still interesting (and a bit pathetic) that opinions can be controlled like that.

I was being sarcastic but I agree with you that it is both interesting and pathetic. I'm sure marketing people could elaborate on many more interesting tricks like that which play with people. But, observing others definitely influences your own reaction and a deep level. Down to whether you think it's even funny or not.

Mr Awe

Well I know over here they use certain types of accents in ads, because people hear certain accents and think they're warm, or friendly, or trustworthy, etc.
And hearing others laughing subconciously gives you permission to laugh at things you're only finding mildly amusing. So it's not so much manipulating you, as giving you permission to be amused.

 

[Pingfah]

Well, maybe it was the booze and pot, but I laughed most of the way through part 3.

 

[Zulu Romeo]

Well, maybe it was the booze and pot, but I laughed most of the way through part 3.

I found part 3 clever-funny in places, mostly though the numerous well-staged BR homages (that no-one else at home got).

But some of the downright silly stuff also gave me teh lolz muchly.

Of course. But it is still interesting (and a bit pathetic) that opinions can be controlled like that.

I was being sarcastic but I agree with you that it is both interesting and pathetic. I'm sure marketing people could elaborate on many more interesting tricks like that which play with people. But, observing others definitely influences your own reaction and a deep level. Down to whether you think it's even funny or not.

Mr Awe

Well I know over here they use certain types of accents in ads, because people hear certain accents and think they're warm, or friendly, or trustworthy, etc.
And hearing others laughing subconciously gives you permission to laugh at things you're only finding mildly amusing. So it's not so much manipulating you, as giving you permission to be amused.

Indeed. It would be a very confident and brave person to laugh at something the rest of the room didn't find funny. Maybe the absence of a laughter track simply heightens the insecurities of the individual fans as to when or when not to laugh?

 

[Pingfah]

I just watched it all, no adverts, no theme tune between episodes. Opinion remains the same, awkward but decent start, drags in the middle, rebounds very well at the end. I didn't find the second part as bad as I did the first time though.

Although I wish Grant or Naylor would have taken the par of the creator.

I am SO glad they didn't do that. It was self-indulgent enough as it was without Naylor grabbing the limelight as well. Not doing that was the only thing that prevented the metaphysical theme from sending the show rocketing up it's own arsehole and never coming back.

 

[Jadzia]

Although I wish Grant or Naylor would have taken the par of the creator.

I am SO glad they didn't do that. It was self-indulgent enough as it was without Naylor grabbing the limelight as well. Not doing that was the only thing that prevented the metaphysical theme from sending the show rocketing up it's own arsehole and never coming back.

We've already had one Ouroboros episode.

 

[Captain Pike]

I liked it. It had it's moments, some good, others quite average, but then alot of Red Dwarf is like that. I thought the ending of the last episode was classic Red Dwarf which would have fitted into any previous series we've seen really.

I'm not sure everyone here appreciates what this little special has achieved. It has singlehandedly opened the door and paved the way for something many of us thought was no longer possible - a new series (or more) of Red Dwarf. For that alone, it is to be commended.

 

[Silent_Bob]

I liked it. It had it's moments, some good, others quite average, but then alot of Red Dwarf is like that. I thought the ending of the last episode was classic Red Dwarf which would have fitted into any previous series we've seen really.

I'm not sure everyone here appreciates what this little special has achieved. It has singlehandedly opened the door and paved the way for something many of us thought was no longer possible - a new series (or more) of Red Dwarf. For that alone, it is to be commended.

Yes but if that series is of the same quality and is just going to rehash old episodes badly, do we really want it? What can we expect for the first episode, Polymorph 3: Electric Boogaloo?

 

[Mr Awe]

Although I wish Grant or Naylor would have taken the par of the creator.

I'm glad they didn't do that. I saw a televised interview with the guy. He didn't come across so well on camera, very nervous. I suppose he could've settled his nerves somewhat but no way was he going to look smooth in the role. He's just not suited for that type of work.

Mr Awe

 

[Mr Awe]

I liked it. It had it's moments, some good, others quite average, but then alot of Red Dwarf is like that. I thought the ending of the last episode was classic Red Dwarf which would have fitted into any previous series we've seen really.

I'm not sure everyone here appreciates what this little special has achieved. It has singlehandedly opened the door and paved the way for something many of us thought was no longer possible - a new series (or more) of Red Dwarf. For that alone, it is to be commended.

Yes but if that series is of the same quality and is just going to rehash old episodes badly, do we really want it? What can we expect for the first episode, Polymorph 3: Electric Boogaloo?

We don't know that, unless you have a time machine.

Mr Awe

 

[Jim Steele]

^

His post seemed rather hypothetical to me.

 

[Bob The Skutter]

^

His post seemed rather hypothetical to me.

Nah, it's gotta be Emohawk 2: Electric Boogaloo: Polymorph 3.

 

[TedShatner10]

That said, I thought it was much better than the Doctor Who Special on Saturday!

"Planet of the Dead" blew the sluggish and derivative Back to Earth mini-series out the water.

 

[The Laughing Vulcan]

That said, I thought it was much better than the Doctor Who Special on Saturday!

"Planet of the Dead" blew the sluggish and derivative Back to Earth mini-series out the water.

derivative?

Lara Croft meets Pitch Black meets Flight of the Phoenix much? Besides, Michelle Ryan was annoying with a capital NOY, and for pity's sake Russell T whatsit, ease up on the foreboding. Every bloody series it's Bad Wolf this, you are not alone that. Now we have "Your song is ending" and "Four knocks." I have four knocks for you right here. Recycled more than a bloody tin can.

 

[TedShatner10]

[
derivative?

Lara Croft meets Pitch Black meets Flight of the Phoenix much?

Even NuWho's best acclaimed episodes are inspired by something - "Father's Day" is strikingly like Donnie Darko and Stephen King's The Langoliers, "Midnight" is a similar in concept to The Twighlight Zone's "Nightmare at 20, 000 Feet", while the famous Weeping Angels are somewhat like the Boos from the Super Mario Bros. franchise.

Back to Earth was just a straight rewarm of the clearly superior "Back to Reality", with the Dave network being shamelessly pimped, and Blade Runner spoofing being used as lazy filler.

Besides, Michelle Ryan was annoying with a capital NOY,

I liked her in Jekyll and was easy on the eyes in spandex and leather.

 

[Jim Steele]

NuWho's best acclaimed episodes

"Father's Day"

Boke.