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Mr.Hippo reviews "Red Dwarf" Series 8, Episode 3 !!!

Published at:  Mar 04, 1999 4:22:30 PM CST

SPOILER ALERT !!

Glen here...



Thursday is Red Dwarf day here on Coaxial. Each Thursday evening, Series 8 of the
cult comedy is run in the U.K. Each Thursday evening, Mr. Hippo types away on enormous,
oversized keys (he's got those big, flat Hippo feet you know) to bring the world his thoughts on the
latest installment of the newest season of Red Dwarf.

Without further adieu, here's Hippo!



________________________________





Mr. Hippo wrote:



Mr. Hippo here, hiding in the dining room, desperately trying to avoid the
Channel 4 Interview with Monica Lewinsky.

His apologies to those in America
who've already been subjected to the double torture of Monica Lewinsky and
Bab-bar-a Walters... (sorry, Mr. Hippo started to cry there for a moment...
thinking about someone's traumatic childhood... exposed on national
television so that... we - too - can feel their pain).

Mr. Hippo feels your
pain... NOT! The only pain he feels is that of lousy television, he is
surrounded by it, mocked by it! Mr. Hippo is NOT a sensitive, 90's Hippo.
But let us be joyful for there are little hopes here and there to be found
amongst television wasteland.

This week has been a busy week for the Hippoman as he prepares to swim
across the Atlantic (the ocean that is, not the restaurant in the London
West End). Season 7 of DS9 has finally landed in the United Kingdom and Mr.
Hippo is still recovering from the brilliant double-whammy opening episodes
('Image in the Sand' and 'Shadows and Symbols').

Mr. Hippo has fallen in
love with Nicole de Boer (Terry Who?) and was 'hyp-mo-tised' by Sarah
Michelle Geller's wardrobe choices in the latest UK screening of Buffy the
Vampire Slayer (something about a horny dummy and an ugly demon... or was it the
other way around? Anyway, Buffy looked gorgeous). Also, Mr. Hippo was
disappointed by the loss of Crusade, passes on his condolences to
those saddened, though he himself was always slightly wary of how it would
live up to the standards of B5 (wary, but hopeful).

However, he has found time to partake of the latest Red Dwarf episode,
'Back in the Red - Part Three'.

Last week, Mr. Hippo suggested (and several people agreed) that Part Two of
'Back in the Red' appeared to be a transition episode. This week's episode
would seem to confirm this - a spot-on episode with some good laughs which
appeared to bring the on-going story back to some form of conclusion, tying
in nicely with the opening sequence of Rimmer and Lister in the brig at the
beginning of Part One.

Good - better than last week - though still not
great was Mr. Hippo's verdict.

'Back in the Red - Part 3' is not in the
'laugh so hard, you cry' category. This episode was literally crammed with
a joke every 10 seconds (at least it seemed so) but what kept this episode
from being a classic is about only half the jokes actually come off, though
the other half that did 'hit home' were brilliant.

Also, Mr. Hippo forgot who wrote in and suggested that 'Back in the Red'
was originally suppose to be a 90-minute special which the BBC (in their
finite wisdom) decided to break-up into three parts. Mr. Hippo would agree
with this statement. It appears to be a perfect example of the BBC's
unerring ability to be stupid. Mr. Hippo would like to see Back in the Red
as a cohesive episode to see if this helps the flow of the story,
especially during the middle bit.




Highlights included:

** Holly (Norman Lovett) was back from missing in action last week and the
best bit of this episode. Norman Lovett was in top 'moon' form. Welcome
back, old friend.

** Cat's brilliant transformation in AR when he suddenly becomes smart and
finds the AR exit utilising Roman numerals.

** Chris Barrie was also good, mainly because all of his main scenes were
interactions with Cat, Lister and gang, especially when they try to
convince him to escape with them ('are any of these 5 buttons
illuminated?'). He wasn't asked to carry large parts of the episode on his
own as last week. The opening sequence with Lister in their brig cell was
good too, especially the 'privacy' provision for using the toilet.

