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Red Dwarf 7: Byte 1 (vhs):

Amazon.com video review: The last man in the universe and his three pals (a servile robot, a humanoid descended from a cat, and a pompous hologram) continue their adventures in deep space, skating along the fine line between high concepts and humor that's lower than a space weevil's belly after it munches its way through a 10-year supply of chicken vindaloo.

The first three episodes of series 7 explore time paradoxes, parallel universes, and the meaning of good and evil, between bouts of outrageous physical comedy involving Lee Harvey Oswald, the knights of Camelot, and dental floss. Kryten the robot loses his inhibitions, Dave Lister takes his love of virtual-reality gaming way too far, and just when you start to think that all possible jokes involving four guys trapped on a spaceship and getting on each other's nerves have been exhausted, one character leaves and a new one joins the crew.

These changes may distress some fans, until they recall that the greatest charm of this unique sci-fi comedy has always been its refusal to take anything seriously--including itself. --Anna Peekstok

Red Dwarf 7: Byte 2 (vhs):

Amazon.com video review: Dave Lister's prayers have been answered. The ultra-annoying hologram, Rimmer, has left to become a universe-hopping hero, and a rift in space-time has brought his ex-girlfriend, Kristine Kochanski, back to life. But there's trouble in paradise, as Kryten the mechanoid freaks out at the prospect of losing Lister's affections to a woman, Kochanski freaks out about being trapped in space with three losers who have the collective social I.Q. of celery, and Lister is shocked to find himself actually missing Rimmer.

Anyone who shares this last sentiment will get a fix in episode 5, "Blue," which features a carnival ride through a virtual-reality version of Rimmer's perversely skewed diary. But the real treat of this collection is in episode 6, "Beyond a Joke," when the berserk Kryten rampages through "Pride and Prejudiceland," foiling Kochanski's efforts to inject some culture into life aboard ship. Chloë Annett does a commendable job of fitting Kochanski in among the misfits of Red Dwarf, and shoulders the job of straight man with admirable aplomb. --Anna Peekstok

Red Dwarf 7: Byte 3 (vhs):

Amazon.com video review: What if you could communicate with a virus that was infecting you, and argue the ethics of killing a living being to sustain one's own existence? If you were Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the starship Enterprise, you'd probably reach an understanding that led to widespread vegetarianism and the elimination of disease. But if you're Dave Lister, you lose the argument, then have to lie there and listen to the smarty-pants virus mocking you. But you don't give up, because your gallant shipmates are sure to have another trick up their sleeves.

This tape contains the final two episodes of series 7, plus short interviews with the show's cast, creators, and fans (including scientist Stephen Hawking and actor Patrick Stewart, who played Picard on Star Trek: The Next Generation) and a collection of "smeg-ups," or outtakes, from Series VII. The episodes feature at least two of the finest sight gags in the entire Red Dwarf canon, both quite nasty and thoroughly hilarious at the same time. The smeg-ups are worth watching just for the snippets of Danny John-Jules's true accent, a far cry from Cat's James Brown-inspired speech. --Anna Peekstok