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Red Dwarf: Series 4

RRP: £19.99
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Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review

By the end of this fourth year, Red Dwarf had completed its metamorphosis from a modest studio-bound sitcom with a futuristic premise to a full-blown science-fiction series, complete with a relatively lavish (by BBC standards) special-effects budget, more impressive sets and more location shooting. Despite the heavier emphasis on SF, the character-based comedy remained as sharp as ever. Witness the Cat's reaction to Lister's pus-filled exploding head; Kryten's devastatingly sarcastic defence of Rimmer; or, the classic scene that opens the series, Lister teaching Kryten to lie.

In "Camille", Robert Llewellyn's real-life wife plays a female mechanoid who transforms into something else entirely, as does the episode, which by the end becomes a delightful skit on Casablanca. "DNA" comes over all SF, with lots of techno-speak about a matter transmogrifier and a RoboCop homage--but in typical Dwarf fashion, turns out to be all about curry. "Justice" sees Rimmer on trial for the murder of the entire crew, while Lister attempts to evade a psychotic cyborg. Holly gets her IQ back in "White Hole", but wastes time debating bread products with the toaster. "Dimension Jump" introduces dashing doppelganger Ace Rimmer for the first time--he was to return in later series, with diminishingly funny results. Here his appearance is all the better for its apparent improbability. Finally, "Meltdown" goes on location (to a park in North London) where waxdroids of historical characters (played by a miscellaneous selection of cheesy lookalikes) are at war. Only intermittently successful, this episode is really memorable for Chris Barrie's tour-de-force performance, as Rimmer becomes a crazed, Patton-esque general.

On the DVD: Red Dwarf, Series 4, like its predecessors, comes as a two-disc set complete with full cast commentary for every episode, an extensive retrospective documentary (mostly featuring the cast reminiscing), deleted scenes and lots of other fun bits of trivia. --Mark Walker

A truly excellent series
Review date: 2008-01-20 Rating: 10 out of 10

Some situation comedies live or die by their inventiveness ... and Red Dwarf is certainly one such.

The problem with many is that the inventiveness "fails" as one series becomes two, then three, then five, etc. With Red Dwarf this simply doesn't happen. I have got eight series of this sitcom on DVD (and this review applies to, and will be submitted on, all eight) and the eigth is every bit as superb as the first.

I unhesitatingly recommend Red Dwarf to all.

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Reviews

Red Dwarf is Funny
Review date: 2007-11-20 Rating: 10 out of 10

Get this it has lots of extra's and it is funny, funniest of them all.

"Rimmer Directive 271: No Chance You Metal Bastard..."
Review date: 2007-10-25 Rating: 10 out of 10

Series IV is where it all began for me. I loved the first two series and I thought the third was okay; but this fourth series shows the show back on form. I enjoyed every episode of this series but White Hole which I believe drags and that toaster does my nut in. However my favourite line from this series is in this episode and is the header of this review.

Camille:

A charming episode and it is always a delight to delve into Kryten's character. The scene where he attempts to insult Rimmer is hilarious.

DNA:

Another classic for two reasons: One for the double Polaroid scene and the other for the 'curry man' and 'superhuman' Lister.

Justice:

The court scene and the simulant attack make this episode an enjoyable fest however the space mumps are unnecessary.

White Hole:

As mentioned, I believe this episode drags on and I abhor that stupid Talkie Toaster. However Holly is the star of the ep but this is no 'Queeg.'

Dimension Jump:

My fourth favourite episode overall and Chris Barrie steals the show and sells it with the marvellous creation: Ace Rimmer.

Meltdown:

Rimmer is at his most evil here and I always feel like slapping him when he is reprimanding Gandhi, however I still like the episode though.

Overrall, Series IV is my third favourite series and a definite improvement from the slightly lackluster final three episodes of Series Three.

