Red Dwarf: Back to Earth

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Red Dwarf: Back to Earth
Genre Comic science fiction
Sitcom
Created by Doug Naylor
Written by Doug Naylor
Directed by Doug Naylor
Starring Chris Barrie
Craig Charles
Danny John-Jules
Robert Llewellyn
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of episodes3
Production
Executive producersCharles Armitage
Doug Naylor
ProducerHelen Norman
Running time25 mins approx
Production company Grant Naylor Productions
Original release
Network Dave
Dave HD
(Repeats)
Release10 April (2009-04-10) 
12 April 2009 (2009-04-12)
Related

Red Dwarf: Back to Earth (also referred to as Red Dwarf IX) is a three-part miniseries continuation of the British science fiction sitcom Red Dwarf , broadcast on UK television channel Dave between 10 and 12 April 2009 [1] and subsequently released on DVD on 15 June 2009 and on Blu-ray on 31 August 2009. [2] It was the first television outing for Red Dwarf in over ten years, and features the characters Rimmer, Cat, Kryten and Lister. The storyline involves the characters arriving back on Earth, circa 2009, only to find that they are characters in a television series called Red Dwarf.

Contents

Plot

"Part One" begins on Red Dwarf, nine years after the events of Series VIII. Kochanski (Chloë Annett) is apparently dead, and Holly is out of commission because Lister (Craig Charles) caused a flood and the Skutters are busy drying him out. The original hologram Rimmer has re-joined the crew after temporarily leaving to become the new Ace Rimmer in Series VII; there is no explanation of what became of the Series VIII human Rimmer.

The crew note that water supplies are low, and discover a giant squid in the water tank when they go to investigate. After they escape from the encounter, the squid disappears, and Katerina Bartikovsky (Sophie Winkleman), a former Red Dwarf science officer, materialises. Informing Rimmer (Chris Barrie) that he is to be switched off in twenty-four hours, she uses the ship's equipment to analyse the leviathan's DNA and manages to turn a mining laser into a dimension cutter, in the hope of opening up a portal so that Lister can find a mate and restart the human race.

"Part Two" begins with the discovery that the Red Dwarf crew inhabit an "invalid dimension". Zeroing in on the nearest valid reality, the portal sucks the crew to Earth in 2009, only to find that in this world, their adventures have been turned into a fictional television show called Red Dwarf. As a result of the discovery they quickly accept that they themselves are merely fictional characters, and find a DVD of the "Back to Earth" special. Alarmed to discover that they are to die at the end of the final episode, they resolve to track down their creators and plead for more life. While on a bus, Lister meets two kids who are fans of the show and who reassure him that, despite all of his faults, he is a heroic and cool character to them. Their theory about Kochanski's fate is that, since Kryten was the only person who actually witnessed her supposed 'death', it seems likely that Kochanski simply tired of Lister and left Red Dwarf, with Kryten trying to spare Lister's feelings by claiming she had died. Kryten later admits that the children were correct. Bartikovsky informs Rimmer that it is not wrong to kill a hologram, so he pushes her under a bus.

In "Part Three", the crew track down actor Craig Charles on the set of Coronation Street and ask him to reveal the location of their creator. After they locate him, the Creator (Richard O'Callaghan) reveals that he intends to kill off the crew, but he is himself killed by a now-keen-to-remain-alive Lister. Shortly afterwards, the crew discover that they are in a shared hallucination caused by a female relative of the despair squid that uses joy, rather than despair, to subdue victims. Kochanski appears before Lister, tempting him to remain behind, but having discovered his Kochanski may still be alive in his own reality, he chooses to wake up and return with the others. As the crew head back to their sleeping quarters, Cat (Danny John-Jules) admits that he brought the female despair squid to Red Dwarf with the intention of eating it, and they reflect on the ridiculous idea that anyone could consider them fictional characters.

Episodes

No.
overall
No. in
series
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateProd.
code
531"Back to Earth: Part One" Doug Naylor Doug Naylor10 April 2009 (2009-04-10)1
Lister's day of annoying Rimmer is cut short after the discovery of a dimension-hopping leviathan in the ship's water tank. This leads to the appearance (as a hardlight hologram) of deceased science officer Katerina Bartikovsky (Sophie Winkleman), who begins to make plans to permanently remove Rimmer and to assist Lister in restoring the human race.
542"Back to Earth: Part Two"Doug NaylorDoug Naylor11 April 2009 (2009-04-11)2
Lister, Rimmer, Kryten and Cat appear on contemporary Earth and discover that they are fictional characters from a television show called Red Dwarf. They find a DVD box for "Back to Earth" and discover that they are to die at the end. They decide to track down their creators to plead for an extension, in a parody of Blade Runner . The DVD box also refers to a series X that does not actually exist yet. Katerina arrives via a second portal, but is quickly killed by Rimmer after she makes the mistake of telling him that taking the life of a hologram is not murder as they are already dead. A discussion between Lister and two children on a bus reveals that Kochanski may not be dead.
553"Back to Earth: Part Three"Doug NaylorDoug Naylor12 April 2009 (2009-04-12)3

