Red Dwarf tv series- is it any good? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

dlemond · 06-06-2003, 12:13 PM

I read the two books that came out here in the U.S. and liked them, but not nearly as much as The Hitchhiker's Guide books.

I was wondering how the tv series is and is it worth a purchase?

I liked The Hitchhiker's Guide tv series, cheesy effects and all, so I figured I may enjoy Red Dwarf.

Thoughts?

japfles · 06-06-2003, 05:36 PM

Red Dwarf got fully into its stride in season three and then lost the plot a little in the last couple of seasons.

Having said that, every episode of the show is very watchable.

Mickey · 06-07-2003, 11:54 AM

First series was a little clunky, but generally good. Second series onwards was terrific, except for the last two series (VII and VIII). To be honest I won't ever be watching either of them again, and I won't be buying the DVD releases either. The rest is just brilliant. RD VI in particular, with episodes such as Emohawk and Gunmen Of The Apocalypse stand comparison with some real comedy classics, although there are in jokes there to reward the long term viewer. Not sure how a newbie would fare starting from the mid point.

Different from the books though. You'll see some similarities in plot, but the characters differ slightly. They're all painted in a much more sympathetic light in the books, with Rimmer in particular being given more flesh to his bones so to speak.

sara · 06-19-2003, 09:46 PM

I bought both series 1 and 2 on DVD. I love them and watch them alot. Some PBS station run Red Dwarf so check and see if your does. If you do decide to buy the DVDs I would suggest that you order them from Amazon. I did and got a great deal.

dlemond · 06-21-2003, 12:07 AM

I had watched the first series on Kaza and liked it so much I went out and bought series 2 on DVD.

Now, I have to wait until February for series 3 & 4.
I think in the UK it comes out in November- I'm seriously thinking of getting a region free dvd player (I gotta check out The Tomorrow People as well, a blast from my childhood days watching Nickelodeon).

And, does anyone have any scoop on the Red Dwarf movie?

fluffylizard · 07-10-2003, 04:48 PM

I agree Red Dwarf has lost it in the last two series, but the rest were hilarious, especially series 6. The books are just as good and they really develop the characters ans some of the plots.

Isn't that right bhindi bhaji!

King Cantona · 07-19-2003, 11:25 AM

I like the one where they went into a parallel universe and found a Rimmer who was the exact opposite of the one we all know...

He was dashing and modest as well as heroic, and then of course he turned up in quite a few other episodes...

One episode had Reg Holdsworth as a Nazi, but good old Rimmer saved the day...

...

"Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast".....Classic.....

There are some absolute gems among them episodes though, and of course Clare Grogan as the original Kochanski...

And she's beautiful, absolutely gorgeous.....

.....

cp32 · 07-28-2003, 12:25 AM

The early red dwarf episodes are great. After they add the girl. It just went down hill. Th e4 original cast members is when it was at it's best. My favorite episode is Sir Lister Of SMEG.

awawaw · 01-01-2004, 11:08 PM

red dwarf love it. i disagree with some people here on series 8 though. laugh a mintue. series 7 is the worst of the lot but still great. series 4-6 would be the best but its the kind of show that you have to watch from the start to get the full impact.

Mickey · 01-02-2004, 08:26 PM

I never took to Kochanski, which didn't help, but my main problem with RD VIII was that it wasn't 'proper Rimmer'. The real Rimmer, our Rimmsy, that we'd come to know and love, was off in some parallel universe somewhere living Ace's life - and I missed him. I didn't like the new Rimmer, who wasn't even a hologram anymore. There was just too much missing. Nice to have Holly back though.

Steve's Roadhouse · 03-01-2004, 02:42 PM

I like all of Red Dwarf. It's hilarious, and so well written and produced, that even with out the comedy, it would be entertaining. I also really like season 7 and 8 (although I admit when Rimmer is absent, the show is missing something). It's good to change things up every now and then. There might be too many characters, but they make it work. That "Krytie TV" stuff is some of the funniest television I've seen. "Beyond a Joke" is hilarious. I love the first 2 seasons as well. The essence of Red Dwarf is the humorous dialogue between characters, usually Rimmer and Lidster. Lack of visual effects doesn't affect this at all. Kryten made Holly kind of redundant. I think all characters other than Rimmer and Lidster should have smaller roles (including Kryten). Kerchanski should only appear occasionally (not every episode) as in the early series.

Fiddlesticks · 03-05-2004, 02:02 PM

This is one of my favs, i think the series reallly got going when Kryten came onto the scene with the inventions and robotic humour

Ive got series 1 to 4 on DVD and its great

Definately check this out if u havent already

06-06-2003, 12:13 PM	#1
dlemond Hey, I know you. Moderator Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 03, 2001 Location: New Jersey Posts: 6,751	Red Dwarf tv series- is it any good? I read the two books that came out here in the U.S. and liked them, but not nearly as much as The Hitchhiker's Guide books. I was wondering how the tv series is and is it worth a purchase? I liked The Hitchhiker's Guide tv series, cheesy effects and all, so I figured I may enjoy Red Dwarf. Thoughts?

06-06-2003, 05:36 PM	#2
japfles The Japster Frequent Poster Join Date: May 10, 2001 Location: Durham, UK Posts: 145	Red Dwarf got fully into its stride in season three and then lost the plot a little in the last couple of seasons. Having said that, every episode of the show is very watchable.
	__________________ Well, I was gonna send flowers to my Nan's funeral but I got the wrong number and halfway through the service a pizza was delivered....with the word "Nan" spelt out in pepperoni...

