Legion (Red Dwarf episode)

Infobox Red Dwarf episode
name = Legion


number = 2
airdate = October 14, 1993
writers = Rob Grant & Doug Naylor
director = Andy de Emmony
guests = Nigel Williams
series = 6

"Legion" is the second episode of science fiction sit-com "Red Dwarf" Series VIcite web | url =http://www.sitcom.co.uk/red_dwarf/series6.shtml | title =British Sitcom Guide - Red Dwarf - Series 6 | publisher =www.sitcom.co.uk |accessdate =2008-02-01] and the 32nd in the series run.cite web | url =http://www.tv.com/red-dwarf/legion/episode/10976/summary.html | title =TV.com - Legion summary | publisher =www.tv.com |accessdate =2008-02-01] It was first broadcast on the British television channel on 14 October 1993.cite web | url =http://catalogue.bbc.co.uk/catalogue/infax/programme/NMRE271Y | title =BBC - Programme Catalogue - RED DWARF VI - LEGION | publisher =BBC |accessdate =2007-12-12] Written by Rob Grant & Doug Naylor and directed by Andy de Emmony.

Plot

"Starbug" is now twenty-four hours behind "Red Dwarf" and is losing ground on the larger ship. The piloting of "Starbug" is now a long term menial task which is carried out by using shift changes. Food and water supplies are running low, so much so that water is recycled and Lister is served space weevil for dinner.

They are distracted when a tractor beam locks onto them and pulls them into a space station. They decide to explore the station for supplies when they meet a being called Legion. He proves his good faith by converting Rimmer from a "soft light" to a "hard light" hologram, thus making him able to touch and feel. He also performs an emergency appendectomy on Lister. The crew invite him to join them, but Legion insistes that they stay with him. They are shown their ideal bedrooms with everything entire room stocked with their own unique personal tastes and requirements.

Kryten states that despite the pleasant and charm of their host, they are still prisoners, and continue to lose ground on "Red Dwarf". Upon Lister's advice, they attempt to escape using a method from the film "Attack of the Surfboarding Killer Bikini Vampire Girls". When they confront Legion, and the plan fails, they discover that he is a gestalt entity - a combination of individuals melded together to form one. To defeat Legion they knock themselves out, weakening Legion one-by-one as his entity is Kryten alone. Legion is required by means of Kryten’s programming to help them escape.

Production

The working title for the episode was "Call Me Legion", and later shortened to "Legion".News From The Dwarf, Red Dwarf Smegazine, volume 2 issue 1, May 1993, Fleetway Editions Ltd, ISSN 0965-5603] This episode introduces the hologram Hardlight - an indestructible physical form which Rimmer could form into. It was becoming tiresome for the writers that Rimmer couldn't touch anything, so it was retained for the remainder of the series.cite web | url =http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck05/series_6/aftermath.html | title =Red Dwarf Series VI Aftermath | publisher =Red Dwarf.co.uk |accessdate =2007-12-17]

Nigel Williams played the character of Legion, whose costume was so tight he had to be sewn into it. Once he was in it he had to stay in it until the shoot was finished.cite web | url =http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck05/series_6/costumes.html | title =Red Dwarf Series VI Costumes | publisher =Red Dwarf.co.uk |accessdate =2007-12-17]

Cultural references

The episode title and certain dialogue reference Mark 5:9, wherein Jesus confronts a possessed man; "My name is Legion," he replied, "for we are many."cite web | url =http://www.reviewsbygavrielle.com/dwarf3.shtml | title =Series V review by Gavrielle | publisher =www.reviewsbygavrielle.com |accessdate =2008-01-29]

The "Ionian Nerve Grip" which Kryten attempts to use on Rimmer is patterned after the famous Vulcan nerve pinch from "Star Trek".

External links

*
* [http://www.tv.com/red-dwarf/legion/episode/10976/summary.html Red Dwarf: Psirens - TV.com]
* [http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck03/season6.html Episode Guide - Series 6 at RedDwarf.co.uk]

References