Lister, Rimmer, Kryten and Cat use the car they take from the President of the Red Dwarf fan club, made out to resemble Starbug. They go to the set of Coronation Street, where they question Craig Charles about how much time they have left. Charles tells them they are down to their last episode, as well as giving them the address of "the creator", before joking that he needs to go back to the Priory (a reference to the actor's real life drug problems).

They find the creator, in a scene heavily referencing Blade Runner. He tells them that their deaths cannot be undone, but they will at least die gloriously. In a struggle Lister manages to kill him, before finding that this was scripted by the creator. Lister then burns the creator's script and rewrites their own ending. They then discover that the typewriter is not determining their actions.

The small origami sculptures left by the Cat turn out to be squids, leading the crew to realise that they have been drawn into an alternative reality by another squid capable of inducing hallucinations with its venomous ink - however, in contrast to the previous specimen the crew encountered in "Back to Reality" that brought on despair, the hallucinations of this squid induce joy, almost euphoria, in an attempt to prevent its prey from fighting back.

Rimmer, Kryten and Cat have formed resistance through their previous meeting with the squid during the SSS Esperanto incident, but Lister chooses to stay in the false reality where he gets together with Kochanski, despite the knowledge that she isn't real. After a period of time with Kochanski, Lister decides to head back to his own reality, with a renewed sense of his own self-worth, determined to find the real Kochanski and win her back. The episode ends with the four laughing at the fact that the fans of Red Dwarf created by the Despair Squid's hallucination (i.e. the viewers) will think that their reality is the real one, and the Red Dwarf reality dependent on it, as opposed to the other way round.

Production

In August 2008, Robert Llewellyn appeared on Seattle public television station, KCTS 9. In an interview, he revealed that BBC Worldwide, in collaboration with another party, had invested in 72 minutes of new Red Dwarf to be filmed in early 2009. [3] Grant Naylor Productions announced that it had been "on the cards" since February 2008. [4] It subsequently transpired that UKTV channel Dave would screen four new 24-minute specials to celebrate the twenty-first anniversary of the series. [5] The new episodes form part of an effort by Dave to screen more original programming, instead of just repeats. [6]

It was subsequently announced in January 2009 that the new special was to be a brand new two-part story titled Red Dwarf: Back to Earth, broadcast over the Easter weekend of that year, along with a "making of" documentary and a one-off entitled Red Dwarf: Unplugged, which was intended to be an improvised episode. [7] On 20 February 2009, it was announced that Red Dwarf: Back to Earth would now be a three-part special and that the "unplugged" episode had been postponed. [8] Unplugged had been described by Craig Charles as "just the four of us—and some chairs—trying to improvise, or rather trying to remember, classic scenes". [9]

Back to Earth itself was not filmed in front of a studio audience due to budgetary constraints. Although this was not the first time this has happened (series seven was filmed entirely without a live audience), it is the first time a laughter track was not added for broadcast. It was also the first time Red Dwarf was filmed in high definition, this time using the Red camera system. It is shot at a very high, 4K resolution. [10]

Promotion

On 13 March 2009, SFX announced that they had released a limited edition of issue 181 onto the newsstands. This edition was limited to 50 nationwide and featured the cast of the Back to Earth series instead of the standard Doctor Who cover. The magazine also plays an important part in the episode itself; Dave Bradley, editor of SFX is quoted as saying, "Our cover plays a key part in the storyline." [11] [12] In the series, the magazine cover helped to illustrate the fact that Red Dwarf was just a television series, and it also led Lister to investigate the nature of Kochanski's disappearance after seeing an article about the actress who plays her.

Dave started a viral marketing campaign in March 2009, when listerscominghome.co.uk was introduced to the public. The site shows a postcard, and reveals minor details of the series to the viewer. Dave also released several videos on their site, including a mock-advertisement for the "Carbug", a modified Smart Fortwo to fit the shape and style of Starbug. On-set videos also were released, along with short teasers (under ten seconds), with some 30-second teasers as well. Cast members have also written for the Dave blog, releasing small bits of information about the shows. The viral campaign went on to win a Broadcast Digital Award for Best Use of Digital Technology. [13]

Broadcast

Red Dwarf: Back to Earth was broadcast over the Easter weekend of 2009, along with a "making of" documentary. [8] [14] The episodes were televised over three nights starting on Friday, 10 April 2009.

