Stoke Me a Clipper

Infobox Red Dwarf episode
name = Stoke Me a Clipper


image_caption = Ace Rimmer to the rescue
number = 2
airdate = January 24, 1997
writers = Paul Alexander and Doug Naylor
director = Ed Bye
guests = Brian Cox
Sarah Alexander
Ken Morley
Alison Senior
Kai Maurer
Stephan Grothgar
Andy Gell
series = 7

"Stoke Me a Clipper" is the second episode of science fiction sit-com "Red Dwarf" Series VII and the 38th in the series run. It was first broadcast on the British television channel BBC2 on 24 January 1997.cite web | url =http://catalogue.bbc.co.uk/catalogue/infax/programme/NMYJ412R | title =BBC - Programme Catalogue - RED DWARF VI - STOKE ME A CLIPPER | publisher =BBC |accessdate =2007-12-12] Written by Paul Alexander & Doug Naylor and directed by Ed Bye. It was the first episode to involve a writer other than co-creator/writers Grant or Naylor.

Plot

Ace Rimmer, Rimmer's (Chris Barrie) better looking heroic alternate being, makes a rescue attempt on a captured princess. Although he succeeds in rescuing her, Ace takes a fatal bullet hit. Meanwhile on "Starbug", Lister (Craig Charles) is tired of taking cold showers, nearly using all the water supplies in the process, so he goes into the artificial reality machine with his book of cheats. He challenges the King's best knight so he can win the honour of spending a day and a night with the Queen of Camelot. Using his cheat codes he defeats the knight, claims his prize and with one last cheat the Queen's chastity belt falls freely to the ground.

Ace transports into "Starbug"'s dimension and reveals that he is dying and wants Rimmer to replace him as Ace. He also tells Rimmer of the Ace secret — the fact that alternate versions of Rimmer from countless dimensions have all taken the reins to be Ace. Now Ace must train Rimmer to succeed him and keep the legend going. After encouragement from Lister, Rimmer decides to accept the offer and begins his training. With the help of Lister, Cat (Danny John-Jules) and Kryten (Robert Llewellyn) , Rimmer succeeds with his training and when Ace dies, he dons Ace's outfit and says his goodbye to the crew before leaving "Starbug".

Production

Going solo for Series VII had worried Doug Naylor. To help him with the writing duties he hired a small group of writers. Paul Alexander, a Jasper Carrott writing regular, was the first one to help out. This was a new situation to Naylor having previously had control over every script. He would however re-write and edit each script to make them fit into the "Red Dwarf"'s creative pedigree.cite web | url =http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck05/series_7/writing.html | title =Red Dwarf Series VII Writing | publisher =Red Dwarf.co.uk |accessdate =2007-12-17]

This episode featured a large number of famous guest actors. Scottish-born Hollywood movie veteran Brian Cox played the Medieval English King. British comedy actress Sarah Alexander portrayed the French Queen. English actor Ken Morley portrayed the German commander Captain Voorhese. British television actress Alison Senior portratyed Princess Bonjella. A German television comedy duo, Kai Maurer and Stephan Grothgar, portrayed the Wehrmacht soldiers who get hit on the head by the crocodile. Andy Gell also appeared as a Soldier.

Chris Barrie had decided to leave the series at this point, and had committed to four more episodes, but was written out in the second episode anyway, allowing more time to develop Kochanski's character, who would be arriving in the next episode. This episode marks the original Rimmer hologram's final 'real' appearance in the series, with his other appearances taking the forms of flashbacks and dream sequences.cite web | url =http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck05/series_7/writing.html | title =Red Dwarf Series VII Writing | publisher =Red Dwarf.co.uk |accessdate =2007-12-17]

External links

*
* [http://www.tv.com/red-dwarf/stoke-me-a-clipper/episode/10982/summary.html Red Dwarf: Stoke Me A Clipper - TV.com]
* [http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck03/season7.html Episode Guide - Series 7 at RedDwarf.co.uk]

References