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Quarantine (Red Dwarf)

2022-07-22T15:31:47Z

2A00:23C4:A41E:D301:5C2C:90E6:C8F8:A33A: /* Plot */

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}}
{{Infobox television episode
| series = [[Red Dwarf]]
| image = Quarantine (Red Dwarf).jpg
| image_size = 250px
| caption = Rimmer contracts a holo-virus and, with the help of Mr Flibble, turns against the crew
| series_no = 5
| episode = 4
| director = [[Grant Naylor]]
| writer = [[Rob Grant]] & [[Doug Naylor]]
| airdate = {{Start date|1992|03|12|df=yes}}
| guests = *[[Maggie Steed]] as Dr Hildegarde Lanstrom
*[[Red Dwarf characters#Mr. Flibble|Mr. Flibble]] as Himself
| prev = [[Terrorform]]
| next = [[Demons & Angels]]
| episode_list = List of Red Dwarf episodes
}}
"'''Quarantine'''" is the fourth episode of [[science fiction]] [[sitcom]] ''[[Red Dwarf]]'' Series V<ref name="British Sitcom Guide – Red Dwarf – Series 5">{{cite web | url =http://www.sitcom.co.uk/red_dwarf/series5.shtml | title =British Sitcom Guide – Red Dwarf – Series 5 | publisher =sitcom.co.uk |access-date =2008-01-29}}</ref> and the twenty eighth in the series run.<ref name="TV.com – Quarantine summary">{{cite web | url =http://www.tv.com/red-dwarf/quarantine/episode/10972/summary.html | title =TV.com – Quarantine summary | publisher =tv.com |access-date =2008-01-29}}</ref> It was first broadcast on the British television channel [[BBC Two|BBC2]] on 12 March 1992.<ref name="BBC – Programme Catalogue – RED DWARF V – QUARANTINE">{{cite web | url =http://catalogue.bbc.co.uk/catalogue/infax/programme/NMRE198N | title =BBC – Programme Catalogue – RED DWARF V – QUARANTINE | publisher =BBC |access-date =2007-12-12}}</ref> The episode, fifth to be filmed,<ref name="Series V Preview">Series V Preview, Red Dwarf Smegazine, issue 1, March 1992, Fleetway Editions Ltd, issn 0965-5603</ref> was the first one to be solely directed by [[Rob Grant]] and [[Doug Naylor]].<ref name="Grant and Naylor Look Back">Grant and Naylor Look Back, Red Dwarf Smegazine, issue 11, January 1993, Fleetway Editions Ltd, issn 0965-5603</ref> The episode has [[Arnold Rimmer|Rimmer]] contracting a holo-virus and turning against the rest of the crew.

==Plot==
''Red Dwarf'' receives a distress signal from a hologram of Dr. Hildegarde Lanstrom and proceed to investigate it at the Viral Research Centre. While [[Dave Lister]], [[Kryten]] and [[Cat (Red Dwarf)|Cat]] venture into the complex, [[Arnold Rimmer]] is advised to return to ''Red Dwarf'', as they plan to rescue Lanstrom but cannot bring her aboard their ''Starbug'' because it can only generate one hologram. With the same being true of ''Red Dwarf'', this raises the prospect of a 'time share' arrangement in which Rimmer would have to relinquish some of his run time. Annoyed at Kryten seemingly citing Space Corps Directives only to him, Rimmer is given a copy of the Directives Manual to read for his trip back.

Upon finding Lanstrom, Lister, Kryten and Cat find that she contracted a holo-virus that turned her insane and gave her Psionic powers, but also learn that this has shortened her life-span. The group thus opt to give her the run-around until the virus kills her, unaware of her using a radio to contact Rimmer. When Lanstrom finally dies, the group examine her research notes, discovering that she was working on a theory that viruses can be positive as well as negative and isolated a number of positive viruses.

