Refresh For The Memory: Series III Byte 1

[Ian Symes]

You asked for it. Ahead of the forthcoming 35th anniversary poll, the G&T community is embarking on a big old rewatch, tackling half a series (or one feature length special) per week. This is your designated thread to make notes, share observations and start pondering your rankings.

This week, we’re watching BACKWARDS, MAROONED and POLYMORPH. Have at it!

Previous threads:

Series 1 Byte 1
Series 1 Byte 2
Series 2 Byte 1
Series 2 Byte 2

Topic

[Unrumble]

Perhaps because Rimmer saying “zero nine nine zero”, or “oh nine nine oh” doesn’t sound or scan as pleasingly as “thirty nine ninety one”? 

Idiot, I meant “zero nine nine one” of course.

[Future Producer of Series IX – aaaaany day now]

Surely it’s good luck in the backwards universe? He’s got a new wallet and had it filled with money for him.

[Dave]

Surely it’s good luck in the backwards universe?

No it’s still bad luck, it’s just that bad luck is good to have in the backwards universe. Having good luck means you lose a million pounds because you un-won the lottery.

[Quinn: Clochebusters World Champion]

– the idea of Kryten having a wallet is a bit weird, even more so having acquired one before they’d even been there a day 
So maybe he was forced to take the wallet at knifepoint as well in an entirely separate mugging incident that Rimmer was present for.

Here we go again …

Upon arriving in the Backwards universe the universe wraps itself to accommodate new arrivals.  You have things added to you or taken away that you’ll need ready for the events that are destined to take place.

Please see the Backwards novel thread and podcast for more in-depth discussion

[Unrumble]

Upon arriving in the Backwards universe the universe wraps itself to accommodate new arrivals. You have things added to you or taken away that you’ll need ready for the events that are destined to take place.
Please see the Backwards novel thread and podcast for more in-depth discussion

This did occur to me when I originally posted… but I still think Kryten possessing a wallet is weird, regardless of the physical laws of this particular universe!

But fair enough, he needs somewhere to keep his cash, he’s not even got pockets like us humans tend to…

[Quinn: Clochebusters World Champion]

Kryten wouldn’t ordinarily own a wallet.  The universe just provides him with one as he’ll need it.  It could later be explained by him trying to look inconspicuous.

[Dave]

Upon arriving in the Backwards universe the universe wraps itself to accommodate new arrivals.  You have things added to you or taken away that you’ll need ready for the events that are destined to take place.

Yep. Like a black eye.

[International Debris]

“Oh, it’s a good one, huh?” always felt like a really weird line, and very un-Kryten. 

Perhaps it’s the number of close up shots, but the use of the science room as location for where Lister is laid out and where Rimmer watches his family video is really well done, it never feels like the same room to me.

“Bring them home” and “it’s here” examples of Bobby not getting the accent. Is the latter redubbed on Remastered? I swear he sounds more like actual Kryten on the version I remember. Speaking of Remastered, watching the original on DVD for the first time really surprised me at the ending.

So, Lister shagged a Polymorph.

Anger-free Rimmer is one of the all-time great comedy characters and performances. Not an original observation, but one that deserves repeating.

This version of the theme is gradually feeling less weird after three episodes. I still think it needs that bit more reverb for the proper Spector sound though.

Like Backwards, it’s not an episode that has aged as well as others for me, but there’s still a lot to love here. I think the monster of the week format – overstated as it is – would be done better later on, but it’s hard to deny the originality and great jokes in this.

[Flap Jack]

So, Lister shagged a Polymorph.

I always interpreted that scene as just Lister being a dick to Rimmer by playing along with the polymorph’s story, but I guess there’s no solid proof he didn’t actually do it.

[Dave]

[Formica]

[Unrumble]

Poly mirth

– the mystery of why a single shot from series II is in the opening montage will forever remain a mystery, I imagine (cue explanation from someone better informed). 

– I was already familiar with the original ‘byte’ before I subsequently bought the remastered version on video, but this episode contains some of the most egregious changes. From memory:

The CGI POV Polymorph trip through the vents

The effect overlaid on the snake before it attacks Lister

Sorting out Rimmer’s mum in the dub

THAT epilogue.

