Marooned (Red Dwarf episode)

Infobox Red Dwarf episode
name = Marooned


image_caption = Marooned on an icy planet Lister and Rimmer only have each other for company
number = 2
airdate = November 21, 1989
writers = Rob Grant & Doug Naylor
director = Ed Bye
guests = none
series = 3"Marooned" is the second episode of science fiction sit-com "Red Dwarf" Series III,cite web | url =http://www.sitcom.co.uk/red_dwarf/series3.shtml | title =British Sitcom Guide - Red Dwarf - Series 3 | publisher =www.sitcom.co.uk |accessdate =2008-01-25] and the fourteenth in the series run.cite web | url =http://www.tv.com/red-dwarf/marooned/episode/10958/summary.html | title =TV.com - Marooned summary | publisher =www.tv.com |accessdate =2008-01-25] It premiered on the British television channel BBC2 on 21 November 1989. Written by Rob Grant and Doug Naylor, and directed by Ed Bye, the story is about Lister and Rimmer being marooned together on a bleak ice planet. The episode was re-mastered, along with the rest of the first three series, in 1998.

Plot

"Red Dwarf" is on a collision course with five black holes and Holly (Hattie Hayridge) recommends that it's time to abandon ship with the alarm call "Awooga, Awooga! Abandon ship!". Lister (Craig Charles) and Rimmer (Chris Barrie) make their getaway in "Starbug" while Kryten (Robert Llewellyn) and Cat (Danny John-Jules) take "Blue Midget". But as Rimmer regales Lister with tales of his military interests, (he reveals that in a previous life he was Alexander the Great's chief eunuch), Starbug is struck by a meteor and crash lands on an icy planet. In these conditions, rescuers could be ten feet away and still not find them. Food is short and warmth is non-existent. As a hologram Rimmer might not need either, but Lister can only hope he survives until help arrives. As personal stories are swapped Rimmer sees a side of Lister he never knew existed.Howarth & Lyons (1993) p. 61.]

To keep warm Lister starts burning Rimmer's 24,000 dollarpound notes and collection of books. When the fire burns low, Lister suggests to burn Rimmer's collection of 19th century war figures. Rimmer refuses and points out Lister's beloved Les Paul guitar would be perfect for burning. Reluctantly Lister agrees and asks for a "moment alone". Lister then quickly cuts a silhouette of his guitar into Rimmer's camphor wood chest, snaps the cut-out and puts it in the fire. Rimmer returns and sees a guitar shaped object burning away in the furnace. Rimmer states that he has made a "supreme sacrifice" and as a "man of honour" he will lay down his war figures "for the sake of friendship", after all that guitar meant the same to Lister as that camphor wood chest meant to himself. He then tells Lister exactly how much it meant to him and Lister feels guilty.

Kryten and Cat eventually discover the crashed Starbug on the icy planet and come to the rescue. Holly then informs them that there wasn't actually any black holes at all. They were five specks of grit on the scanner-scope. Unamused, Rimmer then tells Kryten the great sacrifice that Lister made and how they grew closer. Just then Lister comes back in, looking at the floor, and walks over to the locker. He opens the locker, takes out his guitar and exits. Rimmer now realises what has happened and when Kryten opens the camphor wood chest there is clearly a guitar shaped hole at the back.Howarth & Lyons (1993) p. 62.]

Production

The Starbug crash sequence was achieved by using a miniature ice planet and filmed on 35mm film stock in order to slow the footage down. The flaming meteorite was dropped from above onto the upward facing Starbug and filmed sideways on. This gave the impression of forward motion and made the meteorite's flames that desired flicker of zero gravity.cite web | url =http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck05/series_3/effects.html | title =Red Dwarf Series III Effects | publisher =www.reddwarf.co.uk |accessdate =2008-01-07] For the icy wastelands scenes with Kryten and Cat bluescreen was used, but a more realistic snowscape scene was created for Lister's blowing about scene. Soap powder was blown down the set by powerful fans.cite web | url =http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck05/series_3/effects.html | title =Red Dwarf Series III Effects | publisher =www.reddwarf.co.uk |accessdate =2008-01-07]

Scenes that were cut included the crew playing strip poker at the beginning (as seen in the Smeg Outs video released later) and the Cat's 'Mush Mush!' which was trimmed down from its larger initial state.cite web | url =http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck05/series_3/writing.html | title =Red Dwarf series III Writing | publisher =www.reddwarf.co.uk |accessdate =2008-01-07] Despite popular rumours, the dog food eaten by Craig Charles in this episode was not real. It was actually tuna mixed with meat jelly to look like dog food.Red Dwarf: Series 3: DVD - All Change, BBC DVD, 2003] The episode was originally titled "Men of Honour", referring to the theme of the story of the sacrifices Rimmer and Lister had to make. The title was later changed to the shorter "Marooned".Howarth & Lyons (1993)]

Cultural references

Among Rimmer's possessions in his camphor wood trunk include his nineteenth century replicas of Napoleon's L'Armée du Nord. Rimmer references Lieutenant-General Baron Jaquinaux of the First Cavalry Division when Lister picks the replica up. Lister comments that Rimmer is obsessed with war, half his books being about Patton, Caesar and various other historical greats. Lister references Road Runner in describing Rimmer's cowardly act in fleeing a bar room brawl. Rimmer references Newcastle Brown bottles when stating that Generals don't resort to violence. Rimmer said to Lister that he had visited Alexander the Great's palace in Macedonia.

