Andrew Oakley (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} aoakley) wrote,@ 2009-04-14 12:12:00 |
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Red Dwarf review
It seems there is some kind of media blackout on the new Red Dwarf episodes that aired over the weekend on the free-to-view Dave channel. No review on DenOfGeek nor SFX websites yet - despite the fact that SFX magazine had clearly paid for product placement in the middle episode. Very odd, especially since it was far, far better than the by-the-numbers Doctor Who special "Planet of the Dead" which shuffled on to the Beeb to phone in a stumbling, mediocre performance on Saturday.
"Back to Earth" is a three-parter billed as the last ever episodes. Although filmed and lit in a much darker, more broody, high-contrast style, "Back to Earth" retains the spirit of the original shows, with some good vocal and visual gags, and the occasional, deliberately goofy special effect. The ship had never looked better, and the monster had never looked more comedic.
The script is jammed full of witty observations about science fiction and sci-fi fandom in general, especially the latter episodes which pay heavy homage to Bladerunner, which was allegedly the writers' original inspiration for Red Dwarf. If you're a fan of Bladerunner, you should watch this for the closely-observed Bladerunner spoof alone.
"Back to Earth" picks up nearly a decade after the previous aired series, and we learn that there have been several (fictional) unaired adventures. The ship's computer is offline after Lister left a bath running for ten years and the ceiling above Holly's computer room gave way. This also means there's only one tank of water left, which is inhabited by a giant dimension-hopping squid. To retain water - and therefore Lister and Cat's lives - they have to battle the squid. After some squid-powered dimension travel, the crew learn that they're fictional characters and, via the set of the current British soap Corronation Street (in which Lister actor Craig Charles currently performs), try to reach their maker to convince him to write more episodes.
Now, if you know your cult TV, you're probably thinking that this sounds a lot like the plot of "The League of Gentlemen's Apocalypse", and indeed so did I. However the two are handled very differently, with the Dwarf's angle being particularly competent. The plot device has been used in comedy dating back to 1950s Goon Show "Six Charlies In Search Of An Author", and the Dwarf puts in a satisfyingly fresh reworking, helped along by some genuinely funny and original observational comedy about sci-fi fandom and an exceptionally well-observed Bladerunner spoof (and I really do mean exceptional, this cannot be understated).
The trilogy could have easily been spun out to catch up with the other actors (I'd have loved to see them invade the set of CBeebies toddler show "The Story Makers" with Cat actor Danny John Jules, or "Scrapheap Challege" with Kryten, or "Brittas Empire" with Rimmer) but the comparative shortness of three episodes is kept tightly focussed and probably all the better for it.
The only downside is a Russian holograph character who seems to have been unnecessarily inserted into the script to replace Holly as some kind of narrator. She has little to do, and little to say that the crew didn't already have motivation to do themselves; they're running out of water, they don't need a bossy holograph to emphasise the urgency of the situation. The Russian's poor accent doesn't help, nor does her set decoration status as mere for-the-dads eye-candy. The character-in-control-of-the-typewriter scene was the only other clichéd low point in an otherwise good handling of the classic characters-realise-they're-fictional plotline.
Other than that, it's brilliant. The final plot resolution draws heavily on Red Dwarf history and will be particularly satisfying for fans, even if it does leave room for more episodes despite being billed as the finale.
It's as cartoony and zany as the original, the original cast seem to be genuinely enjoying their roles, the quips are sharp as ever, the homage bits are particularly excellent, the FX are good where they need to be and authentically wobbly where they should be, and... it shat over the Doctor Who Easter Special from a great height.
It seems there is some kind of media blackout on the new Red Dwarf episodes that aired over the weekend on the free-to-view Dave channel. No review on DenOfGeek nor SFX websites yet - despite the fact that SFX magazine had clearly paid for product placement in the middle episode. Very odd, especially since it was far, far better than the by-the-numbers Doctor Who special "Planet of the Dead" which shuffled on to the Beeb to phone in a stumbling, mediocre performance on Saturday.
"Back to Earth" is a three-parter billed as the last ever episodes. Although filmed and lit in a much darker, more broody, high-contrast style, "Back to Earth" retains the spirit of the original shows, with some good vocal and visual gags, and the occasional, deliberately goofy special effect. The ship had never looked better, and the monster had never looked more comedic.
The script is jammed full of witty observations about science fiction and sci-fi fandom in general, especially the latter episodes which pay heavy homage to Bladerunner, which was allegedly the writers' original inspiration for Red Dwarf. If you're a fan of Bladerunner, you should watch this for the closely-observed Bladerunner spoof alone.
"Back to Earth" picks up nearly a decade after the previous aired series, and we learn that there have been several (fictional) unaired adventures. The ship's computer is offline after Lister left a bath running for ten years and the ceiling above Holly's computer room gave way. This also means there's only one tank of water left, which is inhabited by a giant dimension-hopping squid. To retain water - and therefore Lister and Cat's lives - they have to battle the squid. After some squid-powered dimension travel, the crew learn that they're fictional characters and, via the set of the current British soap Corronation Street (in which Lister actor Craig Charles currently performs), try to reach their maker to convince him to write more episodes.
Now, if you know your cult TV, you're probably thinking that this sounds a lot like the plot of "The League of Gentlemen's Apocalypse", and indeed so did I. However the two are handled very differently, with the Dwarf's angle being particularly competent. The plot device has been used in comedy dating back to 1950s Goon Show "Six Charlies In Search Of An Author", and the Dwarf puts in a satisfyingly fresh reworking, helped along by some genuinely funny and original observational comedy about sci-fi fandom and an exceptionally well-observed Bladerunner spoof (and I really do mean exceptional, this cannot be understated).
The trilogy could have easily been spun out to catch up with the other actors (I'd have loved to see them invade the set of CBeebies toddler show "The Story Makers" with Cat actor Danny John Jules, or "Scrapheap Challege" with Kryten, or "Brittas Empire" with Rimmer) but the comparative shortness of three episodes is kept tightly focussed and probably all the better for it.
The only downside is a Russian holograph character who seems to have been unnecessarily inserted into the script to replace Holly as some kind of narrator. She has little to do, and little to say that the crew didn't already have motivation to do themselves; they're running out of water, they don't need a bossy holograph to emphasise the urgency of the situation. The Russian's poor accent doesn't help, nor does her set decoration status as mere for-the-dads eye-candy. The character-in-control-of-the-typewriter scene was the only other clichéd low point in an otherwise good handling of the classic characters-realise-they're-fictional plotline.
Other than that, it's brilliant. The final plot resolution draws heavily on Red Dwarf history and will be particularly satisfying for fans, even if it does leave room for more episodes despite being billed as the finale.
It's as cartoony and zany as the original, the original cast seem to be genuinely enjoying their roles, the quips are sharp as ever, the homage bits are particularly excellent, the FX are good where they need to be and authentically wobbly where they should be, and... it shat over the Doctor Who Easter Special from a great height.
