Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3269 in DVD
• Released on: 2003-11-03
• Rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 2
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 2
• Running time: 161 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
The third series of Red Dwarf introduced some radical changes--all of them for the better--but the scripts remained as sharp and character-focussed as ever, making this a firm candidate for the show's best year. Gone were the dull metallic grey sets and costumes, gone too was Norman Lovett's lugubrious Holly, replaced now by comedienne Hattie Hayridge, who had previously played Hilly in the Series 2 episode "Parallel Universe". New this year were custom-made costumes, more elaborate sets, the zippy pea-green Starbug, bigger special effects and the wholly admirable Robert Llewellyn as Kryten.

The benefits of the show's changes are apparent from the outset, with the mind-bending hilarity of "Backwards", in which Kryten and Rimmer establish themselves as a forwards-talking double-act on a reverse Earth. After a modest two-hander that sees Rimmer and Lister "Marooned", comes one of the Dwarf's most beloved episodes, "Polymorph". Here is the ensemble working at its best, as each character unwittingly has their strongest emotion sucked out of them. Lister loses his fear; Cat his vanity; Kryten his reserve; and Rimmer his anger ("Chameleonic Life-Forms. No Thanks"). "Body Swap" sees Lister and Rimmer involved in a bizarre attempt to prevent the ship from self-destructing. "Timeslides" delves deep into Rimmer's psyche as the boys journey haphazardly through history. Finally, "The Last Day" shows how completely Kryten has been adopted as a crewmember, when his replacement Hudzen unexpectedly shows up.

On the DVD: Red Dwarf, Series 3 two-disc set maintains the high standard of presentation and wealth of extra material established by its predecessors. Among other delights there are the usual "Smeg Ups" and deleted scenes, plus another fun commentary with the cast. There's a lengthy documentary, "All Change", specifically about Series 3, a tribute to costume designer Mel Bibby, Hattie Hayridge's convention video diary, and--most fascinating--the opportunity to watch "Backwards" played forwards, so you can finally understand what Arthur Smith's backwards-talking pub manager actually says to Rimmer and Kryten in the dressing room. --Mark Walker

DVD Description
The Red Dwarf crew stumble further into deep space, facing an emotion-sucking polymorph, a psychotic mechanoid and a version of Earth where time runs backwards. Sdaehgems.

Episodes:

• 1. Backwards
  
• 2. Marooned
  
• 3. Polymorph
  
• 4. Bodyswap
  
• 5. Timeslides
  
• 6. The Last Day

Special Features

• Cast commentary
  
• All Change - original documentary
  
• Deleted scenes
  
• Smeg ups
  
• Hattie’s DJ Diary
  
• Tribute to Mel Bibby
  
• Food featurette
  
• Backwards – Forwards
  
• Trailers
  
• Raw FX footage
  
• Isolated music cues
  
• Talking Book chapters
  
• Photo Gallery
  
• Web link
  
• Easter Eggs
  
• Collector’s booklet

DVD Technical Information:

• Subtitles: English SDH
  
• Audio: Dolby Digital Stereo
  
• Region Code: 2,4
  
• PAL
  
• Disc Format: DVD-9 x 2
  
• Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  
• Total Running Time: 161 minutes approx.

Customer Reviews

Red Dwarf III
The first two series of Red Dwarf were absolutely brilliant, but I have to say, this is the series where it really began to pick up steam and hurtle to being one of the best comedies ever made. The introduction of Robert Llewllyn as Kryten was a stroke of genius by the writers. Hattie Hayridge takes over the reins as Holly and, although arguably not as good as the orginal Holly, is superb in the role. The set had been up-dated, as had Rimmers uniform (even if it did make him look like something out of Thunderbirds), the series is much more polished than the first two and had obviously had a severe budget boost.

Again, there's bucket loads of extras (why the BBC can't seem to treat any other comedy like this I really don't know). Again, a MUST HAVE DVD for anyone.

A truly excellent series
Some situation comedies live or die by their inventiveness ... and Red Dwarf is certainly one such.

The problem with many is that the inventiveness "fails" as one series becomes two, then three, then five, etc. With Red Dwarf this simply doesn't happen. I have got eight series of this sitcom on DVD (and this review applies to, and will be submitted on, all eight) and the eigth is every bit as superb as the first.

I unhesitatingly recommend Red Dwarf to all.

I was so excited I nearly dropped my skateboard...
I have to agree with the general consensus that this is probably the best series of 'Red Dwarf', with the strongest episode line-up of the eight and a good balance of comedy and story. Some of the later series seem to take the original concept of 'Red Dwarf' (bunch of mis-fits trying to make their way home to Earth) off on some rather random tangents but this series keeps things focused while cranking up the quality of the jokes considerably.

Rob Llewellyn and Hattie Hayridge make their bows as Kryten and Holly respectively and this move proves to be a timely injection of fresh characterisation. I do prefer Norman Lovett as Holly but Hayridge puts a great spin on everyone's favourite senile computer. Llewellyn is simply brilliant and brings the best out of the other characters, who themselves build on their established personas to great effect.

The episodes are just so good. 'Backwards' has the be the most daring and entertaining series opener of the lot, 'Marooned' and 'Bodyswap' hilariously highlight the antagonism between Rimmer and Lister, 'Timeslides' is a great comic twist on classic sci-fi themes, 'The Last Day' has some absolutely priceless moments (Rimmer's description of his first French kiss and Kryten feeling 'a Jackson Pollock coming on') while 'Polymorph' needs no introduction. The scene with the shrinking boxers and Rimmer's disgusted, 'you'll bonk anything, won't you Lister...?' Classic.

This series is about as perfect as 'Red Dwarf' (and comedy for that matter) gets. My personal favourite and certainly where the show is at its' peak. So splash your cash and find out what's in Android Homebrew, how Lister lost his virginity, why no-one is prepared to eat Kryten's Spanish omelette and just what Eric Van Lustbader has to do with food...