Lemons (Red Dwarf)

Last updated

"Lemons"
Red Dwarf episode
Episode no.Series 10
Episode 3
Directed byDoug Naylor
Written by Doug Naylor
Original air date18 October 2012 (2012-10-18)
Guest appearances
  • James Baxter as Jesus of Caesarea
  • Indira Joshi as Erin
  • Nicholas Richards as Uncle Aaron
  • Tom Pepper as Man Who May Be Jesus & Judas
  • Hormuzd Todiwala as Waiter
Episode chronology
 Previous
"Fathers & Suns"
Next 
"Entangled"
List of episodes

"Lemons" is the third episode of science fiction sitcom Red Dwarf series X, originally broadcast on the British television channel Dave on 18 October 2012. In the episode, the crew are marooned on Earth in 23 AD, where they meet a peace-loving do-gooder called Jesus.

Contents

Plot

After attempting to assemble a Swedish flat-pack "rejuvenation shower", the crew are unexpectedly shot back to Earth, Britain, in AD 23 when the rays of the sun hit them accidentally. [1] The Dwarfers need an 8-volt battery to power up their Returner Remote and get home. Remembering a lesson from school, Rimmer suggests that they make a battery out of potatoes. When Kryten points out that Britain in 23 AD doesn't have any potatoes, Rimmer suggests making a battery out of lemons, but the nearest lemons are in India, 4,000 miles away. [2]

Their journey leads them to a crowded market square in India, where they run into a peace-loving do-gooder called Jesus (played by James Baxter). [1] Rimmer is particularly excited about meeting him, as Rimmer has the middle name Judas; when the others question why Rimmer would be given such a negative name, Rimmer explains that his mother belonged to the "Church of Judas", who believe that Judas was Jesus' twin brother and took his place at the Crucifixion, thus allowing Jesus to return after his apparent death. The Dwarfers end up befriending the stranger and eventually wind up back on the ship with the apparent son of God in tow when escaping Romans. [3]

Whilst recovering from a kidney stone removal by the whole Red Dwarf crew, Jesus gets a preview of his status as the central figure of Christianity and is horrified by the number of wars to be waged in his name. Jesus returns to Earth and proceeds to rant against the Ten Commandments, [4] in an attempt to damage his reputation and thus avoid his fate. In a final twist, however, it turns out he is not Jesus of Nazareth, but rather "Jesus of Caesarea", and thus not the son of God at all. Lister advises him to use what he saw in the future to make something of his life – so Jesus starts making and selling bags.

While briefly delaying their return to the future so Lister can have a curry, the Dwarfers spot two twin brothers going by the names of Jesus and Judas. Rimmer goes to get up, only to be shouted at by the others and told to "stay put."

Production

This was the only episode in Series X to include location filming the forest scenes were shot in the back-lot of Shepperton Studios. [5]

This episode was Chris Barrie and Robert Llewellyn's favourite episode of the series. [6]

The lemon battery actually did work, and delivered 8 volts of electricity. [6]

Critical reception

Reception for the third episode were mixed. SFX gave it three stars out of five, stating that the episode "has its moments, and the four main stars are on top form again (especially Chris Barrie who could make comedy gold out of Rimmer reading 50 Shades of Grey out loud) but overall the episode feels a little formulaic and a missed opportunity. But again, it may have felt that way because we've been spoilt so far." [7] Starburst gave it six stars out of ten, and said that the episode "had enough quality moments to ensure that the series maintained its winning streak thus far, even if it wasn't an instant classic." [3] IGN was more positive, awarding the episode 8.5 out of ten, calling it "classic Dwarf, with a ridiculous plot and some great gags. But perhaps the greatest quality of the episode is the chemistry of the four main characters." [8]

Related Research Articles

<i>Red Dwarf</i> British comedy science fiction programme

Red Dwarf is a British science fiction comedy franchise created by Rob Grant and Doug Naylor, which primarily consists of a television sitcom that aired on BBC Two between 1988 and 1999, and on Dave since 2009, gaining a cult following. The series follows low-ranking technician Dave Lister, who awakens after being in suspended animation for three million years to find that he is the last living human, and that he is alone on the mining spacecraft Red Dwarf—save for a hologram of his deceased bunkmate Arnold Rimmer and "Cat", a life form which evolved from Lister's pregnant cat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arnold Rimmer</span> Fictional character in Red Dwarf

Arnold Judas Rimmer is a fictional character in the science fiction sitcom Red Dwarf, played by Chris Barrie. Rimmer is characterised as a second-class technician --and de facto leader--of the mining ship Red Dwarf. Portrayed as snobbish, pedantic, and self-centred, Rimmer is unpopular with his crewmates and is often the target of insults and general ridicule.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kristine Kochanski</span> Fictional character

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. As well as appearing in the television series, she is also a major character in the Red Dwarf novel Last Human. In series 1, 2, and 6 she was played by Clare Grogan until producers deemed Grogan 'too old' for the role, and the character was then played by Chloë Annett for series 7 and 8, and the 2009 special Back to Earth.

"Future Echoes" is the second episode of the science fiction sitcom Red Dwarf series one, and was first broadcast on the British television channel BBC2 on 22 February 1988. It was written by co-creators Rob Grant and Doug Naylor, and directed by Ed Bye.

The End (<i>Red Dwarf</i>) 1st episode of the 1st series of Red Dwarf

"The End" is the first episode of science fiction sitcom Red Dwarf, which was first broadcast on the British television channel BBC2 on 15 February 1988. The episode introduces the main characters and sets up the story backbone of the series. On the mining ship Red Dwarf, Dave Lister is placed in stasis for refusing to give up