One counter to this, I think the changes to the Arnie-morph scene are actually pretty good:

– why would there need to be a sign saying “officers quarters” on the inside of the doorway?

– the Polymorph itself is rather impressive, especially in that initial shot. They’re not playing it for laughs in this instance.

– ditto the beginning of the bazookoid hunting sequence in the cargo bay. The lighting and sound create a properly spooky, tense atmosphere. This is a BBC sitcom, right?

– everything from guilt-free Kryten is brilliant 

[Rudolph]

– the idea of Kryten having a wallet is a bit weird, even more so having acquired one before they’d even been there a day

What I’m always fascinated by is that Kryten wears a watch.

[Dave]

why would there need to be a sign saying “officers quarters” on the inside of the doorway?

Because it’s Rimmer’s “officers quarters” sign, and he happens to think it looks rather striking. 

[Quinn: Clochebusters World Champion]

why would there need to be a sign saying “officers quarters” on the inside of the doorway?
Because it’s Rimmer’s “officers quarters” sign, and he happens to think it looks rather striking.

What if the quarter’s they’re in aren’t an officers quarters, and the sign is an indication that outside that door, is a corridor leading to the officers quarters?

[Warbodog]

[Flap Jack]

Marooned – Pretty good, huh? It’s not in my personal top three, because I prefer ensemble episodes and this is obviously Rimmer and Lister heavy, but still, it got its reputation for a reason. Thankfully there wasn’t anything in this rewatch that made me doubt it. It’s just an excellently performed (mostly) two-hander that perfectly balances the jokes with the mortal peril they’re in.

– Why do they do their evacuation in multiple ships? We know that there’s room enough for all of them in a Starbug or a Blue Midget. You’d think if they were spreading out to maximise room for supplies in case Red Dwarf is destroyed, then Lister would have had plenty of food. I mean, thank goodness they did it that way because if they hadn’t there’d have been nobody to rescue them, but still. Maybe The Cat insisted on a separate craft so he could have more room for clothes, or to stay away from Rimmer… or because he can make Blue Midget dance.

– Adding to the above question, why does Rimmer bring a trunk full of his most treasured possessions, but they didn’t bring any food for Lister? Either they’re preparing for the possibility of never returning to Red Dwarf, or they aren’t.

– Robert’s performance in this episode will never not be weird. It’s not even consistently like that, but lines like “Blue Midget is loaded” can’t help but stick out.

– Do you think Lister meant it when he said that Rimmer was a good singer? Shame we don’t really hear it… until Officer Rimmer? (And Parallel Universe and Blue, but that wasn’t actually him singing.) The Dwarfers should start a band. Rimmer on vocals. Lister on guitar. Cat singing and dancing. Kryten on sax. Holly on computers.

– It is odd that Starbug has dog food on it, but perhaps a former crewmember had a guide dog. I’m sure as long as it went through appropriate screenings, that would be an exception to “no pets”.

– Got to love Lister and Rimmer’s naff Red Dwarf badges. No way are those part of the uniform. They got them from the same on board merch shop as Lister’s leather jacket.

– Why is Rimmer so worried about burning the Shakespeare book? Holly has all of human literature available digitally, right? Not that I’m down on physical media or anything, but it’s not like burning the book erases all record.

– Is “Cliff Richard being shot” just an example of an event from history that anyone who was alive remembers vividly, or does Cliff Richard live to be hundreds of years old? (Or, the most boring option, that there’s a different celebrity in Lister and Rimmer’s time who had the same name.)

– Bad form for Rimmer to body shame Lister for his big bum. The End must have been set in one of those dark periods of future history where big butts were unfashionable.

– So Porky Roebuck both threw Rimmer into a septic tank and tried to roast him alive and eat him. Jesus.

– Regarding the Guitar vs. Soldiers and Trunk argument, at least Lister is able to get more practical use out of the guitar than Rimmer out of the soldiers. Unless he gets the skutters to play with them for him?

– I can’t decide whether Lister was more or less of a dick for burning Rimmer’s trunk behind his back, considering he could have just done it openly and Rimmer would have been powerless to stop him… OK, no, I can decide. It’s more.