Among the few edible items found aboard "Starbug" are a Pot Noodle, a tin of mustard powder, three water biscuits, a brown lemon, and a tube of Bonjella gum ointment. As Lister looks through Rimmer's books they all remind him of food; Charles Lamb, Herman Wouk (whose last name Lister pronounced as "Wok"), the complete works of Sir Francis Bacon, Eric Van Lustbader (arguing that food comes in vans) and Harold Pinter. As an alternative to the "Mayday" distress call, which he mistakenly believes is named for a bank holiday, Rimmer comes up with "Shrove Tuesday", "Ascension Sunday" and "The fifteenth Wednesday after Pentecost". Lister references the Ryder Cup while Rimmer compares Lister's bottom to that of two badly parked Volkswagens.

To keep warm Lister starts burning some of Rimmer's books including "Biggles' Big Adventure" and "Complete Works of Shakespeare". Rimmer name checks Shakespeare's work as Lister gets ready to burn it; "Goodbye "Hamlet"? Farewell "Macbeth"? Toodle-pip "King Lear"." He states that he's seen "West Side Story",cite web | url =http://www.imdb.com/rg/title-tease/movieconnections/title/tt0767232/movieconnections | title =Marooned movie connections | publisher =www.imdb.com |accessdate =2008-01-08] which is based on one of them and loathes the idea of burning "Richard III" with its great speech that starts "now", although he forgets the rest (presumably referencing the "Now is the winter of our discontent" speech). "Lolita" is also burned on the fire. The song Lister plays on his guitar is "She's out of My Life" by Michael Jackson.

Reception

The episode was originally broadcast on the British television channel BBC2 on 21 November 1989 in the 9:00pm evening time slot.cite web | url =http://catalogue.bbc.co.uk/catalogue/infax/programme/NMRJ901F | title =BBC - Programme Catalogue - RED DWARF III THE SAGA CONTINUUMS - 2, MAROONED | publisher =BBC |accessdate =2007-12-11] As with most Series III episodes, "Marooned" was received well with remarks like "hilarious episode" from 'Genre Online.net',cite web | url =http://www.genreonline.net/Red_Dwarf_III_DVD.html | title =Series III review at genreonline | publisher =www.genreonline.net |accessdate =2008-01-25] and "superb throughout" from 'Reviews by Gavrielle'.cite web | url =http://www.reviewsbygavrielle.com/dwarf3.shtml | title =Series III reviews by Gavrielle | publisher =www.reviewsbygavrielle.com |accessdate =2008-01-25] The episode was received just as well when it was released with the Series III DVD; 'DVD Talk' stating that "The dialogue is witty and hilarious".cite web | url =http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/read.php?ID=10049 | title =Series III at DVD Talk | publisher =www.dvdtalk.com |accessdate =2008-01-25] Chris Barrie has also said that the episode is one of his all-time favorites.cite web | url =http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/read.php?ID=10049 | title =Series III at DVD Talk | publisher =www.dvdtalk.com |accessdate =2008-01-25] However, the episode came 15th in a "Red Dwarf Magazine" readers poll, gaining 2.4% of the 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 1990's with the intention of bringing the early production values up to a standard suitable for international television.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] General 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.

There have been changes made specific to "Marooned". During the early shuttle bay scenes a blue-screen image has been added to "Starbug"'s cockpit window. Shots of "Blue Midget" and "Starbug" departing "Red Dwarf" have been replaced with CGI versions. References to Cliff Richard and the ozone layer have been removed.cite video | people =Remastering Crew | title =Marooned text commentary | medium =DVD | publisher =BBC | location =Bodysnatcher DVD Boxset, Blue disc | date =2007 ]

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".cite web | url =http://www.sci-fi-london.com/news/article/1195080035/3/red-dwarf-the-bodysnatcher-collection | title =Sci-Fi-London Film Festival - The Bodysnatcher Collection | publisher =www.sci-fi-london.com |accessdate =2008-01-30] The re-mastered series was later released, along with other material, on The Bodysnatcher DVD boxset, in 2007.cite web | url =http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck01/the_bodysnatcher_collection.html | title =The Bodysnatcher collection | publisher =www.reddwarf.co.uk |accessdate =2008-01-30]

ee also

* "Better Than Life" The second "Red Dwarf" novel which uses some of the "Marooned" plot for part of the story.cite web | url =http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck05/series_3/Aftermath.html | title =Red Dwarf Series III Aftermath | publisher =www.reddwarf.co.uk |accessdate =2008-01-25]

Notes

References

*cite book |last=Howarth |first=Chris |authorlink= |coauthors=Steve Lyons |title=Red Dwarf Programme Guide |year=1993 |publisher=Virgin Books |location= |isbn=0-86369-682-1

External links

*
* [http://www.tv.com/red-dwarf/marooned/episode/10958/summary.html Red Dwarf: Marooned - TV.com]
* [http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck03/season3.html Series III episode guide at www.reddwarf.co.uk]