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reddwarfslash2016-10-28 10:31 am
veronica-rich.livejournal.com) wrote in reddwarfslash2016-10-28 10:31 am
there's always room for criticism
By and large, though, I have to say Series XI was in some ways lighter and perhaps more fun than Series X. Also, there was just enough character development that didn't change the core characters but did make them of more interest (at least to me).
For no real reason except that it's all done airing and I've seen all six episodes, I though I'd post some brief thoughts about this season.
I'm not sure "Twentica" was the strongest start to a season. I don't know which RD episode holds that distinction of the 11 to choose from, but I feel like "Trojan" fit the bill nicely, for example. In fact, while I liked it and "Samsara" overall, something felt off about the first two episodes, and partly into "Give and Take." And then I realized what part of it (maybe all of it; I haven't decided yet) was - it was how Chris was playing Rimmer, or perhaps how he was written and forcing the actor to play him. It seemed sort of hurky-jerky, like Chris had been out of practice for so long that he wasn't sure how to inhabit the character or that the part wasn't written the way it should be. And I remember thinking, Surely that's not the problem - I've watched this for years, and I know Doug can write well and Chris can act well.
I think it was the point where Rimmer hauls Kryten in front of him as a shield and prop for his gun in "Give and Take" that it occurred to me maybe there wasn't ANY mistake in how the part was written or acted this season ... but that Rimmer was being given a bigger boost than normal in his development, and it wasn't intended to be presented as smooth or easy, since what Rimmer is trying to do differently doesn't come naturally to such a weaselly character. Back in Series 6 in "Rimmerworld" for example, he has a decided advantage over the bad guy - being unseen behind her, holding a blaster, and motivation to protect the other three who were in immediate danger WITH MINIMAL RISK TO HIMSELF. And yet, he flees in cowardice. This isn't to say his rescue of Lister and Cat is perfect - he still shields himself behind Kryten, but it's ostensibly done to prop up the large gun to shoot at who he thinks is the enemy. Then they grab the gurneys and get the hell out of Dodge - HE SADDLES HIMSELF WITH PUSHING A GURNEY AND SLOWING HIMSELF DOWN RATHER THAN JUST FLEEING WHILE THE STATION THEY'RE ON IS BEING PUMMELED TO DUST BY SPACE DEBRIS.
I've seen some fans upset that in the very next episode, he reverts to his old ways as "Officer Rimmer" and goes on a power trip that excludes his crewmates as friends. While I agree it might have been over the top, I also kind of like the fact Doug reminds me us that this character hasn't completely changed; he's still an asshole, just under more narrow circumstances than in the past, and it's only most of the time - not ALL the time - he's struggling to be a better person. Rimmer is the type of guy that you just cannot give him sanctioned power, or he'll abuse the fuck out of it; however, he seems to do all right if he's in a position where he can take power for himself - and not a whole lot, just enough to get the job done. I like that Doug didn't alter him wholly after learning his paternity; the experience just freed Rimmer up to pursue goals other than trying to be his (no longer) father's pride and joy.
Lister, too, has evolved it seems. Instead of getting himself worked up over Rimmer's power madness as he did a few times when he was younger, he expresses some disgust but basically lets the guy run himself into the ground. He strategically waits until the right moment to force Rimmer to abdicate his promotion and rank, and he does it without rubbing it in his face (well, at least not much). He's also less dependent on substance abuse in this season, it seems; in fact, I think we're meant to understand this by the subplot in "Give and Take" when we first think he drank himself into a two-day stupor, and then it's clearly explained later that no, he was recovering from surgery he couldn't remember.
(Which still doesn't explain why Rimmer was OK with him taking up his bunk for two days, since THAT Rimmer didn't yet know about the kidney-napping - at least it doesn't explain it in canon. WE know why he was OK with Lister in his bed, of course. ;-) )
Also, it seems Lister has perhaps been sticking with his studies, as evidenced here and there by bits of historical information he spouts off, which seems in marked contrast with his pre-Series X self. I'm just waiting for him to start wearing glasses; so is Rimmer, I'm sure. :-P
Even the Cat and Kryten get to evolve this season. Early-seasons Cat wouldn't have given two hoots about saving his fellows from multiple polymorphs, and he certainly wouldn't have passed up a chance to shoot Rimmer out of existence. Kryten's going through his mid-life crisis and learns he's not as smart as he thought he was - but considering the company he keeps, he's a freaking genius anyway, so it's all good.
This season the strength of these four characters as a found family seems stronger than ever. They're not just disparate creatures thrown together in a big red red big tin can anymore - they rely on one another and protect each other and depend on one another for company, sanity, criticism, and support, and they accept each other's mistakes and personality shortcomings.
Finally, this season has been great for the sci part of sci-fi - we don't always get a lot of hard science in some seasons of RD, but XI has been full of it. It's not all good science of course, but there's a lot of speculative in the fiction this time. It's also been a good season for guest characters, particularly the women introduced, from Harmony and Beryl to Lady Cat (I was sorry she wasn't real and couldn't stick around as a regular crew member or at least recurring), to the crew of the Samsara.
For no real reason except that it's all done airing and I've seen all six episodes, I though I'd post some brief thoughts about this season.
I'm not sure "Twentica" was the strongest start to a season. I don't know which RD episode holds that distinction of the 11 to choose from, but I feel like "Trojan" fit the bill nicely, for example. In fact, while I liked it and "Samsara" overall, something felt off about the first two episodes, and partly into "Give and Take." And then I realized what part of it (maybe all of it; I haven't decided yet) was - it was how Chris was playing Rimmer, or perhaps how he was written and forcing the actor to play him. It seemed sort of hurky-jerky, like Chris had been out of practice for so long that he wasn't sure how to inhabit the character or that the part wasn't written the way it should be. And I remember thinking, Surely that's not the problem - I've watched this for years, and I know Doug can write well and Chris can act well.
