Late Birthday Wishes

Well, this one snuck by me.  The classic sci-fi sitcom Red Dwarf celebrated its 27th anniversary on 15th Feb 2015. The show follows the exploits of the hologram, Rimmer, the creature known as Cat, and Lister, the last human being alive (with the mechanoid Kryten joining the show full-time from series 3).

The popular show has ran for ten series and has a massive cult following, and there may be an eleventh series airing on Dave in Autumn 2015. YAY!

The show cropped up during my 100 Happy Gaming Days feature thanks to some great gaming related episodes, but here's 3 episodes guaranteed to make your smegging day.

1. Polymorph- A shape-shifting monster that feasts on human emotions is loose aboard Red Dwarf. The Dwarfer's have two choices; one take it on and kill it, or two... run away. Who's for two?

Best bit: The scene involving Lister's underwear is probably the most popular, but I like the scene with the crew trying to decide how to defeat the Polymorph. Each character has been drained of an emotion; turning Rimmer into pacifist and Lister into fearless lunatic, it's great.

2. Stoke Me A Clipper- Ace Rimmer returns to try and convince his cowardly counterpart to take up the role of the hero, and simply be brave, handsome and all-round magnificent. But is Rimmer up to the task?

Best bit- The brilliant opening scene with Ace Rimmer sky-diving on a crocodile and then causing chaos at Nazi army camp while riding a motorbike, all to save Princess Beryl.  

3. Meltdown- When Kryten discovers a transporter allowing the crew to quickly travel through space, they land on a mysterious planet inhabited by dictators, dinosaurs and celebrities. It turns out the planet is a theme park that's been abandoned for millions for years, and now there's an epic war between the forces of good and evil. The evil side has the leaders of the Third Reich, and the good side has Marilyn Monroe and Elvis.

Best bit- Any scene with Elvis, but also the scene where Lister witnesses the execution of Winnie the Pooh. 

Day 80 of 100 Happy Gaming Days: Red Dwarf: Better Than Life

Only 20 more to go and then it's all over, so here's some more gaming related TV goodness.

Red Dwarf has covered gaming a couple of times, the most popular gaming episode was most likely Gunman of the Apocalypse from Series 6, but I'm going to write about my own personal favourite; Better Than Life from Series 2.

After being alone for 3 million years the crew receive a post pod containing letters from family and friends, news and sports broadcasts, and some video games. 

They turn out to be Total Immersion Video Games (TIV) that allow players to feel they are actually within the game by connecting to their brain via a strange headset.

While watching an old news broadcast Rimmer discovers one of the games known as Better Than Life, is an must-have title sweeping the solar system as it detects all of your desires and fantasies then makes them come true. 

Soon the crew find themselves playing Better Than Life where Lister is living a care-free wealthy lifestyle, Cat is dating Marilyn Monroe and has a wardrobe crossing international timezones, and Rimmer is enjoying being a respected officer whilst being reunited with an old flame.

I won't give away anymore of the episode because you should definitely watch it if you've never seen it before. Looking back it's great to see how everyone in the 80s thought the future was going to turn out, this episode features triangular video cassettes...it could still happen.