Would it make any difference if it was Houmous?
Review date: 2007-04-13 Rating: 10 out of 10

One of the best series of the great 'Red Dwarf', this follows on where 3 left off by supplying the fans with another strong selection of episodes and simply great comedy. Things kick off with 'Camille', an excellent opener which has the most brilliantly bizarre spoof of 'Casablanca' ever seen. Also, the scene where Rimmer and Kryten both think Camille is two different 'types' of woman is probably my favourite in the entire series, "Camille looks like your sister-in-law? What happened, was she involved in some kind of horrific car accident...?!" Just smeg-tastic! Things carry on superbly with DNA, with the crew being hunted by Lister's mutated curry and get even better with the brilliant episode 'Justice' where Rimmer is accused of second-degree murder, owing to his guilt over the deaths of the original Red Dwarf crew. So well played, particularly Kryten's court 'defence' of Rimmer, Lister bringing Rimmer a book to while away his eight consecutive life sentences and Cat helping Lister out in his fight against a rogue simulant (damn that justice field!)

The second half of the series, however, is a bit more patchy and might have encouraged me to drop my rating to four stars if it weren't for the immeasurable episode 'Dimension Jump'. One of the best Red Dwarfs ever, it first introduces us to Ace Rimmer, the original Rimmer's charming and heroic alter-ego from a parallel universe. This boasts far too many good scenes to list entirely, though Captain Bongo's (Rob Llewellyn freed from Kryten's latex) proposal of 'lunch' to Ace still has my sides splitting, no matter how often I watch it! Rimmer's seething resentment of his successful self is also a joy to behold. However, 'White Hole' and 'Meltdown' aren't the best episodes ever made, though they have their moments. 'White Hole' labours a bit over the 'planet-potting' storyline but still contains some cracking lines (think Rimmer's diatribe on the legendary hero, Captain Oates) while 'Meltdown' is a disappointingly weak end to a great series, though good value in itself, if only for Winnie The Pooh's execution!

Still, a series worthy of the full five stars and an essential addition to any fan's 'Red Dwarf' collection.

Smegtastic!
Review date: 2006-07-29 Rating: 10 out of 10

For me, series 4 was the biggest surprise of the Dwarf releases. Prior to the DVD collections, I'd only seen series 1, 7, and 8 in their entirety, and parts of 5 and 6. Of the three series that I'd never seen a single episode of before (that'd be 2, 3 and 4, keep up!) it was 4 that really blew me away. It's now possibly my favourite.

I can't quite put my finger on why. It's absolutely hilarious, of course, perhaps slightly more so than the dark, dramatic, groaning-with-ideas, sci-fi-heavy series 5 - yet it's got far more energy and intelligence than the slightly-lacklustre-towards-the-end series 3. It seems to bridge the gap between the two just right. It's got a perfect blend of good ideas, excellent stories and brilliantly executed effects, and also lots of gags, clowning and hilarious character moments.

The episode when Ace Rimmer first appears is possibly the best they've ever done (along with Marooned and Back to Reality), and Meltdown, taking place on a planet of 'waxdroids' of a bizarre selection of history's greatest characters, is just gorgeous. Queen Victoria going head-to-toe with Adolf Hitler, machine gun blazing. Santa Claus standing on a landmine. Elvis as a sergeant and Marilyn Monroe in army boots. And let's not mention the fate of Whinnie the Pooh...

The music is brilliant, the sets and effects a great step-up from series 3... I'm running out of reasons for it's greatness. Tell you what, buy it, watch it, and find out for yourself just why it's so good. You won't regret it.

Product Details/Specifications

Actor(s):
Robert Llewelyn
Chris Barrie
Hattie Hayridge
Danny John-Jules
Craig Charles

Director(s):

Recording label: 2 Entertain Video
Manufacturer: 2 Entertain Video
EAN: 5014503130725
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 2
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2004-02-16
Number of discs: 2
Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
Audience rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 180 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1989-03-29
Language: English (Original Language)
Language: Esperanto (Original Language)

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Red Dwarf: Series 4

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