User Reviews

Boris has just launched his Galactic Britain initiative which is, apparently, about "putting the UK firmly in the front rank of the global space industry: Global Britain becoming Galactic Britain".

I feel this is the perfect documentary of what it'll be like! The casting is superb and conveys the "good intent but suboptimal outcome" that Nick Frost manages to embody so well. Everyone seems to be up in arms about this not being another Red Dwarf, but thankfully we have Red Dwarf to be Red Dwarf, leaving Hyperdrive to be its own thing.

The only bad thing I have to say about it is the criminally short run of twelve episodes - we need more of this. Talky Door!

I'm a British expat who discovered this show on BBC Canada during it's original 2006/2007 run. Loved it, so bought the DVD set. Just re-watched the whole lot and still love it, and I still don't understand why it's been so negatively received.

Unlike some of the other positive reviews I've seen, I prefer season 1 over season 2. Each episode's a gem, whereas I think half of season 2 is a little weak, but does have the standout episodes with York's clone, and the dream machine (two years before the movie Inception!). Those who watch Star Trek Discovery might be interested to learn that Hyperdrive had an augmented/enhanced human more than a decade earlier (and one with far more character!). So those complaining that the show is unoriginal should think again!

Aside from a few weak episodes, I didn't think Season 2 was helped by the change in theme music, nor the more dramatic and sometimes overly intrusive incidental music. They also pretty much dropped the original premise of promoting British trade, which makes season 1 more timely viewing in 2019!

This show shows promise. I think we all hated the first few episodes but for those of us who stuck with it we found out that as the series progressed it started to become genuinely funny. It is a wonderful, detached a quirky comedy with more than a few noticeable flaws. But these are outweighed by other laugh out loud moments the likes of which have only ever been seen on Red Dwarf. The characters, while underdeveloped, are humorous and quirky and add to the hilarity, especially York, the sadistic security officer. I know this show has very definite and profound flaws, but it is these moments of brilliance that make the show worth watching, that make all those cringe worthy flop gags worth cringing for, give this show a chance, you won't regret it.

I thoroughly enjoyed this show. The characters were engaging and likable, the situations were amusing, and the sets and effects were fine for what the show was trying to do.

I am interested in how much British viewers dislike it. Their main complaint seems to be that is not Red Dwarf. I have seen Red Dwarf and found it funny enough, but not something I really cared much about one way or the other. Not being a fan of Red Dwarf, I must say I don't see any similarities at all. The situations are very much different, as are the characters. I'd agree with someone here who ventured that Hyperdrive really is more a comedy version of Star Trek. I can understand that dedicated fans of Red Dwarf would like more, but shouldn't this show be judged for what it is, rather than for how it fails to meet your expectations?

I'd watch another season of it if it's made.

I have long been a fan of Red Dwarf. Compared to the very best of Red Dwarf (3rd and 4th seasons) Hyperdrive does not measure up. But there are not a lot of comedy writers out there who could follow the team of Grant & Naylor and expect to compare favorably.

As many here have already observed Hyperdrive does not attempt to be the same sort of comedy as Red Dwarf. I find it to be a send up of the pomposity found in the Star Trek universe. If you come to the show looking for that kind of satire then Hyperdrive will prove to be very very entertaining. At least watch it long enough to see the Cadet Ball scene. You'll see what I mean.

Oh my! A very young Nick Frost and Miranda Hart! 2006? British scyfy is right up my wazoo! It's so funny I'd just wet myself laughing! Enjoy and post your thoughts too! Luv Murf.

If you want a bit of scifi comedy then this will suffice. I would have liked more. It was funny and full of lovable characters and the aliens are as wacky as the crew. There are some really good episodes as well as a couple that I wish they had replaced with another one altogether. It is funny and has the Brit dry humor which is always good for a change.

Saw only the last two episodes of this spoof of Star Wars. Nick Frost leads a strong ensemble, with great support from Kevin Eldon (lovingly enlarging on his obsessive cleaner character from "Black Books") and from Miranda Hart as the supportive and consoling lieutenant. ("Teal, can you take your hand away from there, please.")

