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	{{Infobox television episode		{{Infobox television episode
	\| series = [[Red Dwarf]]		\| series = [[Red Dwarf]]
	\| image = Backwards (Red Dwarf).jpg		\| image = Backwards (Red Dwarf).jpg
	~~\| image_size = 250~~
	\| caption = The Cat discovers one of the horrors of being in a backwards world		\| caption = The Cat discovers one of the horrors of being in a backwards world
	\| series_no = 3		\| series_no = 3
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	==External links==		==External links==
	~~{{Wikiquote\|Red_Dwarf#.22Backwards.22\|Backwards}}~~
	*{{BBC episode\|p00bp2vg\|Backwards}}		*{{BBC episode\|p00bp2vg\|Backwards}}
	*{{IMDb episode\|0684144\|Backwards}}		*{{IMDb episode\|0684144\|Backwards}}

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{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}

{{Infobox television episode
| series = [[Red Dwarf]]
| image = Backwards (Red Dwarf).jpg
| image_size = 250
| caption = The Cat discovers one of the horrors of being in a backwards world
| series_no = 3
| episode = 1
| director = Ed Bye
| writer = Rob Grant & Doug Naylor
| airdate = {{Start date|1989|11|14|df=yes}}
| guests = {{Plainlist |
* [[Maria Friedman]] as Waitress
* [[Tony Hawks]] as Compere
* Anna Palmer as Customer
* [[Arthur Smith (comedian)|Arthur Smith]] as Pub Manager }}
| prev = [[Parallel Universe (Red Dwarf)|Parallel Universe]]
| next = [[Marooned (Red Dwarf)|Marooned]]
| episode_list = List of Red Dwarf episodes
}}

"'''Backwards'''" is the first episode of [[science fiction]] [[situation comedy|sitcom]] ''[[Red Dwarf]]'' Series III,<ref name="British Sitcom Guide - Red Dwarf - Series 3">{{cite web | url =http://www.sitcom.co.uk/red_dwarf/series3.shtml | title =British Sitcom Guide - Red Dwarf - Series 3 | publisher =sitcom.co.uk |access-date =2008-01-25}}</ref> and the thirteenth in the series run.<ref name="TV.com - Backwards summary">{{cite web | url =http://www.tv.com/red-dwarf/backwards/episode/10957/summary.html | title =TV.com - Backwards summary | publisher =tv.com |access-date =2008-01-25| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080218221504/http://www.tv.com/red-dwarf/backwards/episode/10957/summary.html| archive-date= 18 February 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref> It premiered on the British television channel [[BBC Two|BBC2]] on 14 November 1989.<ref name="BBC Programme Catalogue - RED DWARF III THE SAGA CONTINUUMS - 1, BACKWARDS">{{cite web | url =http://catalogue.bbc.co.uk/catalogue/infax/programme/NMRJ900L | title =BBC - Programme Catalogue - Red Dwarf III The Saga Continuums - 1, Backwards | publisher =BBC | access-date =2007-12-11 }}{{Dead link|date=July 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Written by [[Rob Grant]] and [[Doug Naylor]], and directed by [[Ed Bye]], the episode has the crew travel to an [[parallel universe (fiction)|alternate Earth]] where time runs backwards.

The episode marks the first regular appearances of [[Robert Llewellyn]]'s Kryten, [[Hattie Hayridge]]'s version of Holly, the new spaceship Starbug, better production values, and a change in direction of story themes that would cement the show's cult status.<ref name="Red Dwarf Programme Guide History">Howarth & Lyons (1993)</ref> The story was later reformulated as a novel by the [[Backwards (novel)|same name]]. The episode was re-mastered, along with the rest of the first three series, in 1998.

==Plot==
Following the events of ''[[Parallel Universe (Red Dwarf)|Parallel Universe]]'', [[Dave Lister]] ([[Craig Charles]]) gave birth to twins who had to be sent back to the universe of their origin because of his universe's law. At the same time, the ship's computer [[Holly (Red Dwarf)|Holly]] underwent a transformation to become his alternate universe counterpart Hilly ([[Hattie Hayridge]]) whom he fell madly in love with, while the others came across the broken pieces of the mechanoid [[Kryten]] ([[Robert Llewellyn]]), after he crashed on an asteroid while [[Kryten (Red Dwarf episode)|riding Lister's space bike]], leading to Lister having to salvage and rebuild him, consequentially causing him to lose his old personality.