** Special effects were good. Mr. Hippo doesn't think he has mentioned this
before but for a BBC programme the special effects were really, really
quite good. Mr. Hippo hasn't said anything because it's never really been
an important part of what makes Red Dwarf great; and,

**the episode-closing joke on Rimmer was brilliant.




Oh-Hum Highlights included:

** Cat's dance routine didn't come off as a joke and was too long;

** The multiple Artificial Reality basis of the story has been done better
previously (see the classic Season 5 Red Dwarf episode 'Back to Reality',
or even some of the ST: The Next Generation stories come to mind, for
example 'Ship in a Bottle' or even 'The Inner Light'). Mr. Hippo really
thinks Red Dwarf has taken these Artificial Reality stories as far as they
can go comedy-wise.

** Chloe Annett is a waste of space (but most people already knew that); and,

** Kryten really doesn't have much to do except for one brilliant joke - his
'lack of supplies' comment - no fabric softener! Mr. Hippo is still
laughing!




So, there you have it from Mr. Hippo's grimy snout. A good, solid episode with a
lot (and Mr. Hippo means a lot) of jokes. Some come-off, some don't but
there is more than enough to make you NOT want to wait for next week's
episode. Thumbs up, partially erect and signing off.

PS Mrs. Hippo is reviewing next week and she's only doing this as a favour
to Mr. Hippo so, please play nice with her.




________________________________




COAXIAL related questions, comments, praise, ridicule ???



CLICK HERE to e-mail
Glen


Or call:



(512) 347-1992




Mail can be sent to:



Glen Oliver

P.O. BOX 160812

Austin, TX 78716-0812

USA






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    Readers Talkback

  • Mar 04, 1999 5:00:46 PM CST

    Thanks for RD coverage!

    by barrymore

    I just wanted to thank Mr. Hippo and AICN/Coaxial for the continuing coverage of the new season of Red Dwarf!
    It sounds like the first three episodes have been very good--even if they were meant to be shown as one 90 minute movie.
    I can't wait to see these new shows!
    P.S. Mr. Hippo is also very correct about Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy is the best show currently on US TV) and Nicole deBoer (it is really too bad this is the final season of DS9--it's been one of the best.)
    Thanks!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Mar 04, 1999 5:43:22 PM CST

    Red Dwarf 8 in the US

    by dave lister

    I am wondering how(if at all) the showing of Red Dwarf 8 in parts of the US this weekend will effect Coaxials coverage of Red Dwarf 8. Id hate to see the future episodes spoiled for those in the UK who have to wait weeks.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Mar 05, 1999 4:37:55 AM CST

    Fellow Dwarfer

    by salamander

    I have to agree with monsenior Hippo, last nights was better than part two last week but its not yet the standard off 'back to reality', 'legion' or even 'back to reality' which were classic stand alone episodes which i still crack-up watching them. I also agree cats dance sequence was waaaay too long and not as good as it could have been. Rimmer was excellent and its nice to see him having (so far) quite a large roll in the new series (and good for him to get his end away at last !!) . Holly - well he's just plain cool, dry sense of humour spot on as usual but not a lot of coverage on him yet. I'd like to see him in top wack form like his weez of the week gags such as listers sausage which covers 2/3rds of the earth and his queeg !. And yes the ending was excellent joke on rimsey. Hope the three parter sets it up for the single stand alone ones.

    p.s. kachanski (i donno how ya spell it) i have to say attractive but still hasn't grown on me as one of the 'boys from the dwarf' - i cant wait for kryton to start building archie ! now that will be cool (archie-an attachment which will make him more of a man ..ya know?)

    Reply to Talkback

  • Mar 05, 1999 7:24:41 AM CST

    Attention, Boston-area Dwarfers!

    by billy goat

    Scanning the TV Guide this morning, I noticed that WGBH channel 2 has an irregularly scheduled 2-hour Red Dwarf time slot this Saturday night, March 6, 11PM EST. No story details are given. Could this be "Back in the Red"? Set those VCRs! (Keep in mind this is pledge drive season, so don't be surprised of the show starts or ends as much as 10 minutes late.) -Billy

    Reply to Talkback

  • Mar 05, 1999 9:09:50 AM CST

    I am not reading these....

    by mckracken

    RED DWARF is my all-time fav show from the BBC and we're getting it Sunday at 7pm. (maybe only the first 3 shows I dont know really.) Screw the spoilers I read each paragraph carefully hiding the next before moving on. I stopped at the line:"Good - better than last week - though still not great was Mr. Hippo's verdict." and I aint reading no further!! Thank you Mr. Hippo for providing these reviews, I'll read them after I see the show!! (comments/gripes/bitches/complains/moans and whines will be in the "FORUMS: coaxial" section next week) :O) McK out!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Mar 05, 1999 10:08:48 AM CST

