Better Than Life (Red Dwarf episode)

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Red Dwarf episode
"Better Than Life"
The crew enter the "Better Than Life" total immersion video game
Episode № 2
Airdate September 13, 1988
Writer(s) Rob Grant & Doug Naylor
Director Ed Bye
Guest star(s) Tony Hawks
John Abineri
Ron Pember
Series II
September 6 – October 11, 1988
  1. Kryten
  2. Better Than Life
  3. Thanks for the Memory
  4. Stasis Leak
  5. Queeg
  6. Parallel Universe
List of all Red Dwarf episodes...

"Better Than Life" is the second episode from Red Dwarf series two,[1] and the eighth in the series run.[2] It was first broadcast on BBC2 on 13 September 1988. Written by Rob Grant and Doug Naylor, and directed by Ed Bye, this episode introduces the total immersion video game "Better Than Life", which features in both the first and second Red Dwarf novels.

Contents

[edit] Plot

The post pod arrives 3 million years late, which, as Holly states, is about average for second class mail. Among the usual bills and junk mail is the "Better Than Life" total immersion video game. Rimmer receives a large large tax bill from Outland Revenue, along with a letter from his mother informing him that his father is dead.[3] To cheer him up, Lister and Cat invite Rimmer to play "Better Than Life", where everyone's deepest desires come true. Everything is going well; the Cat has got himself two girlfriends, Marilyn Monroe and a mermaid (top half fish, bottom half woman). Rimmer leads an admiral's life with drinks and parties, while Lister enjoys golfing around the lavish golf courses.[4]

But eventually Rimmer's mind rebels against him and he can't control his imagination. He soon ends up with a wife, seven kids, a mortgage and an unsympathetic Outland Revenue Collector. This continues until the others find themselves caught up in his nightmare, buried up to their necks in sand, smeared with jam and about to be eaten by ants. Holly, apparently, ends the game, which comes as a great relief to everyone. But is it over? When they get back to their quarters, the tax collector emerges from a locker and breaks Rimmer's thumbs.[4]

[edit] Production

After looking back at the first series the writers, Grant and Naylor, realised that they needed to expand on Rimmer's background and explore his character. To achieve this the Rimmer family was written into the episode. There was his three high flying successful brothers, his unattentive mother and his psychotic father.[5] His father appeared in the "Better Than Life" scenario, played by John Abineri.

A dull cold day in Rhyll used for the sunny landscape of the 'Better Than Life' scenario
A dull cold day in Rhyll used for the sunny landscape of the 'Better Than Life' scenario

Much of the episode was filmed on location. To film the "Better Than Life" scenarios the crew went to a seaside landscape in Rhyl[6] and Sacha's Hotel in Manchester.[7] The same hotel would later hold science fiction conventions for Star Trek, Space 1999 and Doctor Who.[8] The seaside beach location caused a headache as it was dull and cold looking. One scene proved so problematic - when they were meant to be sunbathing on the "paradise-like" beach, Craig Charles and Danny John-Jules could not stop shivering - that the scenes were re-written and re-shot as on a golf course.[9] Even the golf course scenes looked dull and cold looking,[9] but director Ed Bye convinced the crew that it was okay and that the sunshine could be put in during the edit.[6] However, it couldn't be made to look sunny and it wasn't until the episode was remastered that the sunshine was finally seen.[10]

Other "Better Than Life" appearances were made by Ron Pember, who played the Taxman, Debbie Ash as Marilyn Monroe and Judy Hawkins as Yvonne McGruder.[11] Tony Hawks, who had appeared in the Red Dwarf I episode "Future Echoes",.[12] returned to the series to play the 'Better Than Life' game guide.[11] Gordon Salkilld appeared as computer Gordon, the chess email gaming chum of Holly.[11]

[edit] Cultural references

The post pod that arrived on the ship contained many references to popular culture including a new version of Friday the 13th part 1649, and a remake of Casablanca,[13] but Lister preferred the version with Myra Dinglebat and Peter Beardsley. Lister found at least one total-immersion video game, which were extremely desirable, comparing them to Venus's arms and Brooke Shields' buttocks.