On the return trip, Lister tests a virus that Lanstrom isolated that boosts luck, discovering it gives him incredible luck for a brief time until his body's natural defences combat it. Upon returning to ''Red Dwarf'', the group find that Rimmer has taken full control of the ship after returning ahead of them, and redirects their ''Starbug'' to the ship's [[quarantine]] bay as part of a Space Corps Directive he had read. Using the Directives, Rimmer manages to turn quarantine into a torturous experience, granting Lister, Cat and Kryten only single's quarters (as Lister is the only registered crewmate), devising a meal plan consisting solely of sprouts, and providing them with monotonous or faulty leisure facilities. Forced to endure isolation for five days and slowly finding themselves beginning to [[cabin fever|get on each other's nerves]], the group realise that they can challenge Rimmer to re-test them. However, they soon discover that he has contracted the holo-virus, suspecting that Lanstrom managed to pass it onto him via ''Starbug''{{'}}s radio. After Rimmer decides to deny the group oxygen for two hours to punish them for insanity (with their attempts at playing along only convincing Rimmer of their insanity), Lister opts to use the luck virus to save them, not only managing to get them out of quarantine, but also allowing him to find equipment that Kryten needs to purge the virus from Rimmer. After things return to normal, Rimmer is put into quarantine to make him endure it at the enjoyment of the others.

==Production==
Due to [[Juliet May]] leaving as director, the remaining episodes were directed by Rob Grant and Doug Naylor. Quarantine, which was fifth to be filmed in the series,<ref name="Series V Preview"/> was the first one to be solely directed by the co-creators.<ref name="Grant and Naylor Look Back"/> Although supposed to be a [[bottle episode]] with simple 'dialogue' for the series, Grant and Naylor found it hard going.<ref name="Grant and Naylor Look Back"/> The main scene of the Cat, Lister and Kryten arguing in the quarantine bay took a grand total of 57 minutes to record, the cast either breaking up with laughter or else having trouble with dialogue that had only recently been delivered. The increasing frustration did, however, add to the effectiveness of the scene<ref name="Red Dwarf Series V Production">{{cite web | url =http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck05/series_5/production.html | title =Red Dwarf Series V Production | publisher =reddwarf.co.uk |access-date =2008-01-07 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080104013121/http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck05/series_5/production.html  |archive-date = 2008-01-04}}</ref>

The original idea was to have each of the crew infected with Psi-powers, but this was later changed to the positive viruses story. Time constraints, coupled with the fact that it was pitched as the cheap show, meant that the script wasn't developed as well as Grant and Naylor had hoped. It was the cheap show so that the others were affordable.<ref name="Grant and Naylor Look Back"/>

[[Maggie Steed]] agreed to wear a [[prosthetic]] face mask to appear as the dying hologramatic Dr Lanstrom.<ref name="Quarantine cast and crew">{{cite web | url =https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0684174/fullcredits | title =Quarantine cast and crew | publisher =IMDb |access-date =2008-01-29}}</ref>

==Cultural references==
*Dr Hildegarde Lanstrom references [[Schopenhauer]]'s "Life without pain has no meaning" quote.

==Reception==
The episode was originally broadcast on the British television channel BBC2 on 12 March 1992 in the 9:00pm evening time slot,<ref name="BBC – Programme Catalogue – RED DWARF V – QUARANTINE"/> and was considered one of the better episodes from the series, just behind "[[Back to Reality (Red Dwarf)|Back to Reality]]".<ref name="Red Dwarf Smegazine: Survey Results">Red Dwarf Smegazine: Survey Results, issue 10, December 1992, Fleetway Editions Ltd, ISSN 0965-5603</ref> Viewers particularly enjoyed Rimmer's descent into insanity, the character of Mr. Flibble becoming a fan favourite. The episode has been described as one which "epitomizes the blend of sci-fi and comedy that made the show such a hit."<ref>Dee Amy-Chinn "Red Dwarf", in David Lavery (ed.), (2010), ''The Essential Cult Tv Reader'', page 212. University Press of Kentucky</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Wikiquote|Red_Dwarf#.22Quarantine.22|Quarantine}}
*{{BBC episode|p00bpl70|Quarantine}}
*{{IMDb episode|0684174|Quarantine}}
*[http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/guide/index.cfm?seriesID=5 Series V episode guide at www.reddwarf.co.uk]

{{Red Dwarf episodes}}

[[Category:Red Dwarf V episodes]]
[[Category:1992 British television episodes]]

