Red Dwarf : Complete BBC Series 8 [2003] [DVD] [1988]

Nevertheless, there are a few bright spots in this series. Chris Barrie is back and the full cast of regulars is present for the entire series. And there is some occasionally inspired humor that still manages to make this better than most of the other shows on television. Cassandra particularly stands out as a good, "classic" Red Dwarf episode.

Finally, the extra features, as on the other Red Dwarf DVD sets, are terrific, with Smeg Ups, deleted scenes, extended versions of two episodes, a making of documentary, commentary tracks, and much more. The extra features alone are worth the price for any "serious" Red Dwarf fan. Based on that alone, I would recommend this set. Plus, what Red Dwarf fan can resist completing their collection? Sadly, as of this writing, Series VIII is the last Red Dwarf ever produced.

Here is a synopsis of the plot of each episode in this set:

Back In The Red Part I
Kryten's nanobots have recreated the ship Red Dwarf and the original crew as well, which is an especially good thing for Arnold Rimmer.

Back In The Red Part II
Rimmer uses a virus that enhances sexual magnetism to assist him with attracting female crewmembers, but this gets him into trouble when he dines at the captain's table.

Back In The Red Part III
Lister and his bunch face time in the brig for crimes against the Space Corps., so they escape to try and prove their innocence.

Cassandra
Lister joins a special military unit comprised of convicts, only to discover it's basically a suicide squad. Things get interesting when they face the all-knowing Cassandra. This episode is the one in Series VIII that is the most like a classic Red Dwarf episode from earlier series of the show; it is cleverly written and hilarious.

Krytie TV
Kryten's private TV station is most amusing to his fellow prisoners, but the jokes are at the expense of others, which gets him into a bit of trouble.

Pete Part I
Rimmer and Lister are forced play against the guards in a basketball game. They sabotage the opposition's half-time juice with a virility enhancement drug.

Pete Part II
The crew becomes the prey when a sparrow devolves into one of its large dinosaur ancestors.

Only The Good
Rimmer passes into a parallel universe where his other self is the ship's captain.

Series 8 is definately an attempt to rekindle the charm of the first 2 series, the low budget, situation comedy. But the attempt gives mixed results. Although some episodes again dont quite hit the spot, some do shine and push this series above series 7.

Chris Barrie definately takes over this series, he shines above the rest and steals the spotlight more than any others.

If you are new to the show DO NOT start here, go back to any of the first 6 series, each has its charm and will hook you. If you are a collector well you just have to own it to complete your collection.....

On the whole, nice to see RD returning to its roots, just a shame it isnt as funny...

Until series 8 I'd enjoyed every episode of Red Dwarf except Stoke Me A Clipper in series 7. However when seen again on the recent DVD after a long hiatus it's much better than I remember. So has time been good to series 8, enough to soften any initial prejudices? Yes with reservations is the succinct answer though it remains my least favourite series. It remains too bright and colourful with an excessive number of bodies contravening Space Corp Directive 1234567B. Nevertheless, and this is admittedly an unorthodox approach to viewing a DVD, if you listen to it rather than watch it you will develop a new found appreciation for the quality and strength of the comedy in the script. As a result thereafter your viewing pleasure is enhanced. I know it's a TV programme and this is a DVD and 50% or whatever percentage is visual but if you consider Red Dwarf's origins lie in a radio sketch show, Dave Hollins Space Cadet, and there are audio adaptations of the novels and a BBC world service radio series, it's a medium Dwarf has already proved itself successful in. After all this is sci-fi and duly requires imagination to appreciate it fully and what better way to imagine than to just listen and create your own visual interpretation. And don't just confine that experience to this series try it with the others in particular Meltdown from series 4. This episode has a low approval rating because of its visual appearance but as an audio episode it's brilliant.

It goes without saying Grant Naylor work extremely hard and with unbridled passion to ensure that the extras accompany each release are supreme and this will be no exception. In time this series will be more widely appreciated. I know I enjoy it more now than I ever did in 1999. However here and now it is the quality of the extras that will be the main attraction for this release. Overall 4 episodes provide a good standard of viewing pleasure with all 8 shining as an audio only experience. Buy it to complete your collection but also buy it because it's better than you may remember. I love Red Dwarf and it saddens me greatly after much soul searching I can only award this a three star rating. Having given series 7 a four star rating in a previous Amazon review, I would award series 1 the same and a full five stars to series 2 - 6 inclusive. Series 8 falls short of achieving their incredibly high standards so I can't honestly reward this release a higher status. Whatever comes next in the Red Dwarf saga be it the long awaited movie or six one off specials broadcast one a week over 6 weeks can only benefit from the hindsight afforded from this series.