Meltdown (Red Dwarf episode)

Infobox Red Dwarf episode
name = Meltdown


number = 6
airdate = March 21, 1991
writers = Rob Grant & Doug Naylor
director = Ed Bye
guests = Martin Friend
series = 4

"Meltdown" is the sixth, and final, episode of science fiction sitcom "Red Dwarf" Series IVcite web | url =http://www.sitcom.co.uk/red_dwarf/series4.shtml | title =British Sitcom Guide - Red Dwarf - Series 4 | publisher =www.sitcom.co.uk |accessdate =2008-01-28] and the twenty fourth episode in the series run.cite web | url =http://www.tv.com/red-dwarf/meltdown/episode/10968/summary.html | title =TV.com - Meltdownsummary | publisher =www.tv.com |accessdate =2008-01-25] It was first broadcast on the British television channel BBC2 on 21 March 1991. Written by Rob Grant and Doug Naylor, and directed by Ed Bye.cite web | url =http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0684164/fullcredits | title =Meltdown cast and crew | publisher =www.imdb.com |accessdate =2008-01-28] The episode, featuring Wax-Droids of famous historical figures involved in a war of good versus evil, was postponed due to the Gulf War conflict.

Plot

Kryten discovers a matter transporter device in the research lab of "Red Dwarf". It can convert an individual into digital information and then transmit them in the form of light beams to another point in space. The crew decide to explore the nearest planet with breathable air, thousands of light years away.Howarth & Lyons (1993) p. 73.] Rimmer and Kryten go first, but are chased by two Godzilla-like dinosaurs and taken prisoner by a gun-toting Elvis Presley. Lister and the Cat follow and are captured by Hitler.Howarth & Lyons (1993) p. 74.]

While in jail Lister and Cat are interrogated by the Roman Emperor Caligula and witness the execution of Winnie the Pooh by a firing squad consisting of Al Capone, Mussolini, Richard III and James Last. It's clear that something very strange is going on. It soon becomes apparent that they have travelled to Wax-world - a Wax-Droid theme park that has been abandoned for millions of years, during which time the droids have broken their programming and now the inhabitants of Villain World are waging war against Hero World.

Rimmer sees this as his destiny to lead the small remaining bunch of intellectuals pacifists and celebrities in their struggle against the massed forces of evil. But since his main strategy seems to be a charge through the minefield under cover of daylight, it probably isn't one of his better ideas. Thanks to a suicide mission by Queen Victoria, and a handy thermostat the enemy is defeated. Although all his troops are killed too Rimmer sees it as a fine victory. Lister on the other hand is disgusted by the pointlessness of it all, and to punish Rimmer he requests Rimmer's hologram-projecting light bee and swallows it. He then assures Kryten that Rimmer will be okay "He'll come out in a couple a days".

Production

"Meltdown" was the first episode to feature the crew on a planet for most of the running time. For the scene transitional cuts the usual Red Dwarf model shots were replaced by a technique of stretching the shot, cutting then releasing it back. This was produced in post-production and cite web | url =http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck05/series_4/Production.html | title =Red Dwarf Series IV Production | publisher =www.reddwarf.co.uk |accessdate =2008-01-10] were accompanied by a military style drum riff.cite web | url =http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck05/series_4/music.html | title =Red Dwarf Series IV Music | publisher =www.reddwarf.co.uk |accessdate =2008-01-10] The intentionally unconvincing monsters of Wax World's prehistoric section were taken from footage of the monster movie Gappa (1967). also known as Daikyoju Gappa (1967).cite web | url =http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck05/series_4/Production.html | title =Red Dwarf Series IV Production | publisher =www.reddwarf.co.uk |accessdate =2008-01-10]

The episode turned out to be director Ed Bye's last. He had thought that "Red Dwarf IV" would have been the last series and he agreed with his wife, Ruby Wax, to direct her television show "The Full Wax". He would however return to "Red Dwarf" to direct on Series VII and VIII.Interview: Ed Bye, Red Dwarf Smegazine, issue 12, February 1993, Fleetway Editions Ltd, ISSN 0965-5603]

The many guest appearances included Clayton Mark as waxdroid Elvis Presley, Kenneth Hadley as waxdroid Adolf Hitler, Martin Friend as waxdroid Albert Einstein, Stephen Tiller as waxdroid Pythagoras, Jack Klaff as waxdroid Abraham Lincoln, Tony Hawks as waxdroid Caligula, Michael Burrell as waxdroid Pope Gregory, Forbes Masson as waxdroid Stan Laurel, Roger Blake as waxdroid Noel Coward and Pauline Bailey as waxdroid Marilyn Monroe.cite web | url =http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0684164/fullcredits | title =Meltdown cast and crew | publisher =www.imdb.com |accessdate =2008-01-28]

Cultural references

The plot theme of wax droids running amok is based on the 1973 film "Westworld".cite web | url =http://www.imdb.com/rg/title-tease/movieconnections/title/tt0684164/movieconnections | title =Red Dwarf movie connections | publisher =www.imdb.com |accessdate =2008-01-08] When the Elvis wax droid explains the war to Kryten and Rimmer he states that all the best good warriors are gone, John Wayne, Sir Lancelot, Joan of Arc, Nelson, Wellington, even Doris Day. The Pythagoras wax droid also refers to several members from the "Villain World": Hitler, Napoleon, Messalina, The Boston Strangler, and Caligula, among others. Lister references the 1967 film "The Dirty Dozen" when he sees what Rimmer's doing with the good Wax-Droids.

Reception

The episode was first broadcast on the British television channel BBC2 on 21 March 1991 in the 9:00pm evening time slot.cite web | url =http://catalogue.bbc.co.uk/catalogue/infax/programme/NMRI076J | title =BBC - BBC - Programme Catalogue - RED DWARF IV - MELTDOWN | publisher =BBC |accessdate =2007-12-12] It wasn't originally intended to be shown as the series' finale, but because of the Gulf War conflict at the time the BBC had decided to postpone the episode due to its war theme. When the hostilities had ceased the episode was able to be broadcast at the end of the series' run.cite book |last=Howarth |first=Chris |authorlink= |coauthors=Steve Lyons |title=Red Dwarf Programme Guide |year=1993 |publisher=Virgin Books |location=Section 1: The History |isbn=0-86369-682-1]

Although Series IV performed well overall in the "Red Dwarf" magazine poll, "Meltdown" was considered the least favourite from the series, gaining 1.3% of the overall votes,Red Dwarf Smegazine: Survey Results, issue 10, December 1992, Fleetway Editions Ltd, ISSN 0965-5603] although its opening scenes has been described as "terrific" and a "real gem".cite web | url =http://www.reviewsbygavrielle.com/dwarf4.shtml | title =Meltdown review | publisher =www.reviewsbygavrielle.com |accessdate =2008-01-28]

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/white-hole/episode/10968/summary.html Red Dwarf: Meltdown - TV.com]
* [http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck03/season4.html Episode Guide - Series 4 at RedDwarf.co.uk]