The Last Day

Infobox Red Dwarf episode
name = The Last Day


image_caption = Lister throws Kryten a last day party
number = 6
airdate = December 19, 1989
writers = Rob Grant & Doug Naylor
director = Ed Bye
guests = Gordon Kennedy
Julie Higginson
series = 3"The Last Day" is the sixth, and last, episode of science fiction sit-com "Red Dwarf" Series III,cite web | url =http://www.sitcom.co.uk/red_dwarf/series3.shtml | title =British Sitcom Guide - Red Dwarf - Series 3 | publisher =www.sitcom.co.uk |accessdate =2008-01-25] and the eighteenth in the series run.cite web | url =http://www.tv.com/red-dwarf/the-last-day/episode/10962/summary.html | title =TV.com - The Last Day summary | publisher =www.tv.com |accessdate =2008-01-25] It premiered on the British television channel BBC2 on 19 December 1989. Written by Rob Grant and Doug Naylor, and directed by Ed Bye, the story is about Kryten's expiry date and how Lister decides to give him a last day to remember. The episode was re-mastered, along with the rest of the first three series, in 1998.

Plot

A message pod reaches "Red Dwarf" from Diva-Droid International, manufacturers of Kryten (Robert Llewellyn) and the 4000 series of mechanoids. It announces that Kryten's built-in expiry date is almost up and his in-built shut-down chip will automatically activate in twenty-four hours time. Kryten resigns himself to his fate, telling Lister (Craig Charles) he's going to his reward in "Silicon Heaven". Lister tries to tell him there's no such place, to no avail.Howarth & Lyons (1993) p. 65.] Lister is determined Kryten's going to enjoy his last day in a profitless and non-practical way. He even goes to the trouble of building the robotic Marilyn Monroe kit that's been hanging around the ship for years, whilst Holly (Hattie Hayridge) knocks up a special android home brew using Vimto and liquid nitrogen.Howarth & Lyons (1993) p. 66.]

Waking the next morning with a hangover, Kryten realises that he had experienced true pleasure for the first time and decides that he'd much rather delay his departure. He can override his shutdown programme, but the catch is that his replacement mechanoid comes fitted with instructions to kill its predecessor if necessary. But Lister, Rimmer (Chris Barrie) and Cat (Danny John-Jules) won't let him onboard. They're going to stand by their shipmate.

The replacement mechanoid, Hudzen's ship lands on the landing gantry, and the crew prepare for his appearance. Lister tells Hudzen that Kryten is staying put and that he should leave. Hudzen refuses to go away and advances down the corridor proving to be dangerously insane as he tries to kill everyone. Just as Hudzen is finally upon Kryten and about to deliver a killing blow, he is told the lie that silicon heaven doesn't exist. Hudzen's mind can't cope with this revelation and shuts down.

Production

Gordon Kennedy almost didn't appear in Red Dwarf as the character of Hudzen 10 was actually a last-minute addition to the script.cite web | url =http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck05/series_3/casting.html | title =Red Dwarf Series III Casting | publisher =www.reddwarf.co.uk |accessdate =2008-01-07]

Robert Llewellyn makes a brief, unmasked, appearance as Jim Reaper, the Diva-Droid executive and Julie Higginson plays the Marilyn Monroe kit android.cite web | url =http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0684183/fullcredits | title =The Last Day cast and crew | publisher =www.imdb.com |accessdate =2008-01-25]

Cultural references

Brigitte Nielsen is referenced by Lister regarding Silicon Heaven that Kryten mentions. He then says that the notion of Silicon Heaven is "completely wacko, Jacko" referencing Michael Jackson's nickname.

Using a build-it-yourself kit droid Lister assembles a Marilyn Monroe bot as a leaving present for Kryten. Kryten is compared to Action Man in reference to his lack of genitalia, when asked if he would seduce the Monroe bot. Rimmer's present to Kryten is a tube of General George S. Patton's sinal fluid.

