Post your Pearl Poll rankings

[Hamish]

Rather than clogging up the actual results article with my foolish twaddle, I will just post my final rankings here. The numbers in parenthesis represent any change in position from my Silver Survey rankings five years ago.

1. Stasis Leak (±0)
2. Out of Time (±0)
3. Gunmen of the Apocalypse (+1)
4. Waiting for God (+2)
5. Better Than Life (+2)
6. The Last Day (-3)
7. Timeslides (+2)
8. Bodyswap (±0)
9. Justice (+1)
10. Legion (+10)
11. Balance of Power (-6)
12. Thanks for the Memory (+1)
13. Meltdown (-2)
14. The Inquisitor (-2)
15. The End (+2)
16. Confidence and Paranoia (+6)
17. Me^2 (-2)
18. White Hole (+10)
19. DNA (+11)
20. Holoship (+11)
21. Future Echoes (+3)
22. Kryten (+1)
23. Psirens (-7)
24. Backwards (+3)
25. Marooned (+1)
26. Queeg (-1)
27. Emohawk (+7)
28. Back to Reality (-14)
29. Camile (+11)
30. Dimension Jump (-1)
31. Polymorph (+4)
32. Lemons (-14)
33. The Beginning (-14)
34. Cured
35. Give & Take
36. Rimmerworld (+2)
37. Demons & Angels (-4)
38. Terrorform (-1)
39. Quarantine (-3)
40. Parallel Universe (-1)
41. Skipper
42. Trojan (-21)
43. Krysis
44. Epideme (+1)
45. Blue (+2)
46. Mechocracy
47. Samsara
48. Beyond a Joke (±0)
49. Entangled (-17)
50. Nanarchy (-4)
51. M-Corp
52. Twentica
53. Siliconia
54. Officer Rimmer
55. Back in the Red Part 3 (-3)
56. Back in the Red Part 1 (-3)
57. Cassandra (-16)
58. Dear Dave (-7)
59. Father’s & Suns (-16)
60. Can of Worms
61. Ouroboros (-12)
62. Tikka to Ride (-6)
63. Back to Earth Part 1 (-22)
64. Stoke Me a Clipper (-7)
65. Duct Soup (-6)
66. Back in the Red Part 2 (-12)
67. Back to Earth Part 2 (-23)
68. Only the Good… (-18)
69. Back to Earth Part 3 (-16)
70. Pete Part 1 (-11)
71. Pete Part 2 (-11)
72. Krytie TV (-11)
73. Timewave

Feel free to blame any placement you don’t like in the final numbers entirely on me.

Topic

[International Debris]

I can’t remember other than 1. White Hole / 18. Skipper / the bottom ten were VIII, Beyond a Joke and Timewave.

[(deleted)]

I wish I had a copy of mine. It was immense.

[Flap Jack]

Cool, someone else who considers The Last Day the best of Series III! Back to Reality only 28th though… overall, you’re definitely more against the grain than I am.

Eh, what the hey. Let’s do this:

1 – The Last Day
2 – Back to Reality
3 – The Inquisitor
4 – Queeg
5 – Quarantine
6 – M-Corp
7 – Out of Time
8 – Gunmen of the Apocalypse
9 – Marooned
10 – Holoship
11 – Skipper
12 – Timeslides
13 – Backwards
14 – Stasis Leak
15 – Justice
16 – Meltdown
17 – Polymorph
18 – Legion
19 – Camille
20 – Terrorform
21 – Bodyswap
22 – Psirens
23 – DNA
24 – Siliconia
25 – Give & Take
26 – Officer Rimmer
27 – Thanks for the Memory
28 – Twentica
29 – Better Than Life
30 – Dimension Jump
31 – Me2
32 – The Beginning
33 – Mechocracy
34 – Demons & Angels
35 – Krysis
36 – Lemons
37 – Kryten
38 – White Hole
39 – Emohawk: Polymorph II
40 – Balance of Power
41 – Fathers & Suns
42 – Rimmerworld
43 – The End
44 – Future Echoes
45 – Cured
46 – Trojan
47 – Confidence & Paranoia
48 – Entangled
49 – Waiting for God
50 – Tikka to Ride
51 – Samsara
52 – Parallel Universe
53 – Back to Earth – Part 2
54 – Can of Worms
55 – Back to Earth – Part 3
56 – Blue
57 – Beyond a Joke
58 – Cassandra
59 – Stoke me a Clipper
60 – Epideme
61 – Back to Earth – Part 1
62 – Nanarchy
63 – Dear Dave
64 – Ouroboros
65 – Duct Soup
66 – Only the Good…
67 – Back in the Red – Part 2
68 – Back in the Red – Part 1
69 – Timewave
70 – Pete – Part 1
71 – Krytie TV
72 – Back in the Red – Part 3
73 – Pete – Part 2

It’s a bit weird that people keep saying they wish they’d saved their entries. Did they only start automatically emailing people copies of their rankings late in the process?

[It’sMarilynMonroe!]

Copy and pasted from my confirmation e-mail:

1 ‐ Dimension Jump
2 ‐ Back to Reality
3 ‐ Marooned
4 ‐ Gunmen of the Apocalypse
5 ‐ The Beginning
6 ‐ Cured
7 ‐ Queeg
8 ‐ M‐Corp
9 ‐ The Inquisitor
10 ‐ Mechocracy
11 ‐ Quarantine
12 ‐ DNA
13 ‐ Terrorform
14 ‐ Rimmerworld
15 ‐ Justice
16 ‐ Krysis
17 ‐ Skipper
18 ‐ Out of Time
19 ‐ Polymorph
20 ‐ Holoship
21 ‐ Me2
22 ‐ Kryten
23 ‐ White Hole
24 ‐ Twentica
25 ‐ Legion
26 ‐ Timeslides
27 ‐ Better Than Life
28 ‐ Meltdown
29 ‐ Officer Rimmer
30 ‐ Lemons
31 ‐ Can of Worms
32 ‐ Give & Take
33 ‐ The Last Day
34 ‐ Backwards
35 ‐ The End
36 ‐ Thanks for the Memory
37 ‐ Fathers & Suns
38 ‐ Confidence & Paranoia
39 ‐ Camille
40 ‐ Future Echoes
41 ‐ Demons & Angels
42 ‐ Siliconia
43 ‐ Parallel Universe
44 ‐ Samsara
45 ‐ Trojan
46 ‐ Back to Earth ‐ Part 3
47 ‐ Stasis Leak
48 ‐ Back to Earth ‐ Part 2
49 ‐ Back to Earth ‐ Part 1
50 ‐ Waiting for God
51 ‐ Balance of Power
52 ‐ Psirens
53 ‐ Tikka to Ride
54 ‐ Emohawk: Polymorph II
55 ‐ Dear Dave
56 ‐ Beyond a Joke
57 ‐ Nanarchy
58 ‐ Cassandra
59 ‐ Stoke me a Clipper
60 ‐ Ouroboros
61 ‐ Only the Good…
62 ‐ Bodyswap
63 ‐ Entangled
64 ‐ Blue
65 ‐ Timewave
66 ‐ Epideme
67 ‐ Duct Soup
68 ‐ Back in the Red ‐ Part 1
69 ‐ Pete ‐ Part 1
70 ‐ Krytie TV
71 ‐ Pete ‐ Part 2
72 ‐ Back in the Red ‐ Part 3
73 ‐ Back in the Red ‐ Part 2

