Like 2.2million others, I have been glued to the TV this weekend watching the LONG awaited return of Red Dwarf in ‘Back to Earth’ on the UK channel Dave (which is a commerical channel owned technically by the BBC). Even through I have been enjoying the latest instalments, I have to admit I would of enjoyed it a whole lot more if Dave hadn’t foolishly made some simple but devastating mistakes…

1. Plot points & comedy spoilt by trailers and adverts
   The channel has seriously pushed the fact that THEY were celebrating the 21st birthday of Red Dwarf. This included a HUGE amount of trailers promoting this fact for weeks, which showed and spoiled many of the key plot and comedy points when you watched the show. There was no surprise to the episodes, because you kind of knew what was going to happen before the show even started.
2. Extra Long commercial breaks during the show
   Even through Dave continually repeats the classic old-school episodes throughout the year, which are broken up to include their standard advert breaks, with the new shows, they have over sold the one commerical slot within the show. I timed it last night (Saturday Showing), and I got to 5 mins before I gave up. (A normal advert break in the UK is about 3 mins)
3. Elements missing?
   Due to point 2 above, it seemed that there were shots / scenes missing from the broadcast. The show seemed to jump. It also seemed to stop harshly before the break and for the end credits. Perhaps the unnatural feel at the end of the two episodes (Friday & Saturday) is because they simply cut the full length story in to three equal parts that wouldn’t naturally happen.
4. 3 Parts to the Episode
   As most Dwarfers know, Series 8 had many ‘part’ episodes (Back in the Red pt1, pt2 & pt 3 spring to mind), however, what would have worked better within the medium would have either been one feature-length episode all at once, or three self-contained episodes which would return to the classic style of Red Dwarf.
5. Over-use of web-based advertising
   Even through I am creating a documentary about New Media, and how traditional media is transforming in to this new arena - I honestly believe Dave went a little too far. Don’t get me wrong, they should be given many points for using their website and web-based video to promote the show, but I honestly believe that they produced too many videos that helped ruin the storyline, and like point 1, it made sure that there was very little on the surprise front while watching the actual show.

Overall, the shows have been entertaining, and I have been laughing all the way through. However, it just seems that the staff at Dave just got WAY over excited, and without a clear and secretive marketing campaign - they have made many feel short-changed with the return.

Saying that, I honestly believe Red Dwarf: Back to Earth has been very entertaining, and look forward to viewing the final instalment this evening - even to the point where I have already pre-ordered the 2 disc DVD from Amazon!

The Lesson: I have learnt that even through I am getting rather excited with what is happening at the moment behind-the-scenes with the Pixelated documentary, I should try to keep an air of hush-hush about everything to allow the audience enjoy the surprises as they go on the journey of watching the final film.