– Holly appears on Kryten’s chest again, and it’s still strange. Is the “remote Holly” logic of this stage in the show that she either needs to be in range of Red Dwarf, or physically contained within Kryten?

[Quinn: Clochebusters World Champion]

Why do they do their evacuation in multiple ships? We know that there’s room enough for all of them in a Starbug or a Blue Midget

So they can get rescued, dummy.

But no I always read it as, the navigation of the black holes is so dangerous, Holly might not make it through.  So better to have two craft available to use rather than just one.  Also, it seems clear they’ve flown in different direction.  Perhaps looking for a way to help navigate the black holes?  Or perhaps just to ensure survival.  i.e. my first point.  if one of the ships gets in trouble, there is another available to help.

Though that is negated by the fact it took two days for Kryten to suggest searching for them.

[Flap Jack]

So they can get rescued, dummy.

But no I always read it as, the navigation of the black holes is so dangerous, Holly might not make it through. So better to have two craft available to use rather than just one. Also, it seems clear they’ve flown in different direction. Perhaps looking for a way to help navigate the black holes? Or perhaps just to ensure survival. i.e. my first point. if one of the ships gets in trouble, there is another available to help.

Though that is negated by the fact it took two days for Kryten to suggest searching for them.

It’s a tricky one, because them preparing for the possibility of not being able to go back to Red Dwarf fits with the multiple ships and Rimmer bringing his trunk, but is essentially contradicted by the lack of food. Maybe the crash destroyed the food supply?

Another point I realised but forgot to mention: it’s episode 2 of the post Starbug era, and they’ve already wrecked 2 Starbugs (and they fucked up their take off out of Red Dwarf both times). Sort it out, fellas.

[Dave]

Another point I realised but forgot to mention: it’s episode 2 of the post Starbug era, and they’ve already wrecked 2 Starbugs (and they fucked up their take off out of Red Dwarf both times). Sort it out, fellas.

It’s OK, I’m sure they’ll manage to get through Series III without any more Starbug crashes.

[Quinn: Clochebusters World Champion]

Another point I realised but forgot to mention: it’s episode 2 of the post Starbug era, and they’ve already wrecked 2 Starbugs (and they fucked up their take off out of Red Dwarf both times). Sort it out, fellas.
It’s OK, I’m sure they’ll manage to get through Series III without any more Starbug crashes.

every use of Starbug results in it crashing in series III. 100% failure rate. 

Camille thankfully Kryten is piloting, is evidently now used to the controls and therefore doesn’t crash. They also make it through Justice and White Hole. But unfortunately crash in Dimension Jump. But they’re getting better.

[Flap Jack]

And for all of the Series III Starbug crashes, there are a maximum of 2 people on board, and Rimmer is among them all 3 times. So Rimmer is clearly the problem. Kryten was lucky to survive his first Starbug trip in Camille – and his second trip was with Camille in the romance montage, and you can tell he’s so much more confident without Rimmer and his crashing aura.

[Warbodog]

They don’t directly ask you to consider how poorly Rimmer would fare in the same circumstances, but I imagined Lister having to calm or fend off the gibbering wreck several times. A deliberate series VIII remake… um, could have been fun. Seeing how early cannibalism was raised.

[Loathsome American]

Regarding Lister asking Rimmer about losing his virginity and accepting a different story, it’s really only occurred to me this time that the original story is told in an episode where memories are being altered and erased. One assumes Rimmer’s just lying, but Lister might legitimately not remember that he knows the actual answer to this question, either because of a further deliberate memory erasure or even that the original erasure “rotted away” some surrounding memories over time. 

But doing a gag about Rimmer about his virginity is an odd choice from the writing/production perspective in the first place. Things like the “Lister’s appendix” situation are either Rob and Doug forgetting a throwaway line or assuming the audience won’t remember or care about that throwaway line, but this was essentially the basis of an entire episode just the previous series, so it’s never really made a lot of sense to me that they went back to that well. 

[Quinn: Clochebusters World Champion]

Lister is too concerned trying to survive than question that validity of Rimmer’s story.

Also wouldn’t put it past Rimmer to be just making it up.

[Warbodog]

It’s a backwards ripple from Timeslides. Child Rimmer saw that he was likely to die while still a young man, which pushed him to try a little harder with women and take up golf.

