Another Red Dwarf discussion (possible spilers for Back To Earth)

[Ar-Pharazon]

I just got done rewatching the whole series. It took a while, I was looking at an episode or three a week on the computer at work before I start, with the 2nd shift guy watching for the first time. I have all the eps as .wmv files and can watch them on any computer.

So 2 nights ago I watched Only The Good (the official one I believe, as opposed to either of the alternate endings).

This is where Lister, the Cat, Kryten & Kochanski escaped into the mirror universe before Rimmer came back through and got trapped in the decaying Dwarf, kneed Death and ran off (to where, I have no idea).

Now, this ending could jive with BTE, since in those 3 eps, we had hard-light Rimmer back (with no explanation of course), but, we would now be in an alternate reality to the one we had for the original 8 series'

The alternate ending I liked, where after about 50 trips back & forth through the mirror, Rimmer finally remembers the "formula" to stop the virus, they save the "prime" Dwarf and let the crew float off in the escape pods as Rimmer salutes Captain Hollister as only he can.

This ending would of course cause problems by having a very alive "live" Rimmer at this point, but they'd be in the same reality they always were.

The 2nd alternate ending was something like the vending machine still firing a can at Rimmer's head, but I don't remember this one as clearly as alternate ending #1. Maybe someone can expound on this ending a little better.

And since they explained very little in BTE about events since Series 8, and they hinted at a "Series 10" but not "9", I guess we're supposed to figure it out ourselves for now (assuming there will be more Red Dwarf as has been rumored).

Any Ideas? Theories? Insane Ramblings?

 

[Harvey]

I haven't seen Back to Earth yet, but I don't mind the continuity, since the series always played fast and loose with it (witness the many versions of Lister and Kochanski). And I prefer the final ending to series VIII. Rimmer kicking the Grim Reaper in his manhood is one of the funniest moments in the entire show, even though I found series VIII to be hit or miss.

Bring on Series X (or XI or whatever they're calling it now)!

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

True about the overall continuity. They did reference Future Echoes (S1) in Pete Part 2 (I think), so every now & again, they did try for some continuity.

Death: "That's never happened before", then crumples to the floor.

 

[Faldor]

There is really no need to explain it, anymore then you needed a more detailed explanation of what happened to Listers children in series 2.

the only time they need to reference series 8 again is in apology for it!

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

But they did explain what happened to the children, at least.

 

[23skidoo]

I've never really considered Red Dwarf to be a continuity driven show. And that's one of its strengths. It seriously can have the sky blue in one episode and green the next and get away with it. I knew the series wasn't planning to make continuity an issue when they suddenly reintroduced Kryten and changed Holly's sex (with a super-fast Star Wars scroll explaining it, sort of).

Any time I've tried to rationalize the continuity of Red Dwarf my eyes have always crossed.

Alex

 

[votd]

IMO Dimension Jump explains them all, they all happen in a different universe;that's as far as my brain wants to rationalise it.

 

[Christopher]

I tend to assume that the temporal paradox at the end of series 6 caused the timeline to reset itself with some slight differences, explaining things like the bigger Starbug, the different Kochanski with a different history with Lister, and so on.

 

[MNM]

the only time they need to reference series 8 again is in apology for it!

I always liked season 8, much better than the previous season with no Rimmer and crap like "Duct Soup".

 

[Mr Light]

Season Eight is the funniest yet says I. I *hated* Season Seven, too depressing, too slow, too bottle show-y. Though 3-6 were the best years overall. I think "Backwards" is my all time favorite episode.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

Also no explanation as to why original Kochanski wasn't resurrected by the nano-bots, unless they recognized the alternate one already.

It would've been funny to see Claire Grogan once alongside Chloë.

 

[The Borgified Corpse]

^Agreed.

I tend to assume that the temporal paradox at the end of series 6 caused the timeline to reset itself with some slight differences, explaining things like the bigger Starbug, the different Kochanski with a different history with Lister, and so on.

Although, we already started seeing arbitrary differences in the continuity in Series IV concerning Lister's history with Kochanski and the Red Dwarf crew jumping from 169 people to 1,169 people.

Then there's the question of Lister's dual appendix removals. (The first was referenced by Rimmer when he got Lister's memories in "Thanks for the Memory." The 2nd was performed on screen by Legion in "Legion.") I'd say there are 3 possible explanations for this one:
1.) Lister's appendix was rebuilt by the DNA machine in "DNA."
2.) Lister was born with 2 appendices because he's an incestuous freak of nature & temporal mechanics.
3.) It's somehow related to all of the time travel mucking about in "Timeslides" (although I couldn't really see how).

 

[The Borgified Corpse]

As for "Back to Earth," I'd say it's best ignored anyway. I'm looking forward to the next full series, but "Back to Earth" sucked!

 

[Mr Light]

Yeah Back to Earth was really painful. Particularly the final episode. First episode was alright.

 

[Faldor]

Back to Earth wasn't the best thing they've ever done by a long shot but it was much much better then pretty much everything after series 6.

It felt like Red Dwarf and it made me laugh and that matters more than anything !

oh and s2 was the best series, says I.

 

[Harvey]

I still think series VII was the best series, but I'll probably be eaten alive by hordes of Dwarfers telling me differently.

 

[The Borgified Corpse]

I thought Series VII had its moments. I love "Tikka to Ride" for its unique take on the Kennedy assassination. "Stoke Me a Clipper" was a great sendoff for Rimmer. "Duct Soup" is a really funny episode done for basically no money. "Blue" has the Arnold Rimmer Experience. "Beyond a Joke" as Kryten blowing up Jane Austen World! And I love the cliffhanger at the end of "Nanarchy."

That's not to say Series VII doesn't have its problems. The show was never as good without Rimmer as it was with him. Some episodes just take themselves too darn seriously, like "Ouroboros" & "Beyond a Joke." Meanwhile, the jokes about Lister getting his arm amputated seem inappropriately lighthearted. The tone for Series VII was all over the place.

But overall, I think Series VII gets better with age (as opposed to Series VIII, which gets worse).

IMO, Series VIII starts out really strong, peaking with the madcap trashing & tidying of Mr. Ackerman's quarters in "Krytie TV." But the last few episodes run out of steam and often just seem like a series of completely unrelated sketches. Although, Rimmer's final confrontation with Death in "Only the Good" makes up for a lot.

For me, that crotch shot in "Only the Good" is the comedy baseline I'm using for any future Red Dwarf. The show is only worth bringing back if they can come up with something funnier than the perfect punchline at the end of "Only the Good."

 

[Pingfah]

As for "Back to Earth," I'd say it's best ignored anyway. I'm looking forward to the next full series, but "Back to Earth" sucked!

There's no real reason to think that the series will be any better. I'll still watch it of course.

But since they have only commissioned scripts and not the actual show, there's still a chance it will never make it to the screen.

 

[O'Dib]

I've just started watching Back to Earth, right after finishing all 8 series. It's a bit disconcerting without the laugh track.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

It's a bit disconcerting without the laugh track.

IMHO, it's disconcerting WITH a laugh track. I've become used to Corner Gas, which doesn't have one. I wish it could be disabled on every RD episode on disc.