HMS Camden Lock (non-London readers please note: Camden Lock is a vaguely hippie crafts and fast food market in north London) is on a mission to protect British interests "in an ever- changing galaxy". And it's crewed by as unlikely a crowd of misfits as you could imagine. When the warship strays into forbidden space and is fired on by automatic defences, there is no one on the bridge: they are all taking psychological tests. (Henderson, hearing gunfire: "I know what you're doing. You're trying to see if I can think under stress.")

The gags and timing are mercilessly exact. It stands up to many viewings; the punchlines have become part of our lives. Can't wait toget hold of a DVD.

"Be your best."

Nick Frost, Miranda Hart and Dan Antopolski are absolute gems in this series. The rest of the cast are a great deal of fun as well. I understand why people seem to make comparisons to Red Dwarf there is a similar feeling to it but I find it stands well on it's own. I know another series would be a pipe dream at this point, but I would be on board for a third season. Yes it has some cringe worthy moments, but that is part of its charm. It's also an interesting take on global affairs, most often sci-fi has a globalist perspective on the future and Hyperdrive offers up a nationalist point of view that is an interesting change from the norm.

I love Red Dwarf.

There, I've said it and I'm not going to mention it again since the only flaw anyone's been able to find with Hyperdrive is that it's not as good as Red Dwarf. That's really not the point because it has very little in common with Red Dwarf at all apart from the fact that it's set in space.

Hyperdrive is boring. It's badly put together, badly acted by people who should know far more about comedic timing and it all feels rather sad because it's a good opportunity that's been wasted. The first episode was complete rubbish but I told myself I'd give it a chance and keep watching. Unfortunately it didn't get any better. In a half hour show I laughed maybe twice and that was at Kevin Eldon as York, who is the only character in it that is even remotely funny.

Don't waste your time. That's half an hour you're never getting back...

I can't believe how many very lazy reviewers here are comparing this show negatively to Red Dwarf. Just stop it alright? Nothing except Red Dwarf will ever be as good as Red Dwarf. Having said that, the characters in this show are based a good deal less on stereotypes that those in Dwarf. The humour is frequently more zany than Dwarf, the stories are less predictable than Dwarf. One or two story ideas do fall a bit flat, but many are very funny, especially the shows that feature the alien race Queppu. Overall the humour here is very Brit, which is why I think many Americans just don't get it (which is fine by me, I don't laugh at The Big Bang Theory). The actors are all very good TV actors (Craig Charles was more of a poet than an actor when he started in Dwarf) and have been well cast for their roles. Nick Frost is of course well-known, but at least two of the others have had their own comedy shows. It's a shame this only got two series, but I'm grateful for them and it still makes me laugh on rewatch.

Look, I have now seen ALL 6 episodes, it has not gotten 1 iota funnier. Its awkward and poorly written. I had high hopes for this show. I love Douglas Adams. I love Red Dwarf. I loved Nick Frost in Spaced and Shaun Of The Dead. I love Sci-Fi, I REALLY love Sci-Fi comedy. I hated this show.

Don't get me wrong, I really wanted to like it, but its just done so badly. I was even in a sort of denial for a few episodes, but the truth is its boring. I don't care about any of the characters, the jokes were very dull, and the whole thing just fell under the category of "Great idea done badly".

I think this is less like Red Dwarf and more like The Office....in space! Not that thats a bad thing, if done well. It isn't. I mean I would much rather see David Brent helming a starship, with Garreth as a second in command with delusions of grandeur (as weird as that concept may be) than watch this show stumble through each episode.

Disappointingly forgettable.

For starters, I don't get what the big deal is comparing this show to Red Dwarf. Aside from both being British sci-fi series set in space, Hyperdrive is hardly a ripoff. If you ask me, it's more like Star Trek than anything else, albeit a twisted, bureaucratic, hilarious Star Trek set in a less-than-perfect-future. Exploring strange new worlds, seeking out new lifeforms and new civilizations, to boldly sell stuff where no man has sold stuff before! :) And even if the concept may not be the most original in the history of scifi, the characters more than make up for that. York is just deliciously evil, Jeffers is perfect as the wannabe-badass, Teal is just plain cheerful and fun, and Sandstrom... well, I just like her because she reminds me of Radical Edward. :D

Anyone claiming that this show is boring, rubbish, or a waste of time needs their sense of humor tuned up. I've watched every episode + loved it from start to finish. No it is not Red Dwarf + it doesn't need to be.