    RD8

    by esarty

    Reply to Talkback

  • Mar 05, 1999 12:17:17 PM CST

    I don't get it....

    by luc

    I just can't understand how RD manages to still be so popular. It has gone from being by far the funniest show on TV to the biggest suck ass waste of 30 minutes I can think of.
    I had hopes for this series, (I was seriously disappointed with the last one), I figured bringing in some old characters would bring back some of that old magic but everyone in it seems so wasted nowadays. e.g. the scutters even used to be funny but don't do much now. (OK, they didn't used to do that much in the first place but when they did it was hilarious). I will have to grant you though that Holly coming back was a master stroke cos he's still got it.
    That dance scene wasn't even wasted, it wasn't even a remotely funny concept. And long!!! I put on ceefax to check some football scores during that scene... there were 3 goals before it had even finished.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Mar 05, 1999 5:19:44 PM CST

    It didn't work for me

    by henrik

    I liked your review but this episode just didn't work for me. The plot is just stringing on too long. The self contained episodes were brilliant. The on-going "get back to the Dwarf"series was fine. But this 3 parter (that hasn't even ended yet) spends too much time recapping and that leaves less time for the gags.
    That said, it still makes me laugh out loud. So, I'll be there next week. (McCracken, we feel for you. Our Star Wars release date is July 26. Can you imagine trying to dodge SW on the Net for 2 months!)

    Reply to Talkback

  • Mar 06, 1999 11:42:33 AM CST

    All going a bit pear shaped?

    by pob__

    Okay so what happened in the last episode? I saw it but i didnt understand it. The story has progressed virtually in no way at all. The first episode of the series was fantastic, i didnt have high hopes for it as the last series was the worst I've ever seen, but it was great. i laughed almost to tears and the 'nearly brought me down to the bone' i was in stitches! But since then theres been nothing monumental in any of the other episodes. Dwayne dibley section gave me a little smile but only one that said 'aww he's back .....again.' I love RD and hope that after theyve got through the crap of flashbacks and concentrate on the future they will be able to put another episode together that fully justifies what Rob Grant and Doug Naylor had created. Rob grant does a very good job but you can't help wish Doug had stayed on. Well good luck to them. Already this series is far better than the previous one but then so were the Police Academy films(!)
    Thanks for listening to me moan

    Mike

    Reply to Talkback

  • Mar 07, 1999 5:04:08 AM CST

    Mr hippo is a genius

    by bobilific

    Did I say genius, I meant
    scumsucking gobshine.your intense lack of insight disgust me and my dog fluffy who is very sensitive to that sort.
    Have you ever even seen Red Dwarf,
    if you have youd know, that mulder is the believer and scully is not. Do some research fool!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Mar 07, 1999 2:26:59 PM CST

    Thanks god for PBS

    by brit_in_montreal

    I thought having just left the UK for Canada I would never see Red Dwarf again.

    Imagine my surprise when I accidently turned to MountainLake PBS yesterday and found they were just about to show the first 5 episodes of Season 8.

    The new season has got off to a good start and restored my faith in the Red Dwarf series which seemed to run out of ideas during season 7.

    Hopefully the rest of the series will be just as good and be broadcast soon.

    I can't wait, i'm like a kid on Christmas eve :)

    Reply to Talkback

  • Mar 08, 1999 4:49:53 AM CST

    The fall of the Dwarfers

    by tenminjoe

    I *cannot* sit back and see this review of episode 3, series 8, go out to the world uncommented. It was a DULL episode. The first 5 minutes or so was a recap of the previous episode - complete with pauses for laughter! You can't make the EXACT same joke as you did last week and expect it to be just as funny. The dance scene wasn't even conceptually funny and seemd to go on forever - there were perhaps one or two faint-smile inducing jokes in the rest of the episode. I'm a huge fan of Red Dward (all the episodes on video, etc etc), but this and the last series have been SERIOUSLY short of the mark. It isn't fair to build up the expectations of our American cousins by telling them that this serious is anything other than the feeble, unfunny mistake that it is.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jul 09, 2006 11:52:49 AM CDT

    They drank too much.

    by wolfpack

    Reply to Talkback

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