Customer Reviews

Red Dwarf - Series 3, Byte 1: Backwards [VHS]

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Red Dwarf is incredible. If you are unfamiliar with this show, I suggest picking up a copy of the first season in order to follow the story line and the Dwarfers from the beginning. If you are familiar with this brilliant show, here's one tape you can't miss.

The start of the third season gives us "Backwards". Not only is it a riotous romp, the trick cinematography is fantastic. The Dwarfers return to a version of Earth where time, and subsequently the planet's inhabitants, run backwards! Can they orient themselves to their new home, or is it just too weird?

The second episode on the tape is Marooned. Not my favorite episode, very talky, but some nice space time is logged with the pivotal characters, Rimmer and Lister.

The third episode is Polymorph. One of the best Red Dwarfs. A mutant being drains an emotion from each of the crew. Chris Barrie's portrayal of an angerless Rimmer is Oscar-worthy.

If you think a British sci-fi comedy that specializes in the rampant use of the word "Smeg" is up your alley, by all means purchase this tape and enjoy. You won't be disapponted.

What can I say? Those boys from the circus may argue the point, but for my money, Red Dwarf is the greatest show on Earth. That said, "Polymorph" is the zenith of the series. Perhaps a bit more crude than the other episodes, but jam packed with gut-wrenching, torrents of humor. I'm not kidding when I tell you that I laughed so hard that I fell onto the floor and almost passed out from oxygen depervation. Scene after seen will leave you breathless: Lister sleeping with Rimmer's mom and giving him attitude about it (right; pistons in an ocean-liner), Cat being seduced (too stupid to realize there are no women on the ship) and turning into a bumb, the acronim for Rimmer's passive resistance movement (let's just say it's also a female body part), and so forth. By far the best moment of all happened when Rimmer walked in on Kryten trying to help Lister out of his shrinking boxer shorts. I don't care if you have never watched the show before, after this tape (unless you're a prude) you will not be able to stop until you've seen them all - and even then you'll want to own them so you can watch them over and over and over. I do!

The Red Dwarf series works very hard to make what appears to be an effortless and seamless conglomeration of inventive plot lines and wonderful gags. This series is very funny and worth every penny, however, recent production of the DVD sets may make you think twice before purchasing the VHS tapes. If you only have VHS the tapes are quite worth it, but if you want all the juicy extras the DVD is sure to have in store I suggest you wait until next year and purchase season three then.
On this particular tape we start with time travel and teleportation to a very strange version of Earth in "Backwards." The very next episode, "Marooned," will have you wetting yourself as the climactic joke takes the shape of a guitar. Finally, we have Polymorph where the jokes keep flying and the emotions are drained.

Once again, Red Dwarf has tickled my funny bone. All three episodes on here are great.

"Backwards" - The crew end up back on Earth in the 20th century, but with time running backwards. Inventive plotline and lots of laughs.
"Marooned" - Lister and Rimmer are stranded together on an ice planet, where Lister must decide between his guitar, great works of literature and Rimmer's treasured camphorwood chest to be burned to keep warm. I think we know what wins.
"Polymorph" - The gang is terrorized by a shape-shifting mutant. Includes famous Kryten-Lister sex scene! (huh?)

Three great episodes from this sci-fi/comedy hybrid series which went from strength to strength. In "Backwards" the crew find an alternative universe running in reserve. Thanks to good special effects and some well-thought-out situations this episode is an all-time classic. "Marooned" is a virtual two-hander in which Lister and Rimmer reveal events from their pasts (though not always truthfully in Rimmer's case) as they await rescue. In "Polymorph" a shape-shifting life form finds its way aboard, leading to some hilarious scenes - including one involving Kryten's, er, electrical add-ons. Whether you're a fan of sci-fo or comedy or both, Red Dwarf is a must-see.

Okay, I'm not even sure which episodes I've seen, and which ones I haven't. I'm sorta new to the seiries, which, lucky me, they show every saturday night at 10:30 on the local PBS station (God bless PBS). I have a love-hate relationship with this seiries. I think some of the early stuff is so stupid that you just have to laugh for no other reason than it's extremely absurd. The later shows get funnier and funnier. But, I have one burning question. Why on earth does nobody even attempt to like poor Rimmer? I for one, but don't value my opinion, I have wacked-out taste in just about anything, think that Rimmer is a likeable person, and, yes, just a tiny bit cute. But, that's just me. Don't let me turn you away or anything, just watch for yourself. These are funny shows if you give them a chance.