You beat me to it. *Lol* I'm dying of curiosity as well. There was an aside in the Ep 2 report about possible offensiveness too.
Here is my elaborate, slashy theory (since we know the ep features about 30 extras and location shooting): The crew somehow meet Alexander The Great (a hologram, wax-droid, whatever). He makes a pass at Rimmer, who recoils in horror and escapes. Back on the Dwarf, the incident brings his repressed feelings for Lister to the surface. :D (Inspired by Kahvi's "Alexander" fic.)
Much though I'd love it to be something like that, Doug has so much invested in the Lister / Kochanski thing that I can't see it happening, sadly. And I'm not sure I'd want Rimmer to have a one-sided crush; it would just be too cruel.
Although they could possibly get round that by having a one-episode plot involving the sexual magnetism virus or something similar. Speculating is fun. :)
Nah, I doubt it. At this point, I don't think canon slash would be offensive to many viewers (certainly not to British viewers, I wouldn't think); also, the guy says it's something *no* sitcom has done (which, is a pretty narrow net, IMO - I think he's probably wrong), and remember, "Modern Family" is a top-rated U.S. sitcom and features a gay male couple with children.
(ETA: I'm betting it's something to do with religion or ethnicity. Another guess would be full-frontal, but I think THAT'S probably unlikely. But who knows?)
As for the male guest star - this is Doug, the guest star is important, so I'm going to pull from a previous prediction that it's Michael McGruder. There, I said it. LOL
As for the male guest star - this is Doug, the guest star is important, so I'm going to pull from a previous prediction that it's Michael McGruder. There, I said it. LOL
I want this to be true. I want this to be so true. They have said that the threads of the shows tie together. Maybe we will get our McGruder "Last Human" tie in. :) That would be sweet.
I wasn't thinking canon slash being seen as offensive per se; more that this guest character may be gay and the way he's played could be seen as offensive - predatory, camp etc. But really I'm just speculating; it's probably nothing like that.
They've tackled religion before of course, in "Waiting For God" most notably. I actually hope it doesn't concern ethnicity, because I've always loved RD's utter nonchalance about it. But maybe I should have faith in Doug's writing and the cast's acting.
I'm baffled too. I remind myself that something offends someone somewhere. Red Dwarf has probably lost viewers in the past for some of their gags: robot tugging down a human's boxers? Jokes about male and female genitals? The kinda lazy sexist jokes that slipped their way in circa series 7?
I'm also intrigued by the conclusion that the ep was "weird". What else could Red Dwarf possibly do to earn the opinion of "weird". It's done going beyond what people expect, and even what people might never expect...so it being described as weird offers 2 explanations.
1) They do something so utterly mundane it jars with everything we associate with Red Dwarf, done partly with Back to the Earth, i.e th Boys using public transport and Rimmers want for a biscuit factory sitcom.
2) They've gone like crazy monkey mad with it, pushing the limits beyond...well..anything ever.
I intend to ponder this matter...*ponder* and eagerly await the airing.
I'm voting for "crazy monkey mad" with it. Lister meets God, is offered everything he wanted, but turns it down because he's the only one who'll get it - the others aren't made the same deal. (This is probably so wildly off as to be stupid, but hey.)
I think that's a pretty good theory. Although the author of the G&T report has linked there to this thread. Not sure he'd do that if our theories were anywhere close to the reality. *Ponders*
Rimmer? A bit closted? Ridiculous. He had sex! With women! Twice!
Okay, maybe his lower self did go around in a corset and stockings, and threaten to "have" Lister. Maybe his higher self and Lister's higher self did spout declarations of love for each other. Maybe the man is a bit fixated on Alexander the Great, and men in uniform. Maybe, when encountering a parallel version of himself that had everything he ever wanted, Rimmer just assumed that version had to be gay and was going to sleep with Lister. Maybe he did spend years sleeping in the same room as the guy he claims he can't stand, and go running back to sleep with him, underneath him in the same room the moment he was unhappy sleeping next door. Maybe his subconcious did once trap him in a scenario where he was nearly naked, oiled, and tied to a post, and Lister had to charge in and rescue him, guns blazing, after which Lister had to save everyone by telling Rimmer how much he loved him.
But none of that means anything! He had sex with women, twice!
Okay, I'm finished chanelling Rimmer. You may now go about your business.