Some time after these events, [[Arnold Rimmer]] ([[Chris Barrie]]) takes Kryten out for a piloting test with ''Starbug 1'', only for the pair to be sucked into a time hole and crash-land on a planet similar to Earth. When the pair see a sign written backwards and people performing actions and speaking backwards, Holly concludes they are on Earth in the distant future where time is now running backwards.<ref name="Prog Guide p60">Howarth & Lyons (1993) p. 60.</ref>

Kryten and Rimmer are initially disgusted by the "backwards" behaviour of people, but soon opt to use their forwardness to their advantage and apply as an entertainment act called, backwards, "The Sensational Reverse Brothers", until they can be rescued.<ref name="Prog Guide p60"/>

Lister and [[Cat (Red Dwarf)|Cat]] ([[Danny John-Jules]]) finally track them down three weeks later in ''Starbug 2'', but upon arriving, Lister is confused by the "backwards" nature of time, including the fact he has arrived with a feeling of cracked ribs and a black eye.<ref name="Prog Guide p60"/> Lister and Cat, after arriving, initially assume that they are in Bulgaria, and then finally understanding the nature of things when they realise they're in England and everything is backwards, and find Rimmer and Kryten enjoying themselves in their new jobs. Lister and Cat fail to convince the pair to leave, especially when Lister mentions a few examples of the backwards reality's bad sides. When they are fired for starting a fight, Kryten realises it is about to happen in reverse, resulting in Lister discovering his injuries are to be healed in it. Realising they cannot stay, Kryten and Rimmer decide to return to their time with the others, a notion reinforced by Cat's horrifying discovery of what happens to someone trying to relieve themselves in reverse.<ref name="Prog Guide p60"/>

==Production==
[[Image:red dwarf backwards nodnol sign.jpg|thumb|right|Locations in and around [[Manchester]] were used for the episode. This picture depicts the road sign to 'Nodnol 871 Selim' which in reverse reads 'London 178 Miles'.]]

With Rob Grant and Doug Naylor directly involved with the third series, under their Grant Naylor Productions team, they radically changed the look of the show.<ref name="Red Dwarf Series III Production"/> The opening credits sequence sported a new rock guitar version of the Red Dwarf theme tune playing over clips from the series.<ref name="Red Dwarf Series III Music">{{cite web|url=http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck05/series_3/music.html |title=Red Dwarf Series III Music |publisher=reddwarf.co.uk |access-date=2008-01-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020311150540/http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck05/series_3/music.html |archive-date=11 March 2002 |url-status=live}}</ref> The opening sequence ends with the first appearance of the official logo of the show which was designed by DeWinters.<ref name="Red Dwarf Series III Production"/> Mel Bibby had also come on board the crew and re-designed the sets. His inspiration from [[Ridley Scott]]'s ''[[Alien (film)|Alien]]'' film clearly shown in the new set's murky and run-down feel.<ref name="Red Dwarf Series III Sets">{{cite web|url=http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck05/series_3/sets.html |title=Red Dwarf Series III Sets |publisher=reddwarf.co.uk |access-date=2008-01-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061006082821/http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck05/series_3/sets.html |archive-date=6 October 2006 }}</ref>

Costumes were overhauled as well, with Costume designer Howard Burden bringing in a stylish new look to the crew. Lister's jacket outfit, having been designed with his art school background in mind, included a voluptuous woman riding a rocket on the back. This woman had indeed been intended to be [[Wilma Flintstone]] but was changed to a generic looking female once the legality of using [[The Flintstones]] image arose. Rimmer's tunic uniform served as implying his devotion to duty as well as his hologrammatic status. While the Cat's wardrobe reached new heights in the fashion stakes, Kryten's appearance was based on the Series II look but produced more successfully.<ref name="Red Dwarf Series III Costumes">{{cite web|url=http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck05/series_3/Costumes.html |title=Red Dwarf Series III Costumes |publisher=reddwarf.co.uk |access-date=2008-01-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061006082829/http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck05/series_3/costumes.html |archive-date=6 October 2006 }}</ref>

Effects also featured more heavily in the new series. The barroom brawl with plenty of fake glass featured a stunt double hurling through a window on the set. Bluescreen backgrounds were used for the actors to film against which was then merged with the cloaked Starbug location footage. Close-up shots were merely filmed on top of a raised platform with only the sky visible in the background.<ref name="Red Dwarf Series III Effects">{{cite web|url=http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck05/series_3/effects.html |title=Red Dwarf Series III Effects |publisher=reddwarf.co.uk |access-date=2008-01-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061006082848/http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck05/series_3/effects.html |archive-date=6 October 2006 }}</ref>