Guest stars

Red Dwarf: Back to Earth featured the following guest actors: [15]

ActorEpisode(s)Character
Sophie Winkleman Part One, Part TwoKaterina Bartikovsky
Chloë Annett Part Three Kristine Kochanski
Richard O'Callaghan Part ThreeCreator
Jeremy Swift Part TwoNoddy
Simon Gregson Part ThreeHimself
Michelle Keegan Part ThreeHerself
Richard Ng Part TwoSwallow
Charlie KenyonPart TwoBoy on the Bus
Nina SouthworthPart TwoGirl on the Bus
Tom AndrewsPart TwoSalesman
Karen AdmiraalPart TwoWoman
Jon Glover Part TwoMan
Julian RyderPart TwoBus Driver

Reception

According to Red Dwarf's official website, four million people watched Part One over the four-day Easter weekend. [16] Part Two attracted an audience of three million, [16] whilst Part Three earned a rating of just over 2.9 million. [16] The Making of Back To Earth was watched by 1.5 million people. [17] [18] [19] [20] The broadcasts received record ratings for Freeview channel Dave; [21] the first of the three episodes represented the UK's highest ever viewing figures for a commissioned programme on a digital network. [22]

It has been noted that the final episode in particular is heavily influenced by Blade Runner , "the film that inspired series creators Rob Grant and Doug Naylor to put pen to paper in the first place," though questions have been raised over the artistic success of this homage. [23] [24]

Channel head Steve North reported some months after the event that the Dave network was "delighted with how the new shows have gone" and responded coyly to rumours that a new series had been commissioned. [25] In June 2010, Craig Charles and Chris Barrie confirmed plans to produce further series. [26] [27] In April 2011, a six-episode tenth series, to be broadcast in October 2012, was officially announced; [28] principal photography for the series took place in December 2011 and January 2012. [29]

Red Dwarf X was broadcast on UK television channel Dave between 4 October 2012 and 8 November 2012. Series XI was broadcast in 2016 and Series XII began in 2017.

Home media

Back to Earth was released on DVD on 15 June 2009. The cover of the DVD is a replica of the one featured in part two of the specials, with a few cosmetic changes, such as replacing "Coming Soon" with "Director's Cut" and the addition of the plot synopsis read by Lister, which was absent on the prop. [30] There are two methods of viewing the specials, the broadcast episodes as shown on Dave, and a new "Director's cut" in which all three episodes have been edited together into a single feature length programme, with a few lines of dialogue trimmed, such as Rimmer's bemoaning it being a three-parter, but no extra scenes or dialogue were added with the exception of "The End" being typed on a typewriter following extended end credits. There is also a Smeg Ups compilation (outtakes) and featurettes, including the broadcast "making of", and a new-to-DVD Part Two, which is nearly twice the length of the first. [31] [32] [33]

Continuing the metafictional theme of the storyline, during one scene Lister is shown reading the back of the DVD case for Back to Earth—what he reads is similar to what is printed on the real-life DVD case, and the two-disc clamshell is formatted the same way (although the inner labels are different).

A Blu-ray Disc version was released on 31 August 2009, containing the same material as the DVD but all in 1080i except for a few features [34] (it was encoded in 1080i rather than 1080p to preserve the original play-speed of the broadcast and DVD version)[ citation needed ] followed by a US DVD & Blu-ray release on 6 October 2009. [35]

The miniseries was released on DVD in Japan, combined with Red Dwarf X , on 3 February 2015. The series was re-dubbed in Japanese, with Hiroshi Iwasaki replacing Sukekiyo Kameyama as the voice of Kryten following the latter's death. [36]

Related Research Articles

<i>Red Dwarf</i> British comedy science fiction programme

Red Dwarf is a British science fiction comedy programme created by Rob Grant and Doug Naylor, consisting of a sitcom that aired on BBC Two between 1988 and 1999, and on Dave since 2009, gaining a cult following. The programme follows low-ranking technician Dave Lister, who awakens after being in suspended animation for three million years to find that he is the last living human, and that he is alone on the mining spacecraft Red Dwarf—save for a hologram of his deceased bunkmate Arnold Rimmer and "Cat", a life form which evolved from Lister's pregnant cat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kryten</span> Fictional character in Red Dwarf

