Nanarchy
Encyclopedia
"Nanarchy" is the eighth, and final, episode of science fiction
sitcom Red Dwarf
Series VII and the 44th in the series run. It was first broadcast on the British
television channel BBC2
on 7 March 1997. Written by Paul Alexander, James Hendrie & Doug Naylor
and directed by Ed Bye
. The episode deals with the discovery of their missing mining ship Red Dwarf and its computer Holly
.
(Craig Charles
) is finding it very difficult to get used to life with only one arm
, but seems to enjoy Kryten
(Robert Llewellyn
) nursing him, and Kryten is absolutely loving it. Kochanski
(Chloë Annett
) is fed up seeing Kryten doing things for him that he could easily do with one arm, so with Kryten's help they come up with a solution - nanobots from Kryten's self-repair system could rebuild an arm for Lister. However, Kryten hasn't seen the nanobots since their attack by the Despair Squid two years ago - before they lost Red Dwarf. They decide to go into deep sleep and have Starbug retrace their steps back to that ocean planet.
They emerge from deep sleep and discover a planet which the Navicomp identifies as Red Dwarf. They find the original Holly who explains that the nanobots had deconstructed Red Dwarf, created their own miniature version of the ship and turned the rest into a planet for safekeeping. The crew now realise that it was the nano version of Red Dwarf that they were chasing and the nanobots evaded them by coming aboard Starbug and travelling around their own galaxy inside Lister's clothes hamper.
After much persuasion, Kryten convinces the nanobots to recreate Lister's arm and Red Dwarf. The nanobots follow Kryten's orders but reconstruct Lister's body into a muscle bound hero figure. As Starbug flies into the reconstructed Red Dwarf landing bay, something feels odd. It seems awfully big and Starbug flies in like a buzzing fly against the massive ship
.
This is the first time since "Parallel Universe" that Norman Lovett has appeared as Holly, the ship's computer. In between, his character - played by Hattie Hayridge - was last seen in Series V's finale "Back to Reality".
Viewing figures had reached over 8 million viewers, and the series also gained a Sunday night repeat. These were the highest ratings garnered so far.
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
sitcom Red Dwarf
Red Dwarf
Red Dwarf is a British comedy franchise which primarily comprises eight series of a television science fiction sitcom that aired on BBC Two between 1988 and 1999 and Dave from 2009–present. It gained cult following. It was created by Rob Grant and Doug Naylor, who also wrote the first six series...
Series VII and the 44th in the series run. It was first broadcast on the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
television channel BBC2
BBC Two
BBC Two is the second television channel operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It covers a wide range of subject matter, but tending towards more 'highbrow' programmes than the more mainstream and popular BBC One. Like the BBC's other domestic TV and radio...
on 7 March 1997. Written by Paul Alexander, James Hendrie & Doug Naylor
Doug Naylor
Douglas R. Naylor is a British comedy writer, science fiction writer, director and television producer.Naylor was born in Manchester, England and studied at the University of Liverpool. In the mid-1980s, Naylor wrote two regular comedy sketch shows for BBC Radio 4 entitled Cliché and Son of Cliché...
and directed by Ed Bye
Ed Bye
Edward Richard Morrison Bye is a British film and TV producer and director. He is best known for his work with Grant Naylor, Harry Enfield and Jasper Carrott, and has worked with many of British TV's best known comedians and comedy actors...
. The episode deals with the discovery of their missing mining ship Red Dwarf and its computer Holly
Holly (Red Dwarf)
Holly is the ship's computer on the science fiction situation comedy Red Dwarf.The character is played by Norman Lovett in Series I and II and, following a "head sex change" to look like his parallel universe alter ego "Hilly", played by Hattie Hayridge in the series 3 episode Backwards, is female...
.
Plot
ListerDave Lister
David "Dave" Lister, commonly referred to simply as Lister, is a fictional character from the British science fiction situation comedy Red Dwarf, portrayed by Craig Charles...
(Craig Charles
Craig Charles
Craig Joseph Charles is an English actor, stand-up comedian, author, poet, radio and television presenter, best known for playing Dave Lister in the British cult-favourite science fiction sitcom Red Dwarf...
) is finding it very difficult to get used to life with only one arm
Epideme
"Epideme" is the seventh episode of science fiction comedy series Red Dwarf VII and the 43rd in the series run. It was first broadcast on the British television channel BBC2 on 28 February 1997. Written by Paul Alexander & Doug Naylor and directed by Ed Bye...
, but seems to enjoy Kryten
Kryten
Kryten is a fictional character in the British science fiction situation comedy Red Dwarf. Kryten's registration code on Red Dwarf is "Kryten additional 001". The name Kryten is a reference to the head butler in the J.M...
(Robert Llewellyn
Robert Llewellyn
Robert Llewellyn is an English actor, presenter, and writer. He is best known as the mechanoid Kryten in the hit sitcom Red Dwarf, and for his role as presenter of Scrapheap Challenge.-Early career:...
) nursing him, and Kryten is absolutely loving it. Kochanski
Kristine Kochanski
Kristine Z. Kochanski is a fictional character from the British science fiction situation comedy Red Dwarf. Kochanski was the first console officer in the navigation chamber on board the spaceship Red Dwarf...
(Chloë Annett
Chloë Annett
Chloë Victoria Annett is an English actress, best known for her role in series 7 and 8 of the British sitcom Red Dwarf.-Early life and family:...
) is fed up seeing Kryten doing things for him that he could easily do with one arm, so with Kryten's help they come up with a solution - nanobots from Kryten's self-repair system could rebuild an arm for Lister. However, Kryten hasn't seen the nanobots since their attack by the Despair Squid two years ago - before they lost Red Dwarf. They decide to go into deep sleep and have Starbug retrace their steps back to that ocean planet.
They emerge from deep sleep and discover a planet which the Navicomp identifies as Red Dwarf. They find the original Holly who explains that the nanobots had deconstructed Red Dwarf, created their own miniature version of the ship and turned the rest into a planet for safekeeping. The crew now realise that it was the nano version of Red Dwarf that they were chasing and the nanobots evaded them by coming aboard Starbug and travelling around their own galaxy inside Lister's clothes hamper.
After much persuasion, Kryten convinces the nanobots to recreate Lister's arm and Red Dwarf. The nanobots follow Kryten's orders but reconstruct Lister's body into a muscle bound hero figure. As Starbug flies into the reconstructed Red Dwarf landing bay, something feels odd. It seems awfully big and Starbug flies in like a buzzing fly against the massive ship
Back in the Red
"Back in the Red" is a three-part episode of science fiction sit-com Red Dwarf Series VIII. Part I was first broadcast on the British television channel BBC2 on 18 February 1999 while Parts II and III were broadcast on 25 February and 4 March respectively....
.
Production
The series finale proved to be one of the most problematic scripts. James Hendrie was not available to do any rewrites to the script, so Alexander was asked to do one of his own, before Naylor did a final polish. It was the only episode to date with three credited writers.This is the first time since "Parallel Universe" that Norman Lovett has appeared as Holly, the ship's computer. In between, his character - played by Hattie Hayridge - was last seen in Series V's finale "Back to Reality".
Viewing figures had reached over 8 million viewers, and the series also gained a Sunday night repeat. These were the highest ratings garnered so far.