Brilliant cast, brilliant deadpan comedic delivery, brilliant "moments" from a group of talented actors with turns at both heart-warming + laugh- inducing antics.

And to anyone with the general notion that "women aren't funny", you obviously haven't witnessed the hilarious Miranda Hart as Teal in this series. Lovely.

This show was really funny and has practically nothing in common with Red Dwarf.

At first, having seen the advertisements for the show, I thought that perhaps it would be a red-dwarf type program, trying to build on the fame of that show, and build a reputation of it's own.

I've just watched the first episode.

Eeek, I need to pan fry my brain to sort this out.

The story is... missing. The plot looks like they have been participants in a realitity TV show, and been rejected. No one seems to be able to act; there is no suspense of belief, just lots of disbelive. It has more in common with "galloping galaxies" then a post-watershed piece of rubbish. It's appalling. Dark star, which employed some similar principles, was a lot better.

Some of the jokes are funny, some of the lines are well thought out, this has to be admitted, but the delivery is lacking in.. in.. everything - timing, performance and empathy.

It's bad.

My girlfriend bought the Hyperdrive DVD because she is a big fan of Miranda Hart and this popped up on Amazon when she was looking for Hart stuff. We read the reviews on here and most were positive and the cast was a list of top comedy actors. We both thought it was a good show and felt it deserved more than a couple of series. By the second series we were really into it big time. Unfortunately there were no more.

It used to be the best but the BBC are very half hearted about comedy these days, they seem to have lost their way. The BBC are pretty poor these days, most comedy is farmed out to BBC2 or 3 and just disappears as most of us viewers never hear of it. I cannot recommend Hyperdrive highly enough, it is cool funny and well worth watching.

I have written this because Miranda Hart had a big spread in the Daily Mail yesterday and I thought our enjoyment of Hyperdrive worth a mention on IMDb.

the BBC has the unique method of funding by taxation, which is great when they make great television, Life on Mar, Life on Earth, Dr Who and even Red Dwarf but to spend money on something so unfunny is a waste.

Sure its not always a good idea to compare like for similar but what made most of the Red Dwarf series great t.v. was narrative, plot development and characterisation, the laughs only come when the proper work of narrative has been done. Despite good actors, reasonable special effects and a reasonable budget it simply fails because the basics are overlooked. it is simply a sketch show with no structure. I watch it for the instruction it gives in getting it right. Is BBC Manchester just full of yes men/women who have no desire to create and think Hyperdrive is worth the money spent on it?

On first pass, this sci-fi comedy immediately invites comparisons with Red Dwarf, Star Trek, and even The Office. However, Hyperdrive is really just the everyday working class gone forth, not so much boldly, but just... there.

The commander of the Camden Lock, Henderson, played warmly by Nick Frost, dreams of doing something great for Britain as he commands his ineffectual crew, ineffectually. His intentions overreach his ability, but he's no smarmy David Brent. This is a bloke who shoulders his responsibility, but could easily end up down the pub with the rest of the crew on a Friday afternoon.

This is a good role for Frost, who has previously played second-fiddle to Simon Pegg in such fan-boy classics as Spaced and Shaun of the Dead. Frost proves he is capable of gentle comedic moments, inhabiting his role with subtlety. This may be lost on some of the more rabid sci-fi crowd, who may be irked to find that this is a very different beast than say, the abrasiveness of the Rimmer/Lister relationship from Red Dwarf. It may be a stretch to say that the crew-mates of the Camden Lock enjoy each other's company but they don't actively hate each other.

The rest of the crew is rounded out nicely by Teal, the Alien Liaison officer, who has a crush on Henderson. First Officer York is gleefully homicidal, and Jeffers is note-perfect as the ship's Tech Officer, who displays just the right amount of contempt and long-suffering for his fellow humans. Sandstrom, the ship's "enhanced human" and Pilot (an obvious stab at such pilot roles found in shows like Andromeda or Farscape) provides a little mystery, and curiously, a strange eroticism. Her vacant smile is stunning.

