sfdebris Reviews Round Up of "Red Dwarf".

[TedShatner10]

Ok, I heard postive things said about sfdebris reviews of the comedy sci-fi series, Red Dwarf, so I've bunched them into a single thread.

Introduction
Part 1
Part 2

Series I
Part 1
Part 2

Series II
Part 1
Part 2

Series III
Part 1
Part 2

Series IV
Part 1
Part 2

Series V
Part 1
Part 2

Series VI
Part 1
Part 2

Series VII
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4

Series VIII
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

 

[TedShatner10]

I agree with him that Series V was Red Dwarf's creative zenith, with amazing episodes like "The Inqusitor", "Quarantine", and "Back to Reality".

But then in Series VI and VII the writers seemed to be running out of material (good episodes like "Legion", "Gunmen of the Apocalypse", and "Tikka to Ride" aside), in addition to Mr. Charles getting on the bad side of the law, and one of the producers abrubtly leaving Red Dwarf in a huff.

I agree with sfdebris that Season VIII was not that bad and somewhat of a return to form, despite its flaws - "Back in the Red" and "Pete" were entertaining for the most part, but felt rather padded in places. "Cassandra" was a classic episode. "Krytie TV" had its moments of brilliance (like the rubbish B-movie and Rimmer relieved at Lister having a stringless guitar), but veered too much into purile fratboyism, while "Only the Good..." had some decent sci-fi concepts and comedy skits thrown together, but then just ended.

Series VIII was flawed and not as good as Red Dwarf's middle series, but I'm still alarmed at the ire directed against it, considering that the best bits of VIII work and work well. I was more disappointed with Back to Earth.

 

[Mr Light]

While #8 is not the best quality/sci-fi wise it is definitely the funniest. The "Back to Red" trilogy and "Pete" two parter are just absolutely hilarious. And I *love* the idea of having an entire crew on the ship and their interactions with them. Really revitalized the series concept. I would like to have seen more of that.

 

[Harvey]

I don't really buy all the complaints about Red Dwarf peaking in quality during series V or series VI. To me, series VII produced at least two of the best episodes of the show (Tikka to Ride and Stoke me a Clipper) and it the series had me laughing all the way until the end ("Not today matey!").

If anything, the show was worst during the first two series, with their drab costume and production design and the lack of Kryten (save for the one-off where he's played by David Ross, who is just not as good in the role).

I haven't seen Back to Earth yet, though, but I plan to.

 

[Bob The Skutter]

Series 2 would probably be my favourite then 5, 1, 6, 4, 3, 8, 7 and Back to Earth.
I don't think 7 and 8 are as bad as people make out but they are about my least favourite Red Dwarf.

 

[TedShatner10]

I agree that the early production values made Series I & II look more dated in less than ten years than Series VIII will in more than twenty, but plain costumes and flat sets aside, Red Dwarf had overall better stories and more realized characters than TNG did going through similar growing pains around the same time.

 

[FalTorPan]

This is great stuff. Thanks for the links!

 

[MyCylon]

I've enjoyed everything I've seen so far (sans the odd individual episode, maybe) which is series 1 through 5, I think. However, I did find series 1 and 2 to be rather more enjoyable. I really enjoyed the atmosphere created by the sense of loneliness combined with the show's sense of humor. In many ways it was a sad story but you just couldn't help but laugh.

After that I felt it all became just that bit too random and bent on trying to be weird for the sake of it. I still enjoyed it, as I said. But I always felt that from series 3 onwards something had been lost.

 

[Mr Light]

I can't stand Series One and Two. Nothing happens. They just sit around doing nothing. There's no adventure. Plus the writing isn't that hot, and the production values are even worse. For me the show didn't really begin until Kryten joined the cast as a regular. "Backwards" is still one of my all time favorite episodes.

 

[The Borgified Corpse]

It seems the big rail splitter among Red Dwarf fans is whether Series I & II were the show at its best or an incredibly awkward developing period. I'm in the former camp. I find something charming & homey about the production design. Norman Lovett was a way better Holly than Hattie Hayridge. And I agree that, once Kryten joined the regular cast, the plots became too random. I like that early claustrophobia; that it's just these 2 guys who hate each other trying to stave off boredom.

Series III was an awkward transition year. They changed the production design but weren't yet able to make it look good. Rimmer & Lister's quarters look too white & sterile. There are some good episodes here, like "Marooned" & "Polymorph." But "Backwards" never really rises above its backwards gimmick. "Body Swap" is one of the worst episodes the show ever did. Sadly, I attribute that to Craig Charles being a very limited actor. Chris Barrie, as a seasoned impressionist, is acting his ass off to be a convincing Lister. Craig Charles is a crap Rimmer.

