Red Dwarf: Every Major Character Ranked From Worst To Best

For much of the series, Kristine Kochanski acts more as an idea than an actual character, Dave Lister’s colleague and dream woman for whom he pined throughout the series, in spite of the fact that her death took place many millions of years ago. She is the ultimate unattainable love interest, not only many ranks the slobbish Lister’s social superior but very much dead to boot.

Then, in season eight, the resuscitated Red Dwarf crew allows the writers a chance to do the whole Kochanski thing for real, and they basically squander the opportunity. Kochanski is given little of interest to do here, as the show transitions from claustrophobic space comedy to Lister and Rimmer causing chaos with most of the other characters reduced to spare parts.

The shame of it is Kochanski in the novels is a different proposition - here she did have a brief but intense relationship with Lister, during which he managed to drag her town to his level before the natural order of things resumed. Instead of your basic unrequited love story, there was the potential for something a little less rote here.

Like Dave himself, when the writers finally have a chance with this woman, they essentially spurn it.