Blue is a lovely nostalgic look back to what Rimmer meant for Lister, and for the show in general.
PLOT
Whilst going through Rimmer's abandoned belongings, Lister begans to reminisce about their friendship in worryingly positive tones, leading Kryten to search for a way to remind him what a weaselly smeghead old Iron Balls used to be.
ANALYSIS
If I had to take any issue with Blue, it's that I don't think this story makes much sense in the context of Stoke Me a Clipper. There, Lister had such a keen understanding of Rimmer's mind, why Holly brought him back as a hologram and how much he'd evolved, even congratulating Rimmer for keeping him sane. Whereas here, he seems entirely shocked to realise Rimmer had any positive effect at all and is quick to judge him again. Indeed, the whole episode seems to be about symbolically undoing the events of Clipper, making sure that the audience's last-ever image of Rimmer is that of a total smeghead (remember, Chris Barrie was not planning to come back). It's as if Doug was saying "don't be fooled by Ace, Rimmer really is just a neurotic prat deep down, and he only ended up helping Lister because Lister is just as mental".
It's not a real problem, because the subversion is as believable as the earnestness that Clipper was going for. And from an audience point of view, it makes sense for Barrie's last episode to celebrate what we loved about the character. It's not really because deep down he's a heroic somebody, is it? It's because he's a funny self-absorbed git. So, it worked for me. I had a great time with all the flashbacks (which seemed to fit tonally right into Series II, my personal favourite) and enjoyed how in-depth the script went into the classic Lister/Rimmer dynamic. It felt like Red Dwarf again. Kryten and the Cat's horror at Lister actually liking Rimmer was very amusing (do they even know he switched places with Ace?).
I also get the impression that it was meant to air ahead of Duct Soup. Kochanski still seems very new to the crew and their ways in this story. Kryten keeps explaining the rules to her, her red PVC outfit hasn't shrunk yet, there's a brief oppurtunity for her to escape back to her reality. By Soup, reality seems to have set in. Maybe Doug wanted to space out Barrie's final episodes a little, and switched the ordering around? Or maybe he found it funnier to give Lister that "oh, Rimsy!" scene right after the episode where he nervously insists he isn't gay...
CHARACTERS
Seeing Chris Barrie in all the scenes set during the early days just re-affirms to me that Rimmer was never suited for the Starbug years. All the self-important bureaucracy, all the ways he and Lister while away time in deep space, none of it was possible to show while trying to stay alive onboard a small crate. So in that sense, series 7 has been a real return to form. I loved that they referenced why Holly brought him back in the first place. It's such a key to his role in the show.
I imagine the kissing scene has fueled shippers for decades. There is an 'old married couple' quality to Lister and Rimmer I suppose, or at least a kind of mutual need for one another. As much as Lister might want Kochanski, it's Rimmer who provides him with a verbal punching bag, things to do, an opponent to go up against, and a fragment of the life he lost. Everything other than conventional love, which I suppose is the irony of it. And Lister gives Rimmer someone to lord over, someone to try to educate, an emotional support.
I'm very glad we ended up keeping Barrie. That's the message of the hour.
NOTES
- "She who must be drooled over" is a kingly joke.
- The 'What it's made of?' 'I know what it's made of!' 'So what's it made of?' 'oh, you want to know what it's made of?' exchange is very Norman Lovett.
- Kochanski talks a lot about her Dave, but I'm surprised she never compares Kryten. Given that presumably her version did not harass her all the time.
- I like how they left it ambiguous whether Lister deliberately sabotaged Kochanski's attempt to return. That's a nice touch.
- Lister is wearing his series 3-5 jacket in the flashback set on Red Dwarf, but Rimmer is still dressed in his blue puffer jacket from 6-7?
- I felt bad for Kochanski when the boys shot down her games idea. Sure, they were awful, but it seemed a bit mean. Just say you'd rather do something else!
- Kryten struggles with female terminology, having deleted his memory of it during the events of Tikka to Ride.
- Lister mentions Holly resurrecting Rimmer to keep him sane, which Holly told him in Balance of Power.
- Kochanski briefly recovers the dimensional tear from Ouroboros.
- The sewing machine in Kochanski's quarters is labeled "Talkie Sewn Sew", in reference to Talkie Toaster.
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