Top 20 Worst Episodes of Red Dwarf
Red Dwarf doesn't have many episodes, but I'd have to say 2/3 of the series had well-written plot, story, and moral complexity. The following episodes were the few I did not find to be mentally and morally driven. Rather, they were meant to be taken as a comedy watch without having a solid premise, or strong connective plot points. I have a list that parallels this one, so yes, there are at a full 30 very good episodes of Red Dwarf when it comes to the writing, at least in my opinion. The following 20 are the worst episodes when it comes to a lack of complex story-telling and entertain the least for actual dramatic value.
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- DirectorEd ByeStarsChris BarrieCraig CharlesDanny John-JulesAs Rimmer is taking Kryten for a driving lesson in Starbug they find themselves being whisked away through a time hole and end up on Earth, where time is running backwards.
- DirectorRob GrantJuliet MayDoug NaylorStarsChris BarrieCraig CharlesDanny John-JulesWhen investigating an ocean ship, The Esperanto, the crew are attacked by a Despair Squid and awake to find they are entirely different people who have been playing the game "Red Dwarf" for the last four years. Is this truly their reality?
- DirectorEd ByeStarsChris BarrieCraig CharlesDanny John-JulesHolly navigates Red Dwarf during light speed. But when Red Dwarf goes through light speed 24-hours early, the crew witnesses strange events and they find they are witnessing "Future Echoes" images of events that will happen in the future.
- DirectorEd ByeStarsChris BarrieCraig CharlesDanny John-JulesHolly creates a new star drive called "Holly Hop Drive" that will warp Red Dwarf from one part of space to another within a matter of seconds. It all goes wrong when Red Dwarf enters an alternate dimension; The crew encounter female versions of themselves and Cat encounters another version of himself, a dog with a southern accent.
- DirectorEd ByeStarsChris BarrieCraig CharlesDanny John-JulesRimmer catches the crew going on a fishing trip without him, forcing them to reluctantly bring him along. However, Starbug collides with the ship of Ace Rimmer, a more popular and successful version of Rimmer from an alternate universe.
- DirectorEd ByeStarsCraig CharlesDanny John-JulesRobert LlewellynSearching for a new head for Kryten (which exploded due to an incident involving ketchup and lobster), the crew encounter a rogue simulant on a deserted ship. The simulant kidnaps Kryten and commissions one of his own droids, Able, to fix him up. But Kryten and Able discover they're brothers, the same model, and Able helps Kryten escape. But not before Kryten discovers a disturbing secret about his creation...
- DirectorEd ByeStarsChris BarrieCraig CharlesDanny John-JulesRimmer and Kryten rescue Camille, a female android from a passenger ship that has crash landed. Kryten falls in love with Camille, only to learn Camille is not who she appears to be, and finds she can shape-shift into Kochanski, a female Rimmer and the Cat.
- DirectorEd ByeStarsChris BarrieCraig CharlesDanny John-JulesAs the crew seemingly escape Red Dwarf on a Blue Midget, Rimmer attempts to hide evidence of his crimes but inadvertently reveals to the crew that they are in a simulation. Meanwhile Captain Hollister observes them all and passes judgment.
- DirectorEd ByeStarsChris BarrieCraig CharlesRobert LlewellynRimmer uses the confidential reports provided by Holly to get into Captain Hollister's good graces but he soon forgets about his agreement of helping Lister. Meanwhile Lister, Cat, Kochanski and Kryten attempt a daring escape.
- DirectorEd ByeStarsChris BarrieCraig CharlesDanny John-JulesAfter crashing Starbug on the Red Dwarf, the crew are shocked to discover that the Nanobots have also revived the original crew, notably Captain Hollister who treats them as criminals. Lister is forced to turn to a revived Rimmer for help.
- DirectorEd ByeStarsChris BarrieCraig CharlesDanny John-JulesLister learns he is the mythical god of Cat's people known as "Cloister the stupid" and Red Dwarf stumbles upon a Red Dwarf garbage capsule and Rimmer thinks it's a stasis capsule carrying a dormant alien woman.
- DirectorEd ByeStarsChris BarrieCraig CharlesDanny John-JulesKryten struggles to come to terms with being classified as a woman and having to shower with the female prisoners. The male prisoners take advantage and reprogram Kryten into broadcasting Shower Night live, endangering Lister's appeal.
- DirectorEd ByeStarsChris BarrieCraig CharlesDanny John-JulesThe Red Dwarf crew intercepts a SOS distress call from the American Space cruiser "Nova 5", that has crashed on a moon. They find the only survivor is Kryten, an android butler, whose favorite TV show is 'Androids'.
- DirectorDoug NaylorStarsChris BarrieCraig CharlesDanny John-JulesLister receives word from the 3 million year old letter of his old flame that he's the potential father of her incoming child.
- DirectorAndy De EmmonyStarsChris BarrieCraig CharlesDanny John-JulesStarbug is attacked by a Simulant battleship and infected with a virus which overrides it's navicomp. Lister, Rimmer and Cat use the AR machine to enter Kryten's mind, which has taken the form of the Wild West, in order to fight the virus.
- DirectorDoug NaylorStarsChris BarrieCraig CharlesDanny John-JulesAfter losing poker to GELFs, Lister is strapped to a groinal exploder rigged to explode unless he delivers what he gambled. Concurrently, Kryten and Cat find themselves a state of quantum entanglement, acting in absolute synchronicity.
- DirectorEd ByeStarsChris BarrieCraig CharlesDanny John-JulesThe Red Dwarf crew investigates a alien spaceship that is drifting in deep space. Where they discover a D.N.A modifier, a genetic altering machine that alters all organic life. But all havoc breaks loose, when Lister gets turned into a chicken, a hamster, Kryten becomes a human male and they create a curry monster from Lister's curry.
- DirectorEd ByeStarsChris BarrieCraig CharlesDanny John-JulesKryten uses the time wand to resurrect Birdman's pet sparrow Pete but accidentally de-evolves him into a T. Rex that rampages through the ship. Lister and Rimmer are brought before Captain Hollister who orders them to change Pete back.
- DirectorEd ByeStarsChris BarrieCraig CharlesDanny John-JulesAttempting to cheat their way out of punishment after playing a prank on Ackerman, Lister and Rimmer are sentenced to two months in The Hole. Meanwhile Kochanski, Cat and Kryten discover a device that can control time on a Canary mission.
- DirectorAndy De EmmonyStarsChris BarrieCraig CharlesDanny John-JulesWhen Starbug is targeted by a Space Corp enforcement probe, the crew crash land on a nearby moon, home to the friendly Kinitawowi tribe. The only problem? In exchange for a new O.G. Unit, the Chief demands that Lister marry his daughter.