Starbug was introduced as the new spaceship in place of Blue Midget. Grant and Naylor felt that Blue Midget did not work well set-wise because of size constraints so they requested that Peter Wragg, and his visual effects team, come up with a design for another ship. The final design, initially called White Midget, was shown to Grant and Naylor and they liked it, but they thought it looked more like a bug so settled on the name Starbug.<ref name="Interview: Peter Wragg">Interview: Peter Wragg, Red Dwarf Smegazine, issue 8, October 1992, Fleetway Editions Ltd, {{ISSN|0965-5603}}</ref>

The Series III pre-credits scroll detailing the back story was actually intended to be an episode in its own right. Titled "Dad", the episode would have tied the loose ends from series two's "[[Parallel Universe (Red Dwarf)|Parallel Universe]]" where Lister would have given birth to the twins and given them back to the parallel universe Lister version. Grant and Naylor had partially written the script but they decided to scrap the idea as they felt it to be unfunny and potentially offensive to women.<ref name="Interview: Grant Naylor">Interview: Grant Naylor, Red Dwarf Smegazine, issue 6, August 1992, Fleetway Editions Ltd, {{ISSN|0965-5603}}</ref>

Many of the location scenes for "Backwards" were filmed in and around [[Manchester]]. The lake and woodland scenes were filmed in [[Tatton Park]]. Series creator and writer Rob Grant can be seen standing on the street with sunglasses smoking a cigarette backwards. The episode's theme gave the writers an opportunity to insert some in-joke dialogue that otherwise would not have been put in. In one scene the bar manager comes into Rimmer and Kryten's dressing room to tell them that they are sacked for un-starting a barroom brawl. In fact he says: "I'm addressing the one prat in the country who has bothered to get a hold of this recording, turn it round and actually work out the rubbish that I'm saying. What a poor, sad life he's got!" At the very end (beginning?) of the reverse barroom brawl, an "Action!", said by [[Ed Bye]] can be heard.<ref name="Red Dwarf Programme Guide History"/>

The character of Kryten was originally intended as a one-off appearance in the series-two episode "[[Kryten (Red Dwarf episode)|Kryten]]". The character returned mainly to broaden the story potential as Lister was the only person who could really do anything. Rimmer, a hologram, couldn't touch anything, the Cat couldn't be bothered to touch anything, and Holly was incompetent & immobile. The show was becoming difficult to write for. At the insistence of Naylor, Kryten returned to complete the team.<ref name="Interview: Grant Naylor"/>

Grant and Naylor had approached [[David Ross (actor)|David Ross]] with the intention of bringing him back to play the regular role of Kryten. Ross was in a stage play ''Flea in Her Ear'' and wasn't available, so they went to see [[Robert Llewellyn]] at the advice of Paul Jackson. Llewellyn was in a stage show called ''Mammon'', playing a robot. They saw his performance and were impressed.<ref name="Interview: Grant Naylor"/>

The very first scene that Llewellyn filmed was in the episode "[[Bodyswap (Red Dwarf)|Bodyswap]]" which involved him lighting candles with his fingers. He was wired up for the flame to ignite from his fingertip. The problem was that it was wet on the set and he was sweating so the wiring was backfiring and shocking him. The scene was cut out from the show.<ref name="Interview: Grant Naylor"/>

"Backwards" world guest stars includes [[Maria Friedman]] as the Waitress, [[Tony Hawks]] as a Compere, Anna Palmer as a Customer in Cafe and [[Arthur Smith (comedian)|Arthur Smith]] as the Pub Manager.<ref name="Backwards cast and crew">{{cite web | url =https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0684144/fullcredits | title =Backwards cast and crew | publisher =IMDb|access-date =2008-01-25}}</ref>

==Cultural references==
A ''[[Star Wars]]'' style scroll is used to explain all the occurrences that had happened between Series II and III.<ref name="Red Dwarf Series III Production">{{cite web|url=http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck05/series_3/production.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010827032812/http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck05/series_3/production.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=27 August 2001 |title=Red Dwarf Series III Production |publisher=reddwarf.co.uk |access-date=2008-01-07}}</ref> (See also [[Dad (Red Dwarf episode)]]). This was the first ''Red Dwarf'' episode to parody the [[Star Wars opening crawl]]—it was also done at the end of "[[Dimension Jump (Red Dwarf)|Dimension Jump]]" in the fourth series of the show, and at the beginning of the first Red Dwarf USA pilot.

