Red Dwarf REACTION | Meltdown Series 4 Ep 6 | Gallifrey Gals Get Dwarfed | Americans React

[@christianwise637]

"He's refusing the blindfold!" Let the record show, everyone; Winnie the Pooh was a total badass!

[@CommissionerSleer]

He was obviously operating behind enemy lines too. The SAS of the waxdroids. Code name Cottleston Pie.

[@williamcrowe2576]

And then we hear the gunfire. "That's something no one should ever have to see!" Totally agree, Lister.

[@PassiveSmoking]

When you're facing James Last, all you can do is stand tall.

[@BakedImmortal]

i remeber when i watched this episode air i stood & saluted winnie the pooh dude was a boss till the end

[@graybabyoracle]

It was staring us in the face the whole time.

[@OmegaII]

I can FINALLY type this " He is refusing the blind fold" and "They shot Winnie The Pooh!!" I broke out is long fits of laughter and tears for years when ever I remembered that scene.

[@hornorsilk2901]

it's one of (many) highlights of the whole series to me; there are, of course, others (Season 5 is my favorite season, so many more of my highlights are soon to come)

[@TheZapan99]

It had to be an off-camera joke, because at the time Winnie the Pooh was still Disney's IP and they would have sued if he looked anything like their version of the character.

[@hornorsilk2901]

@@TheZapan99 it also works better that way, as the imagination will make it work better than the special effects could have done

[@paulwalsh2344]

I mean... just Craig Charles' look of shock and disbelief was a pretty great bit of acting !... That and his moralizing speech at the end... really great acting... REFRESHING even... after the over-the-top Elvis, Laurel and Hitler performances and Rimmer's blood-n-guts Patton-esque performance...

[@dthayward7]

@@TheZapan99 Not about the ip and showing the character, it's just not right to show the loveable character even under 18 or kids even watching this show being shot down to die.

[@theyearsshallrun6641]

Red Dwarf has always had tons to say. Religion, politics, gender roles, war, artificial intelligence. It’s mad that people only notice it when it says something they don’t like.

[@danielrose881]

I don't know why anyone who knows about Red Dwarf would not realise its political undertones... The writers and creators, Rob Grant and Doug Naylor were writers on the legendary political satire show Spitting Image, where Chris Barrie provided multiple voices. Before Red Dwarf, Craig Charles was a performance poet, commenting on the social and political issues of the day. Robert Llewellyn started his comedy career in a comedy troupe that explored the sexual politics between men and has gone to create the You Tube channel Fully Charged, an EV advocacy channel and is an advocate for renewable energy. Red Dwarf was always political.

[@OmegaII]

The the thing is a LOT of show/music has always been political. Some people just dont have media literacy, or just never paid attention.

[@jaysmith2858]

One of the reason for Spitting Image's success was that it highlighted the failings and quirks of many different groups/individuals irrespective of where on the political spectrum they happened to be located. The trouble with things as they are is that certain political and social issues are becoming very polarised, with views often being absolute and unwavering. Certain individuals/groups/topics are seen as 'fair game' when it comes to criticism, whilst other individuals/groups/topics are effectively off limit and/or bulletproof.

[@GamerWho]

​@@jaysmith2858which of the polarising issues do you see a political leaning being unfairy criticised for? I want only ones where one side don't rely on "othering" different groups, cos that's all I see when people complain about politics in their "escapism"

[@blookhaven]

Like people trolling Tom Morello, saying to stop being political and to stick to music. Have they ever actually listened to a single RATM song? So dumb.@@OmegaII

[@SebastianWeinberg]

People who say "I don't want politics in my entertainment" really mean "politics that _differ from mine."_ They invariably are perfectly fine with even the most explicit of political messages, as long as it's the same thing they already think - but offer them the slightest challenge to their world-view, and they start complaining _angrily_ about people "ruining" things by "forcing" politics into their precious show.

[@djco5782]

Lister's final speech is indeed chilling. They'd often give Craig those morality-play speeches, like the one about free will at the end of "Justice" which, with his performance poet background, he nails. The cast and crew talk at length about the message of this episode on the DVD BTS doc. Humanising the cost of war by putting famous historical faces on cannon fodder was genius.

[@Sandman_jazz1983]

The anti-war message caused a few minor headaches on original broadcast because at the time the UK was involved in the first Gulf War. Originally this episode was intended to go out first, but BBC bosses were nervous about being accused of pandering to one side, so it was decided that "Camilla" would air first- which was fitting as it aired on Valentine's day. Equally, Dimension Jump was pushed back for similar reasons, as Ace Rimmer is a homage to Tom Cruise in Top Gun. However, by broadcast time a ceasefire had been called. On the whole though, I think the episode works better as a season finale and coming off the back of being introduced to Ace Rimmer.

