TotalTelly.co.uk

Devoted to Popular, Cult and Retro TV

Home

Red Dwarf : Complete BBC Series 5

RRP: £19.99
Our Price: £12.44 (subject to change)

Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review

It's brown alert time all over again for Red Dwarf fans with the fifth season of the much-loved sci-fi/comedy series. Episode-wise, it's business as usual for the crew of the Red Dwarf--that is, if one considers encountering an alien squid that squirts a despair-inducing hallucinogen ("Back to Reality", later voted the best episode of the series by viewers and Stephen Hawking!), evil (and not particularly bright) versions of the crew ("Demons and Angels"), a virus that causes insanity ("Quarantine"), and a trip to a moon created entirely from the mind of the insufferable hologram Rimmer ("Terrorform") business as usual.

In short, it's six hilarious episodes, highlighted by the typically terrific writing of creators Rob Grant and Doug Naylor (who also direct two episodes). As with the previous deluxe DVD releases, Series V features a wealth of supplemental features, the most intriguing of which is a look at the failed attempt to recreate the show in America (with U.K. cast member Robert Llewellyn and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's Terry Farrell as Cat). Also included are cast and fan commentaries, featurettes on the show's "science" and villains, special effects tests, blooper reels, and a sampling of Grant and Naylor's BBC 4 radio sketch "Dave Hollins, Space Cadet", which served as the inspiration for Red Dwarf. Dedicated DVD owners will also be rewarded by Easter eggs lurking throughout the menus. --Paul Gaita

Uncle Arnie fries 'em alive with his hex vision
Review date: 2008-05-15 Rating: 10 out of 10

Red Dwarf has always been a favourite of mine. This series is one of the best with quarantine being one of the top episodes. As well as all six episodes there is the extras DVD, I particularly like the semg ups. All in all this series of Red Dwarf is in my opinion excellent.

Accessories

Reviews

'They've been naughty boys, haven't they Mr. Flibble?'
Review date: 2007-10-11 Rating: 10 out of 10

Red Dwarf V is often called by fans the strongest series of Red Dwarf and I am no exception. All of the characters are at their peaks with Rimmer having at least some physical presence in three episodes and Lister is at his most active.

Holoship:

A worthy follow up to 'Camille' from Series Four and Rimmer is in stark contrast to the callous, genocidal general from the previous episode 'Meltdown.' 4/5

The Inqusitor:

I find similarities with this episode and 'Justice' from the previous series which is no bad thing. It is ironic that Lister and Kryten are to be erased and Rimmer and Cat are to be spared. 3.5/5

Terrorform:

Another philopshical episode with fantastic scenery. The 'Taranshula' scene is hilarious and the Cat's face throughout make it worth while watching. 3.5/5

Quarantine:

My favourite episode of Red Dwarf. It is tightly scripted and hilarious. The penguin puppet known as Flibble could have had his on spin off series. 5/5

Demons and Angels:

My second favourite episode. This is just extraordinary because of its premise and te contrast of characters. The 'Highs' are positive and stupid whereas the 'Lows' are despicable and stupid which make our Dwarfers like saints. 5/5

Back to Reality:

A somewhat overrated episode. Named as the best episode of Red Dwarf. Try looking at the previous two episodes for better quality and humour as this episode seems too surreal. I think this episode is okay but not the nugget people call it. 4/5

Overrall, I believe this to be the strongest series of Red Dwarf as there is a great diversity of episodes and the characters are at their funniest. It is worth five stars for Flibble alone.

Mr Flibble is VERY cross...
Review date: 2007-04-17 Rating: 10 out of 10

I could have given this series five stars on the merits of the brilliant 'Back To Reality' alone but that wouldn't do justice to another fabulous line-up of episodes and some of the best comedy writing Britain has ever produced.

