Red Dwarf DVD commentaries

[FujiVice]

Listened to these again recently, and they’re fantastic. What’s your favourite moments from them?

Norman is a right misery on the Series 8, though. Seems incredibly bitter and for some reason snipes at Chris throughout it.

Topic

[Quinn: Clochebusters World Champion]

My favourite bit is when Danny mentions ham.

[Warbodog]

I only listened the first time through, and only had up to series 6. I don’t remember any stand out moments or insights like I do for some other commentaries from the time, like I’m Alan Partridge. But I would have already known most RD trivia from the documentaries and books, so that’s not really a fair comparison.

My most watched features by far are the raw FX (via YouTube uploads for convenience). I stick them on sometimes if I want visuals for DwarfCasts or less relevant audio.

[GlenTokyo]

Bodyform/Terrorform – a classic.

[International Debris]

They’re quite fun, but not as informative as, say, a Rob/Doug one would be.

Norm is the best thing about the VIII commentaries. The worst bit is Bobby calling Krytie TV ‘classic Dwarf’.

[Quinn: Clochebusters World Champion]

They’re quite fun, but not as informative as, say, a Rob/Doug one would be.

Cast commentaries are never as good as writer director commentaries.

It’s fun hearing some on set shenanigans but you really wana hear the creative process behind the stories and the scenes. And you just don’t get that with actors laughing at themselves.

[Rudolph]

Craig’s “your toast is ready, sir!” when Talkie Toaster pops up.

[Unrumble]

My favourite bit is when Danny mentions ham.

The scene in Future Echoes, where Lister is figuring out how the Cat will break his tooth, while Rimmer does some funeral march business in the background. Can’t watch that now without hearing Danny describing it as “a leg of lamb swinging back and forth in the shot”. Or something to that effect.

[clem]

‘Look, the only thing being lit in this shot is Craig’s packet!’ during the scene in Duct Soup where the lights have gone out but Lister’s holding a lantern.

Norm is the best thing about the VIII commentaries

I remember he brings up the David Ross ‘Are you legit?’ story AGAIN.

[Quinn: Clochebusters World Champion]

‘Look, the only thing being lit in this shot is Craig’s packet!’ during the scene in Duct Soup where the lights have gone out but Lister’s holding a lantern.

Norm is the best thing about the VIII commentaries
I remember he brings up the David Ross ‘Are you legit?’ story AGAIN.

It must be difficult to try and reinsert yourself into a group that you had comradary with and whose comradary has grown without you. They have 1001 more stories and references and injokes and all you can do is talk about something from a decade previously

[Stilianides]

Norman was indeed the best thing about the Series VIII commentaries, but they had too many people which leads to them talking over each other sometimes.

I have a nostalgia for the Series 1 commentaries simply because it was exciting to buy the DVD back in those days.

Rob and Doug’s commentaries on the Bodysnatcher DVD are pretty great and it’s a shame that’s all we got.

The lockdown commentaries were wonderful as well.

[Captain Bollocks]

Danny telling Norman his tuft of hair makes him look like Mick McManus.

[Stabbim the Skutter]

I always particularly liked the Series 5 commentaries where Craig was off ill, so the rest of the cast did impressions of him.

Also, the many comments about the dark lighting turning Danny invisible, until they realised they had the contrast turned down on their TV screen.

Hattie: “Ooh! It’s like something out of the Clangers!”

[Mr-Stabby]

Definitely my favourite of the commentaries is Series 7 once Chris has left. He takes great pleasure in pointing out how shit the show was without him :D

“Kryten’s trying to shag Kochanski! Craig’s showing off his packet and the cat hasn’t even appeared!”

[Stephen R. Fletcher]

I’m still not sure if he’s just putting on an act and playfully taking the piss, or if he’s genuinely hating every minute haha.

Though tbf, there was a period where Chris was quite candid with his thoughts on the show before he left.

[MANI506]

<p style=”text-align: left;”>They don’t call him Naylor for nothing.</p>

[RunawayTrain]

I haven’t watched the commentaries for a while but one moment I particularly enjoy is Chris Barrie pointing out in … I think one of the series II eps (maybe Queeg, or Kryten) the rivets on the wall that weren’t repainted.  Just an absurd level of detail to notice, yet very relatable for me anyway.

