Series IV DVD Preview
Well, what with it being exactly a month before the Region 2 Red Dwarf IV DVD release (because this update was definitely posted on the 16th), we thought you might appreciate this: my Series IV DVD Preview: Byte One. Byte Two will probably appear towards the end of the month. Note that all opinions are subject to change when I actually, you know, WATCH IT and stuff.
Did I mention this was posted on the 16th? Because it was.
Comments
I have the first two seconds of the series 6 preview trailer on the end of a video of Q stuff someone sent me. It has a voice-over.
THAT IS HOW GOOD AT RESNEARCH I AM.
Posted by Darrell Jones at January 17, 2004 08:58 PM
Hmm... Series IV. In my opinion, not quite as good as III which I believe is the best ever alongside II. Camille is a touching little love story and the second of three episodes in a row predominantly featuring Kryten (The Last Day, DNA). Now that's bedding in the character. Kochanski, anyone? Holoship would improve upon it as a love story a year later though. DNA concept is fine although the end is a bit silly, runaround after a Polymorph esque monster stuff. Justice is plain great from start to finish, as is Dimention Jump. White Hole is OK, but recycled from the BTL novel and probably the series weakest - although at last Hattie has something to do. Meltdown is comendable in it's message and is generally a fantastic romp. Those dinosaur effects are a bit dodgy though. Extremely looking forward to the DVD.
Posted by Thomas at January 18, 2004 11:49 AM
"There isn't even one episode I can really say is weaker than any of the others; I find it very hard to understand some people's criticisms of some episodes that I can't see as being any weaker than any others."
Sub-editing, there.
Posted by John Hoare at January 18, 2004 01:26 PM
I love Holoship too; in a Smegazine interview Doug says he doesn't think the episode comes off. HE IS WRONG.
As for IV; I love the end of DNA, and enjoy the pure silliness - I particuarly like Lister giving the monster the finger at the door. I also adore White Hole, and don't mind it being recycled from the the novel any more than I mind the novels recycling the series ideas - a sitcom and a novel are such different forms that it just feels completely different, and you can enjoy it in a completely different way. The "I've never seen one before, no-one has, but I'm guessing it's a white hole..." scene is one of the greatest in Dwarf history. And I love the final scene with Kryten's last line, which is one of the best endings to an ep the series has ever had.
I agree that Meltdown is brilliant; surely the monster effects were *meant* to be unconvincing, though? Hence Kryten's line "I've seen more convincing monsters given away free with a packet of Wheaty-Flakes." Fact: the monster footage was taken from the Japanese film Daikyoju Gappa (1967).
I always find it incredibly difficult to choose a favourite series - each feels so different to the previous one (even with III/IV/V), and each is just so great (from the first six series), that it's just impossible. I usually plump for VI - mainly because it's so underrated and criticised unfairly - which isn't a good enough reason to pick it as my favourite, really...
Posted by John Hoare at January 18, 2004 01:47 PM
Meltdown is my favourite episode from series IV. End of.
Posted by Joey at January 18, 2004 03:06 PM
I'm beginning to wonder whether this whole "the fans hate Meltdown" stuff from Rob and Doug was just based on a few idiots being rather too loud.
Either that, or nobody who hates Meltdown DARES say so for fear of being lynched by us lot.
Posted by John Hoare at January 18, 2004 03:09 PM
I think 'White Hole' and 'Meltdown' are the standouts of series 4 by a considerable margin. 'Camille' is nice but never really goes anywhere - it's in need of an extras script edit it never got. 'DNA' is rubbish, it's far too much of a smug knowing wink throughout and the ending is stupid. I've never had much time for 'Justice' either, it all feels a bit inconsequential and bland (it's almost as though Rob and Doug felt this too as 'The Inquisitor' was a virtual re-write with a more engaging plot and better gags). 'White Hole' is sublime - you get your money's worth with that one, it's got a belting plot and the jokes are excellent. 'Dimension Jump' is good, but it feels a bit too repetitive and one-note at times. There are far too many clothes similies in a too-short space of time, too - I always think that episode isn't tightly-written enough. 'Meltdown' is perfect, no elaboration needed.
Posted by Darrell Jones at January 18, 2004 04:10 PM
Did I mention Meltdown is my favourite episode of series IV and in my top 5 of all time?
Posted by Joey at January 18, 2004 04:40 PM
Gah. I've never understood why some people hate D.N.A - perhaps the Robocop stuff is slightly too obvious, but there's any number of great bits in the show: "We don't want him! Go away! You took him, you can keep the smegger!", all of the Rimmer's cowardice at the start ("So, shall I cancel the order to find your mother?"), the whole of the medical bay scene with the newly-human Kryten and Lister ("What, taking photographs of it and showing it to your mates? No, it's not!"), Kryten's conversation with his spare heads (especially Spare Hand 1's reaction), the reveal of the tiny Robo-Lister... I even find the last line amusing.