Marilyn Monroe appeared in the Cat's "Better Than Life" scenario as one of his girlfriends, the other being a mermaid. Rimmer met one of his historical heroes in the game, Napoleon Bonaparte, who gave an autograph. Lister's choice of transportation in the game was a Harley Davidson which he willed to appear before his very eyes, where as Rimmer's choice was a Reliant Robin, and after a re-think, became a Jaguar E-type.

Rimmer referred to the skutters as "Pinky and smeggy Perky", referring to the long-running British children's television show Pinky and Perky.[14]

Bob Geldof was referenced in the "Groovy Channel 27" news show as the newsreader stated that it was Friday, the 27th of Geldof. Also mentioned in the news reel was Mount Sinai where archaeologists had discovered a page believed to be from the Bible. A man was found attempting to poison the mineral spring in France which is the source of all the world's Perrier water. And finally a city called New Tokyo was mentioned as having run out of "Better Than Life" games.

[edit] Reception

Originally broadcast on the British television channel BBC2 on the 13 September 1988[15] in the 9:00 pm evening slot,[15] the episode gained average viewing ratings.[16] The episode may not have topped many fans' favourites lists,[17] but the story turned out to be very influential. Grant and Naylor used the plot for their first and second novels - Infinity Welcomes Careful Drivers ended on a cliffhanger when the crew entered the game and the majority of the second novel, Better Than Life, followed on from there.[18] Despite a mixed reaction like "the strangest episode of Red Dwarf ever made. The tone veers so wildly from comedy to tragedy that it leaves you feeling very unsettled", [19] the episode has been described as "one of the all time best episodes of Red Dwarf!" from one reviewer.[20]

[edit] Errors

Lister talks about his dad in this episode, but it is later revealed that he is an orphan.

[edit] See also

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ British Sitcom Guide - Red Dwarf - Series 2. www.sitcom.co.uk. Retrieved on 2008-01-24.
  2. ^ TV.com - Better Than Life summary. www.tv.com. Retrieved on 2008-01-23.
  3. ^ Howarth & Lyons (1993) p. 53.
  4. ^ a b Howarth & Lyons (1993) p. 54.
  5. ^ Red Dwarf series II Writing. www.reddwarf.co.uk. Retrieved on 2008-01-07.
  6. ^ a b Red Dwarf series II Production. www.reddwarf.co.uk. Retrieved on 2008-01-07.
  7. ^ Red Dwarf series II Sets. www.reddwarf.co.uk. Retrieved on 2008-01-07.
  8. ^ Howarth & Lyons (1993) p. 9.
  9. ^ a b It's Cold Outside documentary [DVD]. Bodysnatcher DVD disc 1: BBC.
  10. ^ Red Dwarf series II Remastering. www.reddwarf.co.uk. Retrieved on 2008-01-07.
  11. ^ a b c Better Than Life cast and crew. www.imdb.com. Retrieved on 2008-01-24.
  12. ^ Future Echoes cast and crew. www.imdb.com. Retrieved on 2008-01-24.
  13. ^ Better Than Life movie connections. www.imdb.com. Retrieved on 2008-01-24.
  14. ^ Red Dwarf movie connections. www.imdb.com. Retrieved on 2008-01-08.
  15. ^ a b BBC Programme Catalogue - RED DWARF - BETTER THAN LIFE. BBC. Retrieved on 2007-12-07.
  16. ^ Red Dwarf Series II Aftermath. www.reddwarf.co.uk. Retrieved on 2008-01-24.
  17. ^ Red Dwarf Smegazine, issue 10, December 1992, Fleetway Editions Ltd, ISSN 0965-5603
  18. ^ Red Dwarf II On Video, Red Dwarf Smegazine, issue 3, May 1992, Fleetway Editions Ltd, issn 0965-5603
  19. ^ Red Dwarf Episode Guide: Series II. www.reviewsbygavrielle.com. Retrieved on 2008-01-24.
  20. ^ Red Dwarf - Series 2 Review. www.reviewcentre.com. Retrieved on 2008-01-24.
  21. ^ a b Howarth, Chris; Steve Lyons (1993). Red Dwarf Programme Guide. Section 6: Spin-offs: Virgin Books. ISBN 0-86369-682-1. 

[edit] References

Howarth, Chris; Steve Lyons (1993). Red Dwarf Programme Guide. Virgin Books. ISBN 0-86369-682-1. 

[edit] External links

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