I think it was the point where Rimmer hauls Kryten in front of him as a shield and prop for his gun in "Give and Take" that it occurred to me maybe there wasn't ANY mistake in how the part was written or acted this season ... but that Rimmer was being given a bigger boost than normal in his development, and it wasn't intended to be presented as smooth or easy, since what Rimmer is trying to do differently doesn't come naturally to such a weaselly character. Back in Series 6 in "Rimmerworld" for example, he has a decided advantage over the bad guy - being unseen behind her, holding a blaster, and motivation to protect the other three who were in immediate danger WITH MINIMAL RISK TO HIMSELF. And yet, he flees in cowardice. This isn't to say his rescue of Lister and Cat is perfect - he still shields himself behind Kryten, but it's ostensibly done to prop up the large gun to shoot at who he thinks is the enemy. Then they grab the gurneys and get the hell out of Dodge - HE SADDLES HIMSELF WITH PUSHING A GURNEY AND SLOWING HIMSELF DOWN RATHER THAN JUST FLEEING WHILE THE STATION THEY'RE ON IS BEING PUMMELED TO DUST BY SPACE DEBRIS.
I've seen some fans upset that in the very next episode, he reverts to his old ways as "Officer Rimmer" and goes on a power trip that excludes his crewmates as friends. While I agree it might have been over the top, I also kind of like the fact Doug reminds me us that this character hasn't completely changed; he's still an asshole, just under more narrow circumstances than in the past, and it's only most of the time - not ALL the time - he's struggling to be a better person. Rimmer is the type of guy that you just cannot give him sanctioned power, or he'll abuse the fuck out of it; however, he seems to do all right if he's in a position where he can take power for himself - and not a whole lot, just enough to get the job done. I like that Doug didn't alter him wholly after learning his paternity; the experience just freed Rimmer up to pursue goals other than trying to be his (no longer) father's pride and joy.
Lister, too, has evolved it seems. Instead of getting himself worked up over Rimmer's power madness as he did a few times when he was younger, he expresses some disgust but basically lets the guy run himself into the ground. He strategically waits until the right moment to force Rimmer to abdicate his promotion and rank, and he does it without rubbing it in his face (well, at least not much). He's also less dependent on substance abuse in this season, it seems; in fact, I think we're meant to understand this by the subplot in "Give and Take" when we first think he drank himself into a two-day stupor, and then it's clearly explained later that no, he was recovering from surgery he couldn't remember.
(Which still doesn't explain why Rimmer was OK with him taking up his bunk for two days, since THAT Rimmer didn't yet know about the kidney-napping - at least it doesn't explain it in canon. WE know why he was OK with Lister in his bed, of course. ;-) )
Also, it seems Lister has perhaps been sticking with his studies, as evidenced here and there by bits of historical information he spouts off, which seems in marked contrast with his pre-Series X self. I'm just waiting for him to start wearing glasses; so is Rimmer, I'm sure. :-P
Even the Cat and Kryten get to evolve this season. Early-seasons Cat wouldn't have given two hoots about saving his fellows from multiple polymorphs, and he certainly wouldn't have passed up a chance to shoot Rimmer out of existence. Kryten's going through his mid-life crisis and learns he's not as smart as he thought he was - but considering the company he keeps, he's a freaking genius anyway, so it's all good.
This season the strength of these four characters as a found family seems stronger than ever. They're not just disparate creatures thrown together in a big red red big tin can anymore - they rely on one another and protect each other and depend on one another for company, sanity, criticism, and support, and they accept each other's mistakes and personality shortcomings.
Finally, this season has been great for the sci part of sci-fi - we don't always get a lot of hard science in some seasons of RD, but XI has been full of it. It's not all good science of course, but there's a lot of speculative in the fiction this time. It's also been a good season for guest characters, particularly the women introduced, from Harmony and Beryl to Lady Cat (I was sorry she wasn't real and couldn't stick around as a regular crew member or at least recurring), to the crew of the Samsara.
no subject
It's interesting how many plot devices have been introduced which would work brilliantly in fics. The personality tuck machine, the polymorphs impersonating the Boyz, the device in "Twentica", the Karma Drive, the bio-printer...
That's the advantage of being a writer, I suppose. When I see fans - on various sites, I should clarify - complaining about why didn't Doug do X instead of Y, I just think there's always fic. It's a nice feeling. :)
Also the female characters were a big improvement on X and Doug managed to avoid offending people as far as I'm aware. I imagine he received feedback on the response to X and seems to have tried his best to take criticism on board and offer something for everyone this series whilst still writing freely. I don't just mean potentially offensive stuff; also things like starting episodes in a far more focussed fashion after complaints that some eps in X took too long to get going.
Personally I can't wait for the DVD in order to glean extra bits and bobs from the deleted scenes. This series is fertile fic material.
no subject
Oh, all the plot devices. I hope more fics will start coming forward, and that it's just the fact people haven't seen the series yet or don't have the DVD to rewatch and get ideas, as why we don't have so many yet from Series XI. Because there ARE a lot of new sci-fi devices to play with in many ways.
I don't know what worked on Doug's brain between the late 90s and now, but this series is a VAST improvement over 8. I feel like it's almost the anti-8. At this point if he did bring Kochanski back I have more confidence he'd be able to handle her as an independent character and not a growth stemming from Lister - more confidence than I did about Series X. So at this point I wouldn't mind seeing her again (in fact, I would like to see her and Rimmer interact in daily, non-prison types of storylines in fact).