Balance of Power: Reviews
Stephen Fletcher | John Hoare | Ian Symes | Curtis Threadgold
Stephen Fletcher
I'd say this was a pretty good episode - my second favourite for Series I. Chris Barrie was pretty entertaining through this episode and Craig Charles was pretty good as well, torturing Rimmer and being sad and alone. I liked seeing more of the relationship between Lister and Rimmer, and seeing the characters develop more and more throughout this episode. Cat was entertaining as well. There weren't as many good jokes in it but Chris Barrie pretty much kept me laughing with his reactions and his acting in general.
It was nice to see Lister's boozing mates again. Craig Charles, Mark Williams, Paul Bradley & David Gillespie always entertain me and I think they should have been featured more throughout Series I and Series VIII. Clare Grogan was alright playing Rimmer but not as good as Suzanne Bertish's Female Parallel Rimmer in Series II.
I honestly didn't think Lister would pass the chef's exam, as much as I like the guy I just assumed that he wouldn't pass as he's well the lowest rank on the ship (snobby I know) and he's Lister! There was a bit of a good cliffhanger as it generally shocked me and I kept thinking "Oh no, Rimmer's leaving us!". If I was rating it, I'd give it 6/10.
John Hoare
In my opinion this is the second weakest episode of the first six series (the first being Confidence & Paranoia); and yet, it's only weak in comparison to the rest of the episodes. The more I rewatch Series 1, the more I realise that I badly misremembered it. I enjoyed it when I first watched it, but then later (admittedly, still superior) episodes clouded my memory to the point where I remembered this series to be slightly substandard. It isn't - not by a long way. It's chock full of amusing lines and scenes, in a way that most of VII just isn't. "They're your ears, Arnold", "It's not that good, it was supposed to be roast beef", "Arnold Rimmer, his locker, this morning", "I'm having a woman's period" - I could go on, and on, and on. And the single shot of a Skutter sticking two fingers up at Rimmer is more amusing than a million dancing Blue Midgets.
Ahem. But this review isn't supposed to be about VII/VIII bashing. Back to the point. The early relationship between Lister and Rimmer is fully established in this episode, and a fine relationship it is too. The actors have clear on-screen chemistry; the bunkroom scenes, whilst overrated by some people who think it's the be-all and end-all of Dwarf, are still wonderful: "OK is never a threat, no matter how many A's you put on the end." The flashback with Lister's mates is far more amusing than the similar scene in The End, and makes me genuinely sorry that there wasn't more of them; although I'm glad the series had the ideas to move onwards rather than taking the easy way out and constantly going back to the past. Even the Cat, who I find far less amusing than most people in the early episodes, gets a great scene with Rimmer with the cigarettes he found; although the real joy is Chris Barrie's impression of him at the end of the scene. "Wow, wee-yah!" Actually, he's one of the few actors who could make the line "They're illegal matey!" make me break into a wide grin.
Problems? Hardly any, which is great for an episode which is one of the weaker episodes the first six series has to offer. Certainly not as much as in The End (which is less amusing than this ep, and has more awkward moments, but makes up for it with a great story). The only one that springs to mind is the odd cliffhanger, which I think is there purely because they couldn't think of a good way to end the episode. (Although the resolution is very amusing, as it's deliberately anticlimatic, unlike sodding Tikka to Ride).
It's been well documented that this is how the BBC originally wanted the series - low on sci-fi, and high on traditional sitcom staples. I for one am glad the series moved on, as it allowed Grant Naylor to do far more interesting and exciting episodes than this. But if this is one of the weakest episodes of the first six series, and it's as funny as this... well, "consistant" sounds too boring. "Bloody marvellous" is nearer the mark.
Ian Symes
This is probably the worst episode of the first six series, but then that says more about the high quality yet to come than the faults of Balance of Power. The opening scene between Rimmer and Holly, concerning the captain's reports, is very funny. Not only that, it reveals a lot about the characters. Not only do we have Hollister's word to go on, we also witness Rimmer's reactions, which tell us what a slimeball he was in the early days.
The Cat is also on fine form this episode, with a rare bit of interaction with Rimmer. Again, this is more character building, showing the Cat to have no morals whatsoever. Later on, Cat utters the classic "look out - food escape!". This, combined with the electronic toilet, Petersen's arm and the black card/white card dialogue (pointlessly removed from Re-Mastered) provide the best comedy moments of the episode.
Sadly, this is indicative of the problems of the episode - it's just too patchy, with not nearly enough laughs per minute. Also, there is a distinct lack of plot, which is to the episode's detriment when you compare it to the sci-fi themes of subsequent episodes. Take away the hologram aspect, and this episode could have taken place in any hierarchal situation, and that can't be said for most of the best episodes of Red Dwarf. Another problem is the prescence of Clare Grogan - this is guaranteed to annoy me, but thank goodness her scene was improved from the original, which was seen on the Series I DVD.
Overall, a steady episode, but it is apparant when you watch it that it comes from a show that is yet to find its feet.
Curtis Threadgold
Allegedly the type of episode the BBC wanted Grant and Naylor to write. The episode focuses on the role of authority with Rimmer setting himself up as self-proclaimed bourgeoisie by stealing Lister's cigarettes thus forcing him to perform tasks. This relationship bears some resemblances to the relationship between Rimmer and Kryten in later episodes and is probably one of the reasons the mechanoid was introduced sometime after the strangely pointless cliffhanger this episode offers.