I think the only reason the episodic mode didn't take off what that it was implicitly tied to an overall story, so players like myself felt we'd rather wait until the full 'experience' could be enjoyed. They need to be completely self contained, like episodes of Columbo.

God I despise it every time I see even a nominally progressive individual use the phrasing 'HR dialogue.' They dont realise how big of a dog whistle it is.

Might even do for fanart of this idea. Space pirate Cat has a lot of potential.

Ran for two seasons, the critics slated it and the fans shit the bed, but a dedicated following (me) persists nonetheless.

As you can tell, the story would be a bit more cynical, darker, and grounded, and the arc would essentially be about Lister realising that if he ever had made something of his music career it wouldn't necessarily have made him happier, as the unsatisfied success of Rimmer and Cat can prove.

Also, I know i said it was the same cast, but in this version Holly is played by Ralph Fiennes, because I guess my brain wanted to see Ralph Fiennes do the "everybody's dead Dave," routing. He's basically the same, if not a bit more of a know it all.

Kryten is actually a later model, based on the Hudzen-10. He still couldn't save the crew of the Nova-5 but didn't keep serving them. Sees himself as superior to humans but is still obligated to follow orders. He chases against the demands of Rimmer and Cat but rebuffs Lister's rebellious tendencies

Cat became a notorious space pirate, with a lavish hoard of wealth, and a woman in every port. Like Rimmer though, success didn't bring him happiness. He only crosses paths with the Dwarf boys by chance, during a visit back to the ship to offload more of his spoils. He's more big headed than ever.

The Cat, having aged without the rest of the cast's influence, actually realised his destiny and rose to be the leader of his people, but the holy war still happened and the arcs still launched. He leaves for a life of adventure but keeps a tracker on RD to return now and then (like a cat would)

Rimmer actually got the career he wanted and rose through the ranks and is now Admiral. Once resurrected as a hologram he is more insufferable than ever constantly pulling rank on a less confident Lister, he hides his inadequacy at the fact that success still never got him friends or admiration.

Lister is now older and jaded. He never got that music career off the ground and now he feels like he squandered his life, despite the fact that pre-disaster he moonlights as the ships DJ and is well regarded for it, but he is his own biggest critic.