Polymorph (Red Dwarf episode)

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Red Dwarf episode
"Polymorph"
The crew are hunted down by a shape-changing genetic mutant
Episode № 3
Airdate November 28, 1989
Writer(s) Rob Grant & Doug Naylor
Director Ed Bye
Guest star(s) Frances Barber
Simon Gaffney
Kalli Greenwood
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...

"Polymorph" is the third episode of science fiction sitcom Red Dwarf Series III,[1] and the fifteenth in the series run.[2] It premiered on the British television channel BBC2 on 28 November 1989. Written by Rob Grant and Doug Naylor, and directed by Ed Bye, the episode has the crew fighting a shapeshifting, emotion-stealing creature. It is the only Red Dwarf episode to feature a pre-credits warning about the content. The episode was re-mastered, along with the rest of the first three series, in 1998.


Contents

[edit] Plot

Holly (Hattie Hayridge) detects a non-human life-form aboard Red Dwarf and alerts Rimmer (Chris Barrie). Meanwhile Lister (Craig Charles) is preparing a meal, his own recipe - Shami Kebab Diablo. The shape-changing creature then appears as a basketball and bounces into the sleeping quarters where Lister is enjoying his meal. Lister catches the basketball, places it on the table and when he goes to look outside the corridor, the creature then changes shape to that of a shami kebab. Lister returns to his meal and as he prods the kebab it attacks him and changes shape into a huge, fleshy, slimy-appendaged creature. From between the jaws, a thin, slimy sucker comes out and attaches to Lister's forehead, and with a quiet, squishy splat Lister's fear is taken from him.[3]

As Lister recovers in the medical unit, Kryten and Holly explain that a polymorph is a shape-changing genetic mutant that went wrong. The 'Ultimate Warrior' that leeches off negative emotions like fear, guilt, anger, paranoia and drains them out of its prey. They discuss their options and decided to run off rather than take it on. They seal Lister in the medical unit and go off to prepare Starbug for a getaway.[3]

As they travel through the cargo decks Rimmer nervously points out what he believe to be the polymorph. Cat (Danny John-Jules) and Kryten quickly let off a couple of heat-seeking bazakoid bolts down the corridor. As the bolts head down and turn back Rimmer apologises for the false alarm. However the bolts are now homing in on Cat and he makes a run for it. He manages to trap the bolts behind a door and on his way back he is joined by a woman who goes on to flatter the Cat on his good looks, but she then turns out to be the polymorph and drains the Cat's vanity. Kryten rushes around the corner followed by Rimmer. Rimmer tells Kryten that this is his fault and then changes into the polymorph and drains out Kryten's guilt. On their arrival back at the medical unit Rimmer finds his mother lying down with Lister. This angers Rimmer and his mother quickly changes into the polymorph and drains Rimmer's anger.[3]

The emotionally crippled crew regain enough of their senses to seek out the creature and, by luck, destroy it in a final confrontation in the cargo hold.[3] The pod that floats by near Red Dwarf reveals a sign that states "Contents 2". Back on the cargo bay, the group walk in line, first Cat appears, then Kryten, Rimmer, Lister and Lister again! The second Lister stops and turns into the eight-foot slimy creature.[4]

[edit] Production

A Manchester warehouse used for the cargo bay scenes
A Manchester warehouse used for the cargo bay scenes

Director Ed Bye drew inspiration for the look and design of the episode from watching the 1979 film Alien just before shooting began.[5] For the cargo bay scenes a warehouse in Manchester was hired for the shooting. Empty cardboard boxes were strategically stacked up and down the warehouse floor to give the illusion of a stocked cargo bay.[5]

Although the episode had a pre-credits warning, about the episode's content, this was more of a plot device[6] as the episode was broadcast past the 9:00 pm watershed. [7] During the filming of the Polymorph morphing into Lister's boxer shorts scene the audience laughed so loud for so long that Chris Barrie had to wait several minutes until things had calmed down. This also provided extra work in the editing room as the sequence required more work than usual to edit together a workable shot.[8]

The episode also had some of the shows most effects intensive scenes done yet. Animatronic versions of both the small and large Polymorph creature versions were created. The small version was voiced by production manager Mike Agnew. The larger model, which was prone to tipping over, collapsed before the final shot. Blue screen was used to shoot the creature and added to existing footage of the crew. To achieve the Polymorph morphing into all the different objects the traditional locked-off camera and jump-cut procedure was used.[9] The newly introduced Bazookoids provided more video effects as two heat-seeking laser bolts were fired and ended up chasing the Cat. The heat-seekers were given sound effects borrowed from the lightsabers of Star Wars.[9]

