Holoship

Infobox Red Dwarf episode
name = Holoship


image_caption = Rimmer leaves "Red Dwarf" to reside on the holoship "Enlightenment"
number = 1
airdate = February 20, 1992
writers = Rob Grant & Doug Naylor
director = Juliet May
guests = Jane Horrocks
Matthew Marsh
Don Warrington
Simon Day
Jane Montgomery
Lucy Briers
series = 5"Holoship" is the first episode of science fiction sit-com "Red Dwarf" Series Vcite web | url =http://www.sitcom.co.uk/red_dwarf/series5.shtml | title =British Sitcom Guide - Red Dwarf - Series 5 | publisher =www.sitcom.co.uk |accessdate =2008-01-29] and the twenty fifth in the series run.cite web | url =http://www.tv.com/red-dwarf/holoship/episode/10969/summary.html | title =TV.com - Holoship summary | publisher =www.tv.com |accessdate =2008-01-25] It was first broadcast on the British television channel BBC2 on 20 February 1992.cite web | url =http://catalogue.bbc.co.uk/catalogue/infax/programme/NMRE194L | title =BBC - BBC - Programme Catalogue - RED DWARF V - HOLOSHIP | publisher =BBC |accessdate =2007-12-12] Written by Rob Grant and Doug Naylor, and directed by Juliet May.cite web | url =http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0684159/fullcredits | title =Holoship cast and crew | publisher =www.imdb.com |accessdate =2008-01-29] The episode, which was the third filmed,Series V Preview, Red Dwarf Smegazine, issue 1, March 1992,Fleetway Editions Ltd, issn 0965-5603] was brought forward to open the series.Grant and Naylor Look Back, Red Dwarf Smegazine, issue 11, January 1993, Fleetway Editions Ltd, issn 0965-5603]

Plot

"Starbug" comes into contact with another craft that doesn't show up on the monitors. It is a Holoship called the "Enlightenment", consisting of a vessel and crew that are entirely computer-generated holograms. What is more, the crew are holograms of Space Corps elite personnel. The fact that the ship's regulations impose sex twice a day is an added bonus. Rimmer falls in love with one of the "Enlightenment"'s crew members, Commander Nirvanah Crane. With an existence where he can eat, drink, touch, feel and taste, Rimmer feels that the "Enlightenment" is his true spiritual home.

However one obstacle stands in Rimmer's way: "Enlightenment" already has a full crew and new members can only join on a dead-man's-shoes basis. If Rimmer succeeds in an intelligence contest it will be at the expense of a fellow hologram's existence. Rimmer might not be excessively bright but he is shrewd and furthermore he's got a perfect plan - he'll cheat. Using a mind-patching operation he significantly increases his IQ. But during the contest the mind-patch fails as his mind rejects it. Despite this he is assigned to the "Enlightenment" and bids farewell to his acquaintances on "Red Dwarf".

Rimmer arrives on the "Enlightenment" and is given Nirvanah Crane's quarters. Rimmer didn't realise it but Crane was his opponent in the intelligence contest - she had sacrificed herself so that he could live the life of his dreams. Going back on his earlier statement that career would always come before love, Rimmer resigns his new commission and returns to "Red Dwarf", so that Nirvanah can be re-instated.

Production

Although "Holoship" was filmed third,Series V Preview, Red Dwarf Smegazine, issue 1, March 1992, Fleetway Editions Ltd, issn 0965-5603] it was chosen to lead off the series as it was felt that it would draw in viewers the same way as "Camille" had done the previous series. It worked as the viewing figures increased as the series progressed.Grant and Naylor Look Back, Red Dwarf Smegazine, issue 11, January 1993, Fleetway Editions Ltd, issn 0965-5603]

The Holoship model was built by Paul McGuiness. The transparent perspex miniature was a casualty of the editing cut.cite web | url=http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck05/series_5/effects.html | title =Red Dwarf Series V Effects | publisher =www.reddwarf.co.uk |accessdate =2008-01-07] One of the cut scenes showed the ship changing shape.cite book |last= |first= |authorlink= |coauthors=Chris Howarths & Steve Lyons |title=Red Dwarf Programme Guide |year= |publisher=Virgin Books |location=Section 1: The History |isbn=0-86369-682-1] Besides the holoship special effects, other scenes and lines were cut out or trimmed down, including many holoship crew scenes and Holly's unhelpful speech to Rimmer.cite web | url =http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck05/series_5/production.html | title =Red Dwarf Series V Production | publisher =www.reddwarf.co.uk |accessdate =2008-01-15]

Guest stars included Jane Horrocks as Nirvanah Crane, Matthew Marsh as Captain Platini, Don Warrington as Commander Binks, Simon Day as No. 2, Jane Montgomery as No. 1 and Lucy Briers as Harrison.cite web | url =http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0684159/fullcredits | title =Holoship cast and crew | publisher =www.imdb.com |accessdate =2008-01-29]

Cultural references

"The King of Kings", the story of Jesus, is mentioned by Lister as a film that Rimmer stated as unrealistic. Kryten references Albert Einstein in trying to convince Rimmer that you are not merely your job. Rimmer suggests that St. Francis of Assisi himself said "Never give a sucker an even break", but as Kryten states, if so it must have been strictly off the record.

Reception

The episode was originally broadcast on the British television channel BBC2 on 20 February 1992 in the 9:00pm evening time slot. Despite going out first the episode was considered the worst in this series, gaining 0.2% in the Red Dwarf Smegazine poll.Red Dwarf Smegazine: Survey Results, issue 10, December 1992, Fleetway Editions Ltd, ISSN 0965-5603] Sci-Fi Dimensions stating that while the production values had increased greatly, the stories are becoming pedestrian and predictable.cite web | url =http://www.scifidimensions.com/Apr05/reddwarf5and6.htm | title =Series V review at Sci-Fi Dimensions | publisher =www.scifidimensions.com |accessdate =2008-01-29] Although others have noted "Holoship" as "one of the great episodes".cite web | url =http://www.reviewsbygavrielle.com/dwarf3.shtml | title =Series V review by Gavrielle | publisher =www.reviewsbygavrielle.com |accessdate =2008-01-29]

References

External links

*
* [http://www.tv.com/red-dwarf/holoship/episode/10969/summary.html Red Dwarf: Holoship - TV.com]
* [http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck03/season5.html Episode Guide - Series 5]