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So I'm falling asleep last night listening to Rd season 1, when it suddenly hits me. Some day, in the far future, some sociologist is going to rediscover RD, and make a stunning sociological paper about it, showing how its the greatest symbolic show of our time.

Rimmer- a representation of the old, stiff Victorian-style-minded Brit, (Old Order) striving to achieve success according to the standards set out for him, following all the rules, but bogged down by the endless social expectations at the expense of his own personal freedom and happiness

Cat- a representation of America, a culture evolved from British culture, based on British culture, but separated by space and time until it becomes something completely different, something more shallow and materialistic than its British parent

Kryten- a representation of Canada, a servant of Britain, broken off after demanding freedom, yet still following the dictates of its British beginnings

Holly- a representation of the British Empire, once grand and all-seeing, but isolated to the point of losing its effectiveness on such a grand scale

Lister- a representation of the British lower and middle classes, mixing equally with the "upper classes" (Rimmer)

She could discuss:
how RD represents a society which proves that the upper and lower
classes must both exist together in order to survive
how cultural evolution occurs (American and Canadian cultures as
represented by Cat & Kryten versus traditional parent culture as
represented by Rimmer
how Rimmer & Lister end up at the same level, with such different ways
of getting there, and different levels of effort

If you have a socioloigy or film class, feel free to steal this idea!

biggrin

That's a pretty in depth analasis. I wonder if the creators of RD did that on purpose or if it's just a happy coincidance. You forgot Kochanski. She was upper class as well. Listers constant longing for her could signify how much people of the lower class are constantly aspiring to be upper class. His contempt for Rimmer (also upper class in his own little way) could show how at the same time he wishes to be upper class, he also has a disdain for it's stifling rules.

-coughs and sneezes on evabh- Nice idea to bad I missed it the first time around. mrgreen

Holly makes a great royal family. A nice figurehead without any actual influence on what goes on.

Wow! That's a great analysis! And you say you were trying to fall asleep? I'd love to see what you can do when wide awake!