We’ve been offline for a while while our team has variously dealt with such life altering events as new homes, new children and new underwear. But with 2018 marking the silver anniversary of Red Dwarf VI, we’re naturally back with a brand new series of Garbage Podcasts to the occasion, starting this week with Psirens which aired 25 years ago today. As the starting point for this series, it’s interesting how much it comes across as a soft reboot with a reminder to the audience of the set up and a...
Oct 07, 2018•30 min
With today being the 30th anniversary of Red Dwarf, how best to mark the occasion than to go back and look at the first episode? Unfortunatly, we already did a commentary for that for the 25th anniversary. So rather than repeat ourselves, we’ve instead looked to Red Dwarf USA. Featuring what is essentially a remake of The End, it’s a project that is notorious for having been unsuccessful in getting a various for a whole host of reasons. With with all the intervening years since it was made, how ...
Feb 15, 2018•1 hr 12 min
In case it has passed your attention, today marks 30 years since Red Dwarf first aired. Given we’ve already celebrated the first episode on the podcast for the 25th anniversary, we’re instead joining in the festivities in a slightly different way this time around. So in the first of two podcasts to be released today, we look to the present day and take look back over the most recent series, and discuss where things have been left off and the state of Red Dwarf now that it has reached its thirtie...
Feb 15, 2018•1 hr 5 min
It may have finished as quickly as it started, but we’re already at the end of Red Dwarf XII. But while it may be the last of the series, Skipper has proved to be an episode worth waiting for. It’s a show of two halves, but when the first half revolves around a strong joke idea and the second revolves around some hugely fan pleasing moments, what’s not to love? Is Lister quite bright? What does the appearance of the original ship model mean for the show’s continuity? And how daunting is the pros...
Nov 16, 2017•1 hr 11 min
With the penultimate edition of Red Dwarf XII, we see a plot first teased in the run up to Series X finally realised in M-Corp. But while we knew the rough plot idea, what we didn’t know was that like a David Bowie live show circa 1973, it was going to involve a lot of mime. Yet this obvious area of comedy to work in only makes up a small part of the densely packed epiosde. With some dark themes, great visual gags and some genuinely pleasing fan service, this epiosde is certainly a contender for...
Nov 09, 2017•1 hr 3 min
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Nov 02, 2017•1 hr 6 min
What a difference a week makes, as the fourth episode of Red Dwarf XII delivers what may well be the most solid espisode of the Dave era so far. Election epiosdes aren’t a new concept for sitcoms, but the way that it is handeled in this episode plays to the strengths of the Red Dwarf universe, while also presenting it in a way that we may never have expected to see before. Doe the ship have biggoted vending machines? Is Talkie Toaster’s return the first suprise this series that wasn’t spoiled in...
Oct 26, 2017•1 hr 5 min
The second episode of Red Dwarf XII sees us finally getting the much discussed ‘the one where everyone’s Kryten’ episode of the show that Doug and the cast have been teasing for so long. For an episode that starts with this as a concept, its possibly surprising that we also have various other plot strands all vying for attention at the same time, perhaps with some taking the attention away from others. But what effect does this have on the episode, not to mention the balance of humour and plot? ...
Oct 19, 2017•1 hr 7 min
It may only have been a year since Series XI, but that hasn’t stopped the 12th series of Red Dwarf being any less anticipated. And with Cured now having aired on Dave following it preview a week before on UKTV Play, we’ve once again gathered to discuss a brand new episode of the show. In this edition, we look through an episode that features a lot of scenes we really didn’t expect to ever see in the show. We also take a look at what makes some of this episode’s set pieces work so well, and discu...
Oct 12, 2017•58 min
While Series XII airs on tv next week on October 12th, it will start airing online from this Thursday. Crikey. So with very little time before we all start discussing the new episodes, we’ve once again gathered together to bring you The Garbage Podcast preview for Series XII. Despite less information released in advance for this this series than XI, there’s still a whole host of tidbits to examine tediously, and Alex ,James and Andrew are on hand to discuss the episode synopses, the trailer and ...
Oct 01, 2017•44 min
In this last edition of our celebration of Series V’s 25th anniversary, we sit down to talk about Back to Reality on it’s silver anniversary for our latest commentary. To this day it’s still a relief that this episode went out last rather than first in Series V, as it encapsulated perfectly what we look for in an end of Series episode, and would arguably go on to set a mould that Series VI-X would also try to follow. An episode that throws our characters into turmoil and puts them into an imposs...
