Kryten (Red Dwarf): Difference between revisions

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{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}}{{Infobox television episode
{{Infobox television episode
| series        = [[Red Dwarf]]
| series        = [[Red Dwarf]]
| image          = Kryten (Red Dwarf).jpg
| image          = Kryten (Red Dwarf).jpg
| image_size    = 250px
| caption        = Lister, Rimmer and Cat meet the women on the crashed ship ''Nova 5''
| caption        = Lister, Rimmer and Cat meet the women on the crashed ship ''Nova 5''
| series_no      = 2
| series_no      = 2
| episode        = 1
| episode        = 1
| director      = [[w:Ed Bye|Ed Bye]]
| director      = [[Ed Bye|Ed Bye]]
| writer        = [[w:Rob Grant|Rob Grant]] & [[w:Doug Naylor|Doug Naylor]]
| writer        = [[Rob Grant|Rob Grant]] & [[Doug Naylor|Doug Naylor]]
| airdate        = {{Start date|1988|9|6|df=y}}
| airdate        = {{Start date|1988|9|6|df=y}}
| guests        = [[w:David Ross (actor)|David Ross]] as [[Kryten]]<br>[[w:Johanna Hargreaves|Johanna Hargreaves]] as Esperanto Woman<br>[[w:Tony Slattery|Tony Slattery]] as Android Actor
| guests        = [[David Ross (actor)|David Ross]] as [[Kryten]]<br>[[Johanna Hargreaves|Johanna Hargreaves]] as Esperanto Woman<br>[[Tony Slattery|Tony Slattery]] as Android Actor
| prev          = [[Me²]]
| prev          = [[Me²]]
| next          = [[Better Than Life (Red Dwarf episode)|Better Than Life]]
| next          = [[Better Than Life (Red Dwarf episode)|Better Than Life]]
| episode_list = List of Red Dwarf episodes
| episode_list = List of Red Dwarf episodes
}}
}}
"'''Kryten'''" is the seventh episode<ref name="TV.com&nbsp;— Kryten summary">{{cite web | url =http://www.tv.com/red-dwarf/kryten/episode/10951/summary.html | title =TV.com&nbsp;— Kryten summary | publisher =tv.com | access-date =24 January 2008 | archive-date =9 May 2009 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20090509011345/http://www.tv.com/red-dwarf/kryten/episode/10951/summary.html | url-status =dead }}</ref> from [[w:science fiction|science fiction]] [[w:sitcom|sitcom]] ''[[Red Dwarf]]'', the first from series two,<ref name="British Sitcom Guide&nbsp;— Red Dwarf&nbsp;— Series 2">{{cite web | url =http://www.sitcom.co.uk/red_dwarf/series2.shtml | title =British Sitcom Guide&nbsp;— Red Dwarf&nbsp;— Series 2 | publisher =sitcom.co.uk | access-date =24 January 2008 | archive-date =22 November 2008 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20081122104826/http://www.sitcom.co.uk/red_dwarf/series2.shtml | url-status =dead }}</ref> and was first broadcast on [[w:BBC Two|BBC2]] on 6 September 1988.  Written by [[w:Rob Grant|Rob Grant]] and [[w:Doug Naylor|Doug Naylor]], and directed by [[w:Ed Bye|Ed Bye]], this episode introduced the mechanoid character [[Kryten]]. The episode was re-mastered, along with the rest of the first three series, in 1998.
"'''Kryten'''" is the seventh episode<ref name="TV.com&nbsp;— Kryten summary">{{cite web | url =http://www.tv.com/red-dwarf/kryten/episode/10951/summary.html | title =TV.com&nbsp;— Kryten summary | publisher =tv.com | access-date =24 January 2008 | archive-date =9 May 2009 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20090509011345/http://www.tv.com/red-dwarf/kryten/episode/10951/summary.html | url-status =dead }}</ref> from [[science fiction|science fiction]] [[sitcom|sitcom]] ''[[Red Dwarf]]'', the first from series two,<ref name="British Sitcom Guide&nbsp;— Red Dwarf&nbsp;— Series 2">{{cite web | url =http://www.sitcom.co.uk/red_dwarf/series2.shtml | title =British Sitcom Guide&nbsp;— Red Dwarf&nbsp;— Series 2 | publisher =sitcom.co.uk | access-date =24 January 2008 | archive-date =22 November 2008 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20081122104826/http://www.sitcom.co.uk/red_dwarf/series2.shtml | url-status =dead }}</ref> and was first broadcast on [[BBC Two|BBC2]] on 6 September 1988.  Written by [[Rob Grant|Rob Grant]] and [[Doug Naylor|Doug Naylor]], and directed by [[Ed Bye|Ed Bye]], this episode introduced the mechanoid character [[Kryten]]. The episode was re-mastered, along with the rest of the first three series, in 1998.


