Future Echoes

Series I, Episode 2
Recorded: 18.10.1987, BBC Manchester
First Broadcast: 22.02.1988 (BBC 2)
VHS Release: 05.07.1993 (BBCV 4914)
DVD Release: 04.11.2002 (BBCDVD 1117)
Blu-ray Release: 14.01.2019 (BBCBD 0441)

Written by Rob Grant & Doug Naylor
Directed by Ed Bye

Synopsis

When Red Dwarf breaks the speed of light, time dilates, and the crew begin to experience visions from their own future. Sadly for Lister his future appears to include being reduced to his component atoms by a rather large explosion. Happily for Rimmer, Lister's future appears to include being reduced to his component atoms by a rather large explosion.

Cast

Chris Barrie (Rimmer), Craig Charles (Lister), Danny John-Jules (Cat), Norman Lovett (Holly), John Lenahan (Toaster), Tony Hawks (Dispensing Machine)

Did You Know?

This was the fourth episode produced for Series I, but was felt by all concerned to be the strongest of the run, and so was placed in the all-important second spot.

Although in the episode it is Lister's son Bexley who is killed in the future explosion, the Red Dwarf novel retconned this to be Bexley's son - and thus Lister's grandson - instead, to better account for his reaction upon discovering that it wasn't himself!

While of course not originally intended as such, the elder Lister having a robotic arm is a nice hint towards him losing that same right arm way down the line in Series VII's Epideme.

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