Overall, Hyperdrive is a rewarding comedy, if you're willing to let go of hyper-critical thinking and allow yourself to enter into a far-flung universe that seems more close to home than you may think. Despite some rather average (and rare) script moments, there's enough of a foundation here to build a show that could yet become as revered and loved as a certain crimson miniature.

I'd have to disagree with the above commenter, but then again, that's what different personalities and tastes are all about :) Quite a few people have compared it to Red Dwarf. Unfortunately just about any space-orientated comedy (especially coming from the UK) is going to have that label applied. It doesn't fit. This is a show in its own right, and any comparisons to Dwarf are going to falter. If anything, it reminds me more of large chunks of Lexx.

The first episode was pretty dire (IMO) but then again, first episodes so often are. I continued watching - and I'm glad I did. It manages a nice balance between comedy, insanity, and tension and sometimes even pathos. Rather than having certain personality traits being running gags, they are worked into character development (Jeffers and Vine, Henderson and York, Sandstrom's backstory, which has a black, pathetic slant to it and Teal working through her own possibly-unrequited-possibly-not love for Henderson).

It's not for everyone, and don't expect pure insane comedy - like Black Books or M*A*S*H, it can have the insanity, but mixed in are moments that pause you and actually make you connect with the characters. (Far more than Dwarf really explored) As the season progressed, it definitely found its feet, with each progressive ep better and better.

Bring on Season Two. It's just starting to hit its stride.

I've watched three episodes so far on BBC America and love it. The characters are likable and special effects pretty good for a comedy. Along with Doctor Who, Galactica and the Stargate series, this is about all the sci-fi space shows I watch. My wife enjoys all the others but she's not warmed up to Hyperdrive, thinking it is too much "man" humor, in the same vein as Three Stooges comedy which I love but she doesn't. Maybe the show will be more popular with males? I'll keep watching the reviews here to see if gender makes a difference in the likes/dislikes. Seems that so many BBC America series only have short runs of 4 or 5 episodes, I hope Hyperdrive is an exception to that precedent. None of the actors were known to me before but they all seem to click well in their roles. I hope it enjoys a long run!

...I mean, Nick Frost is hilarious. He stole the show in Spaced and Shaun Of The Dead, and otherwise run-of-the-mill shows like Man Stroke Woman are lifted out of the mire of mediocrity by his mere presence. So why isn't he funny in Hyperdrive? Why aren't ANY of them funny? Kevin Eldon, for God's sake! The Actor Kevin Eldon, the false Rod Hull, Simon Quintlack - Master Of Hobbies for those of us old enough to remember Fist Of Fun. Why isn't he funny in Hyperdrive? What the hell is going on? Massive waste of time. But as with most awful shows these days, the BBC will commission two full series before they get the message. I'm pleased to hear someone has had the courage of their convictions and pulled the plug on the third series. If only they'd do the same with Torchwood.

Only a few days ago I got hold of a boxed Season 1&2 DVD set of Hyperdrive.

Since then I've been watching this funny, upbeat comedy with it's Star Trek elements, and the best that British comedy can offer (to a German, anyways).

I've been looking forward to see a third, fourth and infinite amount of comedy seasons of Hyperdrive, to brighten up my days.

And now, to my great disappointment, I learn that the BBC want's to discontinue the series. Apparently not enough Britishers are watching it.

I'm very sad to see this great concept go, which, admittedly, has absolutely nothing to do with Red Dwarf. Thank goodness I say, because Hyperdrive is so much better, in its way, although the two comedies can not really be compared.

Hyperdrive has more of an alternate concept of a future, comedic, indeed, funny and irreverent.

Please let Hyperdrive live! shouts this lone German fan, long before the first dubbed versions of the show made it to the German TV screens. The collective groan of yet to be disappointed German future fans may reverberate back in time forever...

Live Hyperdrive, live...!

First of all; I love Red Dwarf, Spaced, the Office, Black Adder and British sitcoms and comedies in all. I'm mentioning this to underline that I normally like these kind of television shows and this type of humor.

But Hyperdrive simply is not a good series. It is unimaginative and un-original. The characters are flat and dull. The script and lines are uninspired and without the English sting that the Brits are so well known for.

Hyperdrive is boring and not funny. I honestly didn't laugh once! during the two seasons.

...the worst part is that I payed good money to see it on DVD.