[si]

Mine. Lots of my placings are quite different to the actual poll results. I didn’t put Back To Reality top, I didn’t put Timewave last. And I put Legion waaaay down compared to everyone else.

1 – Marooned

2 – Queeg

3 – Thanks For The Memory

4 – Future Echoes

5 – Quarantine

6 – Back To Reality

7 – Timeslides

8 – White Hole

9 – Dimension Jump

10 – The Inquisitor

11 – Bodyswap

12 – Stasis Leak

13 – Out Of Time

14 – Polymorph

15 – Gunmen Of The Apocalypse

16 – Camille

17 – The Last Day

18 – Backwards

19 – Mechocracy

20 – Give & Take

21 – Kryten

22 – Skipper

23 – Me2

24 – Terrorform

25 – Holoship

26 – Meltdown

27 – Better Than Life

28 – DNA

29 – Justice

30 – Parallel Universe

31 – Officer Rimmer

32 – M-Corp

33 – Legion

34 – Balance Of Power

35 – Rimmerworld

36 – Waiting For God

37 – Psirens

38 – Demons & Angels

39 – Fathers & Suns

40 – Cured

41 – Krysis

42 – Entangled

43 – The End

44 – Cassandra

45 – The Beginning

46 – Confidence & Paranoia

47 – Samsara

48 – Stoke Me A Clipper

49 – Twentica

50 – Emohawk – Polymorph II

51 – Trojan

52 – Siliconia

53 – Back In The Red Part 1

54 – Tikka To Ride

55 – Back To Earth Part 1

56 – Krytie TV

57 – Back To Earth Part 2

58 – Blue

59 – Dear Dave

60 – Duct Soup

61 – Back In The Red Part 2

62 – Lemons

63 – Nanarchy

64 – Epideme

65 – Ouroboros

66 – Back To Earth Part 3

67 – Beyond A Joke

68 – Can of Worms

69 – Timewave

70 – Pete Part 1

71 – Only The Good…

72 – Back In The Red Part 3

73 – Pete Part 2

[Hamish]

> Back to Reality only 28th though… overall, you’re definitely more against the grain than I am.

I will admit to doing a bit of tactical voting by placing Back to Reality where I did as I knew it did not need any help from me, but I honestly do not love it the way that most people around here seem to. It is good, no question, but so are most of the rest of the list.

[flanl3]

1 – Samsara
2 – Legion
3 – Bodyswap
4 – Back to Reality
5 – Give & Take
6 – Queeg
7 – Siliconia
8 – The Beginning
9 – The Inquisitor
10 – Timeslides
11 – Skipper
12 – Quarantine
13 – Me2
14 – Officer Rimmer
15 – Gunmen of the Apocalypse
16 – Ouroboros
17 – Holoship
18 – Out of Time
19 – Justice
20 – Rimmerworld
21 – Stasis Leak
22 – Meltdown
23 – Future Echoes
24 – Back to Earth – Part 1
25 – DNA
26 – Back to Earth – Part 3
27 – Demons & Angels
28 – Thanks for the Memory
29 – White Hole
30 – M-Corp
31 – Krysis
32 – Entangled
33 – Mechocracy
34 – Balance of Power
35 – Stoke me a Clipper
36 – Trojan
37 – Emohawk: Polymorph II
38 – Camille
39 – Fathers & Suns
40 – Terrorform
41 – The Last Day
42 – Tikka to Ride
43 – Dimension Jump
44 – Nanarchy
45 – Back to Earth – Part 2
46 – Only the Good…
47 – Parallel Universe
48 – Lemons
49 – Can of Worms
50 – Psirens
51 – Epideme
52 – Confidence & Paranoia
53 – Cured
54 – Dear Dave
55 – Cassandra
56 – Marooned
57 – Kryten
58 – Back in the Red – Part 3
59 – Backwards
60 – Pete – Part 1
61 – Waiting for God
62 – Twentica
63 – Back in the Red – Part 2
64 – Polymorph
65 – Back in the Red – Part 1
66 – Beyond a Joke
67 – Krytie TV
68 – The End
69 – Blue
70 – Better Than Life
71 – Pete – Part 2
72 – Duct Soup
73 – Timewave

[Hamish]

That is the mystery of who put Samsara at #1 solved then.