Guest appearances included actress Frances Barber who took on a scene as 'Jenny Mutant', Kalli Greenwood, who played Rimmer's mother, and the show's first appearance of Rimmer as a young boy, played by Simon Gaffney.[10]

[edit] Cultural references

The theme of the episode is a parody of Ridley Scott's 1979 Alien film which features a Xenomorph. The Polymorph transformations also resembles the Alien various transformations, from the early small worm to its large incarnation with a huge jaw holding an extendable emotion sucking tongue.[11]

[edit] Reception

The episode was originally broadcast on the British television channel BBC2 on 21 November 1989 in the 9:00pm evening time slot,[7] and was well received by fans, many considering it to be the series' best.[12] It came second in a Red Dwarf Smegazine readers poll, gaining 9.3% of the votes.[12] In DVD Talk's review of the episode, the reviewer highlighted the comedy value that comes from the actors dealing with their transformed character attitudes.[13] Genre Online described it as "an absolute classic",[14] while 'Reviews by Gravielle' stated that "it’s brilliant. It has everything."[15]

[edit] Remastering

See also: Red Dwarf remastered

The remastering of Series I to III was carried out during the late 1990s.[16] General changes throughout the series included replacement of the opening credits,[17] giving the picture a colour grade and filmizing,[18] computer generated special effects of Red Dwarf[19] and many more visual and audio enhancements.[19]

Changes specific to "Polymorph" include the original pre-opening credits warning for viewer discretion on the following episode has been removed. The polymorph entering Red Dwarf CGI duct systems has been added. Lister wrestling with the dummy snake has been re-worked and tightened. Kryten's lines have been re-dubbed to remove the English accent from a cargo bay scene. Mrs Rimmer's voice has been re-dubbed with a new actress to fit in more with the character. The end sequence of the second Lister following the crew has been replaced with an epilogue shot, which explains that the second polymorph hid in Lister's sock drawer and died of old age.[20]

[edit] See also

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ British Sitcom Guide - Red Dwarf - Series 3. www.sitcom.co.uk. Retrieved on 2008-01-25.
  2. ^ TV.com - Polymorph summary. www.tv.com. Retrieved on 2008-01-25.
  3. ^ a b c d Howarth & Lyons (1993) p. 62.
  4. ^ Howarth & Lyons (1993) p. 63.
  5. ^ a b Bye, Ed. Polymorph remastered commentary [DVD]. Bodysnatcher DVD Boxset, Green disc: BBC.
  6. ^ Howarth & Lyons (1993)
  7. ^ a b BBC - Programme Catalogue - RED DWARF III THE SAGA CONTINUUMS - 3, POLYMORPH. BBC. Retrieved on 2007-12-11.
  8. ^ Red Dwarf Series III Production. www.reddwarf.co.uk. Retrieved on 2008-01-07.
  9. ^ a b Red Dwarf Series III Effects. www.reddwarf.co.uk. Retrieved on 2008-01-07.
  10. ^ Red Dwarf Series III Casting. www.reddwarf.co.uk. Retrieved on 2008-01-07.
  11. ^ Red Dwarf movie connections. www.imdb.com. Retrieved on 2008-01-08.
  12. ^ a b Readers Survey Results, Red Dwarf Smegazine, p. 27., issue 10, December 1992, Fleetway Editions Ltd, issn=0965-5603
  13. ^ Red Dwarf III review at DVD Talk. www.dvdtalk.com. Retrieved on 2008-01-25.
  14. ^ Red Dwarf III review at Genre Online. www.genreonline.net. Retrieved on 2008-01-25.
  15. ^ Red Dwarf III review by Gavrielle. www.reviewsbygavrielle.com. Retrieved on 2008-01-25.
  16. ^ Remasters of the Universe. www.reddwarf.co.uk. Retrieved on 2008-01-28.
  17. ^ Red Dwarf Series I Remastering. www.reddwarf.co.uk. Retrieved on 2008-01-30.
  18. ^ Remastering Crew. The End Re-Mastered DVD Commentary [DVD]. Bodysnatcher DVD Boxset Red disc: BBC.
  19. ^ a b Remastering Crew. 'Re-Dwarf' Documentary [DVD]. Bodysnatcher DVD Boxset Red disc: BBC.
  20. ^ Remastering Crew. Polymorph text commentary [DVD]. Bodysnatcher DVD Boxset, Green disc: BBC.
  21. ^ Red Dwarf Series III Aftermath. www.reddwarf.co.uk. Retrieved on 2008-01-25.

[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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