def reset(self, **kwargs):
        """Reset only when lives are exhausted.
        This way all states are still reachable even though lives are episodic,
        and the learner need not know about any of this behind-the-scenes.
        """
        if self.was_real_done:
            obs = self.env.reset(**kwargs)
        else:
            # no-op step to advance from terminal/lost life state
            obs, _, _, _ = self.env.step(0)
        self.lives = self.env.unwrapped.ale.lives()
        return obs