Queeg (Red Dwarf episode)

Infobox Red Dwarf episode
name = Queeg


image_caption = Holly squares up against Queeg in a winner-takes-all duel
number = 5
airdate = October 4, 1988
writers = Rob Grant & Doug Naylor
director = Ed Bye
guests = Charles Augins
series = 2

"Queeg" is the fifth episode of science fiction sit-com "Red Dwarf" series twocite web | url =http://www.sitcom.co.uk/red_dwarf/series2.shtml | title =British Sitcom Guide - Red Dwarf - Series 2 | publisher =www.sitcom.co.uk |accessdate =2008-01-24] and the eleventh in the series run.cite web | url =http://www.tv.com/red-dwarf/queeg/episode/10955/summary.html | title =TV.com - Queeg summary | publisher =www.tv.com |accessdate =2008-01-24] It premiered on the British television channel BBC2 on 4 October 1988. Written by Rob Grant and Doug Naylor, and directed by Ed Bye, the plot features a backup computer named Queeg that replaces Holly. The episode was re-mastered, along with the rest of the first three series, in 1998.

Plot

Holly (Norman Lovett) addresses the crew but forgets what he was going to say. Soon after the whole ship shakes under a tremendous impact. Holly now remembers that he had meant to warn the crew that the ship was about to be hit by a meteor. Rimmer's (Chris Barrie) legs start going walk abouts on their own and Holly asks Lister (Craig Charles) to go down to the Hologram Simulation Suite to repair the damage. However following Holly's advice Lister connects the wrong cables and causes an explosion which makes him fly over the consoles.

Holly's increasing mistakes start to irritate the crew. After all he's supposed to have an IQ of 6,000. Then a mysterious face appears on the monitor screen where Holly's face is usually seen.Howarth & Lyons (1993) p. 57.] Rimmer thinks it's aliens, but he introduces himself as Queeg 500, the "Red Dwarf" back-up computer. According to Queeg he is to replace Holly for the gross negligence, leading to the endangerment of personnel, and assumes control of the ship.Howarth & Lyons (1993) p. 58.]

The crew, initially pleased at the efficiency of their new ship's computer, soon grow dissatisfied, as Queeg requires them to work hard and follow the Company's regulations to the letter. Holly, prevailed upon by the crew to return, challenges Queeg to a chess match to determine which of them will run "Red Dwarf" and which one will be erased. Queeg wins easily, and declares that Holly is to be wiped immediately from the ship's systems. Holly says his goodbyes to Lister, Rimmer, the Cat and slowly disappears from the screen. However, Holly returns, and explains that he was Queeg all the time and it was all merely an elaborate prank, and that they should appreciate what they have.Howarth & Lyons (1993) p. 58.]

Production

" spoof of Holly singing as he gets erased.cite web | url =http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck05/series_2/writing.html | title =Red Dwarf Series II Writing | publisher =www.reddwarf.co.uk |accessdate =2008-01-07]

Quickly earning himself a reputation for doing his own stunts, Craig Charles flew over a console table in the aftermath of a huge explosion. His reasoning behind doing the stunts was that as a Scouser he could be dropped on his head with no problems.cite web | url =http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck05/series_2/effects.html | title =Red Dwarf Series II Effects | publisher =www.reddwarf.co.uk |accessdate =2008-01-07] To achieve the effect of flying up and over the exploding console, Charles bounced off a small trampoline - that was out of shot - and this was matched up to the earlier establishing shot.cite video | people =Charles, Craig | title =It's Cold Outside documentary | medium =DVD | publisher =BBC | location =Bodysnatcher DVD Boxset disc 1 | date =2007 ]

Charles Augins was brought in to choreograph the Tongue Tied sequence for the next episode "Parallel Universe", but the writers were so impressed that they offered him the role of Queeg as well.cite web | url =http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck05/series_2/casting.html | title =Red Dwarf Series II Casting | publisher =www.reddwarf.co.uk |accessdate =2008-01-07]

