Notoriously, and entirely appropriately, the original outline for Doug Naylor and Rob Grant's comedy SF series Red Dwarf was sketched on the back of a beer mat. When it finally appeared on our television screens in 1988 the show had clearly stayed true to its roots, mixing jokes about excessive curry consumption with affectionate parodies of classic SF. Indeed, one of the show's most endearing and enduring features is its obvious respect for the conventions of SF, even as it gleefully subverts them. The scenario owes something to Douglas Adams's satirical Hitch-Hiker's Guide, something to The Odd Couple and a lot more to the slacker SF of John Carpenter's Dark Star. Behind the crew's constant bickering there lurks an impending sense that life, the universe and everything are all someone's idea of a terrible joke.

Later series broadened the show's horizons until at last its premise was so diluted as to be unrecognisable, but in the six episodes of the first series the comedy is witty and intimate, focusing on characters and not special effects. Slob Dave Lister (Craig Charles) is the last human alive after a radiation leak wipes out the crew of the vast mining vessel Red Dwarf (episode 1, "The End"). He bums around the spaceship with the perpetually uptight and annoyed hologram of his dead bunkmate, Arnold Rimmer (Chris Barrie, the show's greatest comedy asset) and a creature evolved from a cat (dapper Danny John Jules). They are guided rather haphazardly by Holly, the worryingly thick ship's computer (lugubrious Norman Lovett).

On the DVD: Red Dwarf I arrives in a two-disc set, with all six episodes on the first disc accompanied by an excellent group commentary from Craig Charles, Chris Barrie, Danny John Jules and Norman Lovett. (There's also a bonus commentary on "The End" with the two writers and director Ed Bye.) The 4:3 picture is unimpressive, but sound is decent stereo. The second disc has an entertaining 25-minute documentary on the genesis of the series with contributions from the cast, writer Doug Naylor and producer Paul Jackson. Navigate the animated menus to find a gallery of extra features, including isolated music cues, deleted scenes, outtakes ("Smeg Ups"), a fun "Drunk" music montage, model effects shots, Web links, audiobook clips, the original BBC trailer and even the entire first episode in Japanese. --Mark Walker

At long last, the BBC has seen fit to treat one of its very best with the respect it deserves. Plenty of extras, out-takes, documentries, the lot. Red Dwarf is definitely one of the best comadies ever. The concept of the series is hillarious in itself - Dave Lister (Craig Charles), the last man left in the universe, stranded 3 million years into deep space, accompanied by a hologram simulation of his dead bunk mate Arnold J Rimmer (Chris Barrie), who he hates with a passion, a creature who evolved from his cat (Danny John Jules) on a mining ship piloted by a senile computer, Holly (in this series, played by Norman Lovett).

The first couple of series were made on the cheap in Manchester with grey sets and not much in the way of special effects. The writers, apparently, wanted experienced actors for the series and eventually ended up with a poet, an impressionist, a dancer and a stand-up comic, none of whom had done much, if anything, in the way of acting.

Some people say this is one of the poorer series but, for me, it's one of the best, I was hooked from day one and it's as funny now, 20 years on, as it was then. There are some classic lines in this series, my personal favourite is hollys "April fool" on Lister when he tells him that Norweb Electricity are coming after him because he "left a light on in the bathroom". Classic.

I think this first series of Red Dwarf is the best. The characters are more interesting and the jokes less juveniile and repetetive than they would become in later series. There are some really imaginative and well thought-out storylines and the emphasis on character-based situations makes for a more satisfying show than the frantic, comic runarounds of later series. Lister's plight is much better presented here and Rimmer has a nastier but also tragic edge to him. I actually quite like the dull grey sets too as it adds to the melancholy tone of the show. I think the show deteriorated after the second season when it was revamped to be glossier and more action-oriented. You also get a feeling of progression throughout the first two series, and it's the focus on the characters rather than the jokes and stories which makes this first series such a winner.

The first series always have a lasting magic and this is certainly true of Red Dwarf. The fact that the DVD version is not loaded with the very poorly done CGI that was applied after is great. The chemistry between the characters is there from the off, casting superb, special effects are creative and low budget (but its the low budget that brings out the best). Everything about Red Dwarf series one oozes creative and writing genius. Such a great cult series and a must for any brit com lovers DVD collection. Buy it.

I have a very high opinion of the first two series. Both have hilarious bunkroom scenes and Holly is seen as a character rather than someone in the background because he/she was replaced by Kryten.

The End:

A humourous pilot and the writers ingeniously create the relationship between Rimmer and Lister is just under thirty minutes and commence explanations on holograms and Cadamin II. 4.5/5

Future Echoes:

The only real 'sci-fi' plot of the first series is a great start to long line of similarly filmed stories. There are a few mysteries in this episode and one neatly links to the conclusion of Series Two. 5/5

Balance of Power:

Rimmer is a complete smeg head in this episode and when he looks down hologrammatic Kochanski's blouse you connect with Lister and agree Rimmer is at his most hateful in this ep. Fortunately his character is lightened towards the end of this series. 3.5/5

Waiting for God:

I am not entirely keen on this episode and I feel it is the weakest of this series. The Cat Priest is too shallow and we do not know enough about him when he dies to feel sympathy for him when he finally dies. The backstory with Rimmer and the 'Quaagers' is worth the rating I am going to give it. 2.5/5

Confidence and Paranoia:

This is not a fan favourite but I feel fondly of it and is my fifth favourite episode throughout. Rimmer is somewhat caring in this episode that is until the end... There is also the first villain of the series here- Confidence. It may be argued whether he is a villain or not but he does try to kill Lister on the cat walk by trying to take his helmet off. 5/5

Me2:

This and the previous episode could be a two-parter as it carries on where the 'Confidence' episode left off with two Rimmers.

Overall I am a big fan of this series but I believe the second series is better by a 'gnat's wing' as Rimmer would say.

Red Dwarf is British Sci-fi at it's best. The six shows from series 1 set up the series to gain cult status.

Though the sets are ropey and the stories less extravagent compared to later seasons, the shows are just as funny. Series 1 features, the cat, Lister, Rimmer and Holy (in Norman Lovett) form. Kryten appears properly in season 3 and changes the dynamic.

If you've never seen Red Dwarf I highly recommend it. The shows are great, the cast commentary is great. The only reason I give it 4* instead of 5* are the extras aren't quite up to later series. Don't let that put you off purchasing though.