Back in the Red

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Red Dwarf episode
"Back in the Red"

Episode №	1
Airdate	February 18, 1999
Writer(s)	Doug Naylor
Director	Ed Bye
Guest star(s)	Mac Mcdonald Paul Bradley David Gillespie Andy Taylor Karl Glenn Stimpson Kika Mirylees
Series VIII February 18 – April 5, 1999
Back in the Red: Part I Back in the Red: Part II Back in the Red: Part III Cassandra Krytie TV Pete: Part I Pete: Part II Only the Good...
List of all Red Dwarf episodes...

"Back in the Red" is a three-part episode of science fiction sit-com Red Dwarf Series VIII. Part I was first broadcast on the British television channel BBC2 on 18 February 1999^[1] while Parts II and III were broadcast on 25 February^[2] and 4 March respectively.^[3]

The plot involves the re-introduction of Red Dwarf as nanobots have rebuilt the ship and the original crew are resurrected. The three parts were written by Doug Naylor and directed by Ed Bye. This was the first appearance of the Red Dwarf ship since since series V and the first proper appearance of the ship's crew since series I.

1 Plot
2 Production
3 References
4 External links

[edit] Plot

Part I

Kryten's nanobots have rebuilt the ship, but done so far too large. As the crew are sucked into a gigantic air vent the ship begins to shrink to normal size all around them. Although the crew are able to escape being crushed, Starbug is destroyed by the shrinking corridors and crash lands in the cargo bay. Not only has Red Dwarf been reconstructed, but the entire crew have been resurrected too along with Rimmer, who is also a lot less dead. Lister, Kochanski, Kryten and Cat quickly find themselves on trial for various crimes. Lister needs the help of Rimmer to escape and hunt down the nanobots and in return he helps Rimmer to search for the luck virus (Quarantine). Upon finding the virus Rimmer pockets the sexual magnetism virus for personal use. The feature-length edit of this episode gives viewers the chance to encounter what the highly anticipated Red Dwarf movie will most likely become.

Part II

Using the luck virus, sexual magnetism virus and the confidential reports, Rimmer begins a scheme to get promotion by blackmailing his way up the ziggurat of command. The sexual magnetism virus has the effect of making him attractive to all the female crew members which he finds has its ups and downs. Meanwhile, Kryten has been restored to his factory settings which he does not like and Lister plans an escape plan with Kochanski and Cat using a famous face from the past.

Part III

The crew make their escape on Blue Midget and start their quest of finding Kryten's lost nanobots. Sadly, the reality is that they are trapped in an artificial reality program and their actions will be used as evidence against them in their trial by Captain Hollister. Holly admits to programing the nanobots to recreate the dead crew members. He did it to keep Lister calm but his plan went "tits up".

[edit] Production

For series VIII Doug Naylor returned to Red Dwarf's roots and he would write the majority of the series himself. Paul Alexander, whose episodes "Stoke Me a Clipper" and "Epideme" were well received, returned as script supervisor. ^[4]

The inspiration for the new series came about during Naylor's work on the re- mastering of series I to III. The classic bunk setup and the character of Captain Hollister in those early episodes proved to be a deciding factor in reviving the crew.^[4]

The opening episode was originally planned as an hour long special. This would give the show the opportunity to introduce the new setup. However the episode overran and the opener turned into a three part story. ^[4]

Having the crew revived meant having the original actors back. Mac McDonald reprised his Captain Hollister character, Paul Bradley and David Gillespie returned as Lister's drinking buddies. Andy Taylor played Counsellor McClaren, the ship's psychiatrist, Karl Glenn Stimpson played MP Thornton, and Kika Mirylees appeared as CMO Karen Newton. ^[5]

Red Dwarf, the ship itself, also returned having not been seen since series V's finale "Back to Reality". Seven years later meant advances in technology could create a totally CGI version of Red Dwarf for the first time. The original model was used as the template when designing the CGI version.^[6]

One of the most difficult scenes to film was the Blue Midget/Cat dance sequence. The entire dance sequence was filmed first with green screen backdrop. It was then edited with no effects. Then the Midget would be added to match the movements of the scene. The scene marked the return of Blue Midget after last being seen in series III's "Bodyswap". In terms of true-series continuity, this marks the first appearance of the new CGI re-design of the ship. ^[6]