Mar 26, 2017•31 min
As we rapidly approach the end of Series V’s silver anniversary, we’re back once again to celebrate the silver anniversary of Series V’s initial run with our commentary for Demons & Angels, which aired 25 years ago today. It’s perhaps the closet thing Series V has to a light and fun knock about episode, which sits starkly in contrast with the darker elements throughout. It may not be the most insightful character analysis, but does it need to be? And does it perhaps get unfairly criticised a...
Mar 19, 2017•28 min
Another week has passed and we’re back again to celebrate the silver anniversary of Series V’s initial run with our commentary for Quarentine, which aired 25 years ago today. If the episodes that the VHS tapes used to name each byte is an indication of the popularity of an episode, then this ranks right alongside Back to Reality. And whether you agree or not, there’s no denying that this is an episode that has had some significant impact, given the popularity of several elements it brings to the...
Mar 12, 2017•30 min
It’s been 25 years today since Terrorform first aired, and we’re marking the occasion with the latest edition of our Series V anniversary commentaries. It’s an episode that sees Rimmer stranded on a world where his own neurosis’ could very well be the end of him, and it’s down to the rest of the crew to save him. On the basis of that description, you’d be hard pressed to know if we were talking about this episode or Rimmerworld from Series VI, and perhaps that’s part of why this episode is often...
Mar 05, 2017•28 min
In this edition of our continuing celebration of Series V’s 25th anniversary, we talk about The Inquisitor for our latest commentary. It’s the episode that’s perhaps the perfect encapsulation of Series V’s aesthetic. A strong sic-fi story at the centre with some horror aspects that owe more than a small debt to The Terminator, but it also finds the time to take in some great character moments too through the trials. In an episode that could have seemed like a retread from Justice in the last ser...
Feb 27, 2017•29 min
Yesterday marked our fifth anniversary on this site, and one thing we have been doing regularly in those five years is marking the 25th anniversary of each episode’s initial airing with a Garbage Podcast commentary. So with alarming predictability, we’re back mark 25 years since Series V. In this edition, we sit down to watch the series opener; Holoship. Series V sees something of a bod new style for the show, but is that true of Holoship? In a series that ramps up the horror and sci-fi elements...
Feb 20, 2017•30 min
2016 is almost at an end and it’s been a big year for Red Dwarf. Series XI has seen many elements return to the show as well as exploring new areas, and has perhaps set the show up to go on for further episodes better than Series X did. But it’s not just been the shows themselves. We’ve also had the DVD, a mobile game, a section of Lego Dimensions dedicated to the series, a whole new line line of merchandise and more. At times it’s been difficult just to keep up with everything that has been hap...
Dec 31, 2016•1 hr 17 min
After waiting so long for Series XI to hit our screens, it’s all gone by in something of a flash with this week’s episode Can of Worms being the last of the series. It’s also perhaps the episode that was most anticipated wth it having been teased early on. So did it live up to expectation? That may well depend on whether you had already guessed the twist, with this episode essentially being Polymorph III under the disguise of a Cat virginity focused episode. It’s not the first time we’ve seen an...
Oct 27, 2016•1 hr 13 min
As we hurtle towards the end of Series XI, we have one penultimate stop before the finale with Krysis. Episode 5 is often the point in a six part series where you can hide your weakest episode. This isn’t always the case of course, and even in Red Dwarf, episodes like Queeg happily break that mould. So where does this episode fit on that two point scale? Whatever your feelings, it’s an episode which you can’t fault for its scope. Dear Dave in last series’ fifth slot showed a very confined affair...
Oct 20, 2016•1 hr 5 min
Rimmer based episodes are nothing new to Red Dwarf, so the inclusion of one in Series XI isn’t a huge shock. But that’s not to say that this isn’t an episode that didn’t surprise; both in ways intended and not. It’s an episode with an interesting central science based idea that allows for a bit of fun with multiple Rimmers, as well as providing a means to do it that is different from any used before. Throw in a dash of body horror and some excellent visual gags and you’ve got a great episode, ri...