Me²

2022-07-22T14:53:07Z

2A00:23C4:A41E:D301:5C2C:90E6:C8F8:A33A: /* Plot */

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}}

{{Infobox television episode
| series = [[Red Dwarf]]
| image = Me² (Red Dwarf).jpg
| image_size = 250px
| caption = Rimmer tries to outdo his double during exercise warm ups.
| series_no = 1
| episode = 6
| director = [[Ed Bye]]
| writer = [[Rob Grant]] & [[Doug Naylor]]
| airdate = {{Start date|1988|03|21|df=yes}}
| guests = {{Plainlist |
*[[Mac McDonald]] as Captain Hollister
*[[Tony Hawks]] as Indian Restaurant Advert (Voice){{citation needed|date=June 2015}} }}
| prev = [[Confidence and Paranoia]]
| next = [[Kryten (Red Dwarf)|Kryten]]
| episode_list = List of Red Dwarf episodes
}}
"'''Me²'''" (pronounced "me, [[Exponentiation|squared]]") is the sixth and final episode from series one of the [[science fiction]] [[sitcom]] ''[[Red Dwarf]]'', which was first broadcast on [[BBC Two|BBC2]] on 21 March 1988. Written by [[Rob Grant]] and [[Doug Naylor]], and directed by [[Ed Bye]]. The script was written as a late addition to the series following an electricians' strike at the BBC. The episode follows on from the cliffhanger set by "[[Confidence and Paranoia]]"—there are now two Rimmers on board ''Red Dwarf''. The episode was [[remastered]], along with the rest of the first three series, in 1998, to bring it up to a standard suitable for international broadcast.

==Plot==
[[Arnold Rimmer]] ([[Chris Barrie]]) is delighted to have a double of himself after [[Dave Lister]] ([[Craig Charles]]) activated his hologram disc, believing it would allow him to see his old girlfriend. The pair promptly move out and begin spending time with each other, the Rimmers both moving into new sleeping quarters and encouraging each other through their routines of study, exercise, sleep. Lister decides to make the most of it by enjoying his own sleeping quarters to himself and viewing a video left by Rimmer, detailing his death. Choosing to skip his lengthy monologue, he views the moment when Rimmer was being chastised by [[Captain Hollister]] ([[Mac McDonald]]) for his repair of the drive plate before the crew's death in [[The End (Red Dwarf)|the radiation surge]]. Lister soon becomes confused over Rimmer's dying words, "[[Gazpacho]] soup!", and decides to find out why he said them.

The Rimmers soon find themselves competing against each other, causing their tempers to fray and an argument to break out between the two.<ref name="Programme Guide p51">Howarth & Lyons (1993) p. 51.</ref> Lister learns that each has determined that the other must go. Deciding which one should go, Lister randomly chooses the original Rimmer. As Rimmer arrives in full uniform, including his medals for his long years of service on ''Red Dwarf'', to prepare for erasure, Lister asks him about his final words before his death. Rimmer, after becoming (stimulatedly) drunk, soon explains he was once invited to the Captain's Table for dinner, and was served Gazpacho soup for starters. Because he did not realise that it was meant to be served cold, Rimmer was humiliated by everyone when he ordered the chef take it away and bring it back hot, and thus was never invited to the Table again. Rimmer remarks that it was the worst moment in his life and prepares for his erasure, only for Lister to explain that he opted to erase the double just to hear his explanation. Rimmer, annoyed at being tricked, demands him to tell no one, to which Lister agrees before teasing him.<ref name="Programme Guide p51"/>

==Production==
When ''Red Dwarf'' first went into the studios at BBC [[Manchester]], "Me²" didn't exist. It was originally planned to end the series with "Confidence and Paranoia", but after the BBC electrician strike disrupted the production. This gave the writers, Grant and Naylor, a chance to write a different finale to the series. They discarded the then-second episode "Bodysnatcher", about [[Arnold Rimmer|Rimmer]] stealing body parts from [[Dave Lister|Lister]] to build a new body for himself, and wrote "Me²".<ref name="Red Dwarf Series 1 guide: Episode six: Me²">Red Dwarf Series 1 guide: Episode six: Me², Red Dwarf Smegazine, volume 2, issue 6, October 1993, Fleetway Editions Ltd, {{ISSN|0965-5603}}</ref> The plot of "Me²" is partly based on "Bodysnatcher", which featured Lister not getting along with his own hologram—Grant and Naylor took this basic concept and centred it around Rimmer instead.