Firstly, just to take up the point that 'Red Dwarf' began to lean more heavily on its sci-fi roots in the later series, there is a strong sense that Rob Grant and Doug Naylor have started exploring concept more than humour. Episodes such as 'The Inquisitor' and 'Quarantine' tend to explore sci-fi themes deeper than in previous years. However, I feel the balance is still right in 5 and 'Red Dwarf' always was something more than a straightforward sit-com. This is a very funny series, one of my favourites in fact, and you have to move forward to 7 and 8 to see where the story-lines became hopelessly tangled.

All the episodes except possibly 'Terrorform' are top notch and even that has one of the best Dwarf scenes featuring Lister's encounter with a meatball-eyed 'taranshula'. From Mr Flibble the killer penguin glove puppet in 'Quarantine', to Rimmer's fishnets in 'Demons and Angels' and just about everything in 'Back To Reality' (Duane Dibbley!) this series is a blast and will have you wearing out your DVD player in no time. The extras are good too!

The fine line - walked to perfection!
Review date: 2006-09-19 Rating: 10 out of 10

Red Dwarf has always been a balancing act between comedy and sci-fi, pulling in audiences from both.

And when the show is at its best, it becomes something like Legion - greater than the sum of its parts.

For my taste, Series V strikes that wonderful balance and mixes the ingredients perfectly. This season is rich in both high-powered concepts and laughs.

Throughout the show's history, the pendulum has sometimes swung towards strong comedy, and sometimes towards strong sci-fi. I would say that in in earleir seasons, like Sereis IV, we saw more of the former. Though visually very similar to Series V, it's storylines were more humour driven. However, for Red Dwarf to 'err' on the side of comedy in between interesting ideas is hardly going to be fatal for a sitcom in space!

Most seem to agree that Series VII lost the balance in the other direction. All the high-powered concepts were there, but somehow the delivery of the humour wasn't able to make them breath properly.

"Tikka to Ride", for example, had a great concept and could have been a classic. If it had been written and conceived with the gestalt power of Grant Naylor during Series V, it would have been.

Best of the best of the best!
Review date: 2006-07-29 Rating: 10 out of 10

Here it is - the last point where absolutely EVERYONE agrees the series was still on top form. Some start to moan with series 6 (though I love it), and 7 and 8 really come in for a lot of flak. No such problems here though, there's nary a rough edge or weak moment to be seen - and there's a good reason why series 5 is considered among the majority of fandom the best series. It's the absolute peak of Red Dwarf.

It gave us some of the most iconic villians and secondary characters the series ever had - Daune Dibbley, later to be vastly overused but hilarious here in his first appearance - Psycotic glove-puppet penguin Mr Flibble - the chilling Inquisitor - while also introducing a whole ship of holograms, (where Rimmer finaly gets laid!), giving us 'Rimmer in a red gingham dress with hex vision', and Red Dwarf's best ever epsiode, Back to Reality.

The episodes are much darker and more dramatic than ever before - it's becoming borderline sci-fi drama/horror here - and it's all much more story-centric, though it remains as funny as ever. No time for the sitting around chatting from series 2 and 3, there's characters to be developed, monsters to be fought and the series' most hilarious set-pieces to be set up. The ideas and themes on display here would give any 'serious' sci-fi show a run for their money, with the writers really pushing all the boundaries of what was possible with the format and budget of the show. It's also really Rimmer's series - at least three of the six episodes revolve entirely around him - and what with him being the best and most popular character, that's no bad thing. In short, it's simply phenomonal, containing moments never to be bettered in the four previous or three following series. The DVD package itself is as top-notch as ever too - which is nothing less than the greatest Dwarf series deserves. If you only buy one series, buy this one.

Product Details/Specifications

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

Director(s):

Recording label: 2 Entertain Video
Manufacturer: 2 Entertain Video
EAN: 5014503137120
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 2
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2004-11-08
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)

Accessories:

TotalTelly.co.uk

Devoted to Popular, Cult and Retro TV

Red Dwarf : Complete BBC Series 5

Accessories

Similar Products

Reviews

Product Details/Specifications

Categories

Search

Links