As a Dwarfer born and raised on the sonic boom sci-fi sit-com of Series 3 onwards the differences between the show I fell in love with and the one present here at Dwarf's birth are immediate.
The opening theme, bleak, dramatic, menacing - with a passing nod to genre classics and inspirations like Dark Star and Silent Running. The sets and uniforms which look more reminiscent of 70s shows like Battlestar Galatica or Blake's 7 than the vibrant metallic reds, green and blues that become the custom in later seasons.
Although improvements in these areas would no doubt contribute to the shows later success, the most important part of any TV show, and Red Dwarf is no exception, lies in the scripts. Interestingly there are differences here too - The pace, here as in all Series 1 episodes, is noticeably slow. The action, which despite the massive exterior change caused by the cadium leak, manages to focus essentially inwards focusing on the characters relationships.
Whilst such differences exist other broader Red Dwarf staples are established right here. The opening scenes familiarise us with Lister the dreaming slacker, Rimmer - a stiff company man whose ambition dwarves his talents, and most importantly their mutual apathy. Similarly Cat's overriding vanity is immediately clear but presented in such an over the top yet innocent way as to make a usually unlikeable chracacter trait humourous. Lesser, but equally long-standing traditions too are subtly weaved into place - Lister's love of Kochanski, Rimmer's continual failing at exams, and references to Esperanto which have continued throughout the shows are clearly visible on background signs if not at this point directly referred too.
Overall it would be ambitous at best to claim anything on offer here is side-splittingly funny, but that said The End is still an episode worth holding an audience on far more than just nostalgia.
The performances alone from the three leads, which it's worth noting at the time amounted to no more than an impressionist, a poet and a dancer are nothing short of first class. Danny John-Jules initial short introductory solo piece in particular is infinitely re-watchable as is the immediate, and perhaps unlikely given their class backgrounds, chemistry between Chris and Craig. Oh and that opening model shot is just wonderful.