[@UKJesterVids]

It probably shows up Arnie's power trip a bit more because we've just seen Ace, who you'd have to believe would have convinced everybody to get together and talk things out

[@WezMan444]

It’s crazy how being anti war is considered controversial, that’s absolutely insane!

[@neural_jam]

I'd forgotten about the re-ordering, and yes, it's far better this way round!

[@Sandman_jazz1983]

@WezMan444 I believe the reason was down to the need to be seen impartial, which was way DJ was held back as they thought Ace Rimmer could be seen as pro-war. This odd mindset affected some other broadcasters, and I recall some Jazz FM presents being told to remove two different pieces of music called "Peace" from their playlists, despite one having sod-all to do with war, and the Miles Davis piece "And then there were none", which ends a nuclear explosion and Miles softly saying "Ron (as in Ronald Reagan) you were meant to press the other button." Naturally, I twiddled my nipples to listen to Jazz FM.

[@Sandman_jazz1983]

@@neural_jam for some reason, every repeat of Red Dwarf V played the episodes in a very random order

[@AlexanderShackles]

"Don't you see? The deranged menace that once threatened this world is vanquished!" "No it isn't, pal. You're still here." "I've brought about peace! Peace, freedom, and democracy!" "Yeah, Rimmer, right. Absolutely. Now all the corpses that litter that battlefield can just lie there, safe in the knowledge that they snuffed it under a flag of peace, and can now happily decompose in a land of freedom, ya smeg'ead." Still hits hard, decades after I heard it last.

[@magpieMOB]

There's more than a few lines/ deliveries that Craig Charles gives that really remind you that he was a poet before he was an actor. Chills

[@bujin1977]

@@TroyConvers5000 I saw his stand-up show once in Cardiff where he did some poetry. I don't remember a lot of it - I was a first year university student at the time and the alcohol has probably killed off the braincells responsible for that part of my memory. But I do remember being there!

[@cthulhucollector]

Funny how the people who complain about politics being brought into art usually seem to be the people who should be paying attention to the message and actually learning from it.

[@morrigannibairseach1211]

"Willful ignorance can be attributed to active malice"

[@Swenglish]

It's often an expression of desperately not wanting to examine ones own faults.

[@Johnny_Socko]

Sometimes I think it's a form of denial that occurs when the material makes someone have feelings that are counter to their adopted worldview. [Edit: Or just have feelings, period.]

[@Typhis19]

Makes me always laugh at the Star Trek is to woke arguments I see floating around. It literally allows me to quote Galaxy Quest, "Did you guys ever watch the show?" lol.

[@stalfithrildi5366]

They're usually people who just want their own opinions about power and access and interactions to be 'Normal' and the only ones available, so any dissent is 'Political.'

[@stevenr6397]

Its worth mentioning that Caligula, is played by Tony Hawks, you may have noticed hes popped up in several episodes now, even playing the voice of the robotic suitcase looking for its owner, He is a long time friend of the show as for the first three seasons he was the audience warm up act before the live recordings

[@SkageXL5]

He also Hitch-hiked around Ireland with a Fridge.

[@dthayward7]

Tony Hawks is secretly the fifth Dwarfer. :)

[@cookiemonster1409]

Always worth a watch of his music career, the parody band called Morris and the Minors, stutter rap (no sleep til bedtime) I need to go watch it now myself lol

[@ronniedeen3651]

this is one of, if not number 1, of my favorite Dwarf episodes. Between Elvis stealing every one of his scenes and Lister's speech at the end. A wonderful anti-war piece of art. I'd put this episode against any anti-war episode of Star Trek anyday. A++

[@nickandsue1]

Favourite episode for me is rimmerworld, I hope the gals stick with it,

[@TenebrousFilms]

I am reminded that, when Princess Diana died, Craig was of the opinion that Elton John was the only queen that gave a fuck. I am also reminded that, when the first Mission: Impossible came out, some people couldn't get it, and that's why the sequels were all just action movies. Thus was I introduced to the idea of 'turning your brain off' at the theatre, which was never its intended purpose. Our society will always influence what we create. The man-children whining about the genderswap episode, or this episode's rhetoric, come across as people who don't want to think at all, and are therefore not worth your consideration.

[@chrischampagne9469]

This is what I love about Red Dwarf. On the surface it’s a silly comedy with a lot of corny jokes, but at the same time can pull off genuine sci-fi “what if…?” scenarios and messages that make you think and feel.