[clem]

1 – Thanks for the Memory
2 – Gunmen of the Apocalypse
3 – Back to Reality
4 – Legion
5 – Queeg
6 – Out of Time
7 – Kryten
8 – Holoship
9 – Me2
10 – Marooned
11 – Stoke me a Clipper
12 – Quarantine
13 – Demons & Angels
14 – Better Than Life
15 – The End
16 – Officer Rimmer
17 – Give & Take
18 – Terrorform
19 – Future Echoes
20 – Emohawk: Polymorph II
21 – Waiting for God
22 – Confidence & Paranoia
23 – Stasis Leak
24 – M-Corp
25 – Nanarchy
26 – Meltdown
27 – The Last Day
28 – Mechocracy
29 – Timeslides
30 – Rimmerworld
31 – Balance of Power
32 – Siliconia
33 – The Inquisitor
34 – DNA
35 – Dimension Jump
36 – Epideme
37 – Camille
38 – Fathers & Suns
39 – Skipper
40 – Bodyswap
41 – The Beginning
42 – Psirens
43 – Blue
44 – White Hole
45 – Polymorph
46 – Backwards
47 – Ouroboros
48 – Back to Earth – Part 2
49 – Lemons
50 – Justice
51 – Back to Earth – Part 3
52 – Krysis
53 – Parallel Universe
54 – Tikka to Ride
55 – Duct Soup
56 – Samsara
57 – Beyond a Joke
58 – Entangled
59 – Twentica
60 – Dear Dave
61 – Can of Worms
62 – Cured
63 – Back to Earth – Part 1
64 – Krytie TV
65 – Trojan
66 – Cassandra
67 – Back in the Red – Part 1
68 – Back in the Red – Part 2
69 – Pete – Part 1
70 – Back in the Red – Part 3
71 – Pete – Part 2
72 – Only the Good…
73 – Timewave

[flanl3]

That is the mystery of who put Samsara at #1 solved then.

Once this evening’s Dwarfcast is published I will gladly further clarify my position on this further, which is something I didn’t do while called in because words are hard.

[Stephen Abootman]

1 – Holoship
2 – Back to Reality
3 – Gunmen of the Apocalypse
4 – White Hole
5 – Thanks for the Memory
6 – Quarantine
7 – Legion
8 – Out of Time
9 – Marooned
10 – Dimension Jump
11 – Queeg
12 – Skipper
13 – Justice
14 – The Inquisitor
15 – M-Corp
16 – Timeslides
17 – Me2
18 – Kryten
19 – Stasis Leak
20 – Better Than Life
21 – Future Echoes
22 – Polymorph
23 – Terrorform
24 – Demons & Angels
25 – Give & Take
26 – Camille
27 – The Beginning
28 – Psirens
29 – Stoke me a Clipper
30 – Krysis
31 – Lemons
32 – The Last Day
33 – Cured
34 – DNA
35 – Mechocracy
36 – Trojan
37 – Parallel Universe
38 – Officer Rimmer
39 – Fathers & Suns
40 – Twentica
41 – Balance of Power
42 – Tikka to Ride
43 – Bodyswap
44 – Meltdown
45 – Rimmerworld
46 – Backwards
47 – Emohawk: Polymorph II
48 – Siliconia
49 – Cassandra
50 – Confidence & Paranoia
51 – The End
52 – Blue
53 – Entangled
54 – Samsara
55 – Waiting for God
56 – Can of Worms
57 – Back to Earth – Part 3
58 – Timewave
59 – Only the Good…
60 – Nanarchy
61 – Back in the Red – Part 1
62 – Beyond a Joke
63 – Dear Dave
64 – Back to Earth – Part 2
65 – Epideme
66 – Krytie TV
67 – Ouroboros
68 – Back to Earth – Part 1
69 – Back in the Red – Part 2
70 – Pete – Part 1
71 – Back in the Red – Part 3
72 – Pete – Part 2
73 – Duct Soup

[Jonsmad]

I had Twentica 36 places higher as my number 10 which was the biggest number of places different to the poll result. No surprise i was at the recording of that one. But a mixture of Kevin Eldon both as performer and the concept of his character and luci phol meeting her at DJ and being great in it all means im really into rewatching this one still XI aired. It gets near gunmen in its ambition and setting and adventure feel, i know many always want character study, but i dont, not always, and its very funny, and its a buggsy malone kind of a sunday watch chill out thing with me since the XI dvd came out.

Fathers & Suns, Trojan, Krysis, The Beginning, Cured, Siliconia, Give and Take, Officer Rimmer,
makes 9 Dave ones in my top 36. I’m still enjoying the new era DVDs in general.

Demons & Angels, Psirens, Justice, Terrorform, Emo Hawk, The Last Day are sitting just outside the bubble. Ive watched the old series tons of times and dont rewatch as often now and these are the ones i dont gravitate to. Where as like the poll Confidence & Paranoia, Rimmerworld, Balance of Power and Waiting for God are fair bit lower. I never rated the first series as being in its stride yet.

And im not signed up to the love of Mcorp. ive got it a good 25 or more lower down.

[Dave]

Here’s mine.

1 – Thanks for the Memory
2 – Marooned
3 – Back to Reality
4 – The Inquisitor
5 – Dimension Jump
6 – Future Echoes
7 – Gunmen of the Apocalypse
8 – White Hole
9 – Legion
10 – Out of Time
11 – Give & Take
12 – Justice
13 – Me2
14 – Demons & Angels
15 – Queeg
16 – Quarantine
17 – Holoship
18 – Camille
19 – Balance of Power
20 – The End
21 – Confidence & Paranoia
22 – Polymorph
23 – Timeslides
24 – Bodyswap
25 – DNA
26 – Meltdown
27 – Stasis Leak
28 – M-Corp
29 – The Beginning
30 – Trojan
31 – Mechocracy
32 – Terrorform
33 – Officer Rimmer
34 – Psirens
35 – Emohawk: Polymorph II
36 – Cassandra
37 – Twentica
38 – Tikka to Ride
39 – Backwards
40 – Better Than Life
41 – Kryten
42 – Rimmerworld
43 – The Last Day
44 – Waiting for God
45 – Parallel Universe
46 – Cured
47 – Fathers & Suns
48 – Dear Dave
49 – Skipper
50 – Krysis
51 – Stoke me a Clipper
52 – Siliconia
53 – Can of Worms
54 – Back to Earth – Part 1
55 – Ouroboros
56 – Lemons
57 – Entangled
58 – Samsara
59 – Back to Earth – Part 2
60 – Back to Earth – Part 3
61 – Epideme
62 – Nanarchy
63 – Blue
64 – Beyond a Joke
65 – Duct Soup
66 – Back in the Red – Part 1
67 – Only the Good…
68 – Back in the Red – Part 2
69 – Back in the Red – Part 3
70 – Pete – Part 2
71 – Timewave
72 – Pete – Part 1
73 – Krytie TV

Thanks For The Memory wins not because of its clever plot (which is great) or amusing gags (which are great) but because of the whole triple-fried-egg-chili-chutney-sandwich scene, which I think is my favourite piece of character interaction in all of Red Dwarf. It’s funny, it’s touching, it gets to the heart of the characters and it sets up the story brilliantly.