Kryten is a fictional character in the British science fiction situation comedy Red Dwarf. The name Kryten is a reference to the head butler in the J.M. Barrie play The Admirable Crichton. Originally referred to as a Series III mechanoid, he is later described as a 4000 Series, or Series 4000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kristine Kochanski</span> Fictional character

Kristine Z. Kochanski is a fictional character from the British science fiction situation comedy Red Dwarf. Kochanski was the first console officer in the navigation chamber on board the spaceship Red Dwarf. As well as appearing in the television series, she is also a major character in the Red Dwarf novel Last Human. In series 1, 2, and 6 she was played by Clare Grogan and was then played by Chloë Annett for series 7 and 8, and the 2009 special Back to Earth.

"Only the Good..." is the final episode in the eighth series and the original run of the British science fiction series Red Dwarf. It was first shown in the UK on 5 April 1999 in the 9:00 pm BBC2 time slot, and was written by Doug Naylor and directed by Ed Bye. The episode also marks the final regular appearance of Chloë Annett as Kochanski and Norman Lovett as Holly. Both characters would reappear in a guest capacity in later episodes. This would be the last series of Red Dwarf to be broadcast on BBC2. Red Dwarf: Back to Earth would be the next instalment of the series.

"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.

"Stasis Leak" is the fourth episode of the science fiction sitcom Red Dwarf series two and tenth in the series run. It premiered on the British television channel BBC2 on 27 September 1988. Written by Rob Grant and Doug Naylor, and directed by Ed Bye, the crew travelling back in time, before the accident had wiped out the crew of Red Dwarf. 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.

"Camille" is the first episode of science fiction sitcom Red Dwarf Series IV, and the nineteenth episode in the series run. It was first broadcast on the British television channel BBC2 on 14 February 1991. The episode was planned to be shown third, but was moved forward in the schedule to be shown on Valentine's Day. Written by Rob Grant and Doug Naylor, and directed by Ed Bye. The episode, a parody of the film Casablanca, sees Kryten rescue and fall in love with an android who appears to be the same model as himself.

"DNA" is the second episode of the science fiction sitcom Red Dwarf Series IV and the twentieth episode in the series' run. It was first broadcast on the British television channel BBC2 on 21 February 1991, although it was planned to be broadcast as the fifth episode, it was moved forward in the schedule by the BBC. Written by Rob Grant and Doug Naylor, and directed by Ed Bye, the episode revolves around the genetic engineering technology that the crew discover.

"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.

"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.

"Back to Reality" is the sixth and final episode of the fifth series of science fiction sitcom Red Dwarf, and the 30th in the series' run. It was first broadcast on the British television channel BBC2 on 26 March 1992, written by Rob Grant and Doug Naylor and directed by Juliet May and Grant Naylor. 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.

"Psirens" is the first episode of science fiction sit-com Red Dwarf Series VI and the 31st in the series run. It was first broadcast on the British television channel BBC2 on 7 October 1993. Written by Rob Grant and Doug Naylor and directed by Andy de Emmony. The episode – which involves Psirens who try to lure the crew to them to feast on their brains – had its script published before the episode was broadcast.

"Blue" is the fifth episode of science fiction sitcom Red Dwarf Series VII and the 41st in the series run. It was first broadcast on the British television channel BBC2 on 14 February 1997, was written by Kim Fuller and Doug Naylor, and was directed by Ed Bye. Until Red Dwarf: Back to Earth, it was the last episode to feature the hologram Rimmer.

"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.

<i>Red Dwarf X</i> Tenth series of Red Dwarf

Red Dwarf X is the tenth series of the British science fiction sitcom Red Dwarf. It was broadcast on UK television channel Dave between 4 October and 8 November 2012. There are six episodes and it was the first full series of Red Dwarf since 1999.

"Fathers & Suns" is the second episode of science fiction sitcom Red Dwarf series X, originally broadcast on the British television channel Dave on 11 October 2012. Lister celebrates the fact that he is his own father by sending a message to himself for Father's Day. This involves scolding himself for being a useless son, and resigning from the ship's crew to force himself to get his act together. Meanwhile Rimmer and Kryten install a new computer personality called Pree.

"Entangled" is the fourth episode of science fiction sitcom Red Dwarf series X, originally broadcast on the British television channel Dave on 25 October 2012. Lister loses Rimmer in a game of poker to a group of "biologically engineered garbage gobblers", and in return gets an unwanted gift: a groinal exploder programmed to detonate in 24 hours unless Lister pays his debts. Meanwhile, Kryten and Cat become quantum entangled and do everything in perfect unison.

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