Back to Reality (Red Dwarf episode)

Infobox Red Dwarf episode
name = Back to Reality


image_caption = In the despair induced hallucination the Cat believes that he is Duane Dibbley. L-R: Sebastian Doyle, William Doyle, Jake Bullet, Duane Dibbley
number = 6
airdate = March 26, 1992
writers = Rob Grant & Doug Naylor
director = Juliet May & Grant Naylor
guests = Timothy Spall
Lenny Von Dohlen
Marie McCarthy
John Sharian
Anastasia Hille
series = 5

"Back to Reality" is the sixth, and final, episode of science fiction sitcom "Red Dwarf" Series Vcite web | url =http://www.sitcom.co.uk/red_dwarf/series5.shtml | title =British Sitcom Guide - Red Dwarf - Series 5 | publisher =www.sitcom.co.uk |accessdate =2008-01-29] and the 30th in the series run.cite web | url =http://www.tv.com/red-dwarf/back-to-reality/episode/10974/summary.html | title =TV.com - Back to Reality summary | publisher =www.tv.com |accessdate =2008-01-29] It was first broadcast on the British television channel BBC2 on 26 March 1992.cite web | url=http://catalogue.bbc.co.uk/catalogue/infax/programme/NMRE197T | title =BBC - Programme Catalogue - RED DWARF V - BACK TO REALITY | publisher =BBC |accessdate =2007-12-12] Written by Rob Grant & Doug Naylor and directed by Juliet May & Grant Naylor.cite web | url =http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0684143/fullcredits | title =Back to Reality cast and crew | publisher =www.imdb.com |accessdate =2008-01-29] The episode often tops polls or surveys as the best in the series runs.cite web | url=http://catalogue.bbc.co.uk/catalogue/infax/programme/NMYH781S |title=BBC - Programme Catalogue - THE BEST EVER RED DWARF |publisher=BBC |accessdate =2007-12-12] Red Dwarf Smegazine: Survey Results, Red Dwarf Smegazine, issue 10, December 1992, Fleetway Editions Ltd, ISSN 0965-5603] The plot features the crew waking up from a crash to discover that the last four years of their lives has been spent in a 'Red Dwarf Total Immersion Video Game'.

Plot

The "Red Dwarf" crew takes "Starbug" on to investigate the wreckage of the "SSS Esperanto", a ship conducting marine seeding experiments at the bottom of an ocean-covered moon. It appears that all life on board the "Esperanto" committed suicide, right down to a haddock which closed its gills and suffocated itself. They discover the deaths are due to severe depression caused by a hallucinogenic nerve toxin. Attempting to evade a gigantic squid, "Starbug" crashes and explodes.

Instead of finding themselves in little pieces, they wake to discover that for four years they have been playing 'Red Dwarf - The Total Immersion Video Game'. Kryten is half-human Cybernautics Division Detective (traffic officer) Jake Bullet. Cat is dorky Duane Dibbley. Lister is Sebastian Doyle, the head of the secret police in a fascist state, and Rimmer is Billy Doyle, Lister's half brother and a tramp.

Only Kryten is pleased with his 'real' existence; however, when he is forced to take a human life in order to save a young girl, the mechanoid too begins to despair. The crew then become involved in a high-speed car chase with the police. Devastated by the implications of their "true" selves, they are about to commit group suicide when Holly finally manages to awaken them, revealing that "Starbug"'s crash and 'reality' were just a group hallucination brought on by the toxic ink of the "despair squid".

Production

"Back to Reality" was the first script writtencite web | url =http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck05/series_5/writing.html | title =Red Dwarf Series V Writing| publisher =www.reddwarf.co.uk |accessdate =2008-01-07] 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 issue. Other projects and roles looked like taking over their time. Chris Barrie was starring in the increasingly popular sit-com "Brittas Empire", Robert Llewellyn went to do "Red Dwarf USA" and if that were to be taken up he would be over there for the next few years.Interview: Grant Naylor, Red Dwarf Smegazine, issue 6, August 1992, Fleetway Editions Ltd, issn 0965-5603]

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 grunged down and made up for the Artificial Reality suite.cite web | url =http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck05/series_5/sets.html | title =Red Dwarf Series V Sets| publisher =www.reddwarf.co.uk |accessdate =2008-01-07]

Several model shots of the Despair Squid were filmed but it was decided that they didn't work well. Instead a superimposed shadow was used to illustrate the squid closing in on Starbug.cite book |last=Howarths |first=Chris |authorlink= |coauthors=Steve Lyons |title=Red Dwarf Programme Guide |year=1993 |publisher=Virgin Books |location=Section 1: The History |isbn=0-86369-682-1]

The episode features Hattie Hayridge's last appearance in the series. The other cast got to play their despair induced alter egos; Danny John-Jules played Duane Dibbley, Craig Charles played Sebastian Doyle, Robert Llewellyn played Jake Bullet, while Chris Barrie played William Doyle, Sebastian's half-brother.

Lenny Von Dohlen, known as appearing in "Twin Peaks", agreed to appear as the cop after speaking with former guest star Frances Barber (series III's Jenny Mutant).cite web | url =http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck05/series_5/Casting.html | title =Red Dwarf Series V Casting| publisher =www.reddwarf.co.uk |accessdate =2008-01-07] The episode also featured a new Red Dwarf crew for the new Artificial Reality game. Anastasia Hille played Kochanski, David Lemkin played The Cat, Julian Lyon played Rimmer, John Sharian played Lister and Scott Charles Bennett played Kryten. 'Red Dwarf Total Immersion Video Game' staff workers were Timothy Spall who played Andy and Marie McCarthy who played the Nurse.

Reception

The episode was originally broadcast on the British television channel BBC2 on 26 March 1992 in the 9:00pm evening time slot, and is generally considered to be one of the best of the entire series' run.Red Dwarf Smegazine: Survey Results, issue 10, December 1992, Fleetway Editions Ltd, ISSN 0965-5603] One review stated that "it’s no less than perfect, with an inspired mix of ingenious plotting, brilliant writing and stunning performances."cite web | url =http://www.reviewsbygavrielle.com/dwarf3.shtml | title =Series V review by Gavrielle | publisher =www.reviewsbygavrielle.com |accessdate =2008-01-29]

At the end of 1992 the episode helped Series V gain a nomination for an International Emmy Award,News From The Dwarf, Red Dwarf Smegazine, issue 11, January 1993, Fleetway Editions Ltd, issn=0965-5603] and in 1995, following a BBC viewers vote, it was repeated on the 22 December 1995 as 'The Best Ever Red Dwarf'.cite web | url =http://catalogue.bbc.co.uk/catalogue/infax/programme/NMYH781S | title =BBC - Programme Catalogue - THE BEST EVER RED DWARF | publisher =BBC |accessdate =2007-12-12]

The episode had proved popular enough for the BBC to ignore the original running order and use the popular episodes from Series V to maximise sales of the video releases. The episode that featured on the other Series V video release being "Quarantine".cite web | url =http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck05/series_5/aftermath.html | title =Red Dwarf Series V Aftermath| publisher =www.reddwarf.co.uk |accessdate =2008-01-07]

References

External links

*
* [http://www.tv.com/red-dwarf/back-to-reality/episode/10974/summary.html Red Dwarf: Back to Reality - TV.com]
* [http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck03/season5.html Episode Guide - Series 5]