Customer Reviews

Red Dwarf 6: Byte 2 [VHS]

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

 

 

I remember the first time I watched a Red Dwarf episode(parallel universe), and I've been hooked ever since. I've been a connoisseur of British Comedy for quite a while now, but there is no series up to the standards of Red Dwarf I-XI. I'd suggest buying every single video. Each episode is as funny as the pope's hat is tall. This particular series is worth the money simply to see Rimmer actually show he has a backbone. (or at least a little cartilage).

The Duke of Dork is back! We also find out that Lister's taste in the opposite sex runs towards things furrier than his armpits (and her name sounds like a footballer clearing his nose, and "Kochanski" does sound like somebody sneezing, doesn't it? Snide mode: hahahahaha!), as well as the two sides of Arnold Judas Rimmer: the heroic Ace and the cowardly, sniveling git in "Rimmerworld." A must buy, especially if you have Byte 1 of Series 6. Be sure to check out a rare piece of heroic behavior by Rimmer in "Out of Time." And he wasn't even in his incarnation of Ace Rimmer. Sympathy for the character? Not smegging likely. And can you imagine a world composed of Arnold Rimmer clones? Even the real Arnold Rimmer couldn't stand it. Grind those (worry) balls while watching! And make sure you have plenty of vindaloo and lager. Now was Lister really created to rid the universe of chicken vindaloo? How about some pappadums with that?

How could anyone resist the antics and kooky personality of Dwain Dibley. The name itself brings pure joy to my ears.It's so funny I can't even think about it.

The sixth series of Red Dwarf was possibly the best ever and these three episodes are excellent and hilarious. A must for fans of comedy and/or sci-fi.

Things and ideas are getting a bit strained in the last three episodes of the sixth season, and the first story in this video is evidence of that. "Emohawk-Polymorph II" has the members of the RD crew crashing down on the GELF (Genetically Engineered Life Form) planet of the Kinatowawi, a hideous-looking ape-like race halfway between man and orangutang. They need an oxygen-generation unit, which was damaged during the crash. The Kinatowawi have one, and fortunately, don't skin the RD crew for bean bags like many other GELF races do, but the price is Lister marrying the chief's daughter. They also encounter an Emohawk, which like the alien from the third story of Season 3, is a Polymorph, a creature that feeds off negative emotions. As a result, the story isn't a "Polymorph" retread, but it's not as great as the original. Rimmer's argument of the army with the shortest hair being the winner in battle bears is kind of amusing. More so is when the Cat insults Rimmer's haircut: "I have hair like yours, just not on my head." OUCH!

The notable guest star is British TV chef Ainsley Herriot as the GELF chief. Herriot would later have the Seventh Season RD crew on a special edition of his cooking show, Can't Cook, Won't Cook, retitled Can't Smeg, Won't Smeg. (Rating: 4 out of 5)

Rimmer finds himself on a G-class planetoid after fleeing the Simulant cruiser they shot down in "Gunmen Of The Apocalypse." The pod he fled in was from a colonist seeding vessel, containing eco-accelerator rockets with which he creates "Rimmerworld." However, as the planetoid is on the other side of a wormhole, it'll take Starbug 600 years to reach him. This is another variation of the Psy-Moon in Season V's "Terrorform", i.e. a world in Rimmer's image, only this one isn't as good. The formula, like that of the previous story, is kind of wearing a bit thin. (Rating: 3.5 out of 5)

Weird things begin to happen in the final episode, "Out Of Time". Not only is morale bad among the crew for losing Red Dwarf's vapour trail, but they pass through reality minefields, pockets of unreality that present false realities. However, the story doesn't provide that many laughs, with a glimpse at their future selves falling somewhat flat. But what a cliffhanger ending! (Rating: 3.5 out of 5).

All in all, the last three stories are derivative, being a case of "haven't we seen this before?" Maybe the three year gap between this season and Season VII was for the best. (Overall rating: (4+3.5+3.5)/3 = 3.7, rounded up to 4).

The boys from the Dwarf are at their very best in these three episodes. If you've never seen this series (6) then get it now, you won't be sorry! The comedy is hilarious, the characters are superbly well-developed, the sillyness of this Brit comedy is unsurpassed.