Also wouldn’t put it past Rimmer to be just making it up.

I think that’s a bit far-fetched.

[Rudolph]

A lot of time seems to pass in Marooned – Lister mentions it’s been three days since they crashed when he comes back in from trying to dig out the stanchion, and later says he hasn’t eaten in six days when he finally opens the dog food – so it’s possible they did take a few cans of food for the journey, and they were either lost in the crash or used up in the days after the crash.

It has got me thinking though why Kryten brings some tinned cans to the crash site, it’s not like they’re planning on sticking around long enough to open them up and cook them. I’d have thought a Thermos flask of soup or coffee would’ve been more sensible.

[Quinn: Clochebusters World Champion]

They don’t know how long they’ll be there.

Lister could be seriously injured and he needs medical attention before moving.  Might be another couple of days before they take him to Blue Midget.  So taking some food is prudent.

[Flap Jack]

Polymorph – Classic. A great ensemble episode with tons of funny lines and moments, and it’s a major moment in terms of the type of story that Red Dwarf could do, even with the ‘no aliens’ rule. The design and direction of the polymorph itself is fantastic and still pretty much holds up today in my opinion, even if there are maybe a few moments where it looks a bit less convincing. It’s the big ‘everyone is out of character’ (except for Holly; sorry Holly) episode, but watching it again has reinforced my thought that it would be a good introductory episode anyway – because you do get enough normal characterisation before the ‘morph starts sucking people off, and then their post-suck behaviour drives home what the characters are like normally by showing an extreme opposite. Although Lister maybe doesn’t work so well for this, because he loses his fear, and “coward” isn’t exactly a key descriptor of Lister, is it?

– The “Warning” is plausibly real, considering this is the first Red Dwarf episode with an actual monster in it (and arguably only the second episode with an external villain character, even), but ultimately if the show genuinely required a content warning it would be read out by a continuity announcer, not be in the episode itself.

– Lister has “Red Dwarf” branded Chilli powder, and I swear that’s a unique version of the show logo on there. JMC really going all out on the ship issue supplies.

– It was cute that Cat and Kryten high fived when they passed each other. They must have really bonded in their week together off-screen in Marooned.

– I found it much easier to explain why Starbug has dog food than why Red Dwarf has an embryo fridge and a cow insemination syringe. No clue. … cargo? … I guess? Rob said on the quarantine commentary that Petersen collected them for weird sex reasons, but… no.

– Nice callback to Better Than Life with young Rimmer being subjected to the jam and ants combo in the home movie.

– Worth it for the gag of course, but why would Kryten’s reaction to seeing an adult woman in a video of Rimmer as a child be “is that your girlfriend?”? Creepy. (OK, maybe the video cut in such a way that it seemed like a big time jump could have occurred, but still.)

– Another bizarre Kryten reaction, where he sees Lister writhing on the floor with a kebab round his neck and goes “oh, so you like it that much, huh”. Genuinely what is even the train of thought there.

– When the polymorph gets described as an “emotional vampire”, I can’t help but think about that one What We Do In The Shadows episode.

– The Cat says that 2 is his lucky number. I bet he didn’t think that a couple of episodes ago.

– It’s a bit of a cheat to say that neither Kryten nor Rimmer produce heat, but I guess a light bee’s heat signature would be very small, and perhaps mechanoids have super efficient internal cooling.

– Those heat-seeking projectiles are absurdly slow moving, it’s hard to think they’d be much use, for mining or otherwise.

– Iconic scene where the polymorph turns into a horrible monster, and then starts giving The Cat a bunch of compliments.

– It is so perfectly in character for The Cat to be immediately accepting of a random woman showing up. It’s just like in IWCD; if good things happen to him, he doesn’t think about it, he just assumes they’re happening because he deserves it.

– The way Lister wakes up and reacts to Rimmer’s mum being there, it’s pretty clear no funny business actually went on.

– The polymorph is able to sap the emotions of Kryten and Rimmer despite their brains being purely mechanical. So that’s quite validating for their personhood. Bad luck for Holly, though. Seems like a missed opportunity that she didn’t get any emotions taken too.

