Only The Good...

Series VIII, Episode 8
Recorded: 09.11.1998, Shepperton Studios
First Broadcast: 05.04.1999 (BBC 2)
VHS Release: 24.01.2000 (BBCV 6843)
DVD Release: 27.03.2006 (BBCDVD 1693)
Blu-ray Release: 14.01.2019 (BBCBD 0441)

Written by Doug Naylor
Directed by Ed Bye

Synopsis

Rimmer crosses into a mirror universe where he discovers another version of himself captaining the ship.

Cast

Chris Barrie (Rimmer), Craig Charles (Lister), Danny John-Jules (Cat), Robert Llewellyn (Kryten), Chloe Annett (Kochanski), Norman Lovett (Holly), Mac McDonald (Captain), Graham McTavish (Ackerman), Heidi Monsen (Talia), Tony Slattery (Vending Machine), Ricky Grover (Baxter), David Verrey (Big Meat), Graham McTavish (Ackerman), Heidi Monsen (Talia), Tony Slattery (Vending Machine), Ricky Grover (Baxter), David Verrey (Big Meat)

Did You Know?

This episode was originally (under working titles Mirror/rorriM and Every Dog...) intended as the first half of a two-part finale. When the second part, which would have seen the ship finally return to Earth (wiping out most of an advanced civilisation in the process and swapping insurance details with the survivors), proved too expensive, a new ending needed to be found.

In the event, four endings were actually considered. As originally shot, to lead into Earth, Rimmer would have saved the ship with the revived crew having all departed in escape craft. When it was reworked to be a season-ending cliffhanger, the next version saw him potentially dying alone on the ship. When this ending was judged to be too dark, Doug hastily wrote a version which would see Ace Rimmer return to save him (originally thought of as the resolution that would follow next series). Finally, and with Chris Barrie already about to don the Ace wig, it was reworked for the as-broadcast "kneeing Death in the groin" option, with the Grim Reaper played by director Ed Bye.

The photograph of Hollister's wife on his desk, though not shown on screen, was that of then-GNP General Manager Helen Norman.

The final piece of model work required for the series was an escape pod, but with no budget to allow for its construction, model maker Bill Pearson agreed to do so in exchange for a crate of wine.

The initial UK broadcast of this episode was unusually on Monday 5th April rather than the expected Thursday 8th, due to coverage of the Masters golf tournament. At four days, this marked the then-shortest ever gap between new Red Dwarf episodes.

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