==Plot==
==Plot==
''Red Dwarf'' receives a distress call from a crashed spaceship, the ''Nova 5''. When [[Arnold Rimmer]] ([[w:Chris Barrie|Chris Barrie]]), [[Dave Lister]] ([[w:Craig Charles|Craig Charles]]), and [[Cat (Red Dwarf)|Cat]] ([[w:Danny John-Jules|Danny John-Jules]]) check the call, they learn that it was made from a service mechanoid called [[Kryten]] ([[w:David Ross (actor)|David Ross]]), who reports that all of the crew are dead except for three female crew members. Eager to rescue them but learning from [[Holly (Red Dwarf)|Holly]] ([[w:Norman Lovett|Norman Lovett]]) it will take 24 hours for ''Red Dwarf'' to reach the crash site, the group boldly spruce themselves for their meeting. Upon boarding the ''Nova 5'', they quickly discover that the women are also dead and that Kryten has been oblivious to this for centuries.
''Red Dwarf'' receives a distress call from a crashed spaceship, the ''Nova 5''. When [[Arnold Rimmer]] ([[Chris Barrie|Chris Barrie]]), [[Dave Lister]] ([[Craig Charles|Craig Charles]]), and [[Cat (Red Dwarf)|Cat]] ([[Danny John-Jules|Danny John-Jules]]) check the call, they learn that it was made from a service mechanoid called [[Kryten]] ([[David Ross (actor)|David Ross]]), who reports that all of the crew are dead except for three female crew members. Eager to rescue them but learning from [[Holly (Red Dwarf)|Holly]] ([[Norman Lovett|Norman Lovett]]) it will take 24 hours for ''Red Dwarf'' to reach the crash site, the group boldly spruce themselves for their meeting. Upon boarding the ''Nova 5'', they quickly discover that the women are also dead and that Kryten has been oblivious to this for centuries.


Upon being convinced by the others of this fact, Lister takes pity on Kryten when he questions how he will cope, and decides to bring him back to ''Red Dwarf''.<ref name="prog guide p52">Howarth & Lyons (1993) p. 52.</ref> Once on the ship, Rimmer makes use of him to serve primarily himself, much to Lister's disgust. As a result, Lister tries to make Kryten live for himself by having him watch films starring [[w:Marlon Brando|Marlon Brando]] and [[w:James Dean|James Dean]]. Although his plan seems not to work, Rimmer is angered when his request for a portrait by Kryten leads him to painting the hologram in an admiral uniform while using a toilet. Kryten takes heart in Lister's tutoring and rebels by insulting Rimmer and ruining his bunk, before asking to borrow Lister's space bike and speeding off to enjoy himself.
Upon being convinced by the others of this fact, Lister takes pity on Kryten when he questions how he will cope, and decides to bring him back to ''Red Dwarf''.<ref name="prog guide p52">Howarth & Lyons (1993) p. 52.</ref> Once on the ship, Rimmer makes use of him to serve primarily himself, much to Lister's disgust. As a result, Lister tries to make Kryten live for himself by having him watch films starring [[Marlon Brando|Marlon Brando]] and [[James Dean|James Dean]]. Although his plan seems not to work, Rimmer is angered when his request for a portrait by Kryten leads him to painting the hologram in an admiral uniform while using a toilet. Kryten takes heart in Lister's tutoring and rebels by insulting Rimmer and ruining his bunk, before asking to borrow Lister's space bike and speeding off to enjoy himself.