Cultural references

Besides the finale "" parody of Holly singing as he gets erased cite web | url =http://www.imdb.com/rg/title-tease/movieconnections/title/tt0684175/movieconnections | title =Queeg movie connections | publisher =www.imdb.com |accessdate =2008-01-24] he also sings the theme tune from "High Noon" as he goes off to face his showdown with Queeg.cite web | url =http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck05/series_2/music.html | title =Red Dwarf Series II Music | publisher =www.reddwarf.co.uk |accessdate =2008-01-07]

Holly references the London football club Tottenham Hotspur, "A load of tottenham, that is. A steaming pile of hotspur", when he replies to Queeg's accusations. Among the game of death choices that Holly proposes are Draughts, poker, Subbuteo, Snakes and Ladders, Monopoly, Cluedo and Noughts and Crosses before finally agreeing with Queeg's choice of chess.

Queeg is named after Captain Queeg from "The Caine Mutiny", but Holly's "This is mutiny, Mr Queeg" quote is from "Mutiny on the Bounty".

Reception

The episode was originally broadcast on the British television channel BBC2 on the 4 October 1988 in the 9:00 pm evening slot.cite web | =|url =http://catalogue.bbc.co.uk/catalogue/infax/programme/NMRE807J |title =BBC Programme Catalogue - RED DWARF - QUEEG | publisher =BBC | accessdate =2007-12-10] The Series II review by Gavrielle mentioned that "the script's great, and none of the cast put a foot wrong in extracting the maximum from it."cite web | url =http://www.reviewsbygavrielle.com/dwarf2.shtml | title =Red Dwarf Episode Guide: Series II | publisher =www.reviewsbygavrielle.com |accessdate =2008-01-24] Norman Lovett, who played Holly, stated, in the Series II documentary "It's Cold Outside", that the episode was one of his favourites.cite video | people =Lovett, Norman | title =It's Cold Outside documentary | medium =DVD | publisher =BBC | location =Bodysnatcher DVD Boxset disc 1 | date =2007 ] It also came 9th place in a "Red Dwarf Smegazine" readers' poll with 4.4% of the overall votes.Readers survey results, "Red Dwarf Smegazine", p. 27., issue 10, December 1992, Fleetway Editions Ltd, ISSN 0965-5603]

Remastering

The remastering of Series I to III was carried out during the late 1990s.cite web | url =http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck01/dvd_remasters_of_the_universe_221206.html | title =Remasters of the Universe | publisher =www.reddwarf.co.uk |accessdate =2008-01-28] Changes throughout the series included replacement of the opening credits,cite web | url =http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck05/series_1/remastering.html | title =Red Dwarf Series I Remastering | publisher =www.reddwarf.co.uk |accessdate =2008-01-30] giving the picture a colour grade and filmizing,cite video | people =Remastering Crew | title =The End Re-Mastered DVD Commentary | medium =DVD | publisher =BBC | location =Bodysnatcher DVD Boxset Red disc | date =2007 ] computer generated special effects of "Red Dwarf"cite video | people =Remastering Crew | title ='Re-Dwarf' Documentary | medium =DVD | publisher =BBC | location =Bodysnatcher DVD Boxset Red disc | date =2007 ] and many more visual and audio enhancements. Changes made specific to "Queeg" include sound effects on the meteor impact have been enhanced. Video and sound effects have been added to the original live-action footage of Rimmer's hologramatic form malfunctioning.cite video | people =Remastering Crew | title =Queeg text commentary | medium =DVD | publisher =BBC | location =Bodysnatcher DVD Boxset, Blue disc | date =2007 ]

Notes

References

External links

*
* [http://www.tv.com/red-dwarf/queeg/episode/10955/summary.html Red Dwarf: Queeg - TV.com]
* [http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck03/season2.html Series 2 episode guide at www.reddwarf.co.uk]