Parallel Universe (Red Dwarf episode)

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Red Dwarf episode
"Parallel Universe"
The crew use the Holly Hop Drive to go back to Earth, but instead are transported to a parallel universe
Episode № 6
Airdate October 11, 1988
Writer(s) Rob Grant & Doug Naylor
Director Ed Bye
Guest star(s) Hattie Hayridge
Angela Bruce
Suzanne Bertish
Matthew Devitt
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...

"Parallel Universe" is the sixth and last episode of science fiction sit-com Red Dwarf series two,[1] and the twelfth in the series run.[2] It premiered on the British television channel BBC2 on 11 October 1988. Written by Rob Grant and Doug Naylor, and directed by Ed Bye, the plot involves the Red Dwarf crew travelling to a parallel universe where they meet alternative versions of themselves. This marked the final appearance of Norman Lovett as Holly, until his return as the character in Series VIII some ten years later. The episode was re-mastered, along with the rest of the first three series, in 1998.

Contents

[edit] Plot

Holly (Norman Lovett) invents the Holly Hop Drive (a box with 'Start' and 'Stop' buttons on it), which is theoretically capable of taking Red Dwarf back to Earth immediately. However, instead of taking Red Dwarf instantaneously back to Earth as intended, it takes the ship into a parallel universe. Rimmer (Chris Barrie), Lister (Craig Charles) and Holly all have female counterparts here; but to the Cat's (Danny John-Jules) disappointment, his own counterpart turns out to be a dog. Here, women are the masters and superior gender, and the men are fighting for equal rights. Nelly Armstrong was the first person on the moon and Wilma Shakespeare the greatest playwright in history.[3]

Rimmer fights off aggressive sexual advances from his parallel equivalent, the Cat shows the Dog how to dance properly,[3] while Lister thinks Deb is gross - at least when he belches "Yankee Doodle Dandy", it's stylish. After a heavy night of drinking Lister wakes up to discover he's in bed with Deb, and worse still he is told that in this universe it's the men who have the babies. The Listers didn't take any precautions so Dave Lister could be pregnant. Rimmer certainly hopes so and suffice it to say, he is excited when the test results reveal that he's going to be an uncle.[4]

[edit] Production

For time reasons, "Parallel Universe" was shown without its opening credit sequence, and was originally shown with no episode titles at all,[5] although the introduction sequence would later be added in the remastered version,[6] instead the viewer was led straight into the Cat's song dream scene, where the Cat performs the "Tongue Tied" song, with Rimmer and Lister in backing vocals. The "Tongue Tied" lyrics were written by Grant and Naylor and the music was produced by Howard Goodall.[7] The dance sequence which was choreographed by Queeg's Charles Augins also had to be trimmed down.[8] It proved very popular and later spawned a single release.[7]

To keep costs down existing shots of the Red Dwarf ship were matted together to give the appearance of two of them. This enabled the crew to use the finances on other model shots.[9] The scenes would later be recreated for the remastered version using CGI.[6]

This was to be Norman Lovett's last appearance as Holly,[10] until his return as the character in Series VIII some ten years later.[11] After the end of Series 2, Lovett decided to leave the show. Having recently married and settled in Edinburgh he felt the traveling from Edinburgh to production locations in London and Manchester would prove problematic, so Lovett decided not to come to rehearsals any more - there was a conflict with the producers, and Lovett was let go. Plus there was the promise of Lovett's own TV show, I, Lovett, taking off at the time.[10] Hattie Hayridge had appeared as Hilly, Holly's female counterpart, in this episode. Producer Paul Jackson had seen her on Saturday Night Live and suggested her as a replacement for Lovett.[12]

Angela Bruce played Deb Lister, Suzanne Bertish played Arlene Rimmer and Matthew Devitt played the Dog.[13]

[edit] Cultural references

Holly compared his Holly Hop Drive invention to the inventions of The Earl of Sandwich's sandwich, Samuel Morse's Morse Code and Plato's plate. He also referenced Hitler, the Second World War and Ringo when stating possible differences in a parallel universe. Dave and Deb Lister discuss the parallel differences. Neil Armstrong's parallel is Nellie, William Shakespeare's is Wilma, and that "The Male Eunuch" (as opposed to The Female Eunuch was written by "Jeremy" Greer (compare with Germaine Greer). Lister says to Rimmer "are you a man or a munchkin?" to which Rimmer replies "I'm off to see the wizard, the wonderful Wizard of Oz!"[14]

