Red Dwarf (TV Series) The End (1988) User Reviews

The Beginning

[kylerob1923 · 8/10 · 14 May 2011]

The first ever episode of the BBC's Sci-Fi sitcom witch in my personal opinion is the best show ever made.

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.He is not alone though his former buck mate and superior Arnold Rimmer has been resurrected as a hologram by the ship's computer Holly to keep lister sane.Also the cat who has evolved from lister's pet cat This was first broadcast on the 15 Febuary 1988 and gained an audience of over 5.1 million viewers from its first showing, which was respectable for a post watershed BBC2 programme.This is episode is by far the best episode from the first series of Red Dwarf.At this stage it was still just a sitcom set in space it wasn't till the third series it really became a sci-fi show.The Early years of red dwarf sometimes get a negative response from fan's because of the limited scope of the storeys but i think it is very unfair the reception they get.

"They're All Dead Dave"

[ygwerin1 · 9/10 · 29 December 2020]

The Red Dwarf Posse Well not yet anyway for this is the very commencement of their journal, this the very first entry.

We have 1st Engineer Arnold J. Rimmer and 3rd Technician David Lister, on work duty.

As vending machine maintenance operatives, aboard the Mining Ship Red Dwarf.

Rimmer as Superior Officer of just 1 crew member Lister, is still endeavouring to complete his Officer Promotion Exams.

Lister the 3rd Technician is a Scouse slob with an unofficial moggy, but with a life plan to settle down on a farm on Fiji.

Crew member George McIntyre sadly passed away but no one needed to worry, least of all George.

Because he had both a good send off and, Welcome Back Party as a hologram.

Red Dwarf is one of my favourite TV comedies and I don't care what anyone else says, I got into it from the very first episode.

Red Dwarf is absolutely Smeg-Tastic.

Brilliant concept well set up

[snoozejonc · 8/10 · 6 November 2020]

Dave Lister goes into stasis aboard the mining spaceship Red Dwarf and wakes up to quite possibly the biggest shock in the universe.

As first episodes go this is pretty impressive as it introduces the concept of a sc-fi themed BBC sit-com with an ingenious central plot.

We see everything from Lister's perspective and it is equally as mind-boggling for the viewer as it is for him when he comes out of stasis and Holly (the ship's computer) drops the ultimate bombshell on him. To be fair, his reaction is as priceless as Rimmer's reaction to being asked what his predicament feels like.

The performances from Craig Charles, Danny-John Jules, Norman Lovett and in particular Chris Barrie are excellent. All are distinctive characters who are very funny in their own ways. Personally I think, save a few very funny lines, the performances are funnier than the dialogue itself which I personally found to be quite hit and miss. However, I always like to emphasise that humour is a very personal matter so others may find it consistently funny.

As first episodes go, this one is pretty strong as it effectively sets up the premise, introduces the characters and establishes the tone of what is to come.

The End

[MrFilmAndTelevisionShow · 10/10 · 14 August 2020]

What is there to say except that as the title of my review says? This episode is perfect. It is funny, the acting is superb, the plot/setup works flawlessly and is original. And is full of classic jokes that so many years later are still hilarious to enjoy upon a rewatch. If you haven't seen Red Dwarf you really should and I cannot stress enough how much of a good idea it is to start watching from the beginning!

My favourite sci fi comedy show!

[sbull1983 · 9/10 · 4 March 2017]

I'm quite a bit late writing this, season 12 will air this autumn, but better late than never! Red Dwarf is one of my favourite shows, this episode shows exactly what the show is all about, even as it's progressed throughout the years they've never forgotten their roots. From the drunk, smoking, curry obsessed, lovable Lister to the self destructive, obnoxious, power hunger crazed Rimer to the fashion obsessed, self involved Cat - this show has a fantastic starting!

A Very Promising Start

[the50xbomb · 9/10 · 30 July 2022]

"The End" is an elegant way to start a series, it's a very tight episode that moves everything along at a quick pace yet doesn't drop the ball when it comes to establishing the world and characters. We immediately get how Lister and Rimmer interact with one another which makes the ultimate reveal that they're stuck together hilarious. The ship's low budget atmosphere and dark interiors bring this interesting sense of claustrophobia that contrasts with the bright humor and character dispositions. It's a very unique mix that gives Red Dwarf a subtle bleak backdrop that it ultimately drops as the series goes along (to its detriment in my opinion). "The End" is an episode that shows the series has so much potential while also being a good story in of itself, I find it to be a great example of how to discreetly build an intriguing world.

Arnold Rimmer, Destroyer of Worlds

[tamsin-parker-262-538925 · 10/10 · 13 May 2023]

Before the show got confusing with alternate identities and communities, this show was just a sitcom, but in space. And it was sort of a buddy comedy, even if one didn't want the other to be his buddy. The series establishes Dave Lister and Arnold Rimmer as a sort of odd couple. Even that is too simple. Lister is not as bad as Rimmer, but he is still hugely flawed. He's slovenly, shiftless and can be genuinely annoying. Ironically it's his own cluelessness that saves his life.

Rimmer is established as nasty, insulting, condescending, irate and gets irritated at the slightest sounds. He seems like he's trying to do his job but he's an incompetent know-it-all. Still, I did feel sorry for him when he failed his astronavigation exam yet again.

The show is pretty accessible in tone to anyone not used to the likes of Dr. Who or Cowboy Bebop. But if you like Blackadder, Mystery Science Theater 3000 or The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, chances are you'll also like this.

Pretty solid.

[aquafaith · 7/10 · 26 June 2021]

Great opening episode. Good introduction to the show. Not much else to say.

Start of a fantastic TV series

[thomasgouldsbrough · 7/10 · 29 March 2022]

The End sets up Red Dwarf pretty well. It mainly focuses on the relationship between Rimmer and Lister, with their dynamic being the funniest aspect about the show.

Slow start

[grantss · 6/10 · 8 September 2023]

Dave Lister and Arnold Rimmer are technicians on board the mining ship Red Dwarf. They loathe each other, being polar opposites personality-wise. Due to being placed in stasis for an infringement, Lister finds himself the only survivor of the crew after a freak accident. He is not alone: unfortunately for him Rimmer is still around, as a hologram. There's also the descendent of the cat he smuggled on board the ship, evolved into human form over the three million years since the accident.

A bit disappointing. Red Dwarf is one of those cult shows that you feel you just have to watch, just to get all the in-jokes from your friends and in other shows. I was expecting something brilliant but this doesn't even come close.

Admittedly it is the first episode and the scene needs to be set. This takes half of the first episode and things do get a bit better after that. However, it's still quite dry and never laugh-out-loud funny.

Ultimately it's good enough to make me come back for Episode 2 but my expectations are now decidedly lower.