Editing Red Dwarf (section)

==Reception and achievements==

===Critical reception===
The changes made to the series' cast, setting, creative teams and even production values from series to series have meant that opinions differ greatly between fans and critics as to the quality of each series.<ref name="screenonline: Red Dwarf"/> In the "Great Red Dwarf Debate," published in Volume 2, Issue 3 of the ''Red Dwarf Smegazine'', science fiction writers Steve Lyons and Joe Nazarro argue about the pros and cons of the early series versus the later series. Lyons states that the show "once had was a unique balance of sci-fi comedy, which worked magnificently." Nazarro agrees that "the first two series are very original and very funny," but goes on to say that "it wasn't until series III that the show hit its stride."<ref name="GreatDebate">{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/details/red_dwarf_smegazine-1993-06/page/n37 |title=The Great Red Dwarf Debate |first1=Steve |last1=Lyons |first2=Joe |last2=Nazzaro |date=July 1993 |magazine=Red Dwarf Smegazine |volume=2 |issue=3 |pages=38–39 |publisher=Fleetway Editions Ltd |issn=0965-5603 |access-date=29 October 2019}}</ref> Discussions revolve around the quality of Series VI, seen by one reviewer as just as good as the earlier series',<ref name="Series VI review at Sci-Fi Weekly"/> but criticised by another reviewer as a descent into formulaic comedy with an unwelcome change of setting.<ref name="Red Dwarf VI review by Gavrielle">{{cite web |url=http://www.reviewsbygavrielle.com/dwarf3.shtml |first=Gavrielle |last=Perry |title=The Good Dwarf Guide: Series III |website=ReviewsByGavrielle.com |access-date=1 February 2008 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080304060002/http://www.reviewsbygavrielle.com/dwarf3.shtml |archive-date=4 March 2008 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

The changes seen in Series VII disappointed some; while much slicker and higher-budget in appearance, the shift away from outright sitcom and into something approaching [[comedy drama]] was seen by one reviewer as a move in the wrong direction.<ref name="series VII review at DVD Active">{{cite web |url=http://www.dvdactive.com/reviews/dvd/red-dwarf-vii.html |title=Red Dwarf VII UK - DVD R2 |website=DVD Active.com |access-date=11 February 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081011075340/http://www.dvdactive.com/reviews/dvd/red-dwarf-vii.html |archive-date=11 October 2008 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> The attempt to shift back into traditional sitcom format for Series VIII was greeted with a response that was similarly lukewarm.<ref name="screenonline: Red Dwarf"/> There was criticism aimed at the decision to resurrect the entire crew of ''Red Dwarf'', as it was felt this detracted from the series' central premise of Lister being the last human being alive.<ref name="Series VIII review at Sci-Fi Weekly"/> There are other critics who feel that Series VII and VIII are no weaker than the earlier series, however,<ref name="TV Reviews at SciFi.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.scifi.com/sfw/issue457/screen2.html |title=Red Dwarf Series VII DVD |first=Paul |last=Di Filippo |website=Sci-Fi Weekly |access-date=11 February 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070703001116/http://www.scifi.com/sfw/issue457/screen2.html |archive-date=3 July 2007}}</ref><ref name="series Reviews at DVD Direct">{{cite web |url=https://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/reddwarfseries58.php |title=Red Dwarf: Series 5-8 |first=Bill |last=Gibron |date=7 June 2006 |website=DVD Verdict.com |access-date=11 February 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080119032101/http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/reddwarfseries58.php |archive-date=19 January 2008 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> and the topic is the subject of constant fervent debate among the show's fanbase.<ref name="screenonline: Red Dwarf">{{cite web |url=http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/560214/index.html |title=Red Dwarf (1988-99) |first=Alec |last=Worley |website=[[Screenonline]] |access-date=11 February 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071213224421/http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/560214/index.html |archive-date=13 December 2007 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

