h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

OK ... this is obscure, but I bet there is someone in this community that can help - at the end of one of the series of Red Dwarf, the guys meet their future selves, come back to get a new component for a time travel device ... they are all fat, decadent, and Lister is only a brain in a bottle. At the end of the episode, the two sets of Dwarvers blast at each other and one of the ships explodes.

Now, I assume that the current Dwarvers did not die (the show continues). BUT ... what I don't know is how the episode is resolved at the beginning of the next series. I have seen this final episode several times but never managed to see what comes next. Can anyone help me with my pathetic request??

Much obliged
Bran.

Hi,
You are a bit behind the times as that is a very old series. However, if I can remember correctley, Rimmer gets a bazzokoid and blasts the time travel device. Hence they could never have become such fat old gits and never have killed there younger selves.

Don't you just love temporal anomilies. I've got all the series taped, so I'll try and dig it out over new year to check I've got it right.

You are correct.
Of course, someone can always come back and blast Rimmer and thus he can't blast the time travel device etc.

This is sort of what happens in the episode where they accidentally prevent the assasination of JFK...time travel is a good medium for comedy.

yep thats right 'tho because of the anomalies the time travel device dosn't get blown up as thats what they use in the JFK episode. If I remember rightly there are at least three different methods of time travel used on the show, the rift on red dwarf, the time travel device and another they picked up long before that.

Excellent! Now I know ... thanks for that. Yes, I am a bit behind the times ... we didn't have a TV in our house for about four years, and have only just become re-attached to the tube ... thus all the newer episodes don't always make sense.

By the way, can anyone tell me what happened to Rimmer? I've just seen part of an episode where Kochanski turns up (from another reality), but where was Rimmer?

Then I'll be able to rest easy in celluloid heaven!

Bran.

Worrying - you prefer Rimmer to Kochanski?

Well ... in some ways, yes. Rimmer, though clearly pompous and offensive, was a great character. The Kochanski character doesn't seem as humourous ... though, I have only seen a few episodes. But, she does wear leather better than Rimmer!

Okey Dokey

Do you remember the guy that Rimmer turns into when his fear is sucked out of him by some kind of polymorph. Gung ho hero type known as Ace Rimmer. This character actually existed in one universe. However when it is nearly time for him to die (he got shot by some WW2 Germans I think) he goes off to another universe to find a replacement for himself. By this time however we are running seriously short of alternate universe Rimmers and the best that we have is our Arnold Rimmer.

In short Rimmer goes off to save the Galaxy

Smoke me a kipper I'll be back for breakfast!

Don't you me Stroke Me a Clipper, I'll Be Back For Christmas?

(Rimmer gets it wrong as he exits ... we all have bad days)

The answers are all right about the resolving the time machine prob (except that they do destroy the time drive, they just go back and get it). There was actually an ending shot to the cliffhanger episode, but it never aired -- no different though, just a sort of punchline and some random bad jokes (dont ask me, its been years since I saw the pirate footage, and cant quite remember)

As for time travel .. there are four methods I believe -- the Stasis Leak, the Matter Panel(teleport thingy), another one that I believe was the glove of the Inquisitor and the time Drive -- but if you want continuity -- look somewhere else, the Dwarf Storyline is all over the place, but none the less wonderful for it!

~Beeblefish

pS A tidbit for you hardcore Dwarfers with really good VCRS ... in Backwards -- play the all the things people say backwards, backwards and see what they are really saying .. its pretty funny occationally.

Well actually, if you don't have a really good VCR, try and get your hands on a copy of 'Smeg Ups'. It's the second blooper's tape and one of the things that they show is the scene in the back room of the bar where the manager walks in and yells at them all.

Hmmmmm Contiunity in Sci-fi humour........exactly how many different version of the Hitchhiker story was there at the last count?


Chris

touche

Thanks again to all contributors! I am now very smegging happy!
Cheers
Bran.