For that reason, I think it’s an even better episode for characterisation than Marooned. And it’s the characters that are the real core of the show. Which I think is reflected throughout my top five.

[(deleted)]

Does anyone at G&T HQ have my rankings available? I voted early and didn’t get the email. Have no problem with someone pasting it in on my behalf.

[Ian Symes]

I’ve emailed the address you used for the Poll, Darrell.

[Lily]

Probably a little unusual, but not entirely outside the scope of the norm.

1 – Holoship
2 – Justice
3 – White Hole
4 – Terrorform
5 – Me2
6 – Demons & Angels
7 – Dimension Jump
8 – The Inquisitor
9 – Back to Reality
10 – M-Corp
11 – Quarantine
12 – Psirens
13 – Kryten
14 – Cured
15 – Cassandra
16 – Marooned
17 – Better Than Life
18 – Give & Take
19 – Queeg
20 – Officer Rimmer
21 – Gunmen of the Apocalypse
22 – Fathers & Suns
23 – Legion
24 – Parallel Universe
25 – DNA
26 – Backwards
27 – Timeslides
28 – Trojan
29 – Emohawk: Polymorph II
30 – Samsara
31 – Meltdown
32 – Twentica
33 – Mechocracy
34 – The Beginning
35 – Future Echoes
36 – Camille
37 – Polymorph
38 – Skipper
39 – Balance of Power
40 – Tikka to Ride
41 – Siliconia
42 – Rimmerworld
43 – Thanks for the Memory
44 – Beyond a Joke
45 – Stasis Leak
46 – Lemons
47 – Stoke me a Clipper
48 – Out of Time
49 – The Last Day
50 – Can of Worms
51 – Krysis
52 – The End
53 – Bodyswap
54 – Confidence & Paranoia
55 – Timewave
56 – Epideme
57 – Nanarchy
58 – Back to Earth – Part 1
59 – Back to Earth – Part 2
60 – Back to Earth – Part 3
61 – Waiting for God
62 – Duct Soup
63 – Blue
64 – Ouroboros
65 – Dear Dave
66 – Entangled
67 – Only the Good…
68 – Back in the Red – Part 1
69 – Back in the Red – Part 2
70 – Back in the Red – Part 3
71 – Pete – Part 1
72 – Pete – Part 2
73 – Krytie TV

[Ben Saunders]

Can you email me mine please? The email starts with either bensaunders or himynameisben95. Cheers

[Ben Saunders]

Love what you said about Thanks For The Memory, Dave. Maybe I should have ranked it higher. There’s just so many other episodes that are also very good. But the more I sit and think about it now, the more I think it really is a terrific character piece. And very downbeat. The start of a true friendship developing between people who once despised each other.

[Ian Symes]

Done!

[(deleted)]

Thanks Ian, I am pleased I still agree with my selections! Okay then, here’s mine, and I promise you that anything that resembles contrarianism is just my genuine, honest opinion based on a recent rewatch and trying to be unprejudicial. And worth noting how terribly my number 4 choice did in the final results as a counter to any suggestion that I was trying too hard to break the bubble!

1. Thanks for the Memory
2. Back to Reality
3. Stasis Leak
4. Waiting for God
5. Marooned
6. Future Echoes
7. M-Corp
8. Krysis
9. Blue
10. The Beginning
11. The End
12. Me2
13. Gunmen of the Apocalypse
14. Dimension Jump
15. Legion
16. Lemons
17. Parallel Universe
18. Better Than Life
19. Kryten
20. Skipper
21. Queeg
22. Back in the Red – Part 1
23. Cured
24. Beyond a Joke
25. Meltdown
26. Stoke me a Clipper
27. Can of Worms
28. Tikka to Ride
29. Confidence & Paranoia
30. Backwards
31. White Hole
32. Timeslides
33. Officer Rimmer
34. Back to Earth – Part 3
35. Nanarchy
36. Krytie TV
37. Camille
38. Polymorph
39. Trojan
40. Dear Dave
41. Bodyswap
42. The Last Day
43. Demons & Angels
44. Ouroboros
45. Fathers & Suns
46. Entangled
47. Cassandra
48. Balance of Power
49. Back to Earth – Part 2
50. Give & Take
51. Out of Time
52. Duct Soup
53. Mechocracy
54. Holoship
55. Epideme
56. Back to Earth – Part 1
57. Back in the Red – Part 3
58. Back in the Red – Part 2
59. Rimmerworld
60. Only the Good…
61. The Inquisitor
62. Quarantine
63. Timewave
64. DNA
65. Emohawk: Polymorph II
66. Pete – Part 1
67. Justice
68. Pete – Part 2
69. Terrorform
70. Samsara
71. Siliconia
72. Twentica
73. Psirens

I’ll get me coat…

[Ben Saunders]

1 Holoship
2 Meltdown
3 Tikka to Ride
4 Stoke me a Clipper
5 Quarantine
6 The Inquisitor
7 Marooned
8 Gunmen of the Apocalypse
9 Future Echoes
10 Back to Reality
11 Kryten
12 Queeg
13 White Hole
14 Me2
15 Justice
16 Terrorform
17 Legion
18 Officer Rimmer
19 Give & Take
20 Polymorph
21 Siliconia
22 Mechocracy
23 The End
24 DNA
25 Backwards
26 Bodyswap
27 Stasis Leak
28 Out of Time
29 The Beginning
30 Camille
31 Fathers & Suns
32 Thanks for the Memory
33 Krysis
34 Dimension Jump
35 Skipper
36 Entangled
37 Dear Dave
38 Trojan
39 Cassandra
40 Waiting for God
41 Timeslides
42 The Last Day
43 Parallel Universe
44 Demons & Angels
45 Rimmerworld
46 Balance of Power
47 M-Corp
48 Emohawk: Polymorph II
49 Back to Earth – Part 3
50 Back in the Red – Part 1
51 Back to Earth – Part 1
52 Back to Earth – Part 2
53 Better Than Life
54 Psirens
55 Confidence & Paranoia
56 Twentica
57 Can of Worms
58 Blue
59 Samsara
60 Back in the Red – Part 2
61 Only the Good…
62 Beyond a Joke
63 Back in the Red – Part 3
64 Cured
65 Ouroboros
66 Krytie TV
67 Nanarchy
68 Duct Soup
69 Epideme
70 Pete – Part 2
71 Pete – Part
72 Lemons
73 Timewave

Eight Daves in my Top 36, as well as two Sevens. In retrospect I might slide Stoke under Gunmen and Officer Rimmer under Give & Take, but then tomorrow I might feel differently. Surprised Skipper made 35, and rather think Dear Dave should be bumped down to under Parallel Universe. My scores for Tikka, Meltdown, Cured and Lemons are ones I absolutely stand by.