The two Rimmer scenes were shot using a [[split screen (film)|split screen]] process, meaning that Chris Barrie would do a take on one half of the screen and then go over to the other half and do another take. The takes would be spliced together in the editing process.<ref name="Red Dwarf Series 1 guide: Episode six: Me²"/> Rimmer's embarrassing and reputation-damaging incident with [[gazpacho]] soup is based on a real incident that was only narrowly avoided by writers Rob Grant and Doug Naylor. At a meeting at [[Thames Television]], the pair were bewildered when they received cold soup, but refrained from saying anything. Afterwards, they discovered that gazpacho soup is meant to be served cold, and they had avoided the embarrassment that the fictional Rimmer would later suffer.<ref name="Red Dwarf Series 1 guide: Episode six: Me²"/>

Although [[Mac McDonald]] returned to play [[Captain Hollister]], his scene was filmed at the same time as his appearances in the first episode; "[[The End (Red Dwarf)|The End]]".<ref name="Red Dwarf Me² (1988) Full cast and crew">{{cite web | url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt00684165/fullcredits#cast | title =Red Dwarf Me² (1988) Full cast and crew | publisher =IMDb |access-date =22 January 2008}}</ref><ref name="Red Dwarf Series I Effects">{{cite web|url=http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck05/series_1/effects.html |title=Red Dwarf Series I Effects |publisher=reddwarf.co.uk |access-date=2008-01-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071218164246/http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck05/series_1/effects.html |archive-date=18 December 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Additionally, the line "What a guy!" used by Rimmer 1 when spoken to Rimmer 2 was re-used in later series by other characters in reaction to the actions of Rimmer's parallel-universe alter-ego [[Ace Rimmer]].

==Cultural references==
[[Image:me2 gazpacho globe.jpg|thumb|right|Rimmer's last gasp of "Gazpacho Soup" as the snow globe falls over]]
*[[Orson Welles]]' film ''[[Citizen Kane]]'' is referenced both directly and indirectly during this episode.<ref name="Red Dwarf movie connections">{{cite web | url =https://www.imdb.com/rg/title-tease/movieconnections/title/tt0684165/movieconnections | title =Red Dwarf movie connections | publisher =IMDb |access-date =8 January 2008}}</ref> Lister tells Rimmer that he and Cat are going to be watching ''Citizen Kane'' at the ship's cinema. The more subtle references appear in Rimmer's death scene, where a snow globe drops off the Captain's desk next to his hand, thus mirroring Kane's death in the film, and utters his cryptic last words "gazpacho soup" which hold importance in the episode. Kane's last word, "Rosebud", was the theme of the film.
*'My Diary, by Arnold J. Rimmer' was Rimmer's journal of his thoughts and deeds. He had hoped it would someday be placed alongside his historic heroes' own work; '[[Napoleon]]'s War Diaries' and 'The Memories of [[Julius Caesar]]'.
*For the reveal of his April fool's joke, Holly dons a [[Groucho Marx]] comedy [[Groucho glasses|glasses-nose-and-moustache]].

==Reception==
The episode was originally broadcast on the British television channel BBC2 on 21 March 1988 in the 9:00 p.m. time slot.<ref name="BBC Programme Catalogue RED DWARF — Me2">{{cite web | url=http://catalogue.bbc.co.uk/catalogue/infax/programme/NMRE759B | title=BBC Programme Catalogue RED DWARF — ME2 | publisher=BBC | access-date=5 December 2007 }}{{Dead link|date=December 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Both co-creators/writers, Grant and Naylor, consider "Me²" as one of the successes of the first series. Grant stating that it is one of his favourite shows and the idea of how you would react if you met yourself was an intriguing story.<ref name="Red Dwarf Series 1 guide: Episode six: Me²"/> Despite coming 25th in a ''Red Dwarf Smegazine'' readers poll, with 0.9% of the votes, the episode was considered one of the better efforts from the first series.<ref name="Red Dwarf Smegazine: Survey Results">Readers survey results, ''Red Dwarf Smegazine'', p. 27., issue 10, December 1992, Fleetway Editions Ltd, {{ISSN|0965-5603}}</ref>