[Rushy]

Norman, Mac and Craig are my favourites to listen to in a Dwarf commentary. Norman, because of his befuddled grandpa energy. Mac is just naturally hilarious. And Craig really engages with the material and I’m always interested to hear his opinion. 

The worst part is whenever the cast ignore Hattie, or when Craig is too ill to turn up. 

[theycallhernebraska]

Listening to the last few Hattie episodes when she seems to really just want someone to tell her they missed her is heartbreaking.

[Podey]

The commentaries have been slammed on here a few times before but I’ve always enjoyed them. I know the episodes so well that I actually ripped the MP3s and would just listen to them and have the episode playing in my head.

[Quinn: Clochebusters World Champion]

Just the Audio Commentaries – don’t give the BBC any idea 

[Jimboid]

Did anyone notice Norm’s hair looks like a paintbrush?

[Meteo]

They’re quite fun, but not as informative as, say, a Rob/Doug one would be.
Norm is the best thing about the VIII commentaries. The worst bit is Bobby calling Krytie TV ‘classic Dwarf’.

I haven’t the foggiest notion why; – it’s fulla’holes and cheapness.

I do enjoy most of them, along with other DVD extras; – the Series VI Menu Music sounds like a SNES Action Theme.

[Podey]

Just the Audio Commentaries – don’t give the BBC any idea 

Gave me a good LOL, that did.

[Dave]

I mean, they literally did that with the Remastered commentaries on the old Blu Ray boxset. The audio without the episodes themselves.

[Jimboid]

In the VIII documentary, Bobby refers to the series as “Distilled Dwarf”.

So he obviously holds it in high regard, or he adores distilled whippet shit.

[Rushy]

I don’t think the actors (outside of maybe Craig) really care about the storylines. They judge the series by how much fun they had making it, and how funny they find each other’s routines now. 

VIII may be a nightmare for us, but I imagine that on set, they probably got a kick out of Mac being bandaged like a mummy and doing his “do you know what happens…” routine

[si]

I don’t think the actors (outside of maybe Craig) really care about the storylines.

I imagine Robert was quite invested in Beyond A Joke.

Well, I say that.

[Ben Saunders]

Bobby says everything is marvellous, doesn’t he. He’s just pleased to be involved.

[Podey]

Are the Partridge commentaries worth listening to, then? I think I saw a negative comment about them and never bothered checking them out.

Side note: new Partridge on the telly is very, very funny.

[Warbodog]

Are the Partridge commentaries worth listening to, then?

I only listened to the ones on the IAP series 1 DVD about… 21 years ago(!) I don’t think the in-character track really worked at all, but the creators one was your usual stuff. I hadn’t noticed things like Kevin Eldon’s character failing to open a door as he leaves until pointed out.

[MANI506]

I’ve just started a stroll through the APU with KMKYWAP so I’ll rate the commentaries as I go

[Warbodog]

new Partridge on the telly is very, very funny.

Half way through and enjoying the simmering to wherever it’s going to end up, best TV Partridge in ages. I just wish I wasn’t distracted by wondering who the camera crew are and why he keeps in all the embarrassing bits, but the realistic alternative would be loads worse.

I loved Big Beacon too, and the podcast’s great, though I probably don’t give it the undistracted focus it deserves.

[Dave]

I’ve watched the first couple of episodes of the new Partridge and (after absolutely loving This Time and enjoying the Oasthouse podcasts) I’m finding the new show a bit patchier and a little broader – although I have enjoyed some of the setpieces, like the workplace bullying segment, and there are always a few laughs throughout. 

However I’ve seen some vague comments from people who have seen the whole thing that suggest it gets better and better as it goes on, so I’ll definitely stick with it and see where it goes.

[Warbodog]

It didn’t have the cohesive arc I was somehow hoping for. Just various stuff happening that’s loosely claimed to support the theme, as usual. So I liked it as much as his various one-off documentaries in the end, just longer.

There isn’t much in the way of memorable supporting characters when it’s just his home life and interviewing strangers with naturalistic performances.

[Dave]

Yeah it reminded me of some of the one-off Sky specials of the past, but a full series. I felt like it could have been better as maybe an 60 or 90 minute special.

[Author]

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