OMG. All credit to an anonymous poster in the comments for "Alexander". *Not worthy* *Rofl*
![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/community.gif?v=91.7){kind=small}
reddwarfslash,
contemplative 
January 8 2012, 21:56:47 UTC 4 months ago
Here is my elaborate, slashy theory (since we know the ep features about 30 extras and location shooting): The crew somehow meet Alexander The Great (a hologram, wax-droid, whatever). He makes a pass at Rimmer, who recoils in horror and escapes. Back on the Dwarf, the incident brings his repressed feelings for Lister to the surface. :D (Inspired by Kahvi's "Alexander" fic.)
No, I'm not serious, but wouldn't it be fun? :)
January 8 2012, 22:12:33 UTC 4 months ago
January 8 2012, 22:24:56 UTC 4 months ago
Although they could possibly get round that by having a one-episode plot involving the sexual magnetism virus or something similar. Speculating is fun. :)
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January 8 2012, 23:39:21 UTC 4 months ago Edited: January 8 2012, 23:42:06 UTC
(ETA: I'm betting it's something to do with religion or ethnicity. Another guess would be full-frontal, but I think THAT'S probably unlikely. But who knows?)
As for the male guest star - this is Doug, the guest star is important, so I'm going to pull from a previous prediction that it's Michael McGruder. There, I said it. LOL
January 8 2012, 23:47:17 UTC 4 months ago
I want this to be true. I want this to be so true. They have said that the threads of the shows tie together. Maybe we will get our McGruder "Last Human" tie in. :)
That would be sweet.
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January 9 2012, 00:13:19 UTC 4 months ago
They've tackled religion before of course, in "Waiting For God" most notably. I actually hope it doesn't concern ethnicity, because I've always loved RD's utter nonchalance about it. But maybe I should have faith in Doug's writing and the cast's acting.
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January 9 2012, 11:35:47 UTC 4 months ago
And I love the idea of a homosexual repressed Rimmer! Althought, I would have thought it would have been Lister, but, either way, it works, right?
January 9 2012, 11:40:38 UTC 4 months ago
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January 9 2012, 01:47:40 UTC 4 months ago
@MattyMediaNewsMatthew Judge
@ellardent was still worth the 6 hour drive from Newcastle. Loved it! And who knew 'he' was a Geordie
I can't link to this properly, but it's from someone who saw last night's show. Personally, I think the mystery's solved.
January 9 2012, 01:54:20 UTC 4 months ago
Is that offensive then?
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January 9 2012, 10:07:25 UTC 4 months ago
I'm also intrigued by the conclusion that the ep was "weird". What else could Red Dwarf possibly do to earn the opinion of "weird". It's done going beyond what people expect, and even what people might never expect...so it being described as weird offers 2 explanations.
1) They do something so utterly mundane it jars with everything we associate with Red Dwarf, done partly with Back to the Earth, i.e th Boys using public transport and Rimmers want for a biscuit factory sitcom.
2) They've gone like crazy monkey mad with it, pushing the limits beyond...well..anything ever.
I intend to ponder this matter...*ponder* and eagerly await the airing.
January 9 2012, 16:50:23 UTC 4 months ago
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January 10 2012, 00:08:21 UTC 4 months ago
http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/news/2011/1
Don't get excited, they're not in costume. ;)
January 10 2012, 00:44:36 UTC 4 months ago
January 10 2012, 02:05:56 UTC 4 months ago
Okay, maybe his lower self did go around in a corset and stockings, and threaten to "have" Lister. Maybe his higher self and Lister's higher self did spout declarations of love for each other. Maybe the man is a bit fixated on Alexander the Great, and men in uniform. Maybe, when encountering a parallel version of himself that had everything he ever wanted, Rimmer just assumed that version had to be gay and was going to sleep with Lister. Maybe he did spend years sleeping in the same room as the guy he claims he can't stand, and go running back to sleep with him, underneath him in the same room the moment he was unhappy sleeping next door. Maybe his subconcious did once trap him in a scenario where he was nearly naked, oiled, and tied to a post, and Lister had to charge in and rescue him, guns blazing, after which Lister had to save everyone by telling Rimmer how much he loved him.
But none of that means anything! He had sex with women, twice!
Okay, I'm finished chanelling Rimmer. You may now go about your business.
OMG. All credit to an anonymous poster in the comments for "Alexander". *Not worthy* *Rofl*
January 10 2012, 05:53:22 UTC 4 months ago
January 10 2012, 15:06:12 UTC 4 months ago