It's hard to review this show as a whole, since there are two parts to it: Series 1-5 (Including the Christmas Special 'In The Beginning') which was all written by the shows Creators... And Series 6 and 7, written by a large team of writers who just didn't get the show.
At the end of Series 5, and the subsequent Christmas special, you had the original creators intended ending and perfect epilogue to finish it all off. (I can't imagine a more perfect ending to this series than the ending of the creators final episode 'In The Beginning'. It sums up everything the show is and has a phenomenal message about what trial can be an opportunity for in life.)
But because of the shows popularity, the BBC brought it back for 2 more seasons even though the original creators had finished the story, and those two seasons are an absolute disaster of nonsense.
The first 5 seasons are near perfect. From start to finish there isn't a bad episode. Some are weaker than others, but not a single one is bad or not entertaining. I'll admit at first, coming from being a fan of Red Dwarf, seeing Chris Barrie with this voice and personality irritated me for the first few episodes, but once I got used to him being more than just Rimmer, I realised how great it was.
Then came series 6 and 7... And the show lost the plot. The new writers had no idea what made the show so special, it's heart. Instead they focussed on pure chaos only and the whole show felt idiotic. The characters all changed from some of the best sitcom characters I've ever seen, to being cartoon stereotypes of whatever the writers of the week thought they should be that week. They made Brittas a literal idiot, when originally he was quite a genius that just didn't get people... They made Colin into a one dimensional fool, and they turned Linda from one of the most eager and positive characters into a violent and mean psychopath. They just didn't get it.
To add unsult to injury, the ending of the series completely ruined the entire show AND the perfect ending the original writers had finished on with 'In The Beginning'. It's one thing to send a show downhill after taking over, but its another to retcon the original creators intended ending.
It's hard for me to say whether people should even watch seasons 6 and 7... On one hand I'd say absolutely not. It leaves a bad taste in my mouth when I do. And when I watch through Series 1 to 5 only, it feels like a perfect conclusion and I'm satisfied. Yet, there are a few little highlights after, most notably the final 1996 Christmas Special being the best of the entire last two seasons, and the Body Snatchers episode from Series 6 (which, while being pretty cringe worthy, has some decent laughs.)
So I think I'd recommend to watch it all the way through once... But then only watch from Series 1-5 (and The series 5 Christmas Special "In The Beginning', the final episode written by original creators) to get the proper experience.
At the end of Series 5, and the subsequent Christmas special, you had the original creators intended ending and perfect epilogue to finish it all off. (I can't imagine a more perfect ending to this series than the ending of the creators final episode 'In The Beginning'. It sums up everything the show is and has a phenomenal message about what trial can be an opportunity for in life.)
But because of the shows popularity, the BBC brought it back for 2 more seasons even though the original creators had finished the story, and those two seasons are an absolute disaster of nonsense.
The first 5 seasons are near perfect. From start to finish there isn't a bad episode. Some are weaker than others, but not a single one is bad or not entertaining. I'll admit at first, coming from being a fan of Red Dwarf, seeing Chris Barrie with this voice and personality irritated me for the first few episodes, but once I got used to him being more than just Rimmer, I realised how great it was.
Then came series 6 and 7... And the show lost the plot. The new writers had no idea what made the show so special, it's heart. Instead they focussed on pure chaos only and the whole show felt idiotic. The characters all changed from some of the best sitcom characters I've ever seen, to being cartoon stereotypes of whatever the writers of the week thought they should be that week. They made Brittas a literal idiot, when originally he was quite a genius that just didn't get people... They made Colin into a one dimensional fool, and they turned Linda from one of the most eager and positive characters into a violent and mean psychopath. They just didn't get it.
To add unsult to injury, the ending of the series completely ruined the entire show AND the perfect ending the original writers had finished on with 'In The Beginning'. It's one thing to send a show downhill after taking over, but its another to retcon the original creators intended ending.
It's hard for me to say whether people should even watch seasons 6 and 7... On one hand I'd say absolutely not. It leaves a bad taste in my mouth when I do. And when I watch through Series 1 to 5 only, it feels like a perfect conclusion and I'm satisfied. Yet, there are a few little highlights after, most notably the final 1996 Christmas Special being the best of the entire last two seasons, and the Body Snatchers episode from Series 6 (which, while being pretty cringe worthy, has some decent laughs.)
So I think I'd recommend to watch it all the way through once... But then only watch from Series 1-5 (and The series 5 Christmas Special "In The Beginning', the final episode written by original creators) to get the proper experience.