Red Dwarf: The Promised Land

Red Dwarf: The Promised Land

Year: 2020

Runtime: 87 mins

Language: English

Director: Doug Naylor

Echo Score: 82
AdventureScience FictionTV MovieComedy

The crew encounters three feline clerics who revere Lister as a deity. He pledges to aid them, as they are being pursued by Rodon, a merciless feral cat leader determined to eliminate all cats who don't worship him. Lister and the team must protect the clerics while navigating a dangerous conflict within the cat population.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Red Dwarf: The Promised Land yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline & Setting – Red Dwarf: The Promised Land (2020)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Red Dwarf: The Promised Land (2020). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Far future

The events unfold in a distant future of interstellar travel, stasis chambers, and advanced holographic technologies. The crew confronts a tyrannical feline regime and discovers mystical powers redefined by Diamond Light. The era emphasizes space chase, battles, and a struggle between faith, power, and survival.

Location

Red Dwarf, Iron Star, Starbug, desert moon

Red Dwarf is a massive, aging warship that becomes the looming backdrop of a felinid fleet under Rodon. The Iron Star is a derelict vessel discovered by the crew, boasting advanced tech and the Diamond Light concept. Starbug serves as their nimble escape craft, and the desert moon becomes a harsh crash site and battleground as Rodon pursues them.

🚀 Space travel 🛰️ Derelict ships 🐾 Feline-led regime

Last Updated: October 14, 2025 at 04:00

Main Characters – Red Dwarf: The Promised Land (2020)

Meet the key characters of Red Dwarf: The Promised Land (2020), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

David Lister (Craig Charles)

A pragmatic, stubborn survivor who drives the crew’s improvisational escape from danger. He champions solidarity and moral choices, balancing humor with resolve. His leadership helps steer the group through the transition from Red Dwarf’s stagnation to a new home on Starbug.

🧭 Leader 🗺️ Resourceful 🤝 Loyal

Rodon (Ray Fearon)

The tyrannical feline ruler who persecutes worshipers of any god but him. He is calculating and ruthless, using fear to maintain control over the Cat Fleet. His pursuit of the Anubis Stone drives the central conflict of the story.

👑 Villain 🐱 Cat-led regime ⚔️ Tyrant

Kryten (Robert Llewellyn)

A loyal service droid who becomes a voice of reason and a strategic guide for the crew. He cautions against dangerous experiments and helps the team navigate new technology. He is central to keeping the group functioning under stress.

🤖 Android 🛡️ Protector 🧠 Analytic

The Cat (Danny John-Jules)

A flamboyant feline with pride and agility who joins the crew as an ally in their escape. His swagger masks deeper loyalty to the team, and he contributes to the humor and tension with his opportunistic nature. He remains a key member through the perilous voyage.

🐈 Quick 🗡️ Charismatic 🐾 Loyal

Arnold Rimmer (Chris Barrie)

He becomes The Mighty Light, a powerful but fragile figure who briefly wields Diamond Light before a battery failure collapses his power. He is driven by a mix of ambition and insecurity, relying on friends to guide him back from brink of danger. His arc culminates with renewed memory and a role in reviving Kryten.

🛡️ Ambitious ⚡️ Fragile Power 🧭 Complex

Holly (Norman Lovett)

The ship's AI who is rebooted and re-enters the crew’s story after a long absence. He provides strategic backups and memories from the original startup, essential to restoring Kryten and navigating the voyage. His reactivation marks a crucial tech turning point for the group.

🧠 AI 💾 Memory 🤖 Comedic

Last Updated: October 14, 2025 at 04:00

Major Themes – Red Dwarf: The Promised Land (2020)

Explore the central themes of Red Dwarf: The Promised Land (2020), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

⚡ Power & Tech

Diamond Light and the Mighty Light transformation explore how technology can grant god-like abilities, but also tempt reckless experimentation. The crew tests the limits of new power on a derelict Iron Star and in Starbug. The tension lies in whether power enhances cooperation or corrupts judgment.

🕯️ Faith vs Truth

Three cat clerics worship Lister as a god, highlighting how myth and belief can guide a group. Kryten warns against exploiting faith, arguing the danger of chasing legends. The revelation that the Anubis Stone is beetle dung further challenges the clerics' beliefs and forces them to re-evaluate their trust.

🤝 Sacrifice & Loyalty

Rimmer abandons his Diamond Light powers to save Kryten, showing self-sacrifice for a teammate. The team works together to outwit Rodon and protect their crew, reinforcing the value of loyalty over individual glory. Holly’s revival of memory and the crew’s persistence cement their bond as they return home.

Last Updated: October 14, 2025 at 04:00

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Red Dwarf: The Promised Land Summary

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Red Dwarf: The Promised Land Summary

Red Dwarf: The Promised Land Timeline

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Red Dwarf: The Promised Land Timeline

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