Red Dwarf

Kryten

Season 2, Episode 1, Aired 9/6/88

Episode Summary

The second season begins with the gang coming across a crashed space shuttle where the service mechanoid, Kryten, is still attending to the officers, even though they have long since passed away. The crew takes Kryten back aboard Red Dwarf where Rimmer puts him to work cleaning, cooking, ironing etc.''Lister tries to convince him that he doesn't have to do any of his service duties anymore and can do his own thing. He fails until, while Kryten is painting a portrait of Rimmer, his rebellious side opens up, and he paints Rimmer sitting on the toilet, and then insulting him before jumping on a space bike wearing a leather jacket, a-la Marlon Brando in The Wild Onemoreless

8.4

EPISODE RATING: Great

80 votes

Your Rating: 10

"Perfect"
Your Rating: 9.5

"Superb"
Your Rating: 9

"Superb"
Your Rating: 8.5

"Great"
Your Rating: 8

"Great"
Your Rating: 7.5

"Good"
Your Rating: 7

"Good"
Your Rating: 6.5

"Fair"
Your Rating: 6

"Fair"
Your Rating: 5.5

"Mediocre"
Your Rating: 5

"Mediocre"
Your Rating: 4.5

"Poor"
Your Rating: 4

"Poor"
Your Rating: 3.5

"Bad"
Your Rating: 3

"Bad"
Your Rating: 2.5

"Terrible"
Your Rating: 2

"Terrible"
Your Rating: 1.5

"Abysmal"
Your Rating: 1

"Abysmal"

Rate It

Watch Online

Cast & Crew

See All EDIT

Craig Charles

Dave Lister
Danny John-Jules

Cat
Norman Lovett

Holly (season 1-2, 8-)

Fan Episode Reviews (2)

See All

Probably the episode that defined the series, and took it in the right direction.

8.5

"Great"

By The_Womp, May 05, 2010 Report Abuse

When it comes to shows, I put them into 3 categories: Shows that start off great; Shows that become great later on; or Shows that are doomed to mediocrity. I consider "Red Dwarf" to be in the second category.

I don't think the first series is bad, just not great, with the exception of "Future Echoes" and maybe "Waiting for God". However, this episode, easily the best since "Future Echoes", was a pivotal moment in the series, not only in quality but direction too.

One reason is because of the introduction of Kryten himself. Although he would eventually be played by a different actor, his character would continue on and make the series great.

But another reason is the introduction of "Blue Midget". Now, this may not seem like much, but this crutial ship allowed the show to expand beyond the confines of the Red Dwarf itself.

There are some brilliant moments in this episode, too many to list, but I do have my favourites. My all time favourite from this episode would definitely have to be this:

LISTER: Drop dead, Rimmer!
RIMMER: Already have done...
LISTER: Encore!

The timing of those 3 simple lines is absolutely perfect.

Despite it's quality, it's not the best episode in the series, but a very close equal second.moreless

DO YOU AGREE?
1 1
Kryten is introduced!

5.7

"Mediocre"

By The_AG, May 05, 2010 Report Abuse

Kryten becomes a pivitol character in the series. However, they introduced him in not such a great way. This episode was boring, and the man who played Kryten was just not right for who the character eventually became. Robert Llwelyn the best choice after this episode aired. I think that Kryten, the episode, was not written well. To me it seemed as though the writers sat down and had no clue what they were going to do for this next installment. However, when Kryten rebels, at the end, it starts to pick up...yet that is the last few minutes, not the best time to grab the audience's attention.moreless

DO YOU AGREE?
1 2

Write a Review

Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

See All

Trivia
ADD TRIVIA
- This is the last episode to feature Lister's space bike. Edit
- Rimmer refers to people who speak Esperanto as "Esperantinos" but they are really "Esperantists". Edit
Notes
ADD NOTES
- David Ross played Kyrten only in this episode however he returned to play Talkie Toaster in season 4's "White Hole" Edit
- First appearence of Kryten. Edit
- Red Dwarf's second series introduces the small ship-to-surface vessel Blue Midget. The creation of the transport vehicle was to enable the Dwarfers to leave the ship and explore space, leading them to meet Kryten and party away Rimmer's death on a moon. The larger Starbug will be created for Series III and beyond, it becoming a major part of the 6th and 7th seasons. Edit
Quotes
ADD QUOTES
- Holly: As the days go by, we face the increasing inevitability that we are alone in a godless, uninhabited, hostile and meaningless universe. Still, you've got to laugh, haven't you? Edit
- Lister: (About the three girls from Kryten's ship) I think the first thing we should do is bury them. Kryten: You're that sure they're dead? Edit
- Holly: No, they're from Earth. I hope they've got some spare odds and sods on board. We're a bit short on a few supplies. Lister: Like what? Holly: Cow's milk. Ran out of that yonks ago. Fresh and dehydrated. Lister: What kind of milk are we using now? Holly: Emergency back-up supply. We're on the dog's milk. (Lister staring at his cup of tea and swallows) Lister: Dog's milk?! Holly: Nothing wrong with dog's milk. Full of goodness, full of vitamins, full of marrowbone jelly. Lasts longer than any other type of milk, dog's milk. Lister: Why? Holly: No bugger'll drink it. Plus the advantage of dog's milk is when it goes off it tastes exactly the same as when it's fresh. Lister: Why didn't you tell me, Holly?! Holly: What, and spoil your tea? Edit
Allusions
ADD ALLUSIONS
- Rimmer: Our first contact with intelligent life in three million years, and he turns out to be the android version of Norman Bates. This is a reference to the main character of the Psycho film series, who kept his dead mother in a preserved state, much as Kryten did with the Nova 5's crew. Edit
- Kryten: Mr. Lister was kind enough to show me The Wild One, Easy Rider and Rebel Without a Cause.
  
  These three American films are classics connecting motorcycles with rebellion and defiance of authority.
  
  The Wild One (1954), is about hoodlum motorcyclists who terrorise a small town, and starred Marlon Brando and Lee Marvin.
  
  Easy Rider (1969) is a remarkably effective low-budget film about two drop-out motorcyclists, and starred Dennis Hopper, Peter Fonda and and impressive early performance by Jack Nicholson.
  
  Rebel Without A Cause (1955) is one of the first real 'rebel' films about a troubled/troublesome poor little rich boy, and starred James Dean in one of his three major roles, a promising young star named Sal Mineo, and a teenaged Natalie Wood. Edit
- Rimmer: What are you rebelling against? Kryten: Whaddaya got? Kryten mimics Marlon Brando's lines from "The Wild One" (1954) where he starred as Johnny, leader of the Black Rebels Motorcycle Club: Girl: Hey Johnny, what are you rebelling against? Johnny: Whaddaya got? Edit