[@Wishbone1977]

The thing is, _because_ it's a comedy show it can explore much _wilder_ sci-fi scenarios than most serious sci-fi shows could get away with. And while people have a tendency to see comedy as "just laughs and nothing else", that is usually far from the truth. Most comedy has underlying serious messages, which are often what gives rise to the comedic elements in the first place.

[@treacadelic]

As Lord Acton said: “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." Even a silly comedy show can shine a light on stuff like that. The writers are very intelligent guys. And they don't insult the audience's intelligence.

[@alexp6712]

Richard III is a great example of the power of propaganda. He wasn’t any worse than any other medieval ruler, but was presented as villainous by Shakespeare. This was because he needed to cosy up the queen, who supported the theatre, and shitting on the Plantagenets made the Tudors seem more legitimate.

[@alanbeaumont4848]

I've always found "Rasputin I'm very cross indeed!" A very handy phrase in time of stress, although Rasputin has long since migrated to the end of the sentence.

[@TangerraCillaro]

Rimmer is sad, pathetic and pitiable. Those are his best qualities. It’s nice to have someone like that portrayed as the kind of person who thinks war as glorious, since those are the people who start wars and don’t fight them.

[@supernovaleftover1812]

Rimmer's a great character and the perfect sidekick for Lister. They make you like him, then remind you why it's ok to take pleasure in his misery.

[@williamcrowe2576]

Same thing with Rik Mayal's character in Bottom. Probably the only reason Eddie drinks so much.

[@paulwalsh2344]

PRECISELY !

[@chapmanturbo4082]

Go Paula! If people enjoy it, they can watch it, if they don’t, they don’t have to. Rimmer is just a Smeghead. Neither of you apologise for being you. The hater’s need a new home. Keep up the good work, it’s why we watch.

[@threetythreepercent]

I remember Meltdown being largely considered one of worst episodes of Red Dwarf for a long time afterwards, but it’s got a lot of really good character moments. Red Dwarf was my favourite show as a kid, loving rewatching it with your perspectives.

[@BarrySlisk]

It's one of my favorites!

[@davidsedgley1133]

A lot of classic UK comedy can't resist making the occasional serious point as well. I think it's good, as it helps us keep things in perspective.

[@1957Shep]

The guy that they have impersonating Stan Laurel is really good. You could almost believe it really is Stan. 🙂

[@rosenthorn_]

Same shit happens with Doctor Who, people claim it's "becoming political" or fans make it political, but everything has a veil of politics on it. The difference is when it's politics those people don't like, so they don't WANT to hear it.

[@andreathompson7896]

What made me smile the most about this reaction is in 2023 seeing two young Americans say "Smoke me a Kipper" and do the Rimmer salute. If you ever get the chance to read the books they are great. They fill in a lot of the detail and you really get to explore more deeply the types of things a TV episode only touches on. The first book is a chonker "Red Dwarf - Inifinity Welcomes Careful Drivers". The second book was Better than Life, which was an entire book about them being in the Better of Life game. Then there is a book called Backwards. etc etc. The books are written without following the storylines of the TV series. The books give the writers a chance to riff on the topics and just play with them whilst the Tv series keeps moving on. I don't think that is typical of tv/book adaptions. The books were written after the TV, so why write what people have just watched? Explore the world further.

[@StarSong936]

I was in the military, 1982 - 86, when PBS got a hold of Red Dwarf and started airing it here. I've loved it ever since I first saw it. I was no longer in the Military when this episode aired. I still remember my outrage though over them not airing Dr. Who alongside this. That was due to a funding issue. Later on, they did fix that issue and got both. My first introduction to Dr. Who was when Tom Baker was the Doctor. The first gulf war was fought over oil. The only reason I was okay with it was freeing Kuwait, which had been invaded by Iraq. The US would most likely have never lifted a finger if it didn't threaten our oil supply.

[@SamuelBlack84]

War is rarely fought over altruism

[@Skeezer66]

This one does hit differently. As funny as this could have been, they took the darker path and it's not a happy ending. Love all the serious points discussed, and they were meant to be!

[@jellybean5452]

Next ones for the best series in my opinion. You two are amazing.

[@cameron120587]

I think you guys should check out another British series called “The Prisoner” in the 1960s

[@alundavies1016]

I can’t wait for series 5 and 6, my favourites. I have been watching these so long that I VHS copies of the first 6 series!

[@butnooneshome]

Really looking forward to you reacting to series 5, where things get even better, and you'll be meeting two absolute legends. Episode four, and the season finale are superb ..

