Canon-Strike XIV: Red Dwarf

[Neon Ignition]

I like how this is another example of how they always knew how to approach scenarios with the characters they have. We're very deep into the Lister taking charge era of Dwarf now and he's the one focused on because Cat, as shown, is too easy a target.

[Neon Ignition]

Episode 32 - Legion
In this series second episode, the crew are pulled in to an abandoned space station where an entity is keen to keep them there for the remainder of their lives. The episode was used to convert Rimmer from being soft light to hard light, thereby removing one of the biggest practical issues of the character as he could now interact in scenes to a greater degree. The episode proved popular and is one of Rob Grants own favourites.




Tastier than a sugar puff sandwich?

[Neon Ignition]

Episode 33 - Gunmen of the Apocalypse
Delving into the realm of VR, Simulants lock Starbug's systems onto a collision course so Kryten and the others use VR to face down the virus in a Wild West setting. The episode is considered the best of the sixth series by many and won an Emmy following its airing.





A sharp shooting ep?

[QualityChimp]

Wow, three amazing episodes in a row, there!

[Neon Ignition]

Yep, we're right in the eye of the storm when the show was approaching its peak popularity, little did we expect the amount that Grant's humour was contributing to it at this point...

[Neon Ignition]

Episode 34 - Emohawk: Polymorph II
In dire need of an oxygen unit for Starbug, the crew negotiate with local GELFs for one but when Lister ducks out of the deal they find themselves hunted by another Polymorph. In this episode the Chief GELF is played by TV Chef Ainsley Harriott and the episode was used to act as a sequel to fan favourite elements of the past so also used to bring back Ace Rimmer for a second time and Dwayne Dibley. In the end though the response to this episode was more mixed than of those before it.




A worthwhile reprise?

[QualityChimp]

I'd never seen this before, it's an abomination!

[QualityChimp]

However, the story behind it is fascinating!

[CMcK]

I'd never seen this before, it's an abomination!

It misses the point completely. At least Robert Llewelyn got to keep the Kryten outfit.

[Neon Ignition]

Complete the journey with...


Red Dwarf USA Pilot 2



It's interesting that the one really new bit is the record to camera sequence and that is essentially reused to open Red Dwarf VII



Also, regarding recent developments toward Red Dwarf XIV

[Yakumo]

I'd never seen this before, it's an abomination!

You're not wrong there. I'm sure this is on a DVD as I've seen a very clean copy of it in the past. It is total ****. None of the jokes work. The casting is terrible and the whole American sitcom atmosphere doesn't work.

[Neon Ignition]

Episode 35 - Rimmerworld
After learning he has a stress disorder, Rimmer abandons the crew during a dangerous encounter with the Simulants from the Gunmen episode. His escape pod is drawn through a wormhole however leading him to a barren planet where he faces being trapped with terraforming equipment for 600 years until rescue can arrive.




A good episode or did it make you grind those balls?

[Asura]

Episode 33 - Gunmen of the Apocalypse
Delving into the realm of VR, Simulants lock Starbug's systems onto a collision course so Kryten and the others use VR to face down the virus in a Wild West setting. The episode is considered the best of the sixth series by many and won an Emmy following its airing.
A sharp shooting ep?

This is a weird one, because it's both perhaps the show's very best episode, but also, the one I've seen the most.

Back in the 90s, I remember they did a Red Dwarf Night on BBC2, where they showed a load of episodes, all introduced by Patrick Stewart and with other "talking heads" who were fans, along with a special episode of University Challenge, Can't Cook Won't Cook and the outtakes show, The Smeg-Ups.

I taped this, and it was the only tape of Red Dwarf I had for years, and as a result, I've seen Gunment of the Apocalypse countless times. I know it backwards, end-to-end, can probably still quote much of it. So the episode has lost its lustre somewhat.

[QualityChimp]

Rimmerworld is the one that slightly crosses over with the waxworks one in my memory, but it's such a lovely pay off when we see Rimmer holding the two tiny ballbearings.

I remember that Red Dwarf Night, Asura!

[Neon Ignition]

Gunmen was always one that I liked but I never really got why it was so beloved. The Western theme kind of shunted the show into more obvious directions of jokes focused on what is effectively slapstick. The trick shot from Cat is probably the best visual gag but I generally preferred many prior eps to it.

With Rimmerworld, it's probably the least inspired one. They seem to have an attraction to multi-Rimmer concepts and this isn't even the last time we get this concept from them either. I think I'd have enjoyed it more if they'd have done a Rimmerworld that wasn't clone dependent.