[ZombrexAbuse89]

Hi there-first time poster, but I did place my thoughts in the Pearl Poll. Thanks for all of the effort that went into this-it was a very interesting read! I discovered this site when I accidentally came across the Silver Survey results a year or so after I watched X. So I was happy to enter this time.

My rankings:
1 – Back to Reality
2 – Gunmen of the Apocalypse
3 – The Inquisitor
4 – Marooned
5 – Quarantine
6 – Better Than Life
7 – Thanks for the Memory
8 – The Last Day
9 – Queeg
10 – Camille
11 – Holoship
12 – Polymorph
13 – Dimension Jump
14 – Justice
15 – Backwards
16 – Legion
17 – DNA
18 – Kryten
19 – Out of Time
20 – Stasis Leak
21 – Me2
22 – The Beginning
23 – Fathers & Suns
24 – Future Echoes
25 – M-Corp
26 – Give & Take
27 – Skipper
28 – Mechocracy
29 – Balance of Power
30 – The End
31 – White Hole
32 – Terrorform
33 – Psirens
34 – Timeslides
35 – Stoke me a Clipper
36 – Bodyswap
37 – Meltdown
38 – Twentica
39 – Demons & Angels
40 – Samsara
41 – Lemons
42 – Trojan
43 – Confidence & Paranoia
44 – Can of Worms
45 – Officer Rimmer
46 – Emohawk: Polymorph II
47 – Rimmerworld
48 – Parallel Universe
49 – Cassandra
50 – Waiting for God
51 – Back to Earth – Part 3
52 – Back to Earth – Part 2
53 – Siliconia
54 – Cured
55 – Krysis
56 – Ouroboros
57 – Blue
58 – Only the Good…
59 – Entangled
60 – Timewave
61 – Dear Dave
62 – Nanarchy
63 – Tikka to Ride
64 – Back in the Red – Part 1
65 – Back to Earth – Part 1
66 – Back in the Red – Part 2
67 – Back in the Red – Part 3
68 – Epideme
69 – Duct Soup
70 – Beyond a Joke
71 – Pete – Part 1
72 – Pete – Part 2
73 – Krytie TV

I won’t lie-I can’t stand Tikka, partly due to the logic contradictions (if people use that argument against Backwards, I can use it against Tikka!) and for how Lister comes across, but I will concede that it is an interesting take on 11/22/63.

Apart from Timewave (which I could tell was bad even when first viewing it), on the whole I really liked XI and XII, so I kinda wish that they had got slightly higher. M-Corp I had high hopes for. Oh well…personal preferences. Also glad to see I’m not alone in liking Stoke Me A Clipper.

As for the bubble…I’ll be honest, some of the last two runs actually do beat some older eps in my book. M-Corp, Skipper, and Give And Take I do prefer over ones like Emohawk and Rimmerworld, and a couple from Series I.

Anyone fancy commenting on some of my other choices, feel free. It’s what we’re all here for!

To end-thanks for a great survey, hoping to be back for 35th Anniversary.

[Jonsmad]

“because of the whole triple-fried-egg-chili-chutney-sandwich scene, which I think is my favourite piece of character interaction in all of Red Dwarf. It’s funny, it’s touching, it gets to the heart of the characters and it sets up the story brilliantly”

Tasty too!

[Warbodog]

I won’t lie-I can’t stand Tikka, partly due to the logic contradictions (if people use that argument against Backwards, I can use it against Tikka!)

Times are really changing if you feel you have to defend not liking Red Dwarf VII.

I tend to forget that Backwards has its own internal reversed logic, like Tony Hawks saying “take your hands apart and give a big, warm goodbye…” after an act has finished, so that explains some of the other seeming ‘errors.’ It’s not just our universe in reverse. When I actually watch it, I like it more than I remember.

Apart from this bit:

[flanl3]

It literally says it’s our universe in reverse though

[Warbodog]

I mean I was thinking of it like they’re experiencing their lives in the same way we do, from young to old, just that the film happens to be reversed from our perspective. If you watch it like that, it’s really annoying and makes no sense.

But the episode (specifically the newspaper scene, the rest is all over the place) makes it clear that they’re actually experiencing their lives from old to young, in the same objective direction as us. So you serve a prison sentence before you commit a crime, bullets are described as being sucked out and bringing people to life tomorrow, and you apply to a job that will make you less qualified over time rather than being fired into it (the same way they’re later fired at what should technically be the beginning of their employment).

It justifies some of the more nonsensical stuff for me, even if it’s still inconsistent. The Backwards folk don’t know what’s about to happen next (next) any more than we do. Except when Arthur Smith somehow knows about the fight (tidy) in advance (later on).

Whatever, it’s funny when they ride the bike backwards and the poo goes up his bum.

[flanl3]

Apparently I ranked the average episode over 16 episodes away from popular opinion.

[Pete Part Three]

I’ve no idea how these align with my Silver Survey rankings, and the top 10 would likely be in a different order if I’d done it on a different day.

I just watched Future Echoes (decided to do a rewatch of couple of episodes each weekend) and now wish I’d rated it even higher. It was the first episode I saw in the 94 repear run, and it hooked me in pretty much instantly. The stuff with the mirror and the “Double Rimmer” scene was unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. It was roughly 24 years ago, but I still recall watching it on the old 14inch CRT in my bedroom, fiddling around with the crappy interior aerial to get a better reception. I then made the picture so bad then, that I raced downstairs to another telly, so desperate to see how Lister was going to escape his fate in the drive room. By the time Me2 was on telly, a few weeks later, I’d bought the VHS of both bytes and watched Series 1 to death. Good times.

Not sure why, but never really been a huge fan of IV. Something off about it. I love Justice, but not much else. Dimension Jump, which is hugely popular, is good…but I don’t know. Something about the structure of the third act. It just kind of dribbles away.

