Red Dwarf, this weekend

[Bob The Skutter]

The Blade Runner stuff still doesn't sit right with me at all. It's just too blatant. Coronation Street wasn't quite as cringeworthy as I thought it was going to be, so hooray for that.

All in all, it could have been a lot worse. Parts 1 & 3 were actually pretty decent, and as pointed out in the making of - Craig Charles acted his socks off.

I just can't get over how fucking terrible part 2 was though. I wish he'd have toned it down, the meta-humour stuff. If Doug had been a bit more subtle about the events of the second part (ie no DVD product placement or namedropping the TV channel ), and scaled back the sheer blatancy of the Blade Runner nonsense, it could have been so much better. He needs a wirting partner to reign him in. Someone like Rob Grant, perhaps.

Nice twist on the despair squid idea, although "Back to Reality Redux" - is that really what we've been waiting for? Ten years for the show to disappear up its own arse in a compilation of its best bits?

Aaaaanyway. At the end, it left me hoping for a new full series and that's obviously the point, so I'm anxious for more.

Well there were reasons for DVDs and name dropping in the end, I suppose, it made Lister feel cool, and him want to go back to reality. But I do agree with you about Doug Naylor needing someone else to rein him in, and honestly, I think that could only be Rob Grant because they're on level footing as the creators, they did try having co-writers in series 7 and look how that turned out.

 

[Cky]

Okay, so they cut an original cast member (Norman Lovett, i.e. Holly) from the "reunion" but paid for a very term addition to the cast (Chloe, i.e. Kochanski) to join the gang and be an important part of the story?? Why???

Spoiler: Kochanski

Kochanski makes a cameo at the very end of episode three, still played by Chloe.

 

[USS KG5]

Okay, so they cut an original cast member (Norman Lovett, i.e. Holly) from the "reunion" but paid for a very term addition to the cast (Chloe, i.e. Kochanski) to join the gang and be an important part of the story?? Why???

Spoiler: Kochanski

Kochanski makes a cameo at the very end of episode three, still played by Chloe.

Quite a MILF these days.

 

[firehawk12]

The Blade Runner stuff still doesn't sit right with me at all. It's just too blatant.

At the end of part 3 the guy who's supposed to be the writer actually say's in his own words the script he wrote was based on blade runner. Of course it's blatant, it's part of the joke.

Except it's not funny... in any way...
And I still don't get how Blade Runner inspired the show either, unless I'm just missing something.

 

[Cky]

Just take it with a pinch of salt. If you think about RD too much your not going to like it.

 

[ELURIA]

I liked it !

In fact, I'd say it was the best RD eps in the last 10 years...

 

[Silent_Bob]

Im not sure whether to be relieved they didnt stick with the metaphysical crap, or annoyed that the first new Red Dwarf in years was a rehash of Back to Reality. Viewed as a whole, the new episodes veered from a mildly entertaining first act, a hugely disappointing and stupid second act, and a final act that was both unfunny and anticlimatic. If this is the best that Doug can do, then Red Dwarf really should be allowed to die (and never come back, not even with a H on its head).

Perhaps the most irritating part was the advert for the anniversary edition DVD's in the middle. Tad unnecessary since the entire thing was an advert for Red Dwarf merchandise.

Doesnt help when Dave shows it sandwiched between some of the best episodes of Red Dwarf, great way to illustrate just how far the show has fallen.

 

[jamestyler]

I liked it. I didn't think it was brilliant, but I didn't think it was terrible.

I thought the second part was the funniest, the resolution fell a little flat and the first ep was more nostalgia trips than entertainment. Katerinas death, the bunk scene with Ikea childrens furniture, the explanation behind the revival of VHS... all amused me. Though nothing laugh out loud funny.

It was an enjoyable nostalgia trip. A few people I've read elsewhere have bashed it for not being comedy genius. Was it ever going to be? This was more like the Only Fools Horses Christmas specials than the next great step in televolusion.

It was good to have them back for a weekend.

As for Holly - I cant see him serving much purpose in the story, to be honest. It would be nice to have him there, but very out of place.

 

[Darth_Yoda]

Overall I enjoyed it, nothing groundbreaking or hystericaly funny, but it was nice to see the four guys again (wasn't too bothred about Holly).

