Legion (Red Dwarf episode)

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Red Dwarf episode
"Legion"
Episode № 2
Airdate October 14, 1993
Writer(s) Rob Grant & Doug Naylor
Director Andy de Emmony
Guest star(s) Nigel Williams
Series VI
October 7 – November 11, 1993
  1. Psirens
  2. Legion
  3. Gunmen of the Apocalypse
  4. Emohawk: Polymorph II
  5. Rimmerworld
  6. Out of Time
List of all Red Dwarf episodes...

"Legion" is the second episode of science fiction sit-com Red Dwarf Series VI[1] and the 32nd in the series run.[2] It was first broadcast on the British television channel on 14 October 1993.[3] Written by Rob Grant & Doug Naylor and directed by Andy de Emmony.

Contents

[edit] Plot

Starbug is now twenty-four hours behind Red Dwarf and is losing ground on the larger ship. The piloting of Starbug is now a long term menial task which is carried out by using shift changes. Food and water supplies are running low, so much so that water is recycled and Lister is served space weevil for dinner.

They are distracted when a tractor beam locks onto them and pulls them into a space station. They decide to explore the station for supplies when they meet a being called Legion. He proves his good faith by converting Rimmer from a "soft light" to a "hard light" hologram, thus making him able to touch and feel. He also performs an emergency appendectomy on Lister. The crew invite him to join them, but Legion insistes that they stay with him. They are shown their ideal bedrooms with everything entire room stocked with their own unique personal tastes and requirements.

Kryten states that despite the pleasant and charm of their host, they are still prisoners, and continue to lose ground on Red Dwarf. When they confront Legion they discover that he is a gestalt entity - a combination of individuals melded together to form one. To defeat Legion they knock themselves out, weakening Legion one-by-one as his entity is Kryten alone. Legion is required by means of Kryten’s programming to help them escape.

[edit] Production

The working title for the episode was "Call Me Legion", and later shortened to "Legion".[4] This episode introduces the hologram Hardlight - an indestructible physical form which Rimmer could form into. It was becoming tiresome for the writers that Rimmer couldn't touch anything, so it was retained for the remainder of the series.[5]

Nigel Williams played the character of Legion, whose costume was so tight he to be sewn into it. Once he was in it he had to stay in it until the shoot was finished.[6]

[edit] Cultural references

The episode title and certain dialogue reference Mark 5:9, wherein Jesus confronts a possessed man; "My name is Legion," he replied, "for we are many."[7]

The "Ionian Nerve Grip" which Kryten attempts to use on Rimmer is patterned after the famous Vulcan nerve pinch from Star Trek.

The list of names of the scientists involved in the Legion Project begins with Heidegger, echoing a noted 20th century philosopher, but then continues with the names Holder, Davro and Quayle who echo Noddy Holder, Bobby Davro and Dan Quayle and are far from noteworthy in academic fields.

It is possible that the 'Mamosian antimatter chopsticks' from this episode - telekinetic cutlery - are also a subtle reference to the magnetic dinner forks seen briefly in the episode 'Cruise Ship to the Stars' of the television series Buck Rogers in the 25th Century.

[edit] External links

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to:

[edit] References

  1. ^ British Sitcom Guide - Red Dwarf - Series 6. www.sitcom.co.uk. Retrieved on 2008-02-01.
  2. ^ TV.com - Legion summary. www.tv.com. Retrieved on 2008-02-01.
  3. ^ BBC - Programme Catalogue - RED DWARF VI - LEGION. BBC. Retrieved on 2007-12-12.
  4. ^ News From The Dwarf, Red Dwarf Smegazine, volume 2 issue 1, May 1993, Fleetway Editions Ltd, ISSN 0965-5603
  5. ^ Red Dwarf Series VI Aftermath. Red Dwarf.co.uk. Retrieved on 2007-12-17.
  6. ^ Red Dwarf Series VI Costumes. Red Dwarf.co.uk. Retrieved on 2007-12-17.
  7. ^ Series V review by Gavrielle. www.reviewsbygavrielle.com. Retrieved on 2008-01-29.