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jobloffski -> RE: Red Dwarf Appreciation Thread (12/4/2009 2:17:57 PM)
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I'm going to be very kind to what's been on so far.
The script for the first episode was in the style of Early Dwarf, so directing it like later Dwarf harmed the hamminess that was so much a part of it when the camera didn't move so much. That said, even though to me it seemed like a few retakes could have helped the comic timing, it wasn't really that bad.
Second episode at times, seemed like production once again may have taken place at too high a speed to get the comic timing quite right (the chemistry between the characters was always what made the jokes work, even when they were sometimes not brilliant).
That said, I thought the piss take of 'Deckard zooms in on the photo' was inspired and I for one laughed aloud at 'I only do noses'.
At the very least, when this show homages other sci-fi and other genres it doesn't shy away from it and pretend it's totally original, something the over praised last few years of doctor who does absolutely non fucking stop while giving off a stink of 'look how brilliant we are!!!'
Back To Earth aint Dwarf At it's best. But reducing the cast back to its core does kind of highlight how completely the show got fucked up when the crew of the diminutive crimson one was ressurrected, thereby skewering the sit (the isolation of a few characters is always the core of a great sit com) and the com (the relationship dynamic of a few core characters and their interplay acts as the fuel for the com.
The cast were up for this, and while it's not fully developed enough and probably way too rushed or may have been lacking in opps for rehearsal, it does at least attempt to right what went wrong with red dwarf, when a decision was made to replace Rimmer's role in the series with Kochanski, from which it never really recovered, and which could have been very, very, very easily sorted by having the hologram emmitter corrupted, recasting the character and making the replacement actor be even more Rimmery a Rimmer than Rimmer, and the same 'wish we had Rimmer back' stuff could have been mined comedically, in much the same way without having to try and second guess fan complaints by having Dave miss him then say later be glad to be rid of him. The relationship dynamic of old would have still been intact and the series wouldn't have had rely on 'pretty face but the acting skills of Keanu Reeves in a coma' Chloe Annett.
I don't speak as a geek here, because my instincts leading to the above points the above are purely those of a writer (anybody who's ever read my previous, (equally presumptious) posts may note my habit of applying these instincts to any and every genre/franchise).
By the way, for some reason I just loved the music that kicked in as the 'Dwarfers were being sucked through the magic door (effectively what EVERY time/dimension/reality conduit amounts to, and if I had anything to do with Red Dwarf, I would have them 'shift' in this way via a Macguffin, a Plot Device, have at some point a solution literally pulled out of someones arse, thereby spoofing the tendency of sci fi to try and get away with any old shit they think the target asudience will swallow and up the spoof content of the stories generally, which is eminently possible without losing the sci fi edge).
Ok whatever, that's enough of my horseshit. Well, except to say, perhaps a tile card with cheesy fanfare could have announced massive thanks to Dave and who stumped up the cash (presumably Granada, due to the Corrie stuff) and there could have been less referencing of the channel the show was being made by. Then a less self conscious story could have been written, and Dave could have basked in kudos for RESISTING the urge to treat the show as self promotion and gotten a bit of respect for having the balls to do what the BBC have been too stupid, to bloody minded, or too afraid to do. Instead, the script has jokes about Dave, making it unfortunately reminiscent of corporate, in-house TV.
Er, laughed when the kid said 'tell Rimmer he's a smeghead'. So shoot me.
No more horeshit.
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