[@absinthe4breakfast299]

Season 5 is for me the absolute pinnacle of Red Dwarf, those 2 episodes you mentioned are my all time favourites, also episode 2 is pretty banging.

[@peterthomson7099]

Another great reaction and may I just say, Paula, you drinking from the Outer Wilds Ventures coffee cup makes me immensely happy.

[@BillyMaurice]

One thing to remember is that originally the idea was for lister to be like Christopher lloyds character in taxi. And chris charles was essentially yeah no thats a terrible idea and they remade the character. Saved the series.

[@TheZapan99]

The extra playing Gandhi was so old and frail that Chris Barrie (Rimmer) genuinely felt bad to yell at him to do push-ups in freezing weather, and was afraid he would die of exposure. Robert Llewellyn (Kryten) also reported that for once he was not miserable filming in location, because the mecanoid makeup protects him from the cold.

[@dthayward7]

Yeah was about to mention this as British weather is not very helpful most of the time and seeing this old actor as Gandhi half naked in the shivering cold. Watching the behind the scene stuff on the DVD saying that the crew did their best to protect him from the cold like 3 blanket and warm food and hot drinks between takes. Gandhi is the star of the show behind Elvis as people dont see it this way.

[@AlmightyCRJ]

That's the second choice Ghandhi - First one couldn't do push ups.

[@simonkapadia7582]

People who are intent on complaining about politics already want to be angry, and are already deeply insecure about someone else having a view they disagree with. There's a whole cottage industry in outrage, because it's compulsive, and so the incentives exist on the supply and demand side to continuously re-engage with it. The only valid complaint, generally, is when writing is poor and it comes across as a platform for a message, rather than a good story which includes a message as part of what it is. Complaining about the quality of writing is fine. Disagreeing with a message is fine, if people expect to never encounter someone who disagrees with them that's an unreasonable expectation. And then there's good faith and bad faith. And that just comes down to motivation. If the reason for a position is to justify hate, that's a bad faith position. If there's a legitimate argument, the position should be addressed, not the motivation. Motivation is only relevant when there is no other function to a statement other than to serve that motivation. The alternative to this, which is also pervasive, is that people attack reasoned arguments because they "sound" like they come from the wrong place. Good faith also involves appreciating limitations of argument. Anti-war messages are a great example, because they rarely have time in fiction to delve into all the complexities and develop a detailed, finely grained normative framework. That's not something you can realistically do. So unless the art is declaring that a reductive answer is *the* answer, the fair thing, generally, is to accept that anti-war messages are expressions of the particular sentiments expressly conveyed, and not intended to be generalised or universalised. Politics is life, and all art is political, even when it consciously refuses to engage with it, negative acts are not unrelated to positive acts, refusing to help someone and actively harming them are different, but also similar acts, they may have the same outcome and even the same motivation. Right now we're dealing with a cycle of violence, justification, territorial dispute, oppression et cetera in the Levant, or rather, the current iteration of that cycle. Gender relations in society are a part of people's everyday experience. People who complain about politics in art, almost invariably wouldn't complain if they agreed with the politics in question. This negative vs positive framing in art is important, because, for instance, the concept of colour-blind portrayal (not quite the same as casting, which is a bit more meta, an industry norm as well as an artistic norm) can have different motivations, and effects. It can be inclusive of a group in the stories of that society, but it can also sometimes be part of pretending that marginalised groups are treated just like everyone else, even if their own experience differs. Negatively not treating people differently in art can be good, bad, indifferent, depending on how the audience perceives it, how the artist intended it, and how it was done. There is no a-political way to do it, at all.

[@whobp8]

Your point about the difference between experiencing a show through bingeing and watching it week to week is well taken. And there is 100% an antiwar message to this episode. The "unconvincing" dinosaurs are from a 1967 Kaiju film called Gappa the Triphibian Monster (it's American title) In Japanese it's Daikyojū Gappa. Rimmer's line to St Francis of Assis is a paraphrase of Louis Gossett Jr's line about Texas in An Officer and a Gentleman. This is one of my favorite Red Dwarf episodes. In my top ten for sure!

[@AlmightyCRJ]

BTW they didn't hire Rimmer's army bike. That's what Chris Barrie owned & drive to location in😂.

[@alasdairmacdonald9838]

This is right in the middle of peak Red Dwarf when the show was at it's best. You are absolute spot on about the political themes of the show. They certainly weren't preaching every episode by any means but the undertones and messaging in more than a few episodes was very clear and made the show better for it. Social commentary is frequently a part of great works of fiction in all types of media, a comedy sitcom is as good a place as any for it, especially when does as well as it's done here. You have many great episodes of this show to look forward to, enjoy it, as will the rest of us watching you do so.