– Rimmer was out of character stupid in the way that the polymorph got him. Like, come on, man, obviously your mother hasn’t just appeared out of a time portal, and Holly is literally telling you it’s the polymorph.

– I’m wondering, was the polymorph actually intending to physically harm the crew? Obviously it does strangle Lister and give him some intense bollock pain to begin with, but once it’s fed on his emotions, after that it just chases people around and takes their emotions too. Maybe it was initially just experimenting with the best way to trigger a strong enough fear reaction? Of course, even if it wasn’t intending to kill them, presumably it would just keep taking all of their emotions until they were braindead, so that’s still not ideal.

– I get the impression that the polymorph doesn’t just remove one emotion, because if it did that would have some very problematic implications for Lister and Kryten’s characters in particular. It’s only Lister’s fear that stops him from being in a permanent state of murderous rage? It’s only Kryten’s guilt that makes him express any empathy whatsoever?

– So what happened to the second polymorph, eh? Well, 3 seconds after the cut to credits:

“Oh fuck, there’s another polymorph behind us!”

“Shoot it!”

*SPLAT*

[Unrumble]

Although Lister maybe doesn’t work so well for this, because he loses his fear, and “coward” isn’t exactly a key descriptor of Lister, is it?

[Flap Jack]

Always found that dialogue a bit on the nose, but he’s right.

[International Debris]

– So what happened to the second polymorph, eh? Well, 3 seconds after the cut to credits:

“Oh fuck, there’s another polymorph behind us!”

“Shoot it!”

*SPLAT*

[Warbodog]

Looking through the script books (because my supplementary material is apparently restricted to the 90s), there’s a nice bit of foreshadowing in Backwards that’s not in the DVD deleted scenes, though it may have been filmed:

RIMMER and KRYTEN dance off the stage to their theme tune. Once the lights are up, we see it’s a dog-rough pub. There is evidence of a recent bar-brawl – smashed chairs, tables on end. A large window is smashed. Through it we see a brick wall. One MAN is lying in a bloody stupor, amid some debris, as CAT and LISTER walk up to the bar.

LISTER: Nice pub. If you’ve still got both your ears, you’re not a regular. Come on. Let’s grab a pint and go backstage.

In the episode, I don’t notice any signs of damage until the fight’s already in progress, but maybe it’s there.

For Polymorph, Lister remains unconscious through the alphabetti spaghetti scene and doesn’t get the line that makes it ambiguous in the episode.

I hadn’t realised the line after Petersen spending a week in sick bay was “what a weed,” as per Smegadrive. My misheard “what a week” never really made sense.

Rather than ending with the imposter Lister dissolving into the Polymorph, Lister’s head was going to spin around while he grinned at us, Exorcist-style.

[Marpzilla]

Rather than ending with the imposter Lister dissolving into the
Polymorph, Lister’s head was going to spin around while he grinned at
us, Exorcist-style.

That actually sounds rather creepy, to be honest. Polymorph never really scared me despite the disclaimer at the start so I kinda wish they had some proper scary scenes. It could definitely be a killer halloween special with the right execution.

[Stilianides]

Polymorph – 

Another classic episode and a contender for the most influential instalment of the entire run. In some ways, this can be viewed as the template for much of what came later. Some specific ideas reappeared (the Polymorph itself, the boxer shorts scene, and the acronym gag), but also numerous character bits, such as Rimmer’s cowardly desire to run away at the first sign of danger, Cat being tricked by a beautiful woman, the actors playing alternate versions of their characters etc.

The writer commentaries add some behind the scenes info, with Doug mentioning that the first scene didn’t really work as written and it was the cast who suggested that the use of the medical equipment had to be explained to the audience. Rob talks in the lockdown commentary about the ep being partially inspired by his cat at home, and them throwing caution to the wind because they believed that Series III might be the last one.

This is one of those episodes where pretty much everything goes right and there is so much about it that I love. It’s funny all the way through and it was also a great piece of casting to have Frances Barber come in to play such a small role.

Although the opening warning wasn’t meant to be taken seriously, the Polymorph did make me uncomfortable when I first watched the episode. I remember that night looking around my room and feeling scared that any of my posessions might transform into something else. I was a very stupid child!

