A Day Late; or, Dec. 12 meme answer

[veronica_rich]

For notalwaysweak, who asked: "Your least favourite thing about Red Dwarf canon and why."

I don't know if you mean within the universe itself, or how it's handled in the writing or what, but I'll just interpret it as Dealer's Choice. While there are things I like in Series 8, particular elements of characterization or world-building, I have to say that overall the tone of it felt the most out of synch with the rest of the serieses. The whole season was a wacky-gag-a-minute with no introspection, and each episode felt kind of like a dirty Carol Burnett variety show episode, but not as good. The reason Carol's show worked is they were playing different characters in every skit, so they were just going for the gags; you can't do that with established characters in a running storyline. (Plus there are questionable things like the whole sex virus storyline, where the first time you see it, it's hilarious, and then you start thinking about what's wrong with it ... and it's not so hilarious anymore.)

Comments

[janamelie.livejournal.com]

Interesting. I wondered if you might go for Rimmer's history with McGruder, but of course that's open to interpretation. And arguably Doug cancelled it out with the retcon in "Last Human".

Yes, I'd have to go for Series VIII in general too. No wonder Heath and Angela were so taken aback by "BTE" after this - well, pantomime.

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

I'm not crazy about the intimation of Rimmer taking advantage of McGruder against her will or the like, but we all know Rimmer is deeply screwed up and fairly ignorant of relationships, so ... one has to kind of consider the possibility McGruder really *did* like him and circumstances were just icky.

[janamelie.livejournal.com]

I'm inclined towards the benefit of the doubt too. Maybe she did like him but just thought his name was Norman for some reason. Mix-ups do happen. :)