Back to Reality (Red Dwarf)

Last updated

"Back to Reality"
Red Dwarf episode
Episode no.Series 5
Episode 6
Directed by Juliet May and Grant Naylor
Written by Rob Grant and Doug Naylor
Original air date26 March 1992 (1992-03-26)
Guest appearances
Episode chronology
← Previous
"Demons & Angels"		Next →
"Psirens"
List of episodes

"Back to Reality" is the sixth and final episode of the fifth series of science fiction sitcom Red Dwarf , [1] and the 30th in the series' run. [2] It was first broadcast on the British television channel BBC2 on 26 March 1992, [3] written by Rob Grant and Doug Naylor and directed by Juliet May and Grant Naylor. [4] The plot features the crew waking up after a crash to discover that the last four years of their lives has been spent in a "Total Immersion Video Game" called Red Dwarf. This episode marks the final appearance of Hattie Hayridge as Holly. The episode often tops polls and surveys as the best episode in the entire series. [5]

Contents

Plot

Dave Lister, Arnold Rimmer, Kryten and the Cat take a Starbug to investigate the wreckage of a ship called SSS Esperanto on an ocean-covered moon. The group discover that the ship was conducting marine seeding experiments that included accelerating the evolution of life on the planet, but find that all life on board, and even some of the sea life, had committed suicide. Kryten discovers this was caused by a mutated form of squid ink that contained a hallucinogenic nerve toxin, and that the suicides were caused by the toxin giving its victims severe depression, stating that he, Lister and Cat are now being affected by it. Finding that the ink may have come from the only remaining life form on the moon, a giant squid, the group attempt to escape it, but crash Starbug and are killed in the explosion. A moment later, the crew awaken from Artificial Reality machines and discover that they have been playing "Red Dwarf – The Total Immersion Video Game" for four years, gaining a score of only 4%, and that the length of time has left them with temporary memory loss.

The group discover who they are in time—Lister is Voter Colonel Sebastian Doyle, head of the secret police in a fascist state; Rimmer is Billy Doyle, Lister's half-brother and a tramp; Cat is Duane Dibbley, a dorky human; and Kryten is Detective Jake Bullet, a half-human traffic officer. The group feel despair at finding out who they are, Kryten initially being pleased at his "real" existence until he is forced to take a human life to save another, and prepare to commit group suicide. However, before they do this, Holly manages to wake them up, revealing that they are still onboard Starbug—their crash and the "reality" they were in were just a hallucination. Holly and Kryten deduce that the squid was the culprit: a Despair Squid which used ink to induce despair in other species and make them commit suicide. Holly confirms that she has killed the squid, and Starbug leaves the planet.

Production

"Back to Reality" was the first script written for series 5, [6] and it was thought of at the time that this would be the final series as there looked like there would be a cast availability problem: Chris Barrie was starring in the increasingly popular sitcom Brittas Empire , while Robert Llewellyn was appearing in Red Dwarf USA , a Red Dwarf pilot commissioned by American production company NBC, with the possibility of being committed to that for several years. [7]

Although the budget for the series had increased, certain sets were still able to double for different scenes. The corridors of the holoship, from the episode of the same name, were adapted for the Artificial Reality suite. [8]

The interiors of the SSS Esperanto were filmed at Sunbury Pumphouse, and were the only scenes directed by Juliet May.

Several model shots of the Despair Squid were filmed but it was decided that they did not work well. Instead, a superimposed shadow was used to illustrate the squid closing in on Starbug. [9]

Lenny Von Dohlen, known for appearing in Twin Peaks , agreed to appear as a policeman after speaking with former guest star Frances Barber (who appeared in the series 3 episode, "Polymorph", as the Jenny Mutant). [10] The episode also featured a new Red Dwarf crew for the new Artificial Reality game. Anastasia Hille, in her first-ever TV role, played Kochanski, David Lemkin played the Cat, Julian Lyon played Rimmer, John Sharian played Lister and Scott Charles Bennett played Kryten. Timothy Spall and Marie McCarthy played two employees, a staff worker named Andy and a nurse, respectively, attending to the 'Red Dwarf Total Immersion Video Game'.

Reception

The episode was originally broadcast on the British television channel BBC2 on 26 March 1992 in the 9:00pm evening time slot, [3] and is generally considered to be one of the best of the entire series' run. [11] It has been described as a "classic episode [that] questions our certainty about what is real. It has us believing that what we thought was real was only a simulation of dream, only to reveal later on that the waking up was actually a falling asleep." [12] Another review said that it was "one of the best and most clever episodes ever made—here we see the birth of Dwane Dibbly—'nuff said." [13] Rob Grant has described this episode as one of his favourites: "that was a show I was sorta in the director's chair for and personally it's a gobsmackingly good show in terms of RD shows." [14]

At the end of 1992 the episode helped the fifth series gain a nomination for an International Emmy Award, [15] and in 1995, following a BBC viewers vote, it was repeated on 22 December 1995 as 'The Best-Ever Red Dwarf'. [16]

The episode had proved popular enough for the BBC to ignore the original running order and use the popular episodes from the series to maximise sales of the video releases. The episode that featured on the other series 5 video release being "Quarantine". [17]

Related Research Articles

The End (<i>Red Dwarf</i>) 1st episode of the 1st series of Red Dwarf

"The End" is the first episode of science fiction sitcom Red Dwarf, which was first broadcast on the British television channel BBC2 on 15 February 1988. The episode introduces the main characters and sets up the story backbone of the series. On the mining ship Red Dwarf, Dave Lister is placed in stasis for refusing to give up the whereabouts of his forbidden pet cat. When he emerges from stasis, three million years later, he discovers that everybody has died from a radiation leak.