==Production==
==Production==
Line 27: Line 26:
This is the first appearance of Kryten, who wasn't originally intended to become a main character and is not seen again in Series 2. David Ross played Kryten in this episode, but because of scheduling clashes [[Robert Llewellyn]] played the character when he became a regular from Series III onwards.<ref name="Series II Episode Guide">Series II Episode Guide, Red Dwarf Smegazine, issue 5, July 1992, Fleetway Editions Ltd, {{ISSN|0965-5603}}</ref> The writers had resisted using robot characters as they had considered the practice a sci-fi cliché.<ref name="Red Dwarf Series II Writing"/>
This is the first appearance of Kryten, who wasn't originally intended to become a main character and is not seen again in Series 2. David Ross played Kryten in this episode, but because of scheduling clashes [[Robert Llewellyn]] played the character when he became a regular from Series III onwards.<ref name="Series II Episode Guide">Series II Episode Guide, Red Dwarf Smegazine, issue 5, July 1992, Fleetway Editions Ltd, {{ISSN|0965-5603}}</ref> The writers had resisted using robot characters as they had considered the practice a sci-fi cliché.<ref name="Red Dwarf Series II Writing"/>


Kryten's appearance was of a mechanical-looking butler with an angular head. The head mask had provided the most problems to the make up and effects team. Prosthetic foam originally used for the mask kept falling apart and eventually a latex piece was produced.<ref name="Red Dwarf Series II Casting">{{cite web|url=http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck05/series_2/casting.html |title=Red Dwarf Series II Casting |publisher=reddwarf.co.uk |access-date=7 January 2008|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061006082618/http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck05/series_2/casting.html |archive-date=6 October 2006 }}</ref> Initially it had taken David Ross up to eight hours to get into the full Kryten make-up. To make matters worse, Ross suffered from claustrophobia.<ref name="Interview: David Ross">Interview: David Ross, Red Dwarf Smegazine, issue 1, March 1992, Fleetway Editions Ltd, {{ISSN|0965-5603}}</ref>
Kryten's appearance was of a mechanical-looking butler with an angular head. The head mask had provided the most problems to the make up and effects team. Prosthetic foam originally used for the mask kept falling apart and eventually a latex piece was produced.<ref name="Red Dwarf Series II Casting">{{cite web|url=http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck05/series_2/casting.html |title=Red Dwarf Series II Casting |publisher=reddwarf.co.uk |access-date=7 January 2008|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061006082618/http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck05/series_2/casting.html |archive-date=6 October 2006 }}</ref> Initially it had taken David Ross up to eight hours to get into the full Kryten make-up. To make matters worse, Ross suffered from claustrophobia.<ref name="Intervie David Ross">Intervie David Ross, Red Dwarf Smegazine, issue 1, March 1992, Fleetway Editions Ltd, {{ISSN|0965-5603}}</ref>


[[w:Johanna Hargreaves|Johanna Hargreaves]] appeared as the Esperanto teacher and [[w:Tony Slattery|Tony Slattery]] voiced an android actor in the ''Androids'' television show.<ref name="Kryten cast and crew">{{cite web | url =https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0684161/fullcredits | title =Kryten cast and crew | publisher =IMDb |access-date =24 January 2008}}</ref>
[[Johanna Hargreaves|Johanna Hargreaves]] appeared as the Esperanto teacher and [[Tony Slattery|Tony Slattery]] voiced an android actor in the ''Androids'' television show.<ref name="Kryten cast and crew">{{cite web | url =https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0684161/fullcredits | title =Kryten cast and crew | publisher =IMDb |access-date =24 January 2008}}</ref>