[edit] Reception

The episode was originally broadcast on the British television channel BBC2 on the 4 October 1988 in the 9:00 pm evening slot,[15] and is generally remembered for the "Tongue Tied" song as mentioned by one reviewer "any episode that contained "Tongue Tied" would automatically get a great rating", but also went on to state the episode's other qualities - "The script's great, and none of the cast put a foot wrong in extracting the maximum from it."[16] The episode was considered the best from Series II according to a readers' poll in Red Dwarf magazine, with 5.6% rating.[17] Series II was met with great critical success, even if this wasn't viewed as such in the average viewing figures of around 3 million, so a third series was very likely.[18]

The song "Tongue Tied", which features in the Cat's opening dream sequence, was received so well that it was later released as a single. It was re-arranged and re-recorded by Danny John Jules (under the name 'The Cat') and released in October 1993. It reached number 17 in the UK charts.[19] A video to accompany the release which starred Danny John-Jules as some of his Red Dwarf alter-egos, including Duane Dibbley, was also produced. It was based around a storyline written by Danny John-Jules and featured music videos for some of the remixes, with guest appearances from the rest of the Red Dwarf cast, along with Clayton Mark ("Elvis" in "Meltdown") and Charles Augins (Queeg 500 in "Queeg").

[edit] Remastering

See also: Red Dwarf remastered

The remastering of Series I to III was carried out during the late 1990s.[20] Changes throughout the series included replacement of the opening credits,[21] giving the picture a colour grade and filmizing,[22] computer generated special effects of Red Dwarf[23] and many more visual and audio enhancements.[23] Changes made specific to "Parallel Universe" include video and sound effects of Red Dwarf jumping into the parallel universe has been added. The shots of the twin Red Dwarf ships side by side has been replaced with the new CGI versions. Video and sound effects of Red Dwarf jumping back into their own parallel universe added.[24]

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ British Sitcom Guide - Red Dwarf - Series 2. www.sitcom.co.uk. Retrieved on 2008-01-24.
  2. ^ TV.com - Parallel Universe summary. www.tv.com. Retrieved on 2008-01-24.
  3. ^ a b Howarth & Lyons (1993) p. 58.
  4. ^ Howarth & Lyons (1993) p. 59.
  5. ^ Red Dwarf Deries II Production. www.reddwarf.co.uk. Retrieved on 2008-01-07.
  6. ^ a b Red Dwarf Series II Remastering. www.reddwarf.co.uk. Retrieved on 2008-01-07.
  7. ^ a b Interview: Howard Goodall, Red Dwarf Smegazine, issue 10, December 1992, Fleetway Editions Ltd, ISSN 0965-5603
  8. ^ Red Dwarf Deries II Music. www.reddwarf.co.uk. Retrieved on 2008-01-07.
  9. ^ Red Dwarf Series II Effects. www.reddwarf.co.uk. Retrieved on 2008-01-07.
  10. ^ a b Interview: Norman Lovett, Red Dwarf Smegazine, issue 9, November 1992, Fleetway Editions Ltd, ISSN 0965-5603
  11. ^ Back in the Red part 1 cast and crew. www.imdb.com. Retrieved on 2008-01-24.
  12. ^ Red Dwarf Series II Casting. www.reddwarf.co.uk. Retrieved on 2008-01-07.
  13. ^ Parallel Universe cast and crew. www.imdb.com. Retrieved on 2008-01-24.
  14. ^ Queeg movie connections. www.imdb.com. Retrieved on 2008-01-24.
  15. ^ BBC Programme Catalogue - RED DWARF - PARALLEL UNIVERSE. BBC. Retrieved on 2007-12-10.
  16. ^ Red Dwarf Episode Guide: Series II. www.reviewsbygavrielle.com. Retrieved on 2008-01-24.
  17. ^ Red Dwarf Smegazine Survey Results, Red Dwarf Smegazine, issue 10, December 1992, Fleetway Editions Ltd, ISSN 0965-5603
  18. ^ Red Dwarf series II Aftermath. www.reddwarf.co.uk. Retrieved on 2008-01-07.
  19. ^ everyHit.com - UK Top 40 Chart Archive, British Singles & Album Charts. www.everyhit.co.uk. Retrieved on 2007-12-19.
  20. ^ Remasters of the Universe. www.reddwarf.co.uk. Retrieved on 2008-01-28.
  21. ^ Red Dwarf Series I Remastering. www.reddwarf.co.uk. Retrieved on 2008-01-30.
  22. ^ Remastering Crew. The End Re-Mastered DVD Commentary [DVD]. Bodysnatcher DVD Boxset Red disc: BBC.
  23. ^ a b Remastering Crew. 'Re-Dwarf' Documentary [DVD]. Bodysnatcher DVD Boxset Red disc: BBC.
  24. ^ Remastering Crew. Parallel Universe text commentary [DVD]. Bodysnatcher DVD Boxset, Blue disc: BBC.

[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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