Series X US Re-release

[thomasaevans]

Series X has been re-released in the US on DVD from ‘BBC Archives’ (Interesting name). Virtually the same artwork. The previous release has been out of print for some time apparently.

[Katydid]

For some reason, the American release of Series XI has a “The Complete Eleventh Series” label on it but Series X and XII don’t. Even more confusing is XII, which uses the same template for the cover as XI but has no “Complete Twelfth Series” text.

It just seems utterly bizarre to not just not label them correctly but to label ONE OF THEM correctly but not the others. Normies getting into Red Dwarf probably don’t have a fucking clue what order the show goes in between that and BtE / TPL not having series numbers.

[Flap Jack]

It’s not just the US releases that make this mistake either. The UK DVD/Blu ray release of Back to Earth didn’t have “The Complete Ninth Series” on its cover, as we all know it should.

[Dave]

For some reason, the American release of Series XI has a “The Complete Eleventh Series” label on it but Series X and XII don’t.

Well they wouldn’t, they’re the tenth and twelfth series.

[Warbodog]

Are normies not up on their Roman numerals I-XII? Selectively skipping numbers doesn’t help, but it’s just like having to know the order of any unnumbered film series or where The X-Files films fit in-between the seasons.

I can imagine 90s kids being on the lookout for an elusive ‘IX’ video and not realising until later that it’s just BTE that they already have*, but that shouldn’t be an issue noawadays with an excessively detailed Wikipedia page and things.

* If it had existed, Dave.

[q u i n n _ d r u m m e r]

There is a bit of an issue sometimes with specials that they’re not listed chronologically with the metadata of the series so you reach the end of a series, then have to come out of it and search the special separately. Doctor Who used to be the worst for that, but at least now on iPlayer everything runs in order.

And I’ve run into the issue where the Battlestar Galactica movies aren’t even hosted alongside the series so you can’t enjoy those at the same time.

Things have gotten better on that front, but with a show like Red Dwarf that is hosted across different streaming services, it shouldn’t be the case that you have to have IMDB or Wikipedia open to know what to watch next.

[Ridley]

For some reason, the American release of Series XI has a “The Complete Eleventh Series” label on it but Series X and XII don’t.

Well they wouldn’t, they’re the tenth and twelfth series.

They’re on The Promised Land steelbook.

[Flap Jack]

Yes, if your primary method of watching new series Doctor Who is via digital versions on Amazon or iTunes, that is pain.

Then again, even the DVD range fucks you around from time to time. Christmas specials are only included on the next full series box set if they share a Doctor, but for Time of the Doctor they force you to either double dip on 3 other Matt Smith Christmas specials or double dip on the series 7 finale. Still irritated about that.

[Warbodog]

I was thinking of BSG, I think a lot of people have tripped over the miniseries and start out confused at 1×01, since it’s classed as a different production.

With TV spin-offs and cinematic universes, you’d want to keep track of release orders and what seasons were parallel to each other for broader continuity.

That’s why I don’t think it’s especially an issue for Red Dwarf (so far), especially as there’s barely any continuity to worry about if you do get it wrong. You could assume you missed a series even when you didn’t.

[Dave]

I was thinking of BSG, I think a lot of people have tripped over the miniseries and start out confused at 1×01, since it’s classed as a different production.

I did that with the DVDs. I foolishly started with Season One Episode 1, thinking it would be the first episode.

[GlenTokyo]

I think the shrinking appeal of physical copies means that the people that really like Red Dwarf enough to go and get or order the physical discs, will know what they’re after, and just be a little miffed at inconsistent labelling, but won’t miss out on any episodes.

[q u i n n _ d r u m m e r]

I was thinking of BSG, I think a lot of people have tripped over the miniseries and start out confused at 1×01, since it’s classed as a different production.

The number of times I have seen people have to state “start with the mini series”, it’s mind boggling that that has to be said. You could easily miss the first two episodes and jump straight in after the set up.

I think the shrinking appeal of physical copies means that the people that really like Red Dwarf enough to go and get or order the physical discs, will know what they’re after, and just be a little miffed at inconsistent labelling, but won’t miss out on any episodes.

Are the DVDs even sold this way?! I have the blu-ray boxset that includes EVERYTHING but I’d have thought a “complete season 1” DVD would include the “mini-series”. Do you have to buy that separately?

I think luckily I have seen it in some places have the mini-series pushed as episodes 1 and 2, but it’s really pot luck what the streaming service decides or how a torrent is packaged etc.

[GlenTokyo]

Are the DVDs even sold this way?! I have the blu-ray boxset that includes EVERYTHING but I’d have thought a “complete season 1” DVD would include the “mini-series”. Do you have to buy that separately?

I wouldn’t think that a complete Season 1 would include a separate mini series personally, not if it wasn’t broadcast at the same time or very, very, shortly after, so if I was aware of said mini series I’d assume I’d have to purchase it separately. They should probably do an ‘everything’ Red Dwarf boxset though. Maybe they’re just waiting for the cast to retire.

[q u i n n _ d r u m m e r]

Are the DVDs even sold this way?! I have the blu-ray boxset that includes EVERYTHING but I’d have thought a “complete season 1” DVD would include the “mini-series”. Do you have to buy that separately?

I wouldn’t think that a complete Season 1 would include a separate mini series personally, not if it wasn’t broadcast at the same time or very, very, shortly after, so if I was aware of said mini series I’d assume I’d have to purchase it separately. They should probably do an ‘everything’ Red Dwarf boxset though. Maybe they’re just waiting for the cast to retire.

It’s fine if you know, but if like Dave you pick up series one and then find there’s actually episodes that come before it, it’d be a bit annoying.

[Dave]

Are the DVDs even sold this way?! I have the blu-ray boxset that includes EVERYTHING but I’d have thought a “complete season 1” DVD would include the “mini-series”. Do you have to buy that separately?

On the initial release (that I bought) certainly the DVD boxset didn’t have the miniseries. I sat down to watch it and within about ten minutes realised I had to go order a separate DVD.

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