Red Dwarf X: Fathers and Suns

When you’re your own Dad it’s tough to teach your son a lesson. So when Dave Lister (Craig Charles) gets some advice from the medi-bot to deliver tough love he has to be clever in how he administers it. Meanwhile, Kryten launches the new ship computer Pree, with her predictive personality, creating instant disaster.

With Lister in the spotlight it was time for Craig Charles to lead the show however he seemed to waver, falling below the standard Barrie gave in Trojan. The Cat (Danny John-Jules) felt the most short changed, having minimal impact on proceedings and very few jokes.

Out of the three main plots Lister disciplining himself proved the funniest. In order for himself, as his son, to learn a lesson Lister recorded tapes with instructions on how to improve his life. Lister then got sloshed and forgot what he had said and done. Watching son Lister fight with father Lister was mind-melding fun and provided some of the episode’s highlights.

The Chinese whispers segment seemed to fall flat. It was predictable and just not that funny. The elongated joke ran throughout the episode and ended on a whimper rather than a bang.

Still, at least the new computer, which turned evil quicker than you can say ‘Mr. Flibbles is very angry’, Pree (Rebbecca Blackstone) provided great moments throughout. Rimmer arguing with Kryten over her breast size enamoured me with teenage giggles and her predictive personality function created interesting situations aplenty. Pree fixed B deck but her predictive personality meant she did it to the best of Rimmer’s ability.

So you’re saying because I would have cocked it up, you cocked it up for me?

The episode sped towards a climax that fell a little flat. The special effects were surprisingly well done and the stakes were there (crashing into a sun) but there was no great punch line. The strands coming together didn’t pay off nearly as well as they did in Trojan.

Fathers and Suns provided another good episode of Red Dwarf. Nowhere near classic but watchable fun nonetheless.

John Morris

Read my review of episode 1: Trojan here: http://www.concourseonline.com/cc-review/red-dwarf-x-trojan/