==Remastering==
{{See also|Red Dwarf remastered}}

The remastering of Series I to III was carried out during the late 1990s.<ref name="Remasters of the Universe">{{cite web|url=http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck01/dvd_remasters_of_the_universe_221206.html |title=Remasters of the Universe |publisher=reddwarf.co.uk |access-date=28 January 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080104012351/http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck01/dvd_remasters_of_the_universe_221206.html |archive-date=4 January 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Changes throughout the series included replacement of the opening credits,<ref name="Red Dwarf Series I Remastering">{{cite web|url=http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck05/series_1/remastering.html |title=Red Dwarf Series I Remastering |publisher=reddwarf.co.uk |access-date=30 January 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080118140243/http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck05/series_1/remastering.html |archive-date=18 January 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> giving the picture a colour grade and [[filmising]],<ref name="The End Re-Mastered Commentary">{{cite video | people =Remastering Crew | title =The End Re-Mastered DVD Commentary | medium =DVD | publisher =BBC | at =Bodysnatcher DVD Boxset disc 1 | date =2007 }}</ref> [[Computer-generated imagery|computer-generated]] [[special effects]] of the ''Red Dwarf'' spaceship<ref name="Re-Dwarf">{{cite video | people =Remastering Crew | title ='Re-Dwarf' Documentary | medium =DVD | publisher =BBC | at =Bodysnatcher DVD Boxset disc 1 | date =2007 }}</ref> and many more visual and audio enhancements.<ref name="Re-Dwarf"/>

Changes specific to "Me²" include new music and sound effects over Rimmer's tribute video, fireball corridor shot added to flashback of cadmium explosion, new explosion and sound effects added to scene, shots of Lister smoking tightened or removed to keep in line with current TV standards and Rimmer 2 calling Rimmer 1 a "great nancy" was removed.<ref name="Me² text commentary">{{cite video | people =Remastering Crew | title =Me² text commentary | medium =DVD | publisher =BBC | at =Bodysnatcher DVD Boxset disc 1 | date =2007 }}</ref>

==See also==
* ''[[Infinity Welcomes Careful Drivers]]'' – The first ''Red Dwarf'' novel which expands on the episode's premise.<ref name="Programme Guide p8-9">Howarth & Lyons (1993) p. 8-9.</ref>

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==References==
* {{cite book |last=Howarth |first=Chris |author2=Steve Lyons |title=Red Dwarf Programme Guide |year=1993 |publisher=Virgin Books |isbn=0-86369-682-1 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/reddwarfprogramm0000howa }}

==External links==
{{Wikiquote|Red_Dwarf#Me.C2.B2|Me²}}
*{{BBC episode|b0077mcw}}
*{{IMDb episode|00684165}}
*[https://archive.today/20121209091831/http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/series/1/behind-the-scenes/sources/ Episode Guide – Series 1 at RedDwarf.co.uk]

{{Red Dwarf episodes}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Me2}}
[[Category:Red Dwarf I episodes]]
[[Category:1988 British television episodes]]

Balance of Power (Red Dwarf)

2022-07-22T14:45:37Z

2A00:23C4:A41E:D301:5C2C:90E6:C8F8:A33A: /* Plot */

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}}
{{Infobox television episode
| series = [[Red Dwarf]]
| image = RD Balance of Power.jpg
| image_size = 250px
| caption = Lister tries to pass the chef exam so he can outrank Rimmer.
| series_no = 1
| episode = 3
| director = [[Ed Bye]]
| writer = [[Rob Grant]] & [[Doug Naylor]]
| airdate = {{Start date|1988|02|29|df=yes}}
| guests = {{Plainlist |
* [[Clare Grogan|C P Grogan]] as [[Kristine Kochanski]]
* [[Paul Bradley (British actor)|Paul Bradley]] as Chen
* David Gillespie as Selby
* [[Mark Williams (actor)|Mark Williams]] as Peterson
* Rupert Bates as Trout A La Creme (Voice), Chef }}
| prev = [[Future Echoes]]
| next = [[Waiting for God (Red Dwarf)|Waiting for God]]
| episode_list = List of Red Dwarf episodes
}}
"'''Balance of Power'''" is the third episode of [[science fiction]] [[comedy]] ''[[Red Dwarf]]'' series one.<ref name="British Sitcom Guide — Red Dwarf — Series 1">{{cite web | url =http://www.sitcom.co.uk/red_dwarf/series1.shtml | title =British Sitcom Guide — Red Dwarf — Series 1 | publisher =sitcom.co.uk |access-date =31 January 2008}}</ref> It was first broadcast on the British television channel [[BBC2]] on 29 February 1988.<ref name="BBC Programme Catalogue RED DWARF — BALANCE OF POWER">{{cite web|url=http://catalogue.bbc.co.uk/catalogue/infax/programme/NMRE755A |title=BBC Programme Catalogue RED DWARF — BALANCE OF POWER |publisher=BBC |access-date=5 December 2008 }}{{dead link|date=October 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Written by [[Rob Grant]] and [[Doug Naylor]], and directed by [[Ed Bye]].<ref name="Red Dwarf Balance of Power (1988) Full cast and crew">{{cite web | url =https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0684145/fullcredits#cast | title =Red Dwarf Balance of Power (1988) Full cast and crew | publisher =IMDb |access-date =22 January 2008}}</ref> The story revolves around [[Dave Lister|Lister]]'s desire to bring his one true love, [[Kristine Kochanski]], back as a hologram.