"Star Trek" is mentioned by Lister following the crew's decision to stick up for Kryten when the replacement arrives, Kryten regards this as true friendship, but Lister says that "it's too early in the morning for that Star Trek crap".cite web | url =http://www.imdb.com/rg/title-tease/movieconnections/title/tt0684183/movieconnections | title =The Last Day movie connections | publisher =www.imdb.com |accessdate =2008-01-25]

Hudzen's POV "Hologram. Ex-human. VIABLE TARGET" parodies the "Terminator"'s similar POV.

Reception

The episode was originally broadcast on the British television channel BBC2 on 19 December 1989 in the 9:00pm evening time slot.cite web | url =http://catalogue.bbc.co.uk/catalogue/infax/programme/NMRJ905H | title =BBC - Programme Catalogue - RED DWARF III THE SAGA CONTINUUMS - 6, THE LAST DAY | publisher =BBC |accessdate =2007-12-11] Although the episode gained a decent amount of viewers,cite web | url =http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck05/series_3/Aftermath.html | title =Red Dwarf Series III Aftermath | publisher =www.reddwarf.co.uk |accessdate =2008-01-25] the episode has been considered to be the weakest from Series III.Episode Survey Results, Red Dwarf Smegazine, issue 10, December 1992, Fleetway Editions Ltd, ISSN 0965-5603] However, it has been described as "terrific performances all around and one brilliant set piece after another" by 'Reviews by Gavrielle'.cite web | url =http://www.reviewsbygavrielle.com/dwarf3.shtml | title =Red Dwarf III review by Gavrielle | publisher =www.reviewsbygavrielle.com |accessdate =2008-01-25]

Remastering

The remastering of Series I to III was carried out during the late 1990s with the intention of bringing the early production values up to a standard suitable for international television.cite web | url =http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck01/dvd_remasters_of_the_universe_221206.html | title =Remasters of the Universe | publisher =www.reddwarf.co.uk |accessdate =2008-01-28] General changes throughout the series included replacement of the opening credits,cite web | url =http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck05/series_1/remastering.html | title =Red Dwarf Series I Remastering | publisher =www.reddwarf.co.uk |accessdate =2008-01-30] giving the picture a colour grade and filmizing,cite video | people =Remastering Crew | title =The End Re-Mastered DVD Commentary | medium =DVD | publisher =BBC | location =Bodysnatcher DVD Boxset Red disc | date =2007 ] computer generated special effects of "Red Dwarf"cite video | people =Remastering Crew | title ='Re-Dwarf' Documentary | medium =DVD | publisher =BBC | location =Bodysnatcher DVD Boxset Red disc | date =2007 ] and many more visual and audio enhancements.

There have been changes made specific to "The Last Day". The opening shot of the post pod approaching "Red Dwarf" has been replaced with a CGI sequence. Hudzen's ship approaching "Red Dwarf" has been replaced with a CGI version.cite video | people =Remastering Crew | title =Last Day text commentary | medium =DVD | publisher =BBC | location =Bodysnatcher DVD Boxset, Green disc | date =2007 ]

Upon its release on VHS the new re-mastered episodes were generally received poorly by fans of the show, although it has been stated by critics that they are "actually an invigorating new take on a classic series".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 =www.sci-fi-london.com |accessdate =2008-01-30] The re-mastered series was later released, along with other material, on The Bodysnatcher DVD boxset, in 2007.cite web | url =http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck01/the_bodysnatcher_collection.html | title =The Bodysnatcher collection | publisher =www.reddwarf.co.uk |accessdate =2008-01-30]

References

External links

*
* [http://www.tv.com/red-dwarf/the-last-day/episode/10962/summary.html Red Dwarf: The Last Day - TV.com]
* [http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck03/season3.html Episode Guide - Series 3 at RedDwarf.co.uk]
* [http://www.scifilm.org/tv/reddwarf/reddwarf3-6.html Scifilm -- TV Files, Red Dwarf: "The Last Day"]