==Cultural references==
==Cultural references==
*[[w:Howard Goodall|Howard Goodall]] wrote the ''Androids'' theme tune with the Australian soap opera ''[[w:Neighbours|Neighbours]]'' in mind. The song, containing similar lyrics and tune, was trimmed down due to time constraints.<ref name="Red Dwarf Series II Music">{{cite web|url=http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck05/series_2/music.html |title=Red Dwarf Series II Music |publisher=reddwarf.co.uk |access-date=7 January 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061006082647/http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck05/series_2/music.html |archive-date=6 October 2006 }}</ref>
*[[Howard Goodall|Howard Goodall]] wrote the ''Androids'' theme tune with the Australian soap opera ''[[Neighbours|Neighbours]]'' in mind. The song, containing similar lyrics and tune, was trimmed down due to time constraints.<ref name="Red Dwarf Series II Music">{{cite web|url=http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck05/series_2/music.html |title=Red Dwarf Series II Music |publisher=reddwarf.co.uk |access-date=7 January 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061006082647/http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck05/series_2/music.html |archive-date=6 October 2006 }}</ref>
*Lister insists that Kryten should watch classic rebel films like ''[[w:The Wild One|The Wild One]]'', ''[[w:Rebel Without a Cause|Rebel Without a Cause]]'' and ''[[w:Easy Rider|Easy Rider]]'', hoping that the films, including the [[w:Marlon Brando|Marlon Brando]] rebel speech, would help the mechanoid break his servile programming.  Kryten quotes Marlon Brando in the last line of the episode: Rimmer asks, "What are you rebelling against?" and Kryten replies in an affected voice, "What d'ya got?"<ref name="Kryten movie connections">{{cite web | url =https://www.imdb.com/rg/title-tease/movieconnections/title/tt0684161/movieconnections | title =Kryten movie connections | publisher =IMDb |access-date =8 January 2008}}</ref>
*Lister insists that Kryten should watch classic rebel films like ''[[The Wild One|The Wild One]]'', ''[[Rebel Without a Cause|Rebel Without a Cause]]'' and ''[[Easy Rider|Easy Rider]]'', hoping that the films, including the [[Marlon Brando|Marlon Brando]] rebel speech, would help the mechanoid break his servile programming.  Kryten quotes Marlon Brando in the last line of the episode: Rimmer asks, "What are you rebelling against?" and Kryten replies in an affected voice, "What d'ya got?"<ref name="Kryten movie connections">{{cite web | url =https://www.imdb.com/rg/title-tease/movieconnections/title/tt0684161/movieconnections | title =Kryten movie connections | publisher =IMDb |access-date =8 January 2008}}</ref>
*During the scene where the Red Dwarf crew meets the skeletons around the table, Rimmer originally says they have "less meat on them than a [[w:Chicken McNugget|Chicken McNugget]]!". The line has been edited to "chicken nugget", without the reference to [[w:McDonald's|McDonald's]].<ref name="Red Dwarf Kryten (TV Episode 1988) – Goofs – IMDb">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0684161/goofs?ref_=tttrv_ql_2|title="Red Dwarf" Kryten (TV Episode 1988) – Goofs – IMDb>|publisher=IMDb|access-date=7 March 2018}}</ref>
*During the scene where the Red Dwarf crew meets the skeletons around the table, Rimmer originally says they have "less meat on them than a [[Chicken McNugget|Chicken McNugget]]!". The line has been edited to "chicken nugget", without the reference to [[McDonald's|McDonald's]].<ref name="Red Dwarf Kryten (TV Episode 1988) – Goofs – IMDb">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0684161/goofs?ref_=tttrv_ql_2|title="Red Dwarf" Kryten (TV Episode 1988) – Goofs – IMDb>|publisher=IMDb|access-date=7 March 2018}}</ref>