"Kryten" is the seventh episode from science fiction sitcom Red Dwarf, the first from series two, and was first broadcast on BBC2 on 6 September 1988. Written by Rob Grant and Doug Naylor, and directed by Ed Bye, this episode introduced the mechanoid character Kryten. The episode was re-mastered, along with the rest of the first three series, in 1998.

"Better Than Life" is the second episode from Red Dwarf series two, and the eighth in the series run. It was first broadcast on BBC2 on 13 September 1988. Written by Rob Grant and Doug Naylor, and directed by Ed Bye, this episode introduces the total immersion video game "Better Than Life", which features in both the first and second Red Dwarf novels.

"Parallel Universe" is the sixth episode of science fiction sitcom Red Dwarf series two, and the twelfth in the show's run. It premiered on the British television channel BBC2 on 11 October 1988. Written by Rob Grant and Doug Naylor, and directed by Ed Bye, the plot involves the Red Dwarf crew travelling to a parallel universe where they meet alternative versions of themselves. This marked the final appearance of Norman Lovett as Holly, although he would return years later at the end of Series VII and then for the whole of Series VIII. The episode was remastered, along with the rest of the first three series, in 1998.

"Marooned" is the second episode of science fiction sitcom Red Dwarf Series III, and the fourteenth in the series run. It premiered on the British television channel BBC2 on 21 November 1989. Written by Rob Grant and Doug Naylor, and directed by Ed Bye, the story is about Lister and Rimmer being marooned together on a bleak ice planet. The episode was re-mastered, along with the rest of the first three series, in 1998.

"Bodyswap" is the fourth episode of science fiction sitcom Red Dwarf Series III, and the sixteenth overall. It premiered on the British television channel BBC2 on 5 December 1989. Written by Rob Grant and Doug Naylor, and directed by Ed Bye. This was the first episode to be recorded without a live studio audience. The plot has Rimmer suggesting that the perfect way to help Lister get "healthy" is swapping bodies. The episode was re-mastered, along with the rest of the first three series, in 1998.

"White Hole" is the fourth episode of science fiction sitcom Red Dwarf Series IV and the twenty-second episode in the series run. It was first broadcast on the British television channel BBC2 on 7 March 1991. Written by Rob Grant and Doug Naylor, and directed by Ed Bye and Paul Jackson, the episode features the crew's attempt to escape the influence of a white hole.

"Dimension Jump" is the fifth episode of science fiction sit-com Red Dwarf Series IV and the twenty-third episode in the series run. It was first broadcast on the British television channel BBC2 on 14 March 1991, written by Rob Grant and Doug Naylor, and directed by Ed Bye. The episode, featuring the first appearance of Ace Rimmer, was intended to end the series; but Meltdown was rescheduled and broadcast last due to the Gulf War.

"Holoship" is the first episode of Series V of the science fiction sitcom Red Dwarf and the twenty-fifth in the series run. It was first broadcast on the British television channel BBC2 on 20 February 1992 in the 9:00 PM evening time slot. It was written by Rob Grant and Doug Naylor, and directed by Juliet May.

"The Inquisitor" is the second episode of science fiction sitcom Red Dwarf Series V and the twenty sixth in the series run. It was first broadcast on the British television channel BBC2 on 27 February 1992. It was written by Rob Grant and Doug Naylor, and directed by Juliet May and Grant Naylor. The episode's plot deals with a time travelling simulant who visits Red Dwarf to assess if they are worthy of their existence.

"Terrorform" is the third episode of science fiction sit-com Red Dwarf Series V and the twenty seventh in the series run. It was first broadcast on the British television channel BBC2 on 5 March 1992. It was written by Rob Grant and Doug Naylor, and was directed by Juliet May. The episode's plot has the Red Dwarf crew rescuing Rimmer from a terraformed moon based on his own psyche.

Quarantine (<i>Red Dwarf</i>) 4th episode of the 5th series of Red Dwarf

"Quarantine" is the fourth episode of science fiction sitcom Red Dwarf Series V and the twenty eighth in the series run. It was first broadcast on the British television channel BBC2 on 12 March 1992. The episode, fifth to be filmed, was the first one to be solely directed by Rob Grant and Doug Naylor. The episode has Rimmer contracting a holo-virus and turning against the rest of the crew.