In the opening scene between Lister and the Cat, they discuss whether ''[[The Flintstones]]''' [[Wilma Flintstone]] is sexy or not. They come to the conclusion that they are insane for discussing such things, since she would never leave [[Fred Flintstone|Fred]].<ref name="Backwards movie connections">{{cite web | url =https://www.imdb.com/rg/title-tease/movieconnections/title/tt0684144/movieconnections | title =Backwards movie connections | publisher =IMDb|access-date =2008-01-08}}</ref>

==The pre-title sequence==
[[Image:red dwarf backwards star wars spoof.jpg|thumb|right|The ''[[Star Wars]]'' type scroll used to update viewers on recent events from the previous series]]

The ''[[Star Wars]]''-style scrolling text is used to explain all the occurrences that had happened in the meantime between the last episode of Series II - ''[[Parallel Universe (Red Dwarf)|Parallel Universe]]'' - and this, the start of series III.<ref name="Red Dwarf Series III Production" /> The text gives a brief explanation to resolve the issue of Lister's pregnancy, the reason why Holly now looked like Hilly, and why Kryten had come back aboard the ''Red Dwarf'' and why he also had changed. The ''Star Wars'' style scrolling was intentionally sped up faster than viewers could actually read for the purposes of comedy.

Here is the text:<ref>[[Red Dwarf (TV Series)|Red Dwarf]]:Backwards</ref>
<blockquote>
''RED DWARF III'' 
''THE SAGA CONTINUUMS'' 
''THE STORY SO FAR...'' 
''Three million years in the future, Dave Lister, the last human being alive discovers he is pregnant after a liaison with his female self in a parallel universe. His pregnancy concludes with the successful delivery of twin boys, Jim and Bexley. However, because the twins were conceived in another universe, with different physical laws, they suffer from highly accelerated growth rates, and are both eighteen years old within three days of being born. In order to save their lives, Lister returns them to the universe of their origin, where they are reunited with their father (a woman), and are able to lead comparatively normal lives. Well, as normal as you can be if you've been born in a parallel universe and your father's a woman and your mother's a man and you're eighteen years three days after your birth.'' 
''Shortly afterwards, Kryten, the service mechanoid who had left the ship after being rescued from his own crashed vessel, the Nova 5, is found in pieces after his space bike crash lands onto an asteroid. Lister rebuilds the 'noid, but is unable to recapture his former personality.'' 
''Meanwhile, Holly, the increasingly erratic Red Dwarf computer, performs a head sex change operation on himself. He bases his new face on Hilly, a female computer with whom he'd once fallen madly in love.'' 
''And now the saga continuums'' 
''AND NOW THE SAGA CONTINUUMS...''<ref>According to the Red Dwarf III DVD release, it went unnoticed that this line was repeated twice until it was too late.</ref> 
''RED DWARF III'' 
''THE SAME GENERATION'' 
''-NEARLY-''
</blockquote>

==Reception==
The episode was originally broadcast on the British television channel BBC2 on 14 November 1989 in the 9:00pm evening time slot.<ref name="BBC Programme Catalogue - RED DWARF III THE SAGA CONTINUUMS - 1, BACKWARDS"/> As with all episodes in the third series, "Backwards" gained healthy viewing figures, increasing on Series II efforts.<ref name="Red Dwarf Series III Aftermath">{{cite web|url=http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck05/series_3/aftermath.html |title=Red Dwarf Series III Aftermath |publisher=reddwarf.co.uk |access-date=2008-01-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061006082816/http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck05/series_3/aftermath.html |archive-date=6 October 2006 }}</ref>

Although Series III was received well as a whole, "Backwards" was picked out as a highlight. One review described it as "a particularly inspired episode, making brilliant use of video tricks to enhance the intricate details of the storyline."<ref>{{cite book |last=Berman |first=Garry |title=Best of the Britcoms: From Fawlty Towers to The Office |page =74 |year=2011 |publisher=Taylor Trade |isbn=1589795660}}</ref> ''Sci-Fi Dimensions'' described it as the best episode of the series, and said that "admittedly, this episode is inconsistent in its treatment of the backwards principles, but even the inconsistencies are part of the fun!"<ref name="Red Dwarf Series III review at Sci-fi Dimensions">{{cite web|url=http://www.scifidimensions.com/Mar04/reddwarf3and4.htm |title=Red Dwarf Series III review at Sci-fi Dimensions |publisher=scifidimensions.com |access-date=2008-01-25 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070107145650/http://www.scifidimensions.com/Mar04/reddwarf3and4.htm |archive-date=7 January 2007 }}</ref> ''Sci-Fi.com'' agreed that the episode was "the season's best" and "has the season's best philosophical rant".<ref name="SciFi.com Series III review">{{cite web|url=http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck05/series_6/Aftermath.html |title=Series III review |publisher=reddwarf.co.uk |access-date=2008-01-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080104013125/http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck05/series_6/aftermath.html |archive-date=4 January 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The ''Red Dwarf Smegazine'' readers poll listed the episode at number four with 7.1% of the votes.<ref name="Red Dwarf magazine: Survey Results">Reader Survey Results, Red Dwarf Smegazine, p. 27., issue 10, December 1992, Fleetway Editions Ltd, {{ISSN|0965-5603}}</ref>