==Reception==
==Reception==
Originally broadcast on the British television channel BBC2 on 6 September 1988 in the 9:00 pm evening slot,<ref name="BBC Programme Catalogue RED DWARF&nbsp;— KRYTEN">{{cite web |url = http://catalogue.bbc.co.uk/catalogue/infax/programme/NMRE804B |title = BBC Programme Catalogue&nbsp;— RED DWARF – | publisher = BBC | access-date =7 December 2007}}{{Dead link|date=January 2018}}</ref> the episode gained average viewing ratings,<ref name="Red Dwarf Series II Aftermath">{{cite web|url=http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck05/series_2/writing.html |title=Red Dwarf Series II Aftermath |publisher=reddwarf.co.uk |access-date=24 January 2008 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20080408101254/http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck05/series_2/writing.html |archive-date= 8 April 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and received a mixed response from viewers. One reviewer stated that "the episode would be a brilliant one if Kryten weren't a little too [[w:C-3PO|C3PO]]-ish."<ref name="Red Dwarf Episode Guide: Series II">{{cite web | url =http://www.reviewsbygavrielle.com/dwarf2.shtml | title =Red Dwarf Episode Guide: Series II | publisher =reviewsbygavrielle.com |access-date =24 January 2008}}</ref> The episode also received a mixed response from fans, voting it 22nd in a 1992 ''Red Dwarf Magazine'' readers' poll with 1.4% of the votes. This ranked it the lowest of Series 2's episodes.<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>
Originally broadcast on the British television channel BBC2 on 6 September 1988 in the 9:00 pm evening slot,<ref name="BBC Programme Catalogue RED DWARF&nbsp;— KRYTEN">{{cite web |url = http://catalogue.bbc.co.uk/catalogue/infax/programme/NMRE804B |title = BBC Programme Catalogue&nbsp;— RED DWARF – | publisher = BBC | access-date =7 December 2007}}{{Dead link|date=January 2018}}</ref> the episode gained average viewing ratings,<ref name="Red Dwarf Series II Aftermath">{{cite web|url=http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck05/series_2/writing.html |title=Red Dwarf Series II Aftermath |publisher=reddwarf.co.uk |access-date=24 January 2008 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20080408101254/http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck05/series_2/writing.html |archive-date= 8 April 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and received a mixed response from viewers. One reviewer stated that "the episode would be a brilliant one if Kryten weren't a little too [[C-3PO|C3PO]]-ish."<ref name="Red Dwarf Episode Guide: Series II">{{cite web | url =http://www.reviewsbygavrielle.com/dwarf2.shtml | title =Red Dwarf Episode Guide: Series II | publisher =reviewsbygavrielle.com |access-date =24 January 2008}}</ref> The episode also received a mixed response from fans, voting it 22nd in a 1992 ''Red Dwarf Magazine'' readers' poll with 1.4% of the votes. This ranked it the lowest of Series 2's episodes.<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==
==Remastering==
{{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 [[w:filmising|filmising]],<ref name="The End Re-Mastered Commentary">{{cite video | people =Remastering Crew | title =The End Re-Mastered DVD Commentary | medium =DVD | publisher =BBC | location =Bodysnatcher DVD Boxset Red disc |date =2007 }}</ref> [[w:Computer-generated imagery|computer generated|]] [[w:special effects|special effects]] of ''Red Dwarf''<ref name="Re-Dwarf">{{cite video | people =Remastering Crew | title ='Re-Dwarf' Documentary | medium =DVD | publisher =BBC | location =Bodysnatcher DVD Boxset Red disc |date =2007 }}</ref> and many more visual and audio enhancements.<ref name="Re-Dwarf"/> Changes specific to "Kryten" include a new ending with Kryten flying Lister's space bike off into distant space away from ''Red Dwarf''.<ref name="Kryten text commentary">{{cite video | people =Remastering Crew | title =Kryten text commentary | medium =DVD | publisher =BBC | location =Bodysnatcher DVD Boxset, Blue disc |date =2007 }}</ref>
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|filmising]],<ref name="The End Re-Mastered Commentary">{{cite video | people =Remastering Crew | title =The End Re-Mastered DVD Commentary | medium =DVD | publisher =BBC | location =Bodysnatcher DVD Boxset Red disc |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 | location =Bodysnatcher DVD Boxset Red disc |date =2007 }}</ref> and many more visual and audio enhancements.<ref name="Re-Dwarf"/> Changes specific to "Kryten" include a new ending with Kryten flying Lister's space bike off into distant space away from ''Red Dwarf''.<ref name="Kryten text commentary">{{cite video | people =Remastering Crew | title =Kryten text commentary | medium =DVD | publisher =BBC | location =Bodysnatcher DVD Boxset, Blue disc |date =2007 }}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
*''[[w:Infinity Welcomes Careful Drivers|Infinity Welcomes Careful Drivers]]'', the first ''Red Dwarf'' novel, features an expanded version of events from this episode and builds on the backstory.<ref name="Programme Guide p206">Howarth & Lyons (1993) p. 206.</ref>
*''[[Red Dwarf: Infinity Welcomes Careful Drivers|Infinity Welcomes Careful Drivers]]'', the first ''Red Dwarf'' novel, features an expanded version of events from this episode and builds on the backstory.<ref name="Programme Guide p206">Howarth & Lyons (1993) p. 206.</ref>
*"[[Backwards (Red Dwarf)|Backwards]]", the Series III episode when Kryten begins appearing as a main character.
*"[[Backwards (Red Dwarf)|Backwards]]", the Series III episode when Kryten begins appearing as a main character.