"Demons & Angels" is the fifth episode of science fiction sit-com Red Dwarf Series V and the twenty ninth in the series run. It was first broadcast on the British television channel BBC2 on 19 March 1992. Written by Rob Grant and Doug Naylor, the episode was the first to be filmed with new director Juliet May. The episode has the regular Red Dwarf crew meeting angelic and demonic versions of themselves.

"Legion" is the second episode of science fiction sit-com Red Dwarf Series VI and the 32nd in the series run. It was first broadcast on British television on 14 October 1993, was written by Rob Grant and Doug Naylor and was directed by Andy de Emmony.

"Gunmen of the Apocalypse" is the third episode of series VI of the science fiction sitcom Red Dwarf. It was first broadcast on 21 October 1993, on BBC Two, and went on to win an International Emmy Award. The episode was written by Rob Grant and Doug Naylor, and directed by Andy de Emmony. In the episode, the regular cast find themselves in a computer simulation of a Wild West town, facing a gunfight against the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

"Emohawk: Polymorph II" is the fourth episode of the British science fiction sitcom TV show Red Dwarf VI and the 34th in the series run. It was first broadcast on BBC2 on 28 October 1993. Written by Rob Grant and Doug Naylor and directed by Andy de Emmony, the episode features the crew again being hunted by a polymorph. The first appearance of these creatures was in the series III episode "Polymorph". Also returning in this episode are Duane Dibbley from "Back to Reality" and Ace Rimmer from "Dimension Jump".

"Out of Time" is the sixth episode of science fiction sitcom Red Dwarf Series VI and the 36th in the programmes run. It was first broadcast on the British television channel BBC2 on 11 November 1993. Written by Rob Grant & Doug Naylor and directed by Andy de Emmony, it was the first Red Dwarf series finale to end on a cliffhanger. It is the final episode with contributions from Rob Grant.

"Nanarchy" is the eighth, and final, episode of science fiction sitcom Red Dwarf Series VII and the 44th in the series run. It was first broadcast on the British television channel BBC2 on 7 March 1997. The episode was written by Paul Alexander, James Hendrie and Doug Naylor, and directed by Ed Bye. After two series of tracking their ship, the crew of Starbug finally discover the location of their missing mining ship Red Dwarf and its computer Holly.

"Backwards" is the first episode of science fiction sitcom Red Dwarf Series III, and the thirteenth in the series run. It premiered on the British television channel BBC2 on 14 November 1989. Written by Rob Grant and Doug Naylor, and directed by Ed Bye, the episode has the crew travel to an alternate Earth where time runs backwards.

References

  1. ↑ "British Sitcom Guide – Red Dwarf – Series 5". sitcom.co.uk. Retrieved 29 January 2008.
  2. ↑ "TV.com – Back to Reality summary". tv.com. Archived from the original on 31 January 2008. Retrieved 29 January 2008.
  3. 1 2 "BBC – Programme Catalogue – RED DWARF V – BACK TO REALITY". BBC. Retrieved 12 December 2007.[ permanent dead link ]
  4. ↑ "Back to Reality cast and crew". IMDb. Retrieved 29 January 2008.
  5. ↑ Survey Results, Red Dwarf Smegazine, issue 10, December 1992, Fleetway Editions Ltd, ISSN   0965-5603
  6. ↑ "Red Dwarf Series V Writing". reddwarf.co.uk. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  7. ↑ Interview: Grant Naylor, Red Dwarf Smegazine, issue 6, August 1992, Fleetway Editions Ltd, ISSN   0965-5603
  8. ↑ "Red Dwarf Series V Sets". reddwarf.co.uk. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  9. ↑ Howarths, Chris; Steve Lyons (1993). "Section 1: The History". Red Dwarf Programme Guide . Virgin Books. ISBN   0-86369-682-1.
  10. ↑ "Red Dwarf Series V Casting". reddwarf.co.uk. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  11. ↑ Red Dwarf Smegazine: Survey Results, issue 10, December 1992, Fleetway Editions Ltd, ISSN   0965-5603
  12. ↑ Cox, Gary (2010). How To Be A Philosopher: Or How to Be Almost Certain that Almost Nothing is Certain. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 60. ISBN   1441144781.
  13. ↑ "Red Dwarf Series 5". DVD Talk. Retrieved 20 November 2012.
  14. ↑ "Rob Grant Interview". The Inquisitors Red Dwarf Site. Archived from the original on 18 January 2016. Retrieved 29 November 2012.
  15. ↑ News From The Dwarf, Red Dwarf Smegazine, issue 11, January 1993, Fleetway Editions Ltd, ISSN   0965-5603
  16. ↑ "BBC – Programme Catalogue – THE BEST EVER RED DWARF". BBC. Retrieved 12 December 2007.[ permanent dead link ]
  17. ↑ "Red Dwarf Series V Aftermath". reddwarf.co.uk. Archived from the original on 4 January 2008. Retrieved 7 January 2008.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.