The Official Red Dwarf Discussion Thread

[Xaositect]

Okay, *holds jacket open* here goes...

I was very satisfied on the whole. I think its because Im one of the people who didnt like series 7 & 8, and even saw some drop in quality in regards to gags in series 6 (as strange as that may sound). Ive known for a long time now that without Rob Grant, fully half the creative energy that made Red Dwarf and kept it razor sharp from series one until five (and in some respects series six) it has lost a great deal. I think with that in mind, Doug Naylor has done an excellent job, and I actually very much enjoyed it. It was great to see everyone back, and while the episode was very abrupt, and I was getting agitated during Daves advert break, Im looking forward to tomorrow.

So yeah, okay on the whole Ive squared with the fact that without Rob Grant its half the show it once was. Now letting that fact go, I came away having finished watching for the first time in a very long time a new episode of Red Dwarf that I thoroughly enjoyed. Im very pleased to see the cast back together again, and very happy so far with Doug Naylors efforts. Ill be back with my arse parked on the settee at 9:00 again tomorrow.

Edit: Oh and just so everyone knows, the correct term is "audience laughter" not "canned laughter". "Canned" implies its faked, where in reality it used to be filmed in front of an audience.

 

[Lord George]

I thought it was quite good, there's something fishy about that new hologram to me though.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

It was alright but it didn't have the same 'feel' or 'atmosphere' that the old Red Dwarf's had (the cheesy effects and sets/props, due to the low budget, gave it a lot of charm and gave it a distinct look and feel, now that some of the stuff looks shiney and good it's lost that unique vibe it once had).

Yeah, that irked me quite a bit. Red Dwarf is supposed to be clunk-tech, not Heart of Gold shiny.

 

[Xaositect]

I thought it was quite good, there's something fishy about that new hologram to me though.

Yeah, "something" meaning "everything". Her arrival, her attitude, her objective. Im definitely suspecting she will play a big part, probably in a way were not yet expecting...

 

[JokerGrin]

I quite enjoyed it on the whole. Yeah it's strange without the laughter, but it's still Red Dwarf. In all honesty, I'd even enjoy it if the crew were just at a garden centre shopping for bedding plants. As long as it's still THEM.

Oh, and Sophie Winkleman is looking as delightful as ever.

 

[sarahvait]

......? What is this Red Dwarf you all are talking about? I assume it must be a show us yucky Americans don't get. Ah, I guess I can go wiki it...

 

[not4prophet]

is there any way red dwarf fans in the states can view these new episodes? Someone told me the old ones were on Hulu.com but I couldn't seem to find them. I'd love to see some more red dwarf, new or old, but I can't afford to buy it.

 

[Ranooth]

While it is missing its old charm its still good old Red Dwarf in there. I cant believe they got rid of the laughter, i miss it

is there any way red dwarf fans in the states can view these new episodes? Someone told me the old ones were on Hulu.com but I couldn't seem to find them. I'd love to see some more red dwarf, new or old, but I can't afford to buy it.

They'll be a torrent or something up soon.

O wait, kids dont download, its bad!

 

[Doc Theta Sigma]

I really miss the laugh track. If they put it back in I'm sure the charm would come rushing back. But overall I liked it... The original Dwarf is still there it's just not too obvious. After the diving bell everything came back slightly. At least the explanation with Holly is linked to the lack of water.

But I agree, the large amount of CGI has ruined some of the charm from the cheesy sets and props. But Red Dwarf seems like an actual spaceship now and not a series of five rooms. But there are too many windows, for me they were a bit distracting but oh well. Hopefully the second episode tomorrow night will rekindle the Dwarf charm

 

[Camarilla]

I was actually really disappointed by the episode, it changed too much and tried too hard in my opinion. For one, since when was Rimmer so interested in cars? There were very few references to him liking cars in the old series, in fact I can only think of 2, in 'Better than Life' when he wishes for an E-Type Jaguar and when he refers to his 'first time' in the back of his brother's car, in which he was more interested with the car's interior. The whole point of Rimmer was that he was interested in things nobody is interested in, like 20th Century telegraph poles. They also seemed to make him into a complete dick for no reason. Before, he was cowardly, a bit stuck up and selfish, but mostly just naive and a bit thick. In this episode, his whole personality and ranting about how Lister is 'always thinking of himself' made him out like a complete egotistical ass.

The jokes were too forced for me as well, especially the first scene with Cat, where they played the whole vanity card too blatantly and too many times.

Kryten and Lister were, okay I suppose, there were no real problems with them (except Robert Llewellyn seems to have forgotten how to do the Kryten walk).

I also didn't like the way they used CGI to replace the majority of the special effects. As other people have said, the whole point of Red Dwarf was that it was a spoof of serious Sci Fi series, whereas this seemed like it was trying to be a serious Sci Fi series. It also didn't help that when they reverted back to using puppets

Spoiler

for the tentacles, for example

it just made them look even shoddier due to the comparison.

For me, the whole thing was just un-necessary. It lacked humour, heart, it's basically crapped all over my fond memories of the show.

/end long, incoherent rant

 

[DoctorWhat]

Problems:
-Holly's "offline" (Yes it's explained, but it's still annoying)
-The CGI and other new special effects. For example, did anyone else notice how weirdly the scutters moved?
-No laugh track, which removes some of the old charm from the show.
-The "Unplugged" episode was cancelled...
-And erm...did series 7 or 8 happen at all in this reality?

Good things:
-Red Dwarf's BACK BABY!
-The Testicle joke :-D need I say more?
-The 3 parts add up to a great way to while away the weekend.

I'm really looking forward to tomorrow's episode!

I do think they're over-hyping the whole "We brought back Red Dwarf" thing though. I mean, come on! They play the new episode for the day,, three classic episodes, and then then repeat the EXACT same ones... In the EXACT same order... Three times.
On Monday it just gets ridiculous: they'l play the three new episodes in a row, then play the "making of", and then repeat it all again... Again, three times.
And come on... Changing the station's name to Dave Lister for the weekend? That's just sad...

 

[Niveama]

I thought it was quite good, there's something fishy about that new hologram to me though.

Fishy I'm thinking more like squidy......

As has been said already it did seem a little slow to start as if they were all just there to pick a big pay check but weren't totally convinced that it was a good idea. But it did definately pick up as the episode goes on. Will be interesting to see where the show goes from here.

 

[The-Big-D]

New episode was good, a bit meh here and there but there are still 2 more episodes so hopefully it picks up. You could also tell that alot of it was CGI though. But itl be good to see what direction the episodes take.

But i shall watch the other 2 episodes to see how it all pans out, hopefully better. If not il just continue watching the older series of Red Dwarf

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

Ok, now THAT was funny.

Seriously, after the abysmal Dr Who, that had me laughing my socks off.

 

[Doc Theta Sigma]

Okay the original Dwarf is there. And the charm is back. I like it actually, there was hardly a minute I wasn't laughing. Also

Spoiler

I rofled when Rimmer pushed Kremlin Kate in front of that car XD

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

Spoiler

I rofled when Rimmer pushed Kremlin Kate in front of that car XD

That was SO great. Told ya the spirit was still there

 

[internutt]

The second episode was very, very funny. However, I felt it was moving a bit slow, makes you wonder just how they will wrap it all up in the last episode.

 

[7moreDead_v1legacy]

It's killing me on the inside

 

[Spacewolf]

yea that was funny, so theres nothing wrong with killing a hologram right *bang*.
The Bit at the begging was pretty good to

 

[Zykon TheLich]

I'm sorry, but I really didn't find that funny, I laughed more at the first episode.