Red Dwarf: Back to Reality

July 06, 2025

Red Dwarf: Back to Reality

Back to Reality

Season 5, Episode 6

Air Date

March 26th, 1992 (UK)

Directed by

Rob Grant, Juliet May, Doug Naylor

Written by

Rob Grant, Doug Naylor

Starring

Chris Barrie

Craig Charles

Danny John-Jules

Hattie Hayridge

Robert Llewellyn

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While exploring an abandoned ship, the crew is infected by squid ink that causes them to despair and become suicidal. They find on the ship the bodies of dead crew members who endured the same fate. Suddenly, the squid pursues them, strikes them, and their ship explodes on contact.

They wake to discover that what they thought was reality was actually a role-playing video game called Red Dwarf. An attendant explains everything, telling them they spent the last four years immersed in the game. Their memories are unreturned, and they are saddened to learn they are not who they thought they were. When they find suitcases containing their old belongings, they are even more horrified to discover their true identities.

Leaving the facility, they encounter a policeman (Lenny Von Dohlen) in pursuit of a child. Once he sees them, he aims his weapon. He regrets his error once he recognizes one of the men as his leader. Lister (Craig Charles) asks how he knows him. He shares that Lister is Colonel Sebastian Doyle, head of CGI and head of the Ministry of Alterations. Lister asks him to remind him what it is they do at the Ministry of Alterations. "You change people, Voter Colonel." Lister asks in what way. "You change them from being alive people to being dead people to promote democracy." When asked why he would abandon his place of power, the policeman responds that the rumor was that he had grown weary and gone away to renew himself.

The child the policeman had been pursuing comes out of hiding, and the officer aims his weapon once more only to be shot by one of the men. This action sends us back to their ship, where we learn that the men have been hallucinating the entire time.

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Streaming Availability

Red Dwarf: Back to Reality requires a subscription or fee to view on all official streaming platforms.

Roku TV
Peacock TV
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Apple TV
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Red Dwarf Season 5 is available on DVD in the US and UK and Blu-Ray in the UK. The single episode is available on VHS.

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Episode Clips