Balance of Power (Red Dwarf) - Revision history

Kurt: /* Remastering */

2023-02-12T23:08:19Z

Remastering

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:08, 12 February 2023
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	{{See also\|Red Dwarf remastered}}		{{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"/>		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]] [[visual 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==		==Notes==

Kurt at 23:07, 12 February 2023

2023-02-12T23:07:40Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:07, 12 February 2023
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	~~{{Use dmy dates\|date=September 2021}}~~
	{{Infobox television episode		{{Infobox television episode
	\| series = [[Red Dwarf]]		\| series = [[Red Dwarf]]
	\| image = RD Balance of Power.jpg		\| image = RD Balance of Power.jpg
	~~\| image_size = 250px~~
	\| caption = Lister tries to pass the chef exam so he can outrank Rimmer.		\| caption = Lister tries to pass the chef exam so he can outrank Rimmer.
	\| series_no = 1		\| series_no = 1

Kurt: /* External links */

2023-01-11T14:07:54Z

External links

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:07, 11 January 2023
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	==External links==		==External links==
	~~{{Wikiquote\|Red_Dwarf#.22Balance_of_Power.22\|Balance of Power}}~~
	*{{BBC episode\|b0077lw4\|Balance of Power}}		*{{BBC episode\|b0077lw4\|Balance of Power}}
	*{{IMDb episode\|0684145\|Balance of Power}}		*{{IMDb episode\|0684145\|Balance of Power}}

Kurt: 1 revision imported

2022-08-25T20:31:18Z

1 revision imported

← Older revision	Revision as of 15:31, 25 August 2022
(No difference)

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

2022-07-22T14:45:37Z

Plot

New page

{{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]]