Mind you, I wouldn't argue it was the strongest of the series, indeed, I might be able to be persuaded it's the weakest.
Justice is fab though, and I won't hear a WORD against it. The whole defence scene is another one of my favourites. Oh, and off the point, that scene has one of my favourite smeg ups in. "Objection to the previous overruling of my previous objection... fuck, sorry. Sorry - not in the script actually..."
Posted by John Hoare at January 18, 2004 04:57 PM
He doesn't say "fuck", he says "shit".
Posted by Ian Symes at January 18, 2004 06:34 PM
I like it when he says shit.
Posted by John Hoare at January 18, 2004 06:40 PM
People hate DNA!?
What!?
And Meltdown!?
TIT!!
I liked those epeisodes 2��!
Posted by MJN SEIFER at January 19, 2004 09:56 PM
Regarding me saying before how I think Meltdown is perfect, I realised that there are very few RD eps which I would class as faultless. So I made a list:
Future Echoes
Timeslides
White Hole
Meltdown
The Inquisitor
Quarantine
Demons and Angels
Legion
That's all my perfect RD - they're the ones that'd really hold their own against competition. One E240's worth of bliss (actually, I'd probably use that as an actual compilation tape to get someone into Dwarf).
Why am I saying this? Well, it's because series 4 has two of my all-time favourites in, but also some I don't much care for at all. A mixed bag, I'd say.
Posted by Darrell Jones at January 19, 2004 10:16 PM
Actually - there's Thanks for the Memory and Polymorph as well.
Posted by Darrell Jones at January 19, 2004 11:47 PM
That's really odd; in Series 2-6, I find it really really hard to say one episode I like more than another.
There's probably an article in that somewhere.
Posted by John Hoare at January 20, 2004 06:13 AM
Actually, that's a huge fat lie. Out Of Time is one of my favourite ever episodes.
Posted by John Hoare at January 20, 2004 06:45 PM
Mad coincidence relating to my list above - a friend has just asked me to dub off a Red Dwarf compilation tape as he hasn't seen it for years. So, this is what I've boiled up to stick on a 3-hour tape on LP:
4.4 White Hole
6.2 Legion
2.3 Thanks for the Memory
5.2 The Inquisitor
3.3 Polymorph
5.4 Quarantine
2.2 Better Than Life
6.3 Gunmen of the Apocalypse
3.5 Timeslides
5.5 Demons and Angels
1.2 Future Echoes
4.6 Meltdown
I put quite a lot of thought into that - it seems better mixing them up than putting them in chronological order, I think. Note no series 7 or 8 - I've fallen out with them of late (specifically after watching series 5 and 6 again).
Posted by Darrell Jones at January 20, 2004 09:49 PM
A Red Dwarf compilation. Excellent!
Posted by Ian Symes at January 20, 2004 11:13 PM
Yeah...'White Hole' on reflection is great throughout, and I take your point about the recycling issue. Who gives a smeg
Posted by Thomas at January 21, 2004 12:16 PM
Series IV certainly stands out fromt he rest. I think it's the least consistent of the lot but I also find it one of the more interesting series.
I very much looking forward to the more serious discussions about War and the farce surrounding Danny's alternate role. The cat being a cleaner would have been funnier. Black or not.
Isn't it ironic that some people go around making a fuss about positive black role models and being anti-racisms when most of the rest of us are happilly going through life not giving race a second thought. I blame Daily Mail readers.
Posted by Cappsy at January 21, 2004 06:36 PM
I don't like Meltdown actually. I think it is a very poor episode.
Posted by Mr Flibble at January 22, 2004 11:42 PM
Gah.
Why?
Posted by John Hoare at January 22, 2004 11:43 PM
"Anyone got a burger? I havn't eaten in fiiiive minutes"
Posted by Cappsy at January 23, 2004 08:09 AM
Friend who I just sent that 12-ep compilation tape to: "It was all great, but Meltdown was the best".
Haha! Meltdown WINS!
Posted by Darrell Jones at January 23, 2004 02:10 PM
possible for me to say the word cunt
Posted by j at April 29, 2004 08:34 PM
Writing your own review are you?
Posted by Darrell Jones at April 29, 2004 09:32 PM
What is this doing back up here?
Posted by Was at May 4, 2004 01:21 PM
BECAUSE IT HATES YOU.
Posted by John Hoare at May 4, 2004 05:29 PM
You should hear what it says about you.
Posted by Was at May 5, 2004 11:24 AM
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