Very happy to put Give & Take in 17th, the first (but not last) to shatter the bubble. I spent about 18 years convinced Red Dwarf should really be left alone, its legacy tarnished by a raft of shitty episodes. Trojan swayed me a little, but is still heavily flawed, and the rest of Series X didn’t build on that promise on that. Give & Take made me nostalgic for Red Dwarf. Not because it reminded me of the old episodes, but because it reminded me of how I used to feel watching the old episodes. Fucking satisfied.

I’m utterly baffled at how this show can be so diverse in quality. I can’t think of anything good to say about quite a large portion of any of my bottom episodes.

1 – Back to Reality
2 – Thanks for the Memory
3 – Polymorph
4 – Legion
5 – Timeslides
6 – Quarantine
7 – Marooned
8 – Out of Time
9 – Justice
10 – Future Echoes
11 – Better Than Life
12 – Demons & Angels
13 – Kryten
14 – Stasis Leak
15 – Terrorform
16 – Gunmen of the Apocalypse
17 – Give & Take
18 – Me2
19 – M-Corp
20 – Dimension Jump
21 – Rimmerworld
22 – White Hole
23 – The Last Day
24 – Camille
25 – The Inquisitor
26 – Holoship
27 – Bodyswap
28 – Officer Rimmer
29 – DNA
30 – Trojan
31 – Backwards
32 – Mechocracy
33 – Krysis
34 – The End
35 – Queeg
36 – Balance of Power
37 – Confidence & Paranoia
38 – Tikka to Ride
39 – Parallel Universe
40 – Skipper
41 – Psirens
42 – Meltdown
43 – Stoke me a Clipper
44 – Emohawk: Polymorph II
45 – Waiting for God
46 – The Beginning
47 – Cured
48 – Twentica
49 – Beyond a Joke
50 – Epideme
51 – Lemons
52 – Blue
53 – Can of Worms
54 – Duct Soup
55 – Siliconia
56 – Cassandra
57 – Fathers & Suns
58 – Back to Earth – Part 2
59 – Nanarchy
60 – Back to Earth – Part 1
61 – Back in the Red – Part 1
62 – Only the Good…
63 – Entangled
64 – Samsara
65 – Ouroboros
66 – Dear Dave
67 – Timewave
68 – Back to Earth – Part 3
69 – Pete – Part 1
70 – Back in the Red – Part 2
71 – Krytie TV
72 – Back in the Red – Part 3
73 – Pete – Part 2

[Dave]

On the anniversary day, I rewatched The End and then couldn’t help but go straight on to Future Echoes too. You’re right, it’s a great episode and I think all of the double-cleverness still holds up today – that Drive Room scene remains immensely satisfying no matter how many times you’ve seen it. I ranked it sixth and I stand by that.

[Warbodog]

IV’s probably my second favourite year after V. I was happy to see it improve its standing in the poll slightly this time, shame it was at the cost of 1 though. I get how it doesn’t really have its own identity compared to any of the other series, as a transition from III to V, but that makes it feel like the definitive article and the best comfort viewing to me (even more if it could lose Meltdown and drag in The Last Day).

G&T’s 2008 poll praises IV as “a series that arguably represented Dwarf at its most consistently excellent,” then immediately deflates that with the incredulous “(some even preferring IV to III and V),” which made me laugh. Even the dull title of its DVD documentary, ‘Built to Last,’ is basically ‘more of the same.’

[Ben Saunders]

>Even more if it could lose Meltdown
Lose the second best episode of Red Dwarf?!
;)

[NoFro]

Out of curiosity Pete, where on your rankings does Red Dwarf stop being good?

[Warbodog]

>Lose the second best episode of Red Dwarf?!
;)

I like it (#25), it just isn’t convenient for my IV = comfort zone argument, thanks to it being completely different and weird.

[Ben Saunders]

Fair enough.

For me Red Dwarf stops being good at…. 64 or 65. But even the worst episodes have a few good gags in them. Timewave is the only episode I never want to see again.

[Stephen Abootman]

For me, theres (roughly) a top 50 I’m happy to rewatch anyitme, a bottom 15 or so that I skipped when rewatching for the poll and a small pool of epsiodes in the middle I could go either way on.

[Nick R]

Genuinely superb classics:

1 – Marooned
2 – White Hole
3 – Quarantine
4 – Dimension Jump
5 – Gunmen of the Apocalypse
6 – Queeg
7 – Out of Time
8 – Back to Reality
9 – Me2
10 – Future Echoes
11 – Thanks for the Memory
12 – The Inquisitor
13 – Stasis Leak
14 – Camille
15 – Holoship

Really good:

16 – Kryten
17 – The Last Day
18 – Polymorph
19 – Legion
20 – Justice
21 – Timeslides
22 – Tikka to Ride
23 – Bodyswap
24 – Balance of Power
25 – Meltdown
26 – Better Than Life
27 – DNA
28 – Terrorform
29 – Confidence & Paranoia
30 – Emohawk: Polymorph II
31 – Give & Take
32 – Backwards

Good:

33 – Rimmerworld
34 – Psirens
35 – The End
36 – Demons & Angels
37 – Stoke me a Clipper
38 – Parallel Universe
39 – Ouroboros
40 – Mechocracy
41 – The Beginning
42 – Waiting for God
43 – Blue
44 – Skipper

Big problems, but still likeable for different reasons:

45 – Fathers & Suns
46 – Officer Rimmer
47 – M-Corp
48 – Lemons
49 – Krysis
50 – Trojan
51 – Twentica
52 – Epideme
53 – Nanarchy
54 – Back to Earth – Part 1
55 – Cured
56 – Back to Earth – Part 3
57 – Entangled
58 – Duct Soup
59 – Samsara
60 – Back to Earth – Part 2
61 – Beyond a Joke
62 – Siliconia
63 – Dear Dave

Series VIII, plus one:

64 – Cassandra
65 – Back in the Red – Part 1
66 – Can of Worms
67 – Back in the Red – Part 2
68 – Back in the Red – Part 3
69 – Timewave
70 – Pete – Part 1
71 – Only the Good…
72 – Krytie TV
73 – Pete – Part 2

Post I-VI episodes that made it into my top 36: Tikka to Ride and Give & Take; pushing out Parallel Universe and Waiting For God. And with those two, I think I may have been following conventional wisdom on their quality.

