Red Dwarf - Back to Earth

Well 2 episodes in and I think it's fair to say that this is not RD at its best. I'm enjoying it but it doesn't have the old spark. Hopefully it'll pick up in episode 3.

Ah, reminds me to seek this out...

Zoltar wrote:Ah, reminds me to seek this out...

When Johnstone says it doesn't have the old spark, he's being kind.

Dave Webb wrote:When Johnstone says it doesn't have the old spark, he's being kind.

Hrmm. No hurry then...

I think the best description I saw of it was 'like a fan film that's somehow got a budget and the original actors' - the four of them are doing their best, but they're trapped in a world of leaden direction and a shockingly poor script, especially given that Naylor's had ten years to come up with it.

I think Nick's right. Although I am going to watch episode 3 before I judge it properly. I did find episode 2 to be infinately better than episode 1.

When episode 3 has finished I'll add a poll to the thread.

i've never liked red dwarf i'm afraid. what's the appeal?(seriously)

I loved it when I was between the age of 20 and 25. We all did. Lived in a house with six other potheads and we'd watch it all the time.

Then I grew up. Even stronger strains of weed can't make it funny anymore, and I've often tried to watch an episode I used to enjoy only to give up after a few minutes.

Saw a couple of minutes of the new one on Friday. Didn't laugh - neither did the audience. I turned it over to watch South Park.

barnaby salton wrote:i've never liked red dwarf i'm afraid. what's the appeal?(seriously)

Right... well, perhaps as I'm still in the age range that it appeals to (six months left according to Rich Flair) I'm not the best to answer this.

I like the characterisation... I like stories of people trying to get through their empty days... I like the curious retelling of sci-fi cliches... and, yes, I find it funny. (All of this applies to the first six serieses).

Well, the third episode was actually amusing in parts - the Coronation Street stuff was good, as was the bit when Lister took control of the typewriter. The Blade Runner pastiche just felt like a vague idea pushed beyond the limit when even French and Saunders might have thought they were overdoing it and needed some actual jokes, though. Just pointing out that it's a pastiche doesn't actually make it interesting.

And if this is Doug Naylor's way of pitching for a new series, then admitting you've just reused one of your old ideas for a story probably wouldn't fill any prospective commissioning editors with glee.

I thought episode 3 was fantastic. A bit too silly at some points. Cat catching the gun made me laugh, reminded me of Gunmen of the Apocolypse for some reason.