Oct 13, 2016•1 hr 3 min
Half way into Series XI and all three episodes have been quite different from each other. With Give and Take, we have an episode that has been particularly well received, with many highlighting it as their favourite so far. So what is it about this episode that has made it so popular? Is it that the location filming manages to harken back to a period of the show they latched onto? Perhaps it’s the central concept? Or maybe it’s simply the unexpected turns in the episode to keep the audience gues...
Oct 06, 2016•1 hr 1 min
After last weeks opening episode was an expansive and flashy affair, Samsara is quite the opposite. The second episode of Series XI sees the Red Dwarf crew in much more of a traditional setting, both with bunk scenes on the Dwarf and with a mystery exploration of a ship on the Samsara. For some, it’s one of the best episode they’ve seen in years while for others it has been a much less high ranking affair. But is this a reflection of the episode? Or is it highlighting the issue that lots of fans...
Sep 29, 2016•1 hr 1 min
After 4 years away from our screens, Red Dwarf returned to Dave on September 22nd 2016 with a brand new episode. Kicking off Series XI, Twentica is a densely packed episode with a lot of ideas and a quick pace. With an ensemble story, filmic lighting and a Starbug centric start, the episode feels like sinking into a warm bath of Series VI when it starts. It soon transforms into something a bit different however, and with a strong guest cast, it’s an episode with a lot to love. Is the difference ...
Sep 22, 2016•1 hr 4 min
With a little over a week until Twentica is available to watch online, we’ve gathered together to bring you The Garbage Podcast Series XI Preview Spectacular! Special Guests! Unbelievable production values! And more than a few surprises along the way! We have none of these. But what we do have is Alex, James and Andrew discussing the Series XI episode synopses, trailers, officially released pictures and more. In excitement terms it’s up there with a colonoscopy, but seeing as you’re just killing...
Sep 06, 2016•53 min
In this last edition of our celebration of Series IV’s 25th anniversary, we talk about Meltdown for our latest commentary. It’s an episode that for a long time was considered one of the weakest, but is this due a reassessment? It’s certainly one that has some classic moments, but has a slightly broader tone that perhaps separates it from the rest of the series. Is this an episode that feels more like Series X than IV? Would it have worked as a season opener as originally intended? And what are t...
Mar 21, 2016•28 min
In this edition of our continuing celebration of Series IV’s 25th anniversary, we talk about Dimension Jump for our latest commentary. It’s an episode that would spawn a thousand t-shirts, as Ace Rimmer appears for the first time much to merchandisers delight. But what it is about the character that resonates so much with the fans and keeps him coming back? Does this universe’s Rimmer have the same potential? Was the original intention for the alternate version of The Cat racist? And if a net fu...
Mar 14, 2016•29 min
For one final time, Red Dwarf fans gathered at Pinewood on Wednesday night for the last recording of Series XII, all be it several days later than originally expected. But did it serve as a satisfying ending to both these recordings and indeed Series XII? Did it surprise along the way? And perhaps most importantly of all, was it funny? To find out, you can hear Alex’s thoughts and opinions from the recording in this spoiler free set report. DISCLAIMER: This is a spoiler free set report on the re...
Mar 12, 2016•9 min
In this edition of our continuing celebration of Series IV’s 25th anniversary, we talk about White Hole in our latest commentary. In many ways, this episode is essentially a bottle show, being set almost entirely on either the Dwarf or Starbug. However, it’s unlikely that that’s how many viewers would remember the show, as the mix of the plot, the performances and the return of Talkie Toaster make for a fan favourite episode that manages to outstretch it’s confined setting. What are the links be...
Mar 07, 2016•29 min
In this edition of our continuing celebration of Series IV’s 25th anniversary, we talk about Justice for our latest commentary. If Series IV is perhaps the overlooked series, then this episode is the epitome of that, and is likely not to be the first to your mind when thinking of the series. Yet in terms of continuity and what it sets up, it will be important to the future of the show. What’s more, it’s a strong episode that takes a swift tour through various different episode types and themes, ...
Feb 28, 2016•29 min
While it isn’t the final episode for Series XII, this week did see the final recording on a Friday night after the last minute changes to the final episode of the series. After a variety of different episode types and a string of interesting guest stars, just what would this penultimate edition hold for the show that would be seen for some considerable time? To find out, you can hear Alex’s thoughts and opinions from the recording in this spoiler free set report. DISCLAIMER: This is a spoiler fr...
Feb 27, 2016•9 min