I thought the ending was quite touching where Lister found himself.

At the very least it doesn't leave us on a cliffhanger

 

[MNM]

After seeing all three, I enjoyed it. There were one or two small bits I would have cut, the kids on the bus and the scene in the rovers, but overal very enjoyable and funny. Nice to have new Red Dwarf.

 

[All Seeing Eye]

After seeing all three, I enjoyed it. There were one or two small bits I would have cut, the kids on the bus and the scene in the rovers, but overal very enjoyable and funny. Nice to have new Red Dwarf.

I agree with the coronation street one, it was absolutely pointless. From clips I saw during filming I thought the street was going to play a major role but instead we got 3 minutes of drivel. The kids on the bus part was pretty weird actually but I suppose it was one way of letting us know what happened in the none existent series 9.

The MAJOR beef I have with these easter specials is that it doesn't explain nothing of what happened after the end of series 8 in regards to being in an alternate universe.
In these easter specials we're suddenly introduced to Rimmer as a hologram again. In the alternate universe Rimmer was ships captain and a different person so this Rimmer can't possibly be the alternate universe Rimmer hologram and the Red Dwarf of the correct universe was eaten away into nothing so it got destroyed yet they are onboard a Red Dwarf so what on earth is going on!

I like continuity, i'm that kind of guy.

 

[Jim Steele]

The Blade Runner stuff still doesn't sit right with me at all. It's just too blatant.

At the end of part 3 the guy who's supposed to be the writer actually say's in his own words the script he wrote was based on blade runner. Of course it's blatant, it's part of the joke.

It's a shit joke, and a little tiny bit of subtly wouldn't have gone amiss. Either way, I don't need *you* to recount the dialogue for me, kthx.

 

[Terrorfex]

I can't believe there's going to be a new series paid for by Dave. The Smart Car that became Carbug was bought by Doug, at his own expense, because there wasn't room in the budget. If one considers a season of Red Dwarf to be six episodes I can't believe Dave has the funds to make that happen.

And that's a harsh reality considering it's well known that Red Dwarf cost the BBC less per episode than what they called "Two blokes and a sofa" sitcom.

 

[Jadzia]

Well they're already got a load of set pieces made for these specials. They can use them in the new series.

(asda pocket tap) Da Dada-da. Da. Da.

 

[All Seeing Eye]

The Blade Runner stuff still doesn't sit right with me at all. It's just too blatant.

At the end of part 3 the guy who's supposed to be the writer actually say's in his own words the script he wrote was based on blade runner. Of course it's blatant, it's part of the joke.

It's a shit joke, and a little tiny bit of subtly wouldn't have gone amiss. Either way, I don't need *you* to recount the dialogue for me, kthx.

No, it wasn't shit and if I want to recount dialogue I will. kthnxbye.

 

[FlyingLemons]

Well, Doug Naylor's been trying to revive Red Dwarf for a number of years as a movie. It's been quite an odyssey, too, as his Dimension Jump 2004 letter states. My guess is that basically the miniseries was made in order to get the entire thing going again, as ten years without anything new is basically not a good basis to try and get more production money from.

I was quite glad to see more Red Dwarf, though. Hopefully they'll get to make that movie or another miniseries or something.

 

[All Seeing Eye]

Well i've just watched the youtube videos of back to earth with laughter added in and it make ALL the difference.

With laughter added it's a million time funnier.

LINK

LINK 2

They went a bit over the top at some points with the laughter but at parts it adds to the humour.

 

[Cky]

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.

 

[Jadzia]

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.

 

[Dale]

The MAJOR beef I have with these easter specials is that it doesn't explain nothing of what happened after the end of series 8 in regards to being in an alternate universe.
In these easter specials we're suddenly introduced to Rimmer as a hologram again. In the alternate universe Rimmer was ships captain and a different person so this Rimmer can't possibly be the alternate universe Rimmer hologram and the Red Dwarf of the correct universe was eaten away into nothing so it got destroyed yet they are onboard a Red Dwarf so what on earth is going on!

I like continuity, i'm that kind of guy.

All dealt with neatly by the onscreen legend "Nine Years Later" in the opening moments. You are (in the spirit of this story, in fact) free to fill in the blanks.