Latest revision as of 11:27, 12 February 2023

"Kryten"
Red Dwarf episode
Kryten (Red Dwarf).jpg
Lister, Rimmer and Cat meet the women on the crashed ship Nova 5
Episode no.Series 2
Episode 1
Directed byEd Bye
Written byRob Grant & Doug Naylor
Original air date6 September 1988 (1988-09-06)
Guest appearances
David Ross as Kryten
Johanna Hargreaves as Esperanto Woman
Tony Slattery as Android Actor
Episode chronology
← Previous
"Me²" 		Next →
"Better Than Life"
List of episodes

"Kryten" is the seventh episode[1] from science fiction sitcom Red Dwarf, the first from series two,[2] and was first broadcast on BBC2 on 6 September 1988. Written by Rob Grant and Doug Naylor, and directed by Ed Bye, this episode introduced the mechanoid character Kryten. The episode was re-mastered, along with the rest of the first three series, in 1998.

Plot

Red Dwarf receives a distress call from a crashed spaceship, the Nova 5. When Arnold Rimmer (Chris Barrie), Dave Lister (Craig Charles), and Cat (Danny John-Jules) check the call, they learn that it was made from a service mechanoid called Kryten (David Ross), who reports that all of the crew are dead except for three female crew members. Eager to rescue them but learning from Holly (Norman Lovett) it will take 24 hours for Red Dwarf to reach the crash site, the group boldly spruce themselves for their meeting. Upon boarding the Nova 5, they quickly discover that the women are also dead and that Kryten has been oblivious to this for centuries.

Upon being convinced by the others of this fact, Lister takes pity on Kryten when he questions how he will cope, and decides to bring him back to Red Dwarf.[3] Once on the ship, Rimmer makes use of him to serve primarily himself, much to Lister's disgust. As a result, Lister tries to make Kryten live for himself by having him watch films starring Marlon Brando and James Dean. Although his plan seems not to work, Rimmer is angered when his request for a portrait by Kryten leads him to painting the hologram in an admiral uniform while using a toilet. Kryten takes heart in Lister's tutoring and rebels by insulting Rimmer and ruining his bunk, before asking to borrow Lister's space bike and speeding off to enjoy himself.

Production

It took up to eight hours for David Ross to get into the Kryten make-up

The writers realised that the huge Red Dwarf ship on its own did not generate enough story material and to accommodate this new direction for the series a small shuttle ship, Blue Midget, was designed to ferry the crew to and from different locations.[4] The new ship was based on an "every day car" that would go from A to B. Miniature crew models were made to fit inside the small ship and filming was added to footage of the Red Dwarf ship.[5]

This is the first appearance of Kryten, who wasn't originally intended to become a main character and is not seen again in Series 2. David Ross played Kryten in this episode, but because of scheduling clashes Robert Llewellyn played the character when he became a regular from Series III onwards.[6] The writers had resisted using robot characters as they had considered the practice a sci-fi cliché.[4]

Kryten's appearance was of a mechanical-looking butler with an angular head. The head mask had provided the most problems to the make up and effects team. Prosthetic foam originally used for the mask kept falling apart and eventually a latex piece was produced.[7] Initially it had taken David Ross up to eight hours to get into the full Kryten make-up. To make matters worse, Ross suffered from claustrophobia.[8]

Johanna Hargreaves appeared as the Esperanto teacher and Tony Slattery voiced an android actor in the Androids television show.[9]

Cultural references

  • Howard Goodall wrote the Androids theme tune with the Australian soap opera Neighbours in mind. The song, containing similar lyrics and tune, was trimmed down due to time constraints.[10]
  • Lister insists that Kryten should watch classic rebel films like The Wild One, Rebel Without a Cause and Easy Rider, hoping that the films, including the Marlon Brando rebel speech, would help the mechanoid break his servile programming. Kryten quotes Marlon Brando in the last line of the episode: Rimmer asks, "What are you rebelling against?" and Kryten replies in an affected voice, "What d'ya got?"[11]
  • During the scene where the Red Dwarf crew meets the skeletons around the table, Rimmer originally says they have "less meat on them than a Chicken McNugget!". The line has been edited to "chicken nugget", without the reference to McDonald's.[12]

