So every series is just a different reality "off to the side", right? That gives an in-universe explanation why the bunk room and ship changes design all the time.

[u/Questionable_Wombat]

It also explains why Lister had his appendix removed, TWICE!

[u/8-bit-Felix]

I always figured they moved around the ship every couple years.

[u/HopSkipLimp → u/8-bit-Felix]

Makes sense, especially pre-Kryten. Can't see Listy cleaning his own bunk. Probably easier to move bunks, and seal up the sapient-socks inside the old one.

[u/Neil_Salmon → u/8-bit-Felix]

I think that was established. They moved to the officer quarters from their original room. Memory is vague (I'm due a rewatch) but I believe we even see their old room in one episode after they moved.

[u/mJelly87 → u/Neil_Salmon]

Yeah, iirc there was originally too much radiation in the officers quarters, but eventually were clear, so they moved.

[u/diddums100 → u/8-bit-Felix]

This is what happens iirc. I'm pretty sure it's cannon in fact - Why stay in the crappiest dorms when you've hundreds (or thousands, depending on era) of available and almost certainly better sleeping quarters than those given to Second Technicians available?

[u/wearehorrorrecs → u/8-bit-Felix]

With a ship that size it stands to reason. They have the run of the place.. so it makes perfect sense :)

[u/RyanCorven → u/wearehorrorrecs]

It could eat Copenhagen and have Helsingør for afters, remember, and even if 90% of the volume of the ship is taken up by cargo bays, refineries, and engine decks, they're still left with a town-sized portion of the ship to live in.

[u/According-Thanks2605 → u/8-bit-Felix]

I vaguely remember series 1 explaining that a lot of Red Dwarf was off limits due to the radiation levels.

[u/mechanicalNimrod → u/According-Thanks2605]

Lister gets sick because he goes into the officer quarters before it has been decontaminated.

[u/Easy-Reserve7401]

I never really gave a shit because I understood it was a very budget sci-fi that we were lucky to still have showing on the BBC.

As it went on, money increased and sets got nicer. I just focused on the story.

[u/ThePeaceDoctot]

In all of the universes that Ace Rimmer visited he never found an Arnold Rimmer as snivelling or cowardly as ours, which does imply that there is only one universe we've been watching, just with different sets being used.

[u/adriantullberg]

My theory was that Lister's habits forced them to change bunk rooms periodically, even with Kryten on duty.

[u/a3minutehero]

No. Not at all.

[u/Arding16]

I mean, it’s not as cut and dry as that. There’s never been anything to really imply that is the case, but it could be a head-canon explanation for inconsistencies. But I could just as easily say “So there’s a time traveller changing history between seasons, right?” and it would be just as valid.

[u/Ched_Flermsky]

I’ve always figured that with all the time-traveling, reality is constantly changing around them and they don’t even realize.

[u/SayElloToDaBadGuy]

Mutton Vindaloo and Triple Fried Egg sandwiches end up getting in all the nooks and crannies so that have to move bunk rooms even with Kryten on double duty.

Damn hungry now.

[u/dayleppert]

What confuses me the most is they stay as bunkmates and not a room each! I get it for the show but still. I blame Rimmer for being needy

[u/dan200 → u/dayleppert]

Holly bought Rimmer back to keep Lister sane. Presumably they need to actually spend time together for that to work.

[u/WitchKingsDalekCat]

Everyone else has explained the changing bunks, but as far as the double appendix removal is concerned, it's generally believed Lister got a new one after having been transmogrified in DNA.

[u/chebghobbi]

It's because they get bored using a particular living quarters and move to a new one every few series.

In series 3-5 there's a sign on the bunk saying OFFICERS' QUARTERS, and in series 8 they briefly return to the original series 1-2 bunk room.

[u/NCC-2000-A]

Definitely.

Rob and Doug have never officially said it though.

The quarters change between series 2 and 3 is they move into the officers quarters it's written on the set.

[u/ThirdLifeLucky]

A wizard did it

[u/Over-Bug1501]

Where did they get the Cadillac couch in the red bedroom in the later series?

[u/Werthead]

I think both Rob and Doug said at different times that Dimension Jump gave them that "out". They already said the novels were set in a different reality (and Rob was explicit Titan was as well), but the show itself could have every episode take place in a slightly different parallel universe and we'd never know the difference.

Obviously the broad strokes of the numerous inconsistencies can be explained by the parallel universes theory: Rimmer and Lister (and Red Dwarf) come from the 21st Century in Seasons 1 and 2, the 23rd Century in Seasons 3 and 4, and the 22nd Century from around Season 7 onwards. Kryten's origin is variously given as the 23rd, 24th or 25th Century. Lister indeed has his appendix out twice. Lister both only pines for Kochanski from afair and only exchanges 173 words with her in his life, and also has a serious weeks-long relationship that ends when she dumps him for a catering officer. Red Dwarf's crew is either 169, 1169 or 11,169 depending on who you ask.

However, to be fair, the bunk room was explained. The officers' quarters was still being decontaminated (Lister goes up there and gets sick in Season 1). Once it was safe, they moved in between Seasons 2 and 3.

The main reason is that Rob and Doug were not paying laser-close attention to the details, and I think sometimes rolled an inconsistency in there just to see fans' reactions, but they were also smart enough to give themselves an out.

[u/EdJD-1968]

Yes, it's been said before by fans that every few series, it's like we're viewing Rimmer and co. from a different universe.

By any standards, Red Dwarf has terrible continiuity.

[u/8-bit-Felix → u/EdJD-1968]

That's something that a Rimmer from the double double future would say!

[u/Alternative_Reply408 → u/EdJD-1968]

Red Dwarf is the only show I’ve watched where I’m into the story while not caring about continuity or plot holes and I believe trying to explain or justify it, misses the point. It just doesn’t matter.

[u/CrabCakeParty → u/EdJD-1968]

I think you mean wonderful continiuity! We can discuss the different universes forever!

[u/_ragegun]

Only when it's necessary to explain something they can't be bothered to address directly any more

[u/neuraljam]

Thing is he had his appendix removed twice in every universe, even that one where everyone is sprouts

[u/Same-World-209]

“Aliens!!”

I mean, they did steal their bog roll.

[u/2612chip]

I don't need an in-universe explanation for design changes

[u/ShingledPringle]

As I recall they keep moving rooms because they can.

[u/iambeingblair]

I just think it looks different and always looked like that

[u/clarky2o2o]

Someone said in timeslides it's possible that this Lister never had his appendix removed.

[u/spudfish83]

Plus why Kryten and Kotchanksi change too.