[@TechyMantis]

Yay, a perfect end to the day by watching the gals react to red dwarf.

[@twelvefootnine]

I'm very tempted to recommend Blake's 7 to you two. It's another 80's classic BBC sci-fi series and it is surprisingly unique and influential in its own right. However, it can be a bit difficult to watch. Much like Red Dwarf it takes a few seasons to really reach its stride and it doesn't have the benefit of being funny. So, it might not be the easiest series for reaction content but I sincerely think both of you would love in it.

[@DavidMacDowellBlue]

YES YES YES YES!!! Art, even comedy, is about something. Always.

[@StillABigKid]

"Because that's not real Hitler"😅

[@waynekent7068]

The assholes that complain about Red Dwarf being woke never understood Red Dwarf.

[@VicMikesvideodiary]

You guys should feel free to say whatever you want to about these shows, these are reaction videos after all ( and the Dwarf episodes would be dumb material if they didn't give people things to think about ). You've got my support.

[@swanchamp5136]

The looks on your faces when winnie the pooh faced the firing squad was great lol

[@WadeWallenstein]

Always great seeing your reactions to the zaniness of Red Dwarf! The balance of dramatic and comedic writing is what makes this show amazing. Also, that "Oh my god!" reaction to a certain character in the Villain HQ made me laugh 😂

[@Seviour86]

I love that you are enjoying Red Dwarf and see the messages. I watched it as a kid and got the obvious jokes, but as I got older, I watched them again, and I don't know many programs that challenged sexism so directly as Parallel Universe and this one about war, and that's why they all stand-alone, not part of a continuity. Love your reactions and keep having fun! Don't listen to the haters ;) Season 5 is my favourite.

[@Chaosm03]

That Winnie the Pooh execution really did a number on Lister.

[@mastweiler22]

Red alert tier... I'll enjoy that later 😂

[@haigstortoise]

Love you are doing Red Dwarf!! Series 5 & 6 to come, some classic's on the way, can't wait to see your reaction to them. Oh, my brook has been babbled!! 😂😂

[@listerofsmegv987pevinaek5]

This is up there as one of my favourite episodes. Love the modern art joke and, of course, winnie the poo. Great video, ladies. Look forward to your next one

[@kingsley8948]

Can’t wait for you guys to get to seasons 5 and 6. Red Dwarf at its best!

[@gd0012]

Hi, just to say it’s brilliant watching you enjoy something that has been a part of my life growing up. It makes me smile that something so quintessentially British can bring you so much joy.

[@danieljamesrice]

I subscribed to your channel when you started reacting to Red Dwarf, being nearly 60 I watched it back in the day, I really enjoy you watching it with fresh sets of eyes and look forward to it every week

[@vuushar6000]

Definitely an anti-war message here. To the point that "Meltdown", which had been meant to be the first episode shown in series four, was moved to the last position due to beginning of Gulf War coinciding with its sheduled broadcast. Also the footage of monsters is taken from 1967 Japanese 'kaiju' film.

[@BarrySlisk]

If it was anti war then it was badly written.

[@pyrofan80]

You’re now heading into peak Red Dwarf. Seasons 5 and 6 are some of the best the show has to offer

[@JohnDoe-vy6ju]

This was going to be S4E1, and this episode was thus going to air while the first Gulf War was ongoing. Grant & Naylor were never shy about wearing their political heart on their sleeve during the show's run. Unfortunately (but all too predictably) it's airdate was delayed and it became the last episode. Although I think it does work better as a series finale in the end. Lister describing Winnie The Pooh facing the firing squad is, of course, the Red Dwarf hall of fame moment from this episode, along with Rimmer channeling Full Metal Jacket. But I'm forever partial to the subtle gag of Stan Laurel being reduced to even more of a whimpering mess than usual without the presumed dead Oliver Hardy by his side. This is also the introduction of the "light bee", a retcon of how Rimmer's image is projected that's become increasingly necessary in this new era of the show with more off-ship adventures. He's come a long way from needing that cage in "Thanks For The Memory", and has still further to go.

[@barriehull7076]

Stan Laurel British by birth.

[@williamoarlock8634]

This episode would be Rimmer at his most complete and utter and total smeghead. I actually saw Jack Klaff (Abe Lincoln) in a play of Gulliver's Travels. Tony Hawks' Caligula is a definite highlight.

[@paulwalsh2344]

Oh man !... Lister's "SHUT UP !..." was pretty fantastic !