A confession: I did my ranking without having done any recent rewatches. In many cases, my last rewatch of a given episode was when its Dwarfcast commentary. I also haven’t got the XI and XII DVDs yet, so although I watched a few of them more than once on their first broadcast/online release, they haven’t been rewatched since.

Looking at it now I’m wondering what I was thinking with some of my choices! I mean: Terrorform below Bodyswap and Better Than Life? From the Dave series, Trojan, M-Corp and Krysis all feel like I should have put them higher.

There was some discussion in one of the other threads about how people have ordered the three parts of Back to Earth. I went 1 – 3 – 2, doing my best to split them up to avoid doing the obvious thing of lumping them all together. I put Part 1 first because I still remember the joy of having the show back after so long, rather. Part 3 is second because I really liked the Coronation Street stuff and the touching ending, even though I always found the the Creator scenes with Lister typing pretty cringeworthy. Part 2 I should have probably put higher because it has the brilliant Enhance Button scene (incidentally, look at this page and Ctrl+F the word “geographically” to see an amazing breakdown of the reflections in the equivalent Blade Runner scene).

Last time I watched series VIII, I was slightly more kindly disposed toward Back in the Red parts 2 and 3 than I was on first broadcast. I didn’t even hate the claymation and Blue Midget dance bits! Still not enough to bring them out of the bottom 10.

Highlighting just the Dave episodes from my list:

31 – Give & Take
40 – Mechocracy
41 – The Beginning
44 – Skipper
45 – Fathers & Suns
46 – Officer Rimmer
47 – M-Corp
48 – Lemons
49 – Krysis
50 – Trojan
51 – Twentica
54 – Back to Earth – Part 1
55 – Cured
56 – Back to Earth – Part 3
57 – Entangled
59 – Samsara
60 – Back to Earth – Part 2
62 – Siliconia
63 – Dear Dave
66 – Can of Worms
69 – Timewave

[Nick R]

OK it’s not letting me edit that post, but I wanted to add something about why I put Back to Reality in the criminally low position of #8. Essentially it’s because from the clips that were shown on Red Dwarf Night (Smeg-Ups and A-Z), it seemed to be built up to be the ultimate episode. Later I bought the script books and the Programme Guide, which built it up for me even more. Then I finally saw it (borrowing a school friend’s series V videos) and it wasn’t as perfect as I’d built it up in my mind.

So although it’s still a fantastic episode, and it probably is the “best” episode by whatever standard you care to mention, and I wouldn’t argue against any praise that’s applied to it… I don’t love it as much as all the episodes I put above it.

In that respect, it’s Red Dwarf’s equivalent of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. :P

[Nick R]

Edit attempt #2: Arrgh, that last section of my ranking should have read “Series VIII, plus two“!

[Warbodog]

I had that same experience with Back to Reality (#9). The series V byte 1 episodes ended up being the last of the classic run I saw, even after VIII, thanks to a combination of the BBC only repeating the remastered years, the original videos being deleted from shops and not finding that one specific video at rental places or the school library (which brilliantly had a few bytes). This was before I knew about eBay and a few years pre-DVDs. I finally spotted it in my friend’s dad’s video collection on a sleepover, so while everyone else slept, I stayed up all night basking in Red Dwarf V & VI very quietly and slept through the next day.

[Dave]

It’s so weird to think of so many of these episodes being unseeable (or at least, very hard to track down) at certain points in their history. In that respect, I feel lucky getting on board when I did – just before the big repeat run that allowed me to record them all from broadcast onto a load of VHSs.

[Pete Part Three]

>Out of curiosity Pete, where on your rankings does Red Dwarf stop being good?

Well, let’s qualify that “not good” isn’t necessarily “shit” but I think the episodes past the 40 mark are those which I’ve seen numerous times specifically *because* they’re Red Dwarf, and not because of their own merits. Were they to have a paint-job and be presented under a different show, I’d maybe watch some of them a couple of times, but certainly not feel the need to revisit them any more than that.

For that reason 40-50 are OK, but I’m not crazy about them. 51 -60 are really heavily flawed but I can take something away. And the rest are dogshit – not just in Red Dwarf terms, but in terms of sitcom, generally. I have no compulsion to watch them ever again. They’d make me shudder if I was watching TV with mates, we switched over to Dave and someone said “Oh, its Red Dwarf; *you* like this”.

I consider my top 10 to be outstanding and prime examples of, not just Red Dwarf, but telly in general. 11-20 to be pretty damn great. And 21-40 I have issues with but can take huge enjoyment from, despite niggling flaws.

[clem]

It’d be interesting to see how typical some of us G&T regulars are as fans, or how average I suppose, statistically. I’ve just worked out that on average my rankings differ from the poll results by 11.7 places, ranging from 0 for Queeg and BTE Part 1, to 38 for White Hole.

[The Data Doctor]

This is my ranking:

1 – Gunmen of the Apocalypse
2 – Back to Reality
3 – Queeg
4 – Stasis Leak
5 – Marooned
6 – Polymorph
7 – Kryten
8 – Bodyswap
9 – Justice
10 – Quarantine
11 – Backwards
12 – Timeslides
13 – Camille
14 – Me2
15 – The Inquisitor
16 – The Last Day
17 – Confidence & Paranoia
18 – Dimension Jump
19 – Balance of Power
20 – White Hole
21 – Rimmerworld
22 – Terrorform
23 – Thanks for the Memory
24 – DNA
25 – Parallel Universe
26 – Legion
27 – Meltdown
28 – Better Than Life
29 – Demons & Angels
30 – Out of Time
31 – Future Echoes
32 – The End
33 – Holoship
34 – Waiting for God
35 – Tikka to Ride
36 – Stoke me a Clipper
37 – Blue
38 – Skipper
39 – Mechocracy
40 – Emohawk: Polymorph II
41 – Psirens
42 – The Beginning
43 – Trojan
44 – Officer Rimmer
45 – Give & Take
46 – Samsara
47 – Fathers & Suns
48 – Entangled
49 – Twentica
50 – Lemons
51 – Dear Dave
52 – Siliconia
53 – Krysis
54 – Can of Worms
55 – M-Corp
56 – Cassandra
57 – Only the Good…
58 – Beyond a Joke
59 – Krytie TV
60 – Back in the Red – Part 1
61 – Back in the Red – Part 2
62 – Nanarchy
63 – Pete – Part 1
64 – Ouroboros
65 – Duct Soup
66 – Pete – Part 2
67 – Back in the Red – Part 3
68 – Epideme
69 – Back to Earth – Part 3
70 – Back to Earth – Part 2
71 – Back to Earth – Part 1
72 – Cured
73 – Timewave

Out of these, the only episode I genuinely disliked was Timewave. Looking back, I’m not sure about some of my rankings – I think I should have put Skipper, Demons and Angels, and Mechocracy higher up the list. I’ll always have a soft spot for Stoke Me A Clipper, partly because I know someone who was an extra in the jousting scene.