Considered to be one of the weakest from the first series,<ref name="Red Dwarf Smegazine: Survey Results">Episode Survey Results, Red Dwarf Smegazine, issue 10, December 1992, Fleetway Editions Ltd, {{ISSN|0965-5603}}</ref> the episode was re-mastered, along with the rest of the first three series, in 1998. This was an attempt to change the standard of the episode suitable for international broadcast.<ref name="Sci-Fi-London Film Festival — The Bodysnatcher Collection">{{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=sci-fi-london.com |access-date=30 January 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080408061055/http://www.sci-fi-london.com/news/article/1195080035/3/red-dwarf-the-bodysnatcher-collection |archive-date=8 April 2008 }}</ref>

==Plot==
[[Arnold Rimmer]] ([[Chris Barrie]]) seeks to keep the ship "spick and span" and arranges for [[Dave Lister]] ([[Craig Charles]]) to be obedient by rationing his cigarettes and threatening to jettison the ship's entire supply if he disobeys. When [[Cat (Red Dwarf)|Cat]] ([[Danny John-Jules]]) finds them, Rimmer offers him a deal to return them in exchange for getting all the fish he wants from the food dispensers.<ref name=" Programme Guide p47">Howarth & Lyons (1993) p. 47.</ref> However, Lister refuses to let this get to him, instead wondering why he could not be with a hologram of his true love [[Kristine Kochanski]] ([[Clare Grogan]]). When he questions [[Holly (Red Dwarf)|Holly]] ([[Norman Lovett]]) over his decision to revive Rimmer and not anyone else, particularly Kochanski or one of his drinking buddies, the computer explains that Rimmer was considered by him to be the best to keep Lister sane, citing that Rimmer was the person whom Lister interacted with the most. Wishing to spend his Friday night relaxing rather than reviewing the ship's food inventory as Rimmer intended, Lister spends his evening in the ship's empty discotheque, reminiscing about his drinking buddies and Kochanski.

Regardless of Holly's answer, Lister demands Rimmer to let him have Kochanski as a hologram to go on a date with for a few hours. Rimmer refuses his request, believing that he would not be switched back on. This leads to an argument between the pair, which prompts Lister to declare his intention to outrank him by passing his exams. Rimmer naturally assumes he plans to pass the Astronavigation Exam, which Lister and himself have failed before. He soon discovers that Lister seeks to pass the chef's exam, which is much easier and will still allow him to outrank Rimmer.<ref name=" Programme Guide p47"/> Rimmer gets increasingly nervous when Lister appears to be doing well with his studies. Despite Lister's offers to abandon the exam if he were allowed to have Kochanski, Rimmer still refuses. Rimmer realises Lister may pass, so to prevent this, Rimmer corrupts his image to appear and sound like Kochanski and convince him that she wouldn't be interested in someone like Lister, but fails when he acts out of character. Once the exam results come in, Rimmer nervously asks how he did, to which Lister smugly implies that he passed, refusing to show off his results.<ref name=" Programme Guide p48">Howarth & Lyons (1993) p. 48.</ref>

==Production==
The story was written as pure [[sitcom]] at the request from the BBC who didn't want the show to be too heavy on [[science fiction]] elements.
<ref name="Episode Guide: Series 1 episode 3: Balance of Power">Episode Guide: Series 1 episode 2: Balance of Power, Red Dwarf Smegazine, volume 2 issue 3, July 1993, Fleetway Editions Ltd, {{ISSN|0965-5603}}</ref>

Lister's disco music, "Fakin'", was by Motor City Diva and [[Danny John-Jules]].<ref name="castandcrew">{{cite web |url= http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/guide/index.cfm?seriesID=1&sectionID=cast-and-crew |title=RedDwarf.co.uk: Cast & Crew – Series I |access-date=28 November 2012}}</ref>