[@tigrecito48]

9:34 this scene with Caligula slapping lister is one of the funniest things ever... always has me in hysterics.

[@jackdimmock4480]

Red Dwarf is one of my favourites and rewatching it through you eyes has been so good. Thank you. Why people whinge about two seconds of meaningful empathy every two series of a sitcom, does make me lose faith in humanity a little. And the boys don't even learn from these experiences, they don't realise the message infront of them, so it shouldn't matter to haters because it's not constantly in their face. But. A planet populated by a dozen immortal wax droids isn't worth much, and preventing the spread of the evil wax druids was probably worth the sacrifice. The cruel dictatorship of all earth's historical villains over the universe is terrifying. Not Rimmers thought process but still. And I'm one of those people who would love to meet their alternate self what change has caused what difference and all. But Cat's absolutely right some people know what a turning point is in their life and that's rough what your dad did. Thank you again, I won't miss any for the world.

[@danny1ft1]

Red Dwarf time and time again had a political message but with light hearted humor, its' why the show is so good, it had realistic stories and emotions while still being hilarious.

[@stevegoldy2196]

I think great comedy series have deep and meaningful moments. The Office UK, Blackadder and Only Fools and Horses had those and Red Dwarf also had a sprinkling of them over the years

[@CommissionerSleer]

The finale to Blackadder Goes Forth is the prime example. Good comedies are written by good writers. Good writers are artists and have thoughts and feelings they're passionate about. Comedy is a very serious, very important, very difficult art form with a long and proud history of challenging the zeitgeist. Arguably, more than any other.

[@TestOfInsanity]

@@CommissionerSleer If I could give you more thumbs up, I would. So I'll leave this here instead. Well said!

[@TheInfamousRPGGroup-on-Rumble]

lol considering the milky way galaxy is only 100,000 light-years across, them finding the nearest habitable planet 200,000 light-years is kinda funny XD

[@GreyHulk2156]

"In universe" it's Lister's fault that Kryten is like that now. He was destroyed, and Lister didn't know how to repair him properly - and he had a lot of parts left over!

[@theyearsshallrun6641]

If you’re looking for ideas for bonus episodes… you could maybe rewatch Backwards and see how you find it now you’re used to the S3 changes.

[@DouglasJohnson.]

I comfort myself regarding Rimmer's actions in this episode with Kryten's explanation, that Rimmer's light bee had been possibly damaged, leading to his obscene behavior. Otherwise I wouldn't be able to forgive him. Also, people that say "don't bring politics into it" when all you're doing is commenting on a piece of art, and how it relates to real life events, or your own personal experiences, are the ones who are usually trying to force an unrealistic POLITCAL ideology on everyone. These shows, and all true art, express human truths. Commenting on that, is all part of the experience. Don't let the "haters" get you down.

[@robert_bbiii]

The Winnie The Pooh bit is one of my favorites. The fact that is also just Lister talking about it. Also, it is not too hard to see the message here. Even if you just take it at what cost is the war not worth it.

[@Spirit-Wolf74]

Now you get to watch the 2 best series of red dwarf 5 and 6 are the best series in my opinion

[@roden706]

I enjoy your reactions to a series I loved growing up it's always great seeing new people enjoying this amazing series

[@AnonEyeMouse]

You've got it spot on. The point of the holly hop drive episode WAS to demonstrate guys getting a taste of their bad behaviour. This IS an anti war episode. Sci fi often is at it's best when addressing current political and social themes from an altered perspective. If people don't get that, they're missing the point. At least the double polaroids will keep them happy.

[@BarrySlisk]

I get a pro war message.

[@16ozClawHammer]

I just found this channel. Fucking excellent. Love it.

[@EveryoneWhoUsesThisTV]

Since seeing this episode, I've always stopped to consider, that the answer to my problem possibly involves triangles... I think Pythagoras was really onto something. :)

[@runsaber11]

There are some great messages within this series. Now, Who wants some toast ?

[@buidseach]

Shows you why Rimmer is a total Smeg Head, but he's only there to keep Lister Sane :)

[@Logarithm906]

RD over the years has definitely raised questions. it does it in often funny ways but it still tells the story. I would argue that it's less anti-war and more about understanding what you're fighting and how you're fighting it. There's nothing wrong with fighting evil but it shouldn't cost you everything and the only survivors shouldn't be the powermad nutters who can't see how they're no better than those they helped fight. RD is a comedy and comedy has its routes in stories, which are often driven by conflict, and politics is a source of that conflict.

[@williamcrowe2576]

Rimmer's remote hologram projector had, by this point, upgraded from a cage like structure to a small satellite thingy. This episode was probably the first time we've ever seen it. Also, the only highpoint I can think of for this episode is when Elvis sings the closing theme song.

[@mikemeggison5084]

I have two head-canons for that. 1. The light-bee flies with propellers, the propellers need air, the moon had no air, so the cage is backup. 2. Kryten is from further in the future, and he brought the light-bee on board from the Nova-5.

[@DarrenJCrawford]

There is always a message in Red Dwarf, some are just more in your face than others.

[@TheRivieraKid]

The Elvis impersonator was jailed in 2021 for being a nonce.

[@CheeseSarny]

Wait people were mad about yoour reaction to Parallel Universe? That wasnt even politics, it was about being a decent human being.

[@stuartmcivor2276]

That IS politics for some people.

[@magpieMOB]

People have still found a way to make it a partisan issue. I agree with the Gals, all art expresses a view of the world, any view to do with how people live their lives is political - if people were mad about the show "Getting Political", they're probably just upset about people other than themselves having a voice

[@jonmoore873]

More so than art making a point, good art should divide opinion else it’s just pop.

[@magpieMOB]

That's certainly a stance, philosophically speaking, though I think there are topics that are valid to explore that, themselves, really shouldn't be divisive. Some things aren't so much a matter of academic opinion as much as lived experience and grim reality - sometimes expression for its own sake is as necessary for society, whether or not people can find points of contention over which they can argue

[@jonmoore873]

I take heart in knowing that people don’t all think the same and especially in knowing that the things that make me stop and think make them mad! A good example was the last of us. The bill storyline in particular.

[@Faerie_Kim]

It's honestly ridiculous that anyone would think "women should be treated as equals, as people, not just sexual objects" is political. Red Dwarf meant to make that point in that episode, just like they meant to make the anti-war point in this one. I love you two honestly. You make great content 🙂

[@SamuelBlack84]

I suppose anything related to specific groups of people can be considered political

[@Alexandrashepiro]

This is such a Fantastic FUNNY Episode! Elvis sining the ending theme is soooo FUN!!!!

[@margaretsinclair6697]

“Now all the corpses that litter that battlefield can just lie there safe in the knowledge that they snuffed it under the flag of peace and can now happily decompose in a land of freedom … you smeghead” I wish all wars would end. But while the fascist version of Rimmer exists in countries across the world, wars will always follow the same pattern for the exact same reasons. Sigh.

[@JustinWatson23]

People who go on about politics in TV and especially SciFi say this when it doesn't suit their political opinions. Whether they like it or not politics is in everything, saying they should be seperated is purile and naive. Those people don't want to think, they believe some narrow view of the world and whenever it challenges them, they seem to think the answer is to complain and ruin it for everyone else, rathyer tyhan go watch something that conforms to their views. They are also of some weird opinion that they are the amjority of viewers!?!? As you say we all don't have to agree, but we can all be adults and discuss things as well! Keep up the good work, glad you both enjoyed series 4. The next two series again i think are slightlty different but not like the change from Series 2 to 3. Its mostly the production quality seems improved.

[@fllthdcrb]

Hmm. I'm not an expert on uniforms, or pretty much anything military. But I just noticed something about the (US Army) service uniform Rimmer is wearing toward the end. Am I correct in thinking that his rank insignia are inconsistent? His helmet has four stars, which would make him a full general, but his shoulders have only three, which would make him a _lieutenant_ general. Is this right?

[@Bananahammock681]

I always did love seeing Tony Hawks (Caligula in this) in Red Dwarf episodes, given the boys considered him one of them too if I remember right from the DVD commentary tracks. He was the warm up/transition guy for the live crowd, got them laughing before they began filming, kept them entertained between scenes when things needed shifting about, generally kept the energy of the live audiences up there.

[@sir_justinius]

Damn, season 4's already done. Really feels like the laughs are carrying us through the show!

[@Splagnate]

Two shows I loved when I was growing up were Red Dwarf and Kids in the Hall. Both are excellent and I think they made me a better person for the future.

[@bobc3454]

I like how Elvis sings during the credits.

[@JoeThornhill]

15:06 "Either it aligns with your political views and/or agenda or you're too stupid to see it." Karl Smallwood.

[@donkfail1]

It's been so long since I binged the series I had to take a sneak peek at next season's titles. Almost all gold according to me. Can't wait!

[@JustinWatson23]

Its another cracking season, same with series 6. I can't wait for them to react to episode 4!

[@donkfail1]

@@JustinWatson23 Got to love Duane D.

[@barneysbestbuddy5472]

The lines "You have this major psychological defect that blinds you to the fact you're boring people to death" and the "I am in a state on complete un-gripped-ness, I'm completely smegging un-gripped" make this a golden episode, even if the rest sucked, which it doesn't.

[@dzgw]

Yeah much like Dr Who people who get upset about "politics" in this show are just self reporting that they haven't understood a second of it

[@helenwood8482]

Red Dwarf has always been brilliantly political. Ignore the incels.

[@TheMarcHicks]

100% agree. Always ignore the incels 🙂

[@lordhoot1]

@@robg1151 Accurate in this case

[@edbone3035]

It has not always been political, saying hitler was bad is not ‘political’ 🤦‍♂️

[@conankudo81]

I no longer consider them incels, they’re toxic masculinity and must me ignored.

[@ObsceneVegetableMatter]

@@edbone3035 And i've found the stupidest comment in this comment section 😄

[@PassiveSmoking]

A lot of people really don't like this episode partially for what Rimmer did (after all the time the show has spent on absolving him of blame for wiping out the Red Dwarf crew this felt really out of character) and partially because it also put Lister in a position where's also potentially acting out of character. The episode establishes that Rimmer might be malfunctioning because of Lister playing around with his light-bee earlier on, but never makes that definite. So either everything that happens in this episode is Rimmer's fault because deep down he is capable of being that nasty, or it's Lister's fault for damaging his light bee and Lister shifts all the blame onto Rimmer who wasn't in his right mind at the time. As Lister is normally the sort of guy who owns up to his own mistakes this didn't sit well with a lot of people. Personally I find this episode really funny, though I do recognise that the humour is pitch black in this one and I understand why a lot of fans don't like it. But how can you not like an episode where Winnie The Pooh goes out like a badass, Mother Theresa gets blow'd up good, and Queen Victoria guns down a Klansman?

[@cyphi474]

He could be malfunctioning, but he is still one to blame. Its not about Rimmer, its about his militarism, noncritical look at people like Napoleon, or Alexander the Great. Its easy to forget, thousands and thousands young guys died for their glory. We only learn about their victories, not about misery they brought on commonfolks everywhere.

[@user-zp4ge3yp2o]

Jesus people overthink this stuff...

[@barriehull7076]

Winnie-the-Pooh (also known as Edward Bear, Pooh Bear or simply Pooh) is a fictional anthropomorphic teddy bear created by English author A. A. Milne and English illustrator E. H. Shepard. Winnie-the-Pooh first appeared by name in a children's story commissioned by London's Evening News for Christmas Eve 1925. The character is based on a stuffed toy that Milne had bought for his son Christopher Robin in Harrods department store. If you ever come to England you can play the game of Poohsticks, it was originally played by Christopher Robin Milne and his father on the wooden footbridge, across the Millbrook, Posingford Wood, close to Cotchford Farm. In the stories Pooh plays the game with the other characters, Christopher Robin, Tigger, and Eeyore. The location is now a tourist attraction, and it has become traditional to play the game there using sticks gathered in the nearby woodland. When the footbridge had to be replaced in 1999, the architect used as a main source drawings by Shepard in the books, and retained its precursor's original style. A World Championship Poohsticks race takes place in Oxfordshire each year. Ashdown Forest in south east England, where the Pooh stories are set, is a popular tourist attraction, and includes the wooden Pooh Bridge where Pooh and Piglet invented Poohsticks. The Oxford University Winnie the Pooh Society was founded by undergraduates in 1982. Wikipedia.

[@pringleton]

Have you seen there's talk of a Red Dwarf prequel? It's called Titan based around Lister and Rimmer when they are on 'shore leave' just before the pilot episode but in a universe 'one over' so similar but changes can be made

[@IanM-id8or]

The actor who originally portrayed Kryten later voiced Talkie Toaster - most notably in White Hole

[@thepoet82]

If they didn't do anything and just left the planet, the evil Wax Droids would eventually take over and be an everlasting evil presence on the planet. With the complete annihilation of all the droids, it's nothing rather than evil. Maybe that is a little redeeming?

[@OverworkedITGuy]

"They have to make Rimmer more likeable" Oh, my sweet Summer Child. XD

[@benlee8436]

This was an anti-war episode and it was flat out banned by the BBC because the UK had just declared war on Iraq. The episode was shown last because the war was over by then. And I can't believe that people missed the point of the gender flip episode!

[@vincegamer]

Y'all are too young to recognize Stan Laurel. If you do recognize him, wasn't that great?