Red Dwarf: Ranking The Time Travel Episodes From Worst To Best

8. Backwards

The beginning of series three saw the show develop in a new direction; the opening title was radically altered, Kryten joined the cast as a regular, and Holly came out about his/her genderfluidity. In addition to the lack of a proper explanation for all this (the Star Wars style scroll that goes too fast to read was hardly worth it), an episode which is just a one trick pony wasn't the best of new starts. Putting a unique spin on the idea of a futuristic sci-fi show visiting contemporary Earth, Red Dwarf formulated its own plausible development of a well documented scientific theory; if the universe will one day contract, wouldn't this apply to time as well as space? Thus the crew land when everything happens in reverse, making Lister think they're in Bulgaria. Despite the great theory there's hardly any variation in the jokes, with some set pieces even struggling to qualify for that description. There are some clever moments though, the climactic bar room tidy in particular is well thought out and superbly executed. The highlight however has to be Lister and Cat's discussion about Wilma Flintstone: a simple but hilarious bunk-room conversation that reassured audiences that despite all the changes, Red Dwarf was still the same show at heart.