06-19-2003, 09:46 PM	#4
sara Member Senior Member Join Date: May 21, 2002 Location: grandville michigan Posts: 2,296	I bought both series 1 and 2 on DVD. I love them and watch them alot. Some PBS station run Red Dwarf so check and see if your does. If you do decide to buy the DVDs I would suggest that you order them from Amazon. I did and got a great deal.
	__________________ Help stamp out and eradicate superfluous redundancy!

07-19-2003, 11:25 AM	#7
King Cantona Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jul 19, 2003 Location: Manchester, England Posts: 6	I like the one where they went into a parallel universe and found a Rimmer who was the exact opposite of the one we all know... He was dashing and modest as well as heroic, and then of course he turned up in quite a few other episodes... One episode had Reg Holdsworth as a Nazi, but good old Rimmer saved the day...... "Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast".....Classic..... There are some absolute gems among them episodes though, and of course Clare Grogan as the original Kochanski... And she's beautiful, absolutely gorgeous..........
	__________________ Punctured bicycle on a hillside desolate, will nature make a man of me yet When in this charming car, this charming man, why pamper life's complexities when the leather runs smooth on the passenger set

07-28-2003, 12:25 AM	#8
cp32 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: May 26, 2003 Location: Wintersville Oh Posts: 384	Red Dwarf tv series- is it any good? The early red dwarf episodes are great. After they add the girl. It just went down hill. Th e4 original cast members is when it was at it's best. My favorite episode is Sir Lister Of SMEG.

06-07-2003, 11:54 AM	#3
Mickey Ranger Forum Regular Join Date: Oct 12, 2002 Location: The UK, and still finding Desi funnier than Lucy Posts: 960	First series was a little clunky, but generally good. Second series onwards was terrific, except for the last two series (VII and VIII). To be honest I won't ever be watching either of them again, and I won't be buying the DVD releases either. The rest is just brilliant. RD VI in particular, with episodes such as Emohawk and Gunmen Of The Apocalypse stand comparison with some real comedy classics, although there are in jokes there to reward the long term viewer. Not sure how a newbie would fare starting from the mid point. Different from the books though. You'll see some similarities in plot, but the characters differ slightly. They're all painted in a much more sympathetic light in the books, with Rimmer in particular being given more flesh to his bones so to speak.

06-21-2003, 12:07 AM	#5
dlemond Hey, I know you. Moderator Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 03, 2001 Location: New Jersey Posts: 6,751	I had watched the first series on Kaza and liked it so much I went out and bought series 2 on DVD. Now, I have to wait until February for series 3 & 4. I think in the UK it comes out in November- I'm seriously thinking of getting a region free dvd player (I gotta check out The Tomorrow People as well, a blast from my childhood days watching Nickelodeon). And, does anyone have any scoop on the Red Dwarf movie?

07-10-2003, 04:48 PM	#6
fluffylizard Member Forum Cub Join Date: Jul 10, 2003 Posts: 2	I agree Red Dwarf has lost it in the last two series, but the rest were hilarious, especially series 6. The books are just as good and they really develop the characters ans some of the plots. Isn't that right bhindi bhaji!

01-01-2004, 11:08 PM	#9
awawaw Member Forum Hawk Join Date: Jan 01, 2004 Location: australia Posts: 4	red dwarf love it. i disagree with some people here on series 8 though. laugh a mintue. series 7 is the worst of the lot but still great. series 4-6 would be the best but its the kind of show that you have to watch from the start to get the full impact.

01-02-2004, 08:26 PM	#10
Mickey Ranger Forum Regular Join Date: Oct 12, 2002 Location: The UK, and still finding Desi funnier than Lucy Posts: 960	I never took to Kochanski, which didn't help, but my main problem with RD VIII was that it wasn't 'proper Rimmer'. The real Rimmer, our Rimmsy, that we'd come to know and love, was off in some parallel universe somewhere living Ace's life - and I missed him. I didn't like the new Rimmer, who wasn't even a hologram anymore. There was just too much missing. Nice to have Holly back though.

03-01-2004, 02:42 PM	#11
Steve's Roadhouse Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jan 15, 2004 Posts: 91	I like all of Red Dwarf. It's hilarious, and so well written and produced, that even with out the comedy, it would be entertaining. I also really like season 7 and 8 (although I admit when Rimmer is absent, the show is missing something). It's good to change things up every now and then. There might be too many characters, but they make it work. That "Krytie TV" stuff is some of the funniest television I've seen. "Beyond a Joke" is hilarious. I love the first 2 seasons as well. The essence of Red Dwarf is the humorous dialogue between characters, usually Rimmer and Lidster. Lack of visual effects doesn't affect this at all. Kryten made Holly kind of redundant. I think all characters other than Rimmer and Lidster should have smaller roles (including Kryten). Kerchanski should only appear occasionally (not every episode) as in the early series.

03-05-2004, 02:02 PM	#12
Fiddlesticks Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Mar 05, 2004 Location: In Sitcom Heaven Posts: 72	This is one of my favs, i think the series reallly got going when Kryten came onto the scene with the inventions and robotic humour Ive got series 1 to 4 on DVD and its great Definately check this out if u havent already