Reception

Originally broadcast on the British television channel BBC2 on 6 September 1988 in the 9:00 pm evening slot,[13] the episode gained average viewing ratings,[14] and received a mixed response from viewers. One reviewer stated that "the episode would be a brilliant one if Kryten weren't a little too C3PO-ish."[15] The episode also received a mixed response from fans, voting it 22nd in a 1992 Red Dwarf Magazine readers' poll with 1.4% of the votes. This ranked it the lowest of Series 2's episodes.[16]

Remastering

See also: Red Dwarf Remastered

The remastering of Series I to III was carried out during the late 1990s.[17] Changes throughout the series included replacement of the opening credits,[18] giving the picture a colour grade and filmising,[19] computer generated| visual effects of Red Dwarf[20] and many more visual and audio enhancements.[20] Changes specific to "Kryten" include a new ending with Kryten flying Lister's space bike off into distant space away from Red Dwarf.[21]

See also

  • Infinity Welcomes Careful Drivers, the first Red Dwarf novel, features an expanded version of events from this episode and builds on the backstory.[22]
  • "Backwards", the Series III episode when Kryten begins appearing as a main character.

Notes

  • This is the first episode we see Rimmer touching things as a hologram, albeit only other holographic objects.

References

  1. ^ "TV.com — Kryten summary". tv.com. Archived from the original on 9 May 2009. Retrieved 24 January 2008.
  2. ^ "British Sitcom Guide — Red Dwarf — Series 2". sitcom.co.uk. Archived from the original on 22 November 2008. Retrieved 24 January 2008.
  3. ^ Howarth & Lyons (1993) p. 52.
  4. ^ a b "Red Dwarf Series II Writing". reddwarf.co.uk. Archived from the original on 8 April 2008. Retrieved 7 January 2008.
  5. ^ "Red Dwarf Series II Effects". reddwarf.co.uk. Archived from the original on 6 October 2006. Retrieved 7 January 2008.
  6. ^ Series II Episode Guide, Red Dwarf Smegazine, issue 5, July 1992, Fleetway Editions Ltd, ISSN 0965-5603
  7. ^ "Red Dwarf Series II Casting". reddwarf.co.uk. Archived from the original on 6 October 2006. Retrieved 7 January 2008.
  8. ^ Intervie David Ross, Red Dwarf Smegazine, issue 1, March 1992, Fleetway Editions Ltd, ISSN 0965-5603
  9. ^ "Kryten cast and crew". IMDb. Retrieved 24 January 2008.
  10. ^ "Red Dwarf Series II Music". reddwarf.co.uk. Archived from the original on 6 October 2006. Retrieved 7 January 2008.
  11. ^ "Kryten movie connections". IMDb. Retrieved 8 January 2008.
  12. ^ ""Red Dwarf" Kryten (TV Episode 1988) – Goofs – IMDb>". IMDb. Retrieved 7 March 2018.
  13. ^ "BBC Programme Catalogue — RED DWARF –". BBC. Retrieved 7 December 2007.[dead link]
  14. ^ "Red Dwarf Series II Aftermath". reddwarf.co.uk. Archived from the original on 8 April 2008. Retrieved 24 January 2008.
  15. ^ "Red Dwarf Episode Guide: Series II". reviewsbygavrielle.com. Retrieved 24 January 2008.
  16. ^ Readers survey results, Red Dwarf Smegazine, p. 27., issue 10, December 1992, Fleetway Editions Ltd, ISSN 0965-5603
  17. ^ "Remasters of the Universe". reddwarf.co.uk. Archived from the original on 4 January 2008. Retrieved 28 January 2008.
  18. ^ "Red Dwarf Series I Remastering". reddwarf.co.uk. Archived from the original on 18 January 2008. Retrieved 30 January 2008.
  19. ^ Remastering Crew (2007). The End Re-Mastered DVD Commentary (DVD). Bodysnatcher DVD Boxset Red disc: BBC.
  20. ^ a b Remastering Crew (2007). 'Re-Dwarf' Documentary (DVD). Bodysnatcher DVD Boxset Red disc: BBC.
  21. ^ Remastering Crew (2007). Kryten text commentary (DVD). Bodysnatcher DVD Boxset, Blue disc: BBC.
  22. ^ Howarth & Lyons (1993) p. 206.
Sources

External links

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