Back to Earth takes place after "Series X." Kochanski's dead and the crew are hurled through a portal and discover they're just characters from a TV series. Knowing they will die in the final episode the Dwarfers, in best Blade Runner tradition, track down their creators to plead for more life. First the crew attempt to track down the actors who play them in the series, and their metaphysical odyssey begins...
Comments about "Back to Earth":
Coming a decade after the last series aired, "Back to Earth" was the result of an effort to release a theatrical film version of the series. Apparently, that was unsuccessful since "Back to Earth" premiered in three parts on BBC television. The usual comedic formula was there, although this presentation had more serious notes to it than most episodes. We were completely taken in by the story and didn't see the plot twist coming. As the plot description indicates, "back to Earth" is full of references to Blade Runner, which adds another layer to the presentation. There are also references to the length of time since the last series, which was another nice bit. We thoroughly enjoyed "Back to Earth," which seemed to prove that even after twenty years, Red Dwarf still has legs. The DVD special features are mostly publicity fluff, but do have a few kernels of insights into the story and effects. Also, of note in one of the special features, is the news that the show's creator doesn't seem to look at "Back to Earth" as a sign-off for the show and would like to do another Series. We enjoyed "Back to Earth" and it did leave us wanting just a little more Red Dwarf.
Series Premise:
A radiation leak wipes out the crew of the mining ship Red Dwarf, leaving only one survivor - chicken soup machine repair man, Dave Lister. After three million years in suspended animation, Lister emerges to find he is the last human being in the universe. But he is not alone. Cat has evolved from the cat that got Lister in trouble in the first place to a humanoid who is obsessed with his looks. Holly, the ship's computer, has brought back Lister's nemesis, Rimmer, as an extremely annoying hologram. For the second series, they find Kryten, an android who is far from perfect.
Cast & Crew List
Name:
Credit:
Rob Grant
Doug Naylor
Craig Charles
Chris Barrie
Danny John-Jules
Robert Llewellyn
Norman Lovett
Hattie Hayridge
Chloe Annett
Mac McDonald
... Creator
... Creator
... Dave Lister
... Arnold Rimmer
... Cat
... Kryten
... Holly
... Holly #2
... Kristine Kochanski
... Captain Frank Hollister
Comments:
This British science fiction comedy was first filmed in 1988 and about fifty half-hour episodes in eight series have been filmed thanks to the much more deliberate British television conventions. American viewers are treated to the show thanks to PBS (public television), Some of the British-based humor is lost on Americans, but the dry wit is borderless.
Red Dwarf makes fun of the conventions of other science fiction shows and even its own past episodes. Rimmer often recounts all the disasters that they have previously encountered, which is a jab at episodic television's ability to forget traumatic events by the next episode. The British humor may not be for everyone.