==Remastering==
{{See also|Red Dwarf remastered}}

The remastering of Series I to III was carried out during the late 1990s.<ref name="Remasters of the Universe">{{cite web|url=http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck01/dvd_remasters_of_the_universe_221206.html |title=Remasters of the Universe |publisher=reddwarf.co.uk |access-date=2008-01-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080104012351/http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck01/dvd_remasters_of_the_universe_221206.html |archive-date=4 January 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref> Changes included replacement of the opening credits,<ref name="Red Dwarf Series I Remastering">{{cite web|url=http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck05/series_1/remastering.html |title=Red Dwarf Series I Remastering |publisher=reddwarf.co.uk |access-date=2008-01-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080118140243/http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck05/series_1/remastering.html |archive-date=18 January 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref> giving the picture a colour grade and [[filmising]],<ref name="The End Re-Mastered Commentary">{{cite video | people =Remastering Crew | title =The End Re-Mastered DVD Commentary | medium =DVD | publisher =BBC | location =Bodysnatcher DVD Boxset Red disc | date =2007 }}</ref> [[Computer-generated imagery|computer generated]] [[special effects]] of ''Red Dwarf''<ref name="Re-Dwarf">{{cite video | people =Remastering Crew | title ='Re-Dwarf' Documentary | medium =DVD | publisher =BBC | location =Bodysnatcher DVD Boxset Red disc | date =2007 }}</ref> and many more visual and audio enhancements.<ref name="Re-Dwarf"/>

Changes made specific to "Backwards" include an animated shot of the ejected Rimmer has been added to the opening scene with ''Starbug'' with scream and thump sounds enhanced. ''Starbug'''s sounds have been remixed and enhanced throughout. A new time-hole tunnel sequence has been added when ''Starbug'' travels through it. POV landscape shots have been added as ''Starbug'' enters the backwards Earth. Fire elements and sound effects have been added to the ''Starbug'' crash. The cafe exterior has been added as a transitional shot. The cloaking ''Starbug'' has been added to the existing empty shot of Lister and Cat arriving on 'backwards' Earth. The end credit sequence has been flipped and reads in reverse.<ref name="Backwards text commentary">{{cite video | people =Remastering Crew | title =Backwards text commentary | medium =DVD | publisher =BBC | location =Bodysnatcher DVD Boxset, Green disc | date =2007 }}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Backwards (novel)|''Backwards'' (novel)]], the fourth ''Red Dwarf'' novel which uses the Backwards theme for most of the plot.<ref name="Red Dwarf Series VI Aftermath">{{cite web|url=http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck05/series_6/Aftermath.html |title=Red Dwarf Series VI Aftermath |publisher=reddwarf.co.uk |access-date=2008-01-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080104013125/http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck05/series_6/aftermath.html |archive-date=4 January 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[Time loop]]
* [[Time travel]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==References==
*{{cite book |last=Howarth |first=Chris |author2=Steve Lyons |title=Red Dwarf Programme Guide |year=1993 |publisher=Virgin Books |isbn=0-86369-682-1 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/reddwarfprogramm0000howa }}

==External links==
{{Wikiquote|Red_Dwarf#.22Backwards.22|Backwards}}
*{{BBC episode|p00bp2vg|Backwards}}
*{{IMDb episode|0684144|Backwards}}
*[http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/guide/index.cfm?seriesID=3 Series III episode guide at www.reddwarf.co.uk]

{{Red Dwarf episodes}}

[[Category:Red Dwarf III episodes]]
[[Category:1989 British television episodes]]
[[Category:Television episodes about time travel]]

Backwards (Red Dwarf) - Revision history

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