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Red Dwarf - Back To Earth, Dave TV
Many things have advanced since Red Dwarf last graced our screens more than a decade ago, including TV and CGI technology, but perhaps more importantly the fact that being geeky can now also be cool.
Maybe in another weird parallel universe the sit-com set in space pulls in more viewers than self-loathing, torture showcase X-Factor... then again maybe not.
Liverpool-born pop culture hero Craig Charles, who plays the last surviving human in the universe, had promised the new three-parter would deliver a 'mind-melting' adventure and surreal it was.
The boys from the Dwarf found themselves transported back to earth after decoding the genes of a dimension-hopping leviathan only to discover that they are characters in a hit TV sit-com and that their world does not really exist.
Red Dwarf always used to be filmed in front of a studio audience, so alongside the movie quality images - the missing laughter track did take some getting used to.
But this was not the biggest reality check to contend with as the plot took more twists and turns than a wibbly, wobbly tear in the space time continiuum.
Watching Saturday's episode with nearly 100 fans at the show's birthplace, The Aigburth Arms, brought home the high-expectations placed upon Red Dwarf's return and the plot kept hardcore fans grinding their teeth, suspending their disbelief and second-guessing until the last.
After various conversations with doubting Dwarfers this reviewer is pleased that the series was adeptly rounded off and their trip explained as a rapturous group hallucination brought on by an ink attack from the giant squid, which Cat released into the ship's water tank.
Writer-director Doug Naylor had said the new mini-series was inspired by the cult classic movie Blade Runner with the Cat leaving solid gold squid clues and an extra treat for film buffs - seeing members of Ridley Scott's original cast given the Red Dwarf treatment.
The Cat echoed many Dwarfers' sentiments when he said: "I've always wanted to go on a metaphysical odyessy..." as the crew read the back of the DVD case of the epsiode they were currently acting out, before tracking down the show's creator to demand more life.
Overall the script was a success, but because of the epic storyline, the characters had less time to crack jokes and the self-parody meant there was less opportunity for the crew's trademark banter.
The most screaming example was their mission to the sci-fi shop They Walk Among Us, where they had to endure a Little Britain style: "no, no, no, no" monologue on the phone to the chairman of the Red Dwarf fan club. Surely this could have been improved by a cameo from a famous fan.
Chris Barrie as the long-suffering hologram Rimmer and Robert Llewelyn as Kryten maintained their star quality throughout and provided a fresh source of laughs through new technology, such as Kryten printing photos from his head.
As promised the Cat, played by Danny-John Jules did make a welcome return to his James Brown inspired squeeling and spin move dancing best - but again he should have been given more lines.
But his sharp suits, including a pink spandex diving suit complete with bell bottom flares speak for themselves and were a joy to behold, compared to the purple prison uniform he was forced to suffer in simple minded gimbodocy in series VIII.
Although the surprise of seeing the Red Dwarf cast seeking a showdown with Craig Charles on Coronation Street was spoiled by papparazzi shots in the national press - it was brilliantly pulled off.
This pleasure was enhanced by watching the show with my Grandma, who had never seen the show but who was tickled to see Kryten hobble up the famous cobbles after trying to get information from a letter box.
Surely most Dwarfers like to picture Craig sitting learning his Corrie lines Dave Lister style - at the very last minute, while supping pints in the Rovers Return.
As Craig struggled to believe he was meeting the real Red Dwarf characters there was a chance for him to make a knowing wink to camera and strike back at his tabloid drug expose by explaining the surreal encounter as a crack flashback... "I need to go back to the Priory..."
Although Michelle Keegan's appearence in the Kabin was a let down as she was just a vehicle for Robert Llewelyn and former Spitting Image star Chris Barrie to get a laugh adopting camp Mancunian brougues to say 'ta loves.' Did Rita and Norris refuse to do it?
The sets on the new Red Dwarf were a sci-fi geeks' wet dream - an upgrade for Rimmer and Lister's bunk room with the added bonus of a fourth wall - unheard of in realms of TV sitcoms all adding to the movie quality of their revival.
A major plot hole worth pointing out though is the case of Holly - the stark absence of the ship's navigating computer with an IQ of 6,000 P.E. teachers was never properly explained.
But the fans' tastebuds have certainly been teased for a new series - there were several mentions of 'series 9' in the script and what happens to Kochanski alluded to as though it has happened and will be played out for us at some point.
The new shows saw a record-breaking TV audience watch live on Dave, see pics here http://tinyurl.com/d9akju The biggest cheer came when Rimmer killed his hologrammatic nemesis, played by Sophie Winkleman by pushing her in front of a car.
Overall, well done Dave - bring the boys home again. And after pulling in 2 million viewers with the first episode, hopefully the digital channel will be eager to follow up that success with a new series.
.JPG)
