Canon-Strike XIV: Red Dwarf

[QualityChimp]

I've never really liked this episode.

I thought the additional cat character messed up the dynamics, also it gave characteristics to Cat I didn't like.
He's pretty mean to the priest and I'm glad they evolved the character to remain vain, but gain some compassion.

[Neon Ignition]

Episode 05 - Confidence and Paranoia
Lister catches a cold, but being three millions years since he last caught one the virus has mutated and following a serious bout of sickness his dreams become real culminating in the physical embodiments of his confidence and paranoia. Rimmer takes an instant dislike of the situation as Lister soaks in the praise his confidence has for him.



Did this episode give you greater Confidence in the show?

[QualityChimp]

Confidence and Paranoia is a good episode.
Breaking away from the pure abrasive bants between Rimmer and Lister, with Rimmer actually showing some compassion for Lister as he's suffering from the effects of the mutated virus.

Cat's still an afterthought in most his scenes, but it's really good to get some history to Lister who seems carefree and iblivious to criticism, but is just as vulnerable as the rest of us.

I like the bit where Rimmer is loving being regaled with embarrassing tales of Lister's cringiest moments by Paranoia.

[Neon Ignition]

I remember the first time not being entirely sure where they were going with the whole premise, you do get somewhat distracted by Paranoia's poor view of Lister until that sudden switch where Confidence is revealed to be the worse one of the two

[Neon Ignition]

Episode 06 - Me2
Still unable to let the idea of bringing back Kochanski's hologram, Lister continues to push Rimmer on the idea once he discovers that Red Dwarf can sustain two holograms. However, Rimmer has hidden all of the discs and the idea gives him the notion of freeing himself from relying on Lister's company by creating a second hologram of himself. Rimmer's self-hate and the new copy lacking the character development that being alone with Lister has had on him makes for a nightmare scenario and one of them has to be deleted.



As the original final episode point, does Me2 end the first run on a strong note?

[QualityChimp]

I really want to like Rimmer, but he gets his just deserts for being an a-hole.

[Neon Ignition]

They did a good job with this one of selling the idea that Lister is good for him, as weasley as he often is the second Rimmer is always noticeable as he's unrelentlessly worse. But at the same time he's pretty consistent with how he is in the first episode. They seemed to have a really firm grasp of Lister and Rimmer very early on with Cat etc taking more time to round out

[Neon Ignition]

Episode 07 - Kryten
The crew receives a distress signal from a crashed ship called the Nova 5. Boarding it to rescue the stranded survivors they find its diligent service droid Kryten aboard who is busy taking care of the crew. Whilst Lister dislikes Kryten's servant nature, Rimmer is all to keen to make use of it.




Did this original take on Kryten work for you?

[QualityChimp]

I think I saw this after the later episodes with Robert Llewellyn, so it was really jarring to see a different guy playing Kryten.

The episode itself is genius, though, especially the first half where the boys are getting giddy at the thought of rescuing three beautiful astronauts and Rimmer's making Lister promise he'll big him up in front of them and when they meet them, Lister does as he promised.

[Neon Ignition]

The same, it was so weird to not only see the character played so differently but also dropped by the next episode

[Neon Ignition]

Episode 08 - Better Than Life
With Red Dwarf now turned around and headed back in the direction of Earth, one of its mail pods finally reaches the ship and as Lister begins to sift through the mounds of mail the crew received Rimmer discovers a letter revealing that his father had died. Looking for some escapism, Lister convinces him to join them in a new videogame they have received where your minds wishes are granted in an experience that claims to be better than life...




Was it better than the other episodes though?

[QualityChimp]

Ha, I'd forgotten the bit about Rimmer's dad dying, like it was a shock, lightyears after leaving Earth!

It's a great episode and I always enjoy it when the venture from the ship, but I do feel sorry for Rimmer and his self-destruction.
I remember reading the book, or possibly listened to the audiobook read by Chris Barrie (who does a great Scouse accent!) and Rimmer is the richest and most famous man in the world, buying Buckingham Palace, just to grind it down for his gravel driveway.
He's married to the most beautiful woman in the world and gets humiliated when she attends his lavish ball dressed in a gown that is basically a completely transparent fishtank, with fish.

Loads of ideas in the book were re-used in later episodes like Talky the Toaster, Holly boosting their IQ but reducing their lifespan and the idea of being trapped in a videogame for "Back To Reality". Dave is trapped inside a reimagined Bedford Falls, scrawling "HELP" on an arm.

The actual episode is a LOT lighter than the book, playing it for laughs, which is fine because it's so much fun.
Love the final line with Cat imagining his perfect mermaid - half woman, half fish...

[Neon Ignition]

"I... I just... I just wanted to say... I mean, I just wanted to tell you..."
"... Yes?"
"I just wanted to say... you're a complete and utter Smeghead!"
"Wh-what?! This isn't my fantasy!"

Cat slides into shot

"No... it's mine!"




I think this is the first time where they begin to break the dynamic of Lister and Cat being purely owner/pet in nature to each other. They're played more as friendly in this one, united against Rimmer

[Neon Ignition]

Episode 09 - Thanks for the Memory
After a drunken night out to celebrate the Anniversary of Rimmers death, a shared story creates a rare moment of sympathy for Lister when he discovers that Rimmer has never been loved. The crew wakes up with heavy heads and injuries leaving them trying to work out what else happened that night.




Were you thankful for being left with this memory?

[QualityChimp]

OK, this is it. This is the episode where I joined the boys from the Dwarf.

So, obviously I love this episode as it got me into the show, but it works so brilliantly, using sci-fi as a prop to tell a good and funny story. Love the mystery of them trying to deduce why and how a leg is broken.

It's actually fairly poignant as well, touching on loss and lonliness.

The legend of Yvonne McGruder was also expanded upon!


I loved it because we got to see Lister and Rimmer be a bit more human until Rimmer's inability to be a bit humble about anything is too much to take.