[clem]

Backwards

Like BTL it’s a great idea that is much better served in the novels, but I enjoyed it today better than I have done in the past. I like the hokiness of much of the backwards acting and there are some great moments like the Flintstones conversation and the cafe scene, which I can’t watch now without thinking of Ian’s hilarious rant about the éclair woman in the Guest Characters High & Low. “Dickhead.”

I know people say the Cat is too stupid in later series, but if anything I think he’s slightly too cool and cocky in III, and not cat-like enough anymore. As a result I don’t find his selfishness as funny.

Polymorph

Funnier than I’d remembered. Series III is faring better than I expected tbh. The action bits in this aren’t that great but the bazookoid bolts look pretty good, and burning through the cardboard box is a cool effect. The Polymorph looks good too. Shame about the crap snake prop but I choose to believe the Polymorph turned into a draught excluder for some reason. 

Another bizarre Kryten reaction, where he sees Lister writhing on the floor with a kebab round his neck and goes “oh, so you like it that much, huh”. Genuinely what is even the train of thought there.

Isn’t it meant to be a joke about guys getting competitive and macho around spicy food, claiming to have a high tolerance for very hot curries and stuff when clearly they aren’t really enjoying it? Maybe that’s more of a 90s lad culture thing so doesn’t work as well now. And of course Lister genuinely does love vindaloos. 

[Warbodog]

It’s also just Kryten being naive and inquisitive in series III. He heard Lister bragging about its dangerous hotness earlier (or at another time), so assumes this is normal behaviour.

Though the detail of it apparently hospitalising Petersen makes the whole thing weirder.

[Flap Jack]

I could see it as Kryten making a sarcastic comment about Lister not being able to handle the spice after all if Lister actually appeared to be eating, but the kebab-polymorph is clearly nowhere near his mouth.

I think it wouldn’t seem so weird if Kryten said something like “why do you always play with your food?”.

[International Debris]

Yeah, tonally it just feels off, as if Kryten is enjoying Lister being attacked almost. I suppose it’s at least partially down to Kryten’s character not being well defined at this point – to be honest, he doesn’t begin to feel like Kryten for me until The Last Day.

[Stilianides]

 Another bizarre Kryten reaction, where he sees Lister writhing on the floor with a kebab round his neck and goes “oh, so you like it that much, huh”. Genuinely what is even the train of thought there. 

I’ve personally never seen anything too perplexing in this section. Lister explains how hot the kebab is and that it put Petersen in sick bay for a week. Kryten is then tidying the bunk and so thinks that Lister has eaten some of the kebab. The following dialog makes sense in that context:

Kryten: “You seriously like them that hot, sir?”

Lister: “Kryten, it’s trying to kill me.

Kryten: “Oh, it’s a good one, huh?”

[International Debris]

That would only really work if the spiciness of a meal correlated with the likelihood of it developing a consciousness and trying to strangle the person eating it.

[Stilianides]

That would only really work if the spiciness of a meal correlated with the likelihood of it developing a consciousness and trying to strangle the person eating it.

The idea was surely that Kryten doesn’t immediately see that the Kebab is attacking him (which, let’s face it, most people wouldn’t assume) and thinks that Lister has fallen off his chair due to the spiciness of the food. 

[Warbodog]

I figure the choking kebab wasn’t supposed to be that visible in-universe, like the fake snake.

It’s a humorous misunderstanding along the lines of Rimmer thinking Lister is really enjoying having sex with Kryten.

[clem]

Honestly it works for me even if Kryten can see the kebab and just believes that’s what’s meant to happen. Even though he assumes the savvy science officer role for the first time later in the episode to provide exposition about the Polymorph, he’s largely still the strange, ingenuous Kryten who looked after the skellingtons and possibly washed the Nova 5’s computer like in IWCD. 

[Unrumble]

[Flap Jack]

[Unrumble]

I don’t use Twitter, had to go on it and double-check you were pulling my leg….

[Jonathan Capps]

Oh god, the peasants are memeing.

[Flap Jack]

Haha, I always trust that the week’s thread will be made sooner or later without any reminders needed, but Unrumble broke the seal.

[Unrumble]

[Author]

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