The Last Day

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Red Dwarf episode
"The Last Day"
Lister throws Kryten a last day party
Episode № 6
Airdate December 19, 1989
Writer(s) Rob Grant & Doug Naylor
Director Ed Bye
Guest star(s) Gordon Kennedy
Julie Higginson
Series III
November 14 – December 19, 1989
  1. Backwards
  2. Marooned
  3. Polymorph
  4. Bodyswap
  5. Timeslides
  6. The Last Day
List of all Red Dwarf episodes...

"The Last Day" is the sixth, and last, episode of science fiction sit-com Red Dwarf Series III,[1] and the eighteenth in the series run.[2] It premiered on the British television channel BBC2 on 19 December 1989. Written by Rob Grant and Doug Naylor, and directed by Ed Bye, the story is about Kryten's expiry date and how Lister decides to give him a last day to remember. The episode was re-mastered, along with the rest of the first three series, in 1998.

Contents

[edit] Plot

A message pod reaches Red Dwarf from Diva-Droid International, manufacturers of Kryten (Robert Llewellyn) and the 4000 series of mechanoids. It announces that Kryten's built-in expiry date is almost up and his in-built shut-down chip will automatically activate in twenty-four hours time. Kryten resigns himself to his fate, telling Lister (Craig Charles) he's going to his reward in "Silicon Heaven". Lister tries to tell him there's no such place, to no avail.[3] Lister is determined Kryten's going to enjoy his last day in a profitless and non-practical way. He even goes to the trouble of building the robotic Marilyn Monroe kit that's been hanging around the ship for years, whilst Holly (Hattie Hayridge) knocks up a special android home brew using Vimto and liquid nitrogen.[4]

Waking the next morning with a hangover, Kryten realises that he had experienced true pleasure for the first time and decides that he'd much rather delay his departure. He can override his shutdown programme, but the catch is that his replacement mechanoid comes fitted with instructions to kill its predecessor if necessary. But Lister, Rimmer (Chris Barrie) and Cat (Danny John-Jules) won't let him onboard. They're going to stand by their shipmate.[4]

The replacement mechanoid, Hudzen's ship lands on the landing gantry, and the crew prepare for his appearance. Lister tells Hudzen that Kryten is staying put and that he should leave. Hudzen refuses to go away and advances down the corridor proving to be dangerously insane as he tries to kill everyone. Just as Hudzen is finally upon Kryten and about to deliver a killing blow, he is told the lie that silicon heaven doesn't exist. Hudzen's mind can't cope with this revelation and shuts down.[4]

[edit] Production

Gordon Kennedy almost didn't appear as in Red Dwarf as the character of Hudzen 10 was actually a last-minute addition to the script.[5]

Robert Llewellyn makes a brief, unmasked, appearance as Jim Reaper, the Diva-Droid executive and Julie Higginson plays the Marilyn Monroe kit android. [6]

[edit] Cultural references

Brigitte Nielsen is referenced by Lister regarding Silicon Heaven that Kryten mentions. He then says that the notion of Silicon Heaven is "completely whacko, Jacko" referencing Michael Jackson's nickname.

Using a build-it-yourself kit droid Lister assembles a Marilyn Monroe bot as a leaving present for Kryten. Kryten is compared to Action Man when asked if he would seduce the Monroe bot. Rimmer's present to Kryten is a tube of General George S. Patton's sinus fluid.

Star Trek is mentioned by Lister following the crew's decision to stick up for Kryten when the replacement arrives, Kryten regards this as true friendship, but Lister says that it's too early in the morning for Star Trek.[7] Hudzen's POV "Hologram. Ex-human. VIABLE TARGET" parodies the Terminator's similar POV.

[edit] Reception

The episode was originally broadcast on the British television channel BBC2 on 19 December 1989 in the 9:00pm evening time slot.[8] Although the episode gained a decent amount of viewers,[9] the episode has been considered to be the weakest from Series III.[10] However, it has been described as "terrific performances all around and one brilliant set piece after another" by 'Reviews by Gavrielle'.[11]

[edit] Remastering

Main article: Red Dwarf remastered

The remastering of Series I to III was carried out during the late 1990's with the intention of bringing the early production values up to a standard suitable for international television.[12] General changes throughout the series included replacement of the opening credits,[13] giving the picture a colour grade and filmizing,[14] computer generated special effects of Red Dwarf[15] and many more visual and audio enhancements.[15]

There have been changes made specific to "The Last Day". The opening shot of the post pod approaching Red Dwarf has been replaced with a CGI sequence. Hudzen's ship approaching Red Dwarf has been replaced with a CGI version.[16]

Upon its release on VHS the new re-mastered episodes were generally received poorly by fans of the show, although it has been stated by critics that they are "actually an invigorating new take on a classic series".[17] The re-mastered series was later released, along with other material, on The Bodysnatcher DVD boxset, in 2007.[18]

[edit] References

  1. ^ British Sitcom Guide - Red Dwarf - Series 3. www.sitcom.co.uk. Retrieved on 2008-01-25.
  2. ^ TV.com - The Last Day summary. www.tv.com. Retrieved on 2008-01-25.
  3. ^ Howarth & Lyons (1993) p. 65.
  4. ^ a b c Howarth & Lyons (1993) p. 66.
  5. ^ Red Dwarf Series III Casting. www.reddwarf.co.uk. Retrieved on 2008-01-07.
  6. ^ The Last Day cast and crew. www.imdb.com. Retrieved on 2008-01-25.
  7. ^ The Last Day movie connections. www.imdb.com. Retrieved on 2008-01-25.
  8. ^ BBC - Programme Catalogue - RED DWARF III THE SAGA CONTINUUMS - 6, THE LAST DAY. BBC. Retrieved on 2007-12-11.
  9. ^ Red Dwarf Series III Aftermath. www.reddwarf.co.uk. Retrieved on 2008-01-25.
  10. ^ Episode Survey Results, Red Dwarf Smegazine, issue 10, December 1992, Fleetway Editions Ltd, ISSN 0965-5603
  11. ^ Red Dwarf III review by Gavrielle. www.reviewsbygavrielle.com. Retrieved on 2008-01-25.
  12. ^ Remasters of the Universe. www.reddwarf.co.uk. Retrieved on 2008-01-28.
  13. ^ Red Dwarf Series I Remastering. www.reddwarf.co.uk. Retrieved on 2008-01-30.
  14. ^ Remastering Crew. The End Re-Mastered DVD Commentary [DVD]. Bodysnatcher DVD Boxset Red disc: BBC.
  15. ^ a b Remastering Crew. 'Re-Dwarf' Documentary [DVD]. Bodysnatcher DVD Boxset Red disc: BBC.
  16. ^ Remastering Crew. Last Day text commentary [DVD]. Bodysnatcher DVD Boxset, Green disc: BBC.
  17. ^ Sci-Fi-London Film Festival - The Bodysnatcher Collection. www.sci-fi-london.com. Retrieved on 2008-01-30.
  18. ^ The Bodysnatcher collection. www.reddwarf.co.uk. Retrieved on 2008-01-30.

[edit] External links

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