New Red Dwarf episode announced

**NeanderCarl** · 04-11-2009, 01:00 PM

Really enjoyed it. Didn't seem like a self-contained episode, I really think these specials will play a lot better watched back-to-back (or rather, all in one extended edit) on DVD when it is released, based on the first one.

It doesn't seem to be written as a three episode story-arc, but more as one long story hacked up for broadcast. That's why I think the pace was a bit slower and more subdued last night than I expected. It was just setting the scene, starting to build momentum, reach a later crescendo... which will work perfectly fine when watched as a whole, but seems to have disappointed some people who have reviewed the first episode alone and claim that nothing really happened in it.

If they are patient, I'm sure they will be rewarded. It got 2.2 million viewers, which is phenomenal and doubled Dave's current record (and beat BBC2 in the same slot, which is salt in the wound for the channel that refused to recommission it). I can understand why some may have been disappointed but I hope that doesn't translate to a big dip in ratings tonight and tomorrow because I'm very confident (and backed up by reviewers who have actually seen the whole thing) that everything picks up considerably when they reach Earth.

As far as last night's part 1... I loved it. It looked beautiful... the characterization was *almost* spot on... it wasn't gag-a-minute studio sitcom funny, but there were some cracking lines, good visual gags and great character stuff... Katerina is stunning... the CGI was unbelievable, I'm usually not a fan of CGI because it looks so unnatural and obvious, but it looked AS good as model shots in this episode and the green screen sets looked so superb that you just barely noticed they were green screen (if you didn't know, you probably wouldn't have even considered it).

Obviously an evolution of the show as far as look, tone and direction are concerned but that's fine, it keeps the show relevant in 2009 rather than just be a nostalgic reunion show. This is a show with a lot of life left in it, not a show simply celebrating a glorious past. Best new Red Dwarf material since 1993, first proof that Doug Naylor can still produce PROPER Red Dwarf as a sole writer. No laugh track was strange at first, but didn't really affect it... a more comedy-drama tone is the way televised comedy in general is tilted nowadays and to have a shot at coming back full-time, I think it was a brave and neccessary step to take.

Can't wait until 9pm!

**Tornado** · 04-12-2009, 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Class Act Carl

If they are patient, I'm sure they will be rewarded. It got 2.2 million viewers, which is phenomenal and doubled Dave's current record (and beat BBC2 in the same slot, which is salt in the wound for the channel that refused to recommission it). I can understand why some may have been disappointed but I hope that doesn't translate to a big dip in ratings tonight and tomorrow because I'm very confident (and backed up by reviewers who have actually seen the whole thing) that everything picks up considerably when they reach Earth.

Part 2 - 937,000 viewers, loss of over half. Oh Dear.

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04-11-2009, 01:00 PM	#1
NeanderCarl That's Not My Name Posts: 9,086	Really enjoyed it. Didn't seem like a self-contained episode, I really think these specials will play a lot better watched back-to-back (or rather, all in one extended edit) on DVD when it is released, based on the first one. It doesn't seem to be written as a three episode story-arc, but more as one long story hacked up for broadcast. That's why I think the pace was a bit slower and more subdued last night than I expected. It was just setting the scene, starting to build momentum, reach a later crescendo... which will work perfectly fine when watched as a whole, but seems to have disappointed some people who have reviewed the first episode alone and claim that nothing really happened in it. If they are patient, I'm sure they will be rewarded. It got 2.2 million viewers, which is phenomenal and doubled Dave's current record (and beat BBC2 in the same slot, which is salt in the wound for the channel that refused to recommission it). I can understand why some may have been disappointed but I hope that doesn't translate to a big dip in ratings tonight and tomorrow because I'm very confident (and backed up by reviewers who have actually seen the whole thing) that everything picks up considerably when they reach Earth. As far as last night's part 1... I loved it. It looked beautiful... the characterization was almost spot on... it wasn't gag-a-minute studio sitcom funny, but there were some cracking lines, good visual gags and great character stuff... Katerina is stunning... the CGI was unbelievable, I'm usually not a fan of CGI because it looks so unnatural and obvious, but it looked AS good as model shots in this episode and the green screen sets looked so superb that you just barely noticed they were green screen (if you didn't know, you probably wouldn't have even considered it). Obviously an evolution of the show as far as look, tone and direction are concerned but that's fine, it keeps the show relevant in 2009 rather than just be a nostalgic reunion show. This is a show with a lot of life left in it, not a show simply celebrating a glorious past. Best new Red Dwarf material since 1993, first proof that Doug Naylor can still produce PROPER Red Dwarf as a sole writer. No laugh track was strange at first, but didn't really affect it... a more comedy-drama tone is the way televised comedy in general is tilted nowadays and to have a shot at coming back full-time, I think it was a brave and neccessary step to take. Can't wait until 9pm!