===Achievements===
Although the pilot episode of the show gathered over four million viewers, viewing figures dipped in successive episodes and the first series had generally poor ratings.<ref name="Red Dwarf series I Aftermath">{{cite web |url=http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/guide/index.cfm?seriesID=1&sectionID=behind-the-scenes&subsectionID=aftermath |title=Red Dwarf series I Aftermath |website=RedDwarf.co.uk |access-date=25 February 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081125165341/http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/guide/index.cfm?sectionID=behind-the-scenes&seriesID=1&subsectionID=aftermath |archive-date=25 November 2008 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> Through to Series VI, ratings steadily increased and peaked at over six million viewers,<ref name="Series VI Aftermath"/> achieved with the episode "[[Gunmen of the Apocalypse]]."<ref name="Gunmen ratings">{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/details/red_dwarf_smegazine-1993-12/page/n14 |title=News From the Dwarf: Top of the Charts |first=Jane |last=Killick |date=January 1994 |magazine=Red Dwarf Smegazine |volume=2 |issue=9 |page=15 |publisher=Fleetway Editions Ltd |issn=0965-5603 |access-date=29 October 2019}}</ref> When the show returned in 1999, it gained the highest audience figures yet; over eight million viewers tuned in for Series VIII's opening episode "[[Back in the Red: Part I]]".<ref name="Back in the Red part I ratings">{{cite web |url=http://www.barb.co.uk/viewingsummary/weekreports.cfm?Requesttimeout=500&report=weeklyterrestrial |title=Weekly Viewing Summary: Terrestrial Top 30 – 4 December 2005 |website=[[Broadcasters' Audience Research Board|BARB]] |access-date=8 February 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051215174702/http://www.barb.co.uk/viewingsummary/weekreports.cfm?report=weeklyterrestrial&requesttimeout=500 |archive-date=15 December 2005}}</ref> The show has won numerous awards including the [[Royal Television Society|Royal Television Society Award]] for special effects, the [[British Science Fiction Association|British Science Fiction award]] for Best Dramatic Presentation, as well as an International Emmy Award<ref name="Red Dwarf series IV on DVD">{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/bbcworldwide/worldwidestories/pressreleases/2004/01_january/red_dwarf_dvd.shtml |title=Red Dwarf series IV on DVD |website=BBC Worldwide Press Office |access-date=18 December 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071223035702/http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/bbcworldwide/worldwidestories/pressreleases/2004/01_january/red_dwarf_dvd.shtml |archive-date=23 December 2007 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> for Series VI episode "Gunmen of the Apocalypse", which tied with an ''[[Absolutely Fabulous]]'' episode, "Hospital," in the Popular Arts category. The show had also been nominated for the International Emmy Award in 1987, 1989 and 1992. Series VI won a British Comedy Award for 'Best BBC Comedy Series.' The video sales have won eight Gold Awards from the British Video Association,<ref name="The Red Dwarf Phenomenon">{{cite web |url=http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck04/rdp.html |title=The Red Dwarf Phenomenon: 12 Years On |date=2001 |website=RedDwarf.co.uk |access-date=18 December 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010807131041/http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck04/rdp.html |archive-date=7 August 2001}}</ref> and the show still holds the record for being BBC Two's longest-running, highest-rated sitcom.<ref name="Red Dwarf VI on DVD">{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/bbcworldwide/worldwidestories/pressreleases/2005/01_january/red_dwarf.shtml |title=Red Dwarf VI on DVD |date=1 January 2005 |website=BBC Worldwide Press Office |access-date=18 December 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090220135547/http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/bbcworldwide/worldwidestories/pressreleases/2005/01_january/red_dwarf.shtml |archive-date=20 February 2009 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

During 2005 ''[[SFX (magazine)|SFX]]'' surveyed readers' top 50 British telefantasy shows of all time, and ''Red Dwarf'' placed second ahead of ''[[The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (TV series)|The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy]]'' and behind ''[[Doctor Who]]''.<ref>
{{Cite journal
| editor-last=Bradley
| editor-first=Dave
| year=2005
| title=The Top 50 Greatest UK Telefantasy Shows Ever
| journal=SFX Collection
| issue=22
| pages=50–51}}
</ref> 
In 2007, the series was voted 'Best Sci-Fi Show Of All Time' by the readers of ''[[Radio Times]]'' magazine. Editor Gill Hudson stated that this result surprised them as 'the series had not given any new episodes this century'.<ref name="Red Dwarf voted 'best sci-fi show'">{{cite web |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/cult/a66354/red-dwarf-voted-best-sci-fi-show.html |title=Red Dwarf voted 'best sci-fi show' |first=Beth |last=Hilton |date=17 July 2007 |website=[[Digital Spy]] |access-date=23 January 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071010074216/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/cult/a66354/red-dwarf-voted-best-sci-fi-show.html |archive-date=10 October 2007 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' listed it in a 2009 roundup of shows they missed in their list of best cult television series.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/gallery/17-all-time-great-cult-tv-shows-you-say-we-missed/|title=17 All-Time Great Cult TV Shows You Say We Missed|date=2009-10-12|access-date=2024-04-20|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]}}</ref> In January 2017, Series XI was voted "Best Returning TV Sitcom" and "Comedy of the Year" for 2016 by readers for the [[British Comedy Guide]].<ref name="Comedy of the Year 2016"/> A year later, ''Red Dwarf'' was once again voted "Best Returning TV Sitcom" for Series XII, retaining the title from British Comedy Guide.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/news/2938/comedy_co_uk_awards_2017_winners |title=Inside No. 9 named Comedy Of The Year 2017 |date=29 January 2018 |website=British Comedy Guide |access-date=9 February 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180210062125/https://www.comedy.co.uk/news/2938/comedy_co_uk_awards_2017_winners |archive-date=10 February 2018}}</ref> As noted by [[Collider (website)|''Collider'']] in 2023, it ranked number four among the top ten British science fiction shows on [[IMDb]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://collider.com/best-british-sci-fi-tv-shows-imdb/|title=The 10 Best British Sci-fi TV Shows, According to IMDb|first=Simon|last=Brown|date=2023-09-05|access-date=2024-04-20|website=[[Collider (website)|Collider]]}}</ref> In 2024, it was listed by ''[[Den of Geek]]'' as among the best British science fiction shows of the 1980s,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/the-best-1980s-british-sci-fi-tv-series/|title=The Best 1980s British Sci-Fi TV Series (That Still Aren't Doctor Who)|first=Chris|last=Farnell|date=2024-02-02|access-date=2024-04-20|website=[[Den of Geek]]}}</ref>  as well as among the top ten movies and shows inspired by ''[[Star Trek]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/star-trek-inspired-sci-fi-tv-shows-movies/|title=The Best Sci-Fi TV Shows and Movies Inspired by Star Trek|first=Juliette|last=Harrisson|date=2024-01-24|website=[[Den of Geek]]}}</ref> It was listed at 90 on [[Empire (magazine)|''Empire'']]'s "The 100 Best TV Shows Of All Time" ranking.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.empireonline.com/tv/features/best-tv-shows/|title=The 100 Best TV Shows Of All Time|website=[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]]|access-date=2024-04-20|date=2024-04-11}}</ref>