Darren Avery Wants To Talk About Red Dwarf!
Have you ever been on Facebook stalking at exes and thought ‘we actually had some pretty good times, it’d be good to catch up again’ only to find when you do actually see them that their glory days were a long long time ago? That’s how I felt after watching ‘Red Dwarf: Back to Earth’ this Bank Holiday weekend.
In my column over the last few weeks I’ve been lording over the return of ‘Red Dwarf’ and hoping that a successful special would lead to a new series, but after watching the 3 episode ‘Back to Earth’ I think it really is time to put the classic show to bed – or for Doug Naylor to at least add a new voice to the process after the departure of Rob Grant. Many feel that series 7 and 8 that followed Grant’s departure were not up to the standards of the previous series’ and if that is true then ‘Back to Earth’ reached an all time low.
So, where to start in terms of a review?
Well the first thing that struck me on watching the show was the lack of ‘canned laughter’ or faux audience throughout the episodes. I’ve struggled with the idea of this over the last few days thinking that these cues make the actual incident that much funnier and therefore that is why I didn’t find many moments laugh out loud. But then I thought, my favourite comedy show ‘Curb your Enthusiasm’, shows such as ‘The Office’ etc and even films, don’t need to rely on canned laughter to tell you that the situation is funny – it just is. And let’s face it – ‘Red Dwarf’ is as much a comedy as it is Sci-Fi, if not more so. The only conclusion I could then come up with is that the writing this time around was actually not that funny.
People will complain about the CGI as opposed to the dodgy old sets from the 80′s/90′s, yes they did make the show that much more endearing but I don’t think this had a massive bearing on the episodes themselves. We all take CGI for granted nowadays anyway and look for more actual content now than we ever did in the 90′s – oooing and ahhing at over elaborate special effects as we did at that time.
From that point of view, it started me thinking about ‘Dr Who’ and its successful transition from similar traditional cult show status to CGI filled, modern day success. Ultimately, it’s the shows ability to ‘regenerate’ itself – stick to the ultimate premise but churn out new ‘Doctors’ for new generations and time periods – thus making the show relevant to that decade and time. The subtle nuances and cultural changes a new lead can add from current societal behavior to the show almost turns the franchise into a whole new entity each time it returns. Sadly in relation to this, ‘Red Dwarf’ may forever be stuck in the 90′s.
The specials just seemed dated. The actors themselves looked aged which of course they would, but when you’re using those characters to act in the same way and in the same scenarios as they have since they were a cool young early 90′s Rastafarian for example, it doesn’t quite work. Craig Charles is becoming ‘that bloke from Coronation Street’. But this is the problem, the show itself cannot change to a modernized version of itself as it cannot change its characters or catchphrases and is therefore doomed to stay where it should be. It’s kinda like watching ‘Batman Forever’ after seeing ‘The Dark Knight’. The world has changed and moved on – maybe now we need to.
With a viewing audience of 2 million it is obvious that the demand is there for a series return; and I for one won’t be surprised if one is scheduled in the near future. Like any cult sci fi type show, the fans are as loyal as they come and will follow the series wherever it goes. I got an overwhelming feeling throughout the specials that it was one big plea for a series contract from both actors and writers; what with the references to a ‘past series’ that hadn’t even been made yet. I could almost see them at the Dave offices, cap in hand. The question should be though, should we really leave it in the past, as the comedy gold it was?
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For me Back to Earth was a step up because it didn’t have Naylor’s annoying post Series 7 Kochanski character, well until Part Three, damn! The writing was not terribly funny, though me and my family chuckled a few times (the characters seemed more like themselves than in Series 8, and good thing too!) However, in my view the laugh track’s main purpose is to add a homey atmosphere, not to actually inject comedy. BTE just seemed rather… empty without it. Blade Runner and other rip offs were annoying, though bearable, well until Part Three when they went way over the top. Get what I am saying? Part One, nice nostalgia trip, Part Two, old idea but was decently good, Part Three, crap in comparison. BTE was not nearly as good as Series 1-6, though even Part Three was not nearly as low as “Krytie TV”, may that episode rot in hell. If Naylor could write a new series like Parts One and Two I would feel fine watching it, it is not as if anyone else is making even half decent science fiction or Brit-coms these days. I agree that Doug needs a co-writer (Paul Alexander aside, though “Epideme” was cool), the most interesting suggestion I heard on the Internet was Ben Elton, the guy who really made Blackadder what it was. That would be… interesting. I don’t agree with the suggestion that BTE seemed dated, if anything its problem was that it wasn’t trying to stay in the 90s, stressing things like mobile phones, high-def, and DVDs (though that joke was funny). I would have liked it more if it felt like something from the early 90s or even the late 80s (I still love Series 1 and 2, the gray submarine sets were the best, they actually seemed like a mining ship!). In the end, problems in Part Three (rip off overuse, Kochanski, a rather wimpy ending, etc) aside, I enjoyed it. I am weary of a new series but I would personally watch it, I watched Series 8 after all (which I still consider Red Dwarf’s low point).
I got the same feeling they were begging with the public to let them have a new series. The first instalment of the three parter looked promising (I was feeling nostalgic watching it) and I didn't mind there being no canned laughter but I then got annoyed at parts 2 and 3. Nothing felt fresh and original. Squid idea had been used already and they ripped off Bladerunner! If they do a new series, I don't think I will watch it unless they think up new plots and Doug gets himself a funny co-writer.
Yeah, actually i can see the likeness to the League of Gentleman movie Big Dog – didnt think of that, good point. Wasn't too impressed with that either mind
Yeah, Rob Grant was the funny one. I think Doug Naylor has actually said that himself. As I was watching it, I thought it was going along the same lines as The League Of Gentlemen's Apocalypse movie, where they were seeking out their creator and the actors who played them. I thought it was alright though, obviously not as good as the originals.
Val Kilmer as the bat?! Hmmm not for me
Also Nicole Kidman should also forever be consigned to the legend that is BMX Bandits!
You nailed exactly how I felt about it. I too questioned the lack of canned laughter, puzzled me for days until I came to the same conclusion as you that Rob Grant was who made Red Dwarf funny. Naylor has always been the go-to guy for all the sci-fi elements and it was up to Grant to inject the comedy.
You only have to read the books they did separately to see this.
Funny thing, I watched Batman Forever the other night and still think it’s the best Batman movie ever made.