[cwickham]

Ian, I also voted before emails were being sent out, could you email me please? Email starts chrstphr.wickham. Cheers!

[cwickham]

GOT THEM

1. Thanks for the Memory
2. Marooned
3. Queeg
4. Quarantine
5. Back to Reality
6. Out of Time
7. Gunmen of the Apocalypse
8. Kryten
9. Me2
10. Legion
11. Holoship
12. White Hole
13. Polymorph
14. The Last Day
15. Bodyswap
16. Timeslides
17. Future Echoes
18. Twentica
19. The End
20. Rimmerworld
21. The Inquisitor
22. Justice
23. The Beginning
24. Dimension Jump
25. Better Than Life
26. DNA
27. Give & Take
28. M-Corp
29. Terrorform
30. Fathers & Suns
31. Lemons
32. Skipper
33. Cured
34. Mechocracy
35. Officer Rimmer
36. Emohawk: Polymorph II
37. Psirens
38. Demons & Angels
39. Meltdown
40. Camille
41. Stasis Leak
42. Backwards
43. Trojan
44. Krysis
45. Samsara
46. Siliconia
47. Entangled
48. Cassandra
49. Parallel Universe
50. Waiting for God
51. Confidence & Paranoia
52. Tikka to Ride
53. Can of Worms
54. Dear Dave
55. Stoke me a Clipper
56. Balance of Power
57. Back to Earth – Part 3
58. Back to Earth – Part 2
59. Back to Earth – Part 1
60. Back in the Red – Part 1
61. Blue
62. Nanarchy
63. Ouroboros
64. Duct Soup
65. Only the Good…
66. Epideme
67. Back in the Red – Part 2
68. Back in the Red – Part 3
69. Timewave
70. Pete – Part 1
71. Pete – Part 2
72. Krytie TV
73. Beyond a Joke

[Ben Saunders]

Just re-watched Siliconia, compared to Cured it’s light years ahead in terms of gags. One of the best of the Dave era and a definite top-36er. Disappointed, nay, confused, to see it at 52 in the poll. Clem and Flap Jack know what’s up. Flanl3 may be being a bit generous.

Although it’s interesting to note that upon re-watch the ending felt like -more- of a deus ex machina than it did the first time I watched it! And the touching moments seemed shorter. And some of the mech makeup looks even more shoddy in HD, including one shot where you can see behind the sunglasses of one of the guard dudes from a side-on angle and it’s clear the eyes weren’t supposed to be seen.

[Dax101]

The sunglasses look abit silly, maybe they should have worn helmets or something? or was it a late addition and someone had to rush out to by a dozen sunglasses ASAP.

The ending hurts Siliconia for me.

[Ben Saunders]

Helmets would be more expensive and sillier, they are already wearing big whole-head masks, and I think the sunglasses look works for a group of revolutionaries. It might have been last minute, that would be pretty funny.

It’s so consistently good up until the ending that I’m not really bothered that they wrap it up so quickly – although I do agree it would be BETTER with a less deus ex machinated ending and a little something from Rimmer. Maybe not a song and dance number as originally planned, though.

[Renegade Rob]

My personal rankings. If my calculations are correct, Series XII as a whole very narrowly edges out Series I as a whole (with Series I sandwiched more or less between XII and XI) which for me feels about right.

Also once again I feel like some kind of Polymorph truther, protesting loudly to a world of deaf ears that Polymorph is stupid and ridiculously overrated.

1 – Justice
2 – Thanks for the Memory
3 – White Hole
4 – The Last Day
5 – Quarantine
6 – Gunmen of the Apocalypse
7 – Stasis Leak
8 – Legion
9 – Meltdown
10 – Holoship
11 – Mechocracy
12 – Me2
13 – Queeg
14 – Timeslides
15 – Out of Time
16 – Future Echoes
17 – Back to Reality
18 – Marooned
19 – Cured
20 – Krysis
21 – Terrorform
22 – Lemons
23 – The End
24 – Give & Take
25 – Bodyswap
26 – Skipper
27 – Samsara
28 – Kryten
29 – Camille
30 – Better Than Life
31 – DNA
32 – Fathers & Suns
33 – Rimmerworld
34 – The Beginning
35 – The Inquisitor
36 – Balance of Power
37 – Siliconia
38 – Tikka to Ride
39 – M-Corp
40 – Polymorph
41 – Twentica
42 – Psirens
43 – Confidence & Paranoia
44 – Back to Earth – Part 2
45 – Officer Rimmer
46 – Trojan
47 – Dear Dave
48 – Backwards
49 – Emohawk: Polymorph II
50 – Demons & Angels
51 – Nanarchy
52 – Stoke me a Clipper
53 – Dimension Jump
54 – Waiting for God
55 – Duct Soup
56 – Parallel Universe
57 – Cassandra
58 – Ouroboros
59 – Entangled
60 – Back to Earth – Part 3
61 – Epideme
62 – Back to Earth – Part 1
63 – Timewave
64 – Blue
65 – Beyond a Joke
66 – Can of Worms
67 – Back in the Red – Part 1
68 – Pete – Part 1
69 – Only the Good…
70 – Krytie TV
71 – Back in the Red – Part 2
72 – Back in the Red – Part 3
73 – Pete – Part 2

[International Debris]

I don’t actually mind the ending of Siliconia. Deus ex machina possibly, but I think it works. I don’t like the mop fight, though. That stretched just a touch too far into lolrandom for me. And it went on for too long.

[Author]

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