Series IV-VI were a marked improvement. It's a different show from Series I & II but there's a lot of great episodes here, especially "Meltdown," "The Inquisitor," & "Gunmen of the Apocalypse." Only one real misfire here-- "Terrorform." It's a fun idea, modeling a planet after Rimmer's psyche, but the ending is too cliched & predictable.

Series VII struggled from the lack of a studio audience, the departure of Rob Grant, & the departure of Rimmer. There's not a whole lot to love here. The highlights: "Stoke Me a Clipper," "Duct Soup," & the Arnold Rimmer Experience from "Blue." "Tikka to Ride" has a funny concept with its take on the Kennedy assassination but never congeals as a great episode. "Beyond a Joke" totally sucks (except for Kryten bringing a tank into Jane Austen world).

Series VIII was a very good revamp of the series concept. I liked the idea of bringing back the Red Dwarf crew. Even more, I loved how the show reinvested its focus on the Rimmer/Lister relationship. "Back in the Red," "Cassandra," & "Krytie TV" are all excellent. "Pete" feels padded, because it was. "Only the Good..." has a great ending and a few funny bits. ("Have a fantastic period." Cat picking a fight in the cafeteria.) But too much of "Only the Good..." feels more like a bunch of unrelated sketches lumped together.

 

[Mr Light]

I agree Lovett was the superior Holly. I love "Terrorform"! Isn't that the one that opens with Kryten's hand crawling into Lister's shorts? That's my all time favorite gag. I'm scared. YOU'RE scared? You haven't SEEN it!

 

[The Borgified Corpse]

^True. The hand/tarantula is a great bit. Like I said, the ending of the episode just really doesn't work for me. Stuff like this or the tank in "Beyond a Joke" are examples of times when great bits will occupy less than stellar episodes. I guess it's the TV gods' way of making it up to us.

 

[HappyDayRiot]

I would forward Beyond a Joke and Bodyswap to be the two worst episodes of the whole series. I think they're the only two I struggle to watch whenever I have one of my fairly regular re-viewings. The tank never gets old, though.

 

[23skidoo]

I saw Back to Earth last week and I enjoyed it. The story was a bit odd, but there were some great performances especially from Craig Charles. Was it perfect? No. But as a relaunch it apparently has done its job as there's talk of another season.

I do think, though, that RD never equalled the utter bleakness of that first season. I loved the later seasons, too, but part of me wishes they'd stuck with Lister being the last surviving human.

Alex

 

[Harvey]

Not just talk. There will be another series. Although I do hope they get Holly back into it somehow. If that means going with Hattie again or (egad) re-casting the role once more, I'm fine with that.

And they did stick with Lister being the last surviving human, for the most part. Kochanski comes from an alternate universe, where she is the last surviving human. Only in series VIII did they re-introduce more human characters.

 

[TedShatner10]

Series I, VI & VII are the weakest parts of Red Dwarf in my opinion, but only in comparative terms, and they still have their great episodes. "Blue" is a good episode as well.

Series II, III & VIII are broadly better than the latter three series, but not without their own issues and tricksy bits. "Backwards" was not an all time great, but still very funny and streets ahead of Back to Earth with the "fake" Earth concept.

Series VI & V was the best part of the show, in my subjective opinion at least: don't mess with Mr. Fibble.

Holly being depicted in a more ditzy manner by Hattie Hayridge than the deadpan Norman Lovett is the trade off by getting Kryten, I guess.

 

[diankra]

It seems the big rail splitter among Red Dwarf fans is whether Series I & II were the show at its best or an incredibly awkward developing period.

For me, they're two very different shows in a fundamental way: seasons one and two are a classic odd couple sitcom which is also better 'pure' science fiction than most TVSF; seasons three onwards are comedy sci-fi spoofs.

 

[The Borgified Corpse]

Not just talk. There will be another series. Although I do hope they get Holly back into it somehow. If that means going with Hattie again or (egad) re-casting the role once more, I'm fine with that.

If they have to recast the role again, I think they should give a look to Jane Leeves. She played Holly in the American version. For my money, I think Leeves was better than Hattie Hayridge.

But why wouldn't they be able to bring back Norman Lovett? Has he passed on or something?

 

[The Borgified Corpse]

Double post.

 

[Bob The Skutter]

Not just talk. There will be another series. Although I do hope they get Holly back into it somehow. If that means going with Hattie again or (egad) re-casting the role once more, I'm fine with that.

If they have to recast the role again, I think they should give a look to Jane Leeves. She played Holly in the American version. For my money, I think Leeves was better than Hattie Hayridge.

But why wouldn't they be able to bring back Norman Lovett? Has he passed on or something?

He had a rant on his myspace or facebook about not being invited on to Back To Earth. and wasn't too nice about it.