When I first heard about this Cult British series from the late 80's, I didn't have much desire to watch it. I didn't even know it was a sitcom...I thought it was just another Star Trek wannabe Sci-Fi show. Then I found it on Netflix a few days ago, and decided to give the first series a try.
All I can say is...wow! It has been years since I've seen a sitcom with this much originality and imagination, that still, at its core, manages to amuse and satisfy like any other good show of its ilk. I don't want to spoil any details for the uninitiated, but I'll just say that there's a good reason why this series has a 9.1 rating on IMDB.
I've finished series one tonight, and have Series 2 ready to go soon.
Anyone who's seen this series, I'd love to hear from you. Anyone who hasn't checked it out yet, I say you should watch at least one episode and see what you think. :smile:
One thing I've always admired about British sci-fi, is how they tend to give serious thought to possibilities...
Particularly, the potential for temporal disruptions resulting in very embarrassing situations.
"Simply put, when our future selves killed us in the present, they inadvertently killed themselves in the past..."
"It's an orange swirly thing in space!"
i absolutely love this series. as a kid, the public television stations in new england (maine, vermont, new hampshire, etc.) showed lots of tom baker dr. who, and then as a teen, they were airing a lot of red dwarf, especially the 4th, 6th, and 6th seasons, and i couldn't get enough.
i thought the dynamic lost a bit of steam when you-know-who joined the series (don't want to spoil it for anyone who hasn't seen the later seasons), but it always managed to be in turns, juvenile, though-provoking, darkly wry, and genuinely sentimental.
probably one of the best series ever, regardless of category.
the season 7 opener, tikka to ride, is probably my favorite, and i feel like it does a good job of representing the series as a whole, although it might not be a great place to start, as that might leave you lacking a bit of context, characters and idioms-wise.
while season 1 has some great episodes, waiting for god and confidence & paranoia in particular, we really didn't get the classic dwarf group together until the season 2 opener, kryten.
doesn't matter though. none of you are dummies. start anywhere you'd like. like charles fort said, "one measures a circle starting anywhere".
Awesome show, they used to show it late night on public tv but that was years ago. I always liked british sci-fi the storys were just so weird and quirky but still they always managed to work. And I would have to say that there creature and set designs were always better than anything done in america, they actually made there aliens look alien.
Series 2 and 6 are the best !!!!
Series 7 and 8 are....
I enjoyed this show thanks to BBC-America via satellite TV. I've been tempted to buy the DVDs, but I just haven't been able to justify the cost at this point. Still, it's a very fun show.
yeah, the cost isn't low, but i had to have each season, even if it did cost me an arm and a leg.
I grew up with Red Dwarf, would always watch it in the evenings after school in my room on my crappy ol' portable. I totally loved the cat and the theme song always cheered me up no matter what. I must admit, I lost track of the later series', they never really held my interest. Still a fantastic comedy show tho'. :thumbup:
I found Dwarf about 10 years or so ago and LOVED it. The writers had a very unique way of looking at things, kinda reminds me of Douglass Adams. I liked the idea of the computer getting senile, , and bored for that matter. Bribeable robots, vengeful vending machines, robots with OCD, and one being the combination of a complete egomaniac, a total failure, and DEAD, all at the same time. Great show, pity the movie deal never happened.
If you can't stand robots with groinal sockets, annoying talking toasters, and a ship's computer with an IQ of 6000 (PE teachers that is), then Red Dwarf is not for you and you are a smegging smeghead!!
I have a particular fondness for this show. The writing and acting are just perfect. I think that Series 5 and 6 are the best when the plots developed a stronger orientation towards action as well as comedy.
You guys know that this show is coming back for 2 specials, right ?
Quote from: doggett on December 23, 2008, 03:22:49 PM
You guys know that this show is coming back for 2 specials, right ?
No, I was not aware of this. What a pleasant surprise. :smile:
Quote from: Circus_Circus on December 23, 2008, 03:26:11 PM
Quote from: doggett on December 23, 2008, 03:22:49 PM
You guys know that this show is coming back for 2 specials, right ?
No, I was not aware of this. What a pleasant surprise. :smile:
Seriously ?
I thought everyone knew.
I figured that's why everyone is jumping on the Dwarf band wagon.
They're gonna be on channel Dave not the BBC, if you're wondering.
I think I posted something about the new specials on the "Press Releases" board back around September>
Rimmer is getting old...
(http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/news/2009/02/20/back-to-earth-the-trilogy/back-to-earth-the-trilogy.jpg)
:bluesad:
I started watching this back in the early 90s. I remember stumbling across a PBS marathon of it and getting hooked right there. And eventually, one of the other channels started carrying it nightly.
I have to admit, it is one of the few shows that actually stayed good in spite of running for several years. Years of character development can ruin a sitcom, but in Red Dwarf's case, getting to know the characters only enhanced the comedy. I mean, the Arnold Rimmer ride, complete with miniature singing Rimmers, was hilarious because we had come to know the character so well. And the characters, their personalities and their antics stayed fairly consistent all the way through.
Really, it's impressive that by the eighth season they could still do something as hilarious as the T-Rex rampaging through the ship, gorging itself on curry, followed by orange popsicles and Coca-Cola, then getting violently ill. And it was never actually shown, just described by the captain. Brilliant stuff.
So many good episodes. The original Kryten episode, the DNA episode, Queeg, the Polymorph, Ace Rimmer. Love that show.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuSptblFQ2M
Doggett -- Please please keep everyone informed, re. the upcoming specials. I for one had no idea about this -- I did not see JJ80's press release -- and would love to catch up with old friends --
"This is mine . . . this is mine . . . thi-Don't want that! . . . this is mine" --
peter danny/denny jules
Already in post production...
http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/news/2009/02/27/pre-post-production/ (http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/news/2009/02/27/pre-post-production/)
Quote from: doggett on December 23, 2008, 03:32:35 PM
They're gonna be on channel Dave not the BBC, if you're wondering.
I can remember, not too long ago, when we didn't have Dave and that memory makes me weep.
I always liked Red Dwarf growing up, but was the only one in my household who did, so hardly ever got to watch it :bluesad: so am excited about the two specials.
Apparantly new Dwarf isn't gonna have a laugh track.
Weird.
(http://static.dave.uktv.co.uk/site_media/images/uploaded/2009/03/04/Katerina-465x386.jpg)
I only just recently discovered about a year ago-- or maybe I did see it as a little kid but don't remember it.
Anyway I loved what I've seen; it's a bit like the Young Ones meets The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy.
I loved this show. At least when I got a chance to see it. It was on a time when the rest of my family was trying to get the tv. And it was on a weird station, that was sort of PBS 2. Only our cable tv picked it up.
Still, it always made me laugh when I got a chance to see it.
I love the new set!!!
(http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/news/2009/03/13/back-to-sleep/back-to-sleep-1l.jpg)
Teaser Trailer...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYb1DPjgpJ0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OV0gXTEkDXs&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ereddwarf%2Eco%2Euk%2Fforum%2Fmessages%2Ecfm%3Fthreadid%3D8520A69D%2DF165%2DF77A%2D51DB0C6DE8D8B019&feature=player_embedded
The boys are back! Cool, though I have to agree, its weird without the audience response.
I was a bit disappointed with the new Dwarf; I have to say I didn't even chuckle one during all three episodes :bluesad: - it seemed a bit self indulgent and I thought it was a bit naff being set in Coronation Street and not Outer Space
There were a few good spots here and there, but overall I was kind of disappointed with it as well. For me it just had a "been there done that, only better" vibe.