Returning ''Red Dwarf'' crew members, and Lister's drinking buddies, included [[Paul Bradley (British actor)|Paul Bradley]] as Chen, David Gillespie as Selby and [[Mark Williams (actor)|Mark Williams]] as Peterson. [[Clare Grogan]] also returned as Kochanski.<ref name="Red Dwarf Balance of Power (1988) Full cast and crew"/>

==Reception==
"Balance of Power" was originally broadcast on the British television channel BBC2 on 28 February 1988 in the 9:00pm evening time slot.<ref name="BBC Programme Catalogue RED DWARF — BALANCE OF POWER"/> Although the pilot episode "[[The End (Red Dwarf)|The End]]" drew in over five million viewers, this figure was now tailing off slightly as the series progressed.<ref name="Programme Guide p8-9">Howarth & Lyons (1993) p. 8-9.</ref> The episode was considered by ''Red Dwarf Smegazine'' readers to be one of the weakest from the first series, coming last in a readers poll with 0.1% of the votes.<ref name="Red Dwarf Smegazine: Survey Results"/>

==Remastering==
{{See also|Red Dwarf remastered}}

The remastering of Series I to III was carried out during the late 1990s.<ref name="Remasters of the Universe">{{cite web|url=http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck01/dvd_remasters_of_the_universe_221206.html |title=Remasters of the Universe |publisher=reddwarf.co.uk |access-date=28 January 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080104012351/http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck01/dvd_remasters_of_the_universe_221206.html |archive-date=4 January 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Changes throughout the series included replacement of the opening credits,<ref name="Red Dwarf Series I Remastering">{{cite web|url=http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck05/series_1/remastering.html |title=Red Dwarf Series I Remastering |publisher=reddwarf.co.uk |access-date=30 January 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080118140243/http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck05/series_1/remastering.html |archive-date=18 January 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> giving the picture a colour grade and [[filmising]],<ref name="The End Re-Mastered Commentary">{{cite video | people =Remastering Crew | title =The End Re-Mastered DVD Commentary | medium =DVD | publisher =BBC | at =Bodysnatcher DVD Boxset disc 1 | date =2007 }}</ref> [[Computer-generated imagery|computer generated]] [[special effects]] of ''Red Dwarf''<ref name="Re-Dwarf">{{cite video | people =Remastering Crew | title ='Re-Dwarf' Documentary | medium =DVD | publisher =BBC | at =Bodysnatcher DVD Boxset disc 1 | date =2007 }}</ref> and many more visual and audio enhancements.<ref name="Re-Dwarf"/> Changes specific to "Balance of Power" include a new shot of Lister riding his bike down the ship's corridor,<ref name="Balance of Power Re-Mastered text commentary">{{cite video | people =Remastering Crew | title =Balance of Power Re-Mastered text commentary | medium =DVD | publisher =BBC | at =Bodysnatcher DVD Boxset disc 1 | date =2007 }}</ref> new re-shot scenes with new dialogue from Holly, pieces of dialogue removed entailing the 'black card' situation lines.<ref name="Balance of Power Re-Mastered text commentary"/> A music cue has been added to scenes of Rimmer, when using Kochanksi's hologramatic body, trying to distract Lister during his chef's exam.<ref name="Balance of Power Re-Mastered text commentary"/> Also, certain shots and some inconsistent dialogue have been removed from the same scene.<ref name="Balance of Power Re-Mastered text commentary"/>

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==References==
*{{cite book |last=Howarth |first=Chris |author2=Steve Lyons |title=Red Dwarf Programme Guide |year=1993 |publisher=Virgin Books |isbn=0-86369-682-1 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/reddwarfprogramm0000howa }}

==External links==
{{Wikiquote|Red_Dwarf#.22Balance_of_Power.22|Balance of Power}}
*{{BBC episode|b0077lw4|Balance of Power}}
*{{IMDb episode|0684145|Balance of Power}}
*[https://archive.today/20121209091831/http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/series/1/behind-the-scenes/sources/ Episode Guide – Series 1 at RedDwarf.co.uk]

{{Red Dwarf episodes}}

[[Category:Red Dwarf I episodes]]
[[Category:1988 British television episodes]]