Alternate Universes

[janamelie.livejournal.com]

Whilst commenting on Kronette's story "Back To Life" ( http://kronette.livejournal.com/270886.html#cutid1), we started discussing parallel dimensions and wondering why the original Ace, coming as he obviously did from a dimension where the human race has survived, didn't offer to take the Red Dwarf crew with him on his interdimensional travels.

My comment was as follows:

Thinking about it, your story raises an interesting question - why didn't the original Ace at least offer to take Lister with him?  (Apart from the obvious answer that the show's not about the adventures of Ace and Skipper - although I'd watch that!)

I know Wildfire's cramped, but they could have taken Rimmer as a light bee and temporarily dismantled Kryten (as I believe they did in one of Veronica's stories).  Surely they'd eventually have found a dimension where the human race isn't extinct?

Is this another of Rob and Doug's plot holes, or am I missing something?

Kronette responded:

Considering all the times we've been shown Ace defending a damsel in distress, it seems he's found a lot of universes where the human race lives on. I wonder what the ratio is of dead universes to human-filled ones? And what about one where the feline race is dominant? Too many possibilities!

I try to remember that a lot of obvious plots need to be overlooked as this is a comedy show. Logically, the first Ace who came across a Lister, Rimmer and Cat who were the last surviving humanoids would have gallantly taken them to a universe where other humans resided. However, that would have negated the show and we'd have no more RD.

If Ace had taken our crew to another dimension filled with humans...then what? Would Lister reup with JMC? You know Rimmer would, in order to get his officer's status. Depending on how long the RD crew were together, I can't see them staying together once they found an Earth or a universe with people. And again, no show.

I think the bigger question is -- why didn't our Rimmer offer to take Lister with him? They'd heard Ace's adventures, and Rimmer had access to the Wildfire's database...so Rimmer knew that universes existed with humans. It does seem odd that the question never came up, but maybe Grant & Naylor decided it would be too dramatic-traumatic to deal with a Lister who could be granted a whole new universe filled with people. Maybe at the next DJ con, someone could ask any of the bigwigs? :)

Slash fics alert! :p  I'm aware of Grant Naylor's relaxed attitude to continuity, and actually rather admire it.  It gives fans like us endless fodder for discussion.

P.S. Apologies for the length of this post, but I'm not sure how to insert an LJ cut.

Comments

[kronette.livejournal.com]

I. Love. This. I don't know if it would be a cheap ending, or brilliant, if our original Rimmer!Ace returned in Series X to give the smackdown to the Rimmer from S8 (to be a hologram or not to be a hologram - that is the question to which we all want an answer). I don't know if we're supposed to keep track of which Rimmer is from what multiverse, or just go with them all as the same one.

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

Well, of course, it's my and metalkatt's contention that S8 Rimmer and S1-7 Rimmer - and BTE - are all one and the same. *G*

[janamelie.livejournal.com]

Of course, I'd forgotten the ingenious explanation you came up with in "Someone To Watch Over Me" (great fic, BTW). Maybe he is our Rimmer after all!

[janamelie.livejournal.com]

A lot of people refer to Season 8 Rimmer as though he's our Rimmer, but he isn't really. Not that it's his fault, he just hasn't had the character changing experiences. :(

[kronette.livejournal.com]

I'm afraid I can't see them as all the same Rimmer. For S8, it's a rebuilt Rimmer who ends up the hologram we see in BtE. The first 7 seasons are all the same Rimmer for me.

I'm currently listening to Chris narrate Infinity Welcomes Careful Drivers. The man is brilliant.

[janamelie.livejournal.com]

Actually, writer / director Doug Naylor hinted on his audio commentary for BTE that it was "our" Rimmer that we see. However, at the DJ convention this year he told fans that he hadn't decided one way or the other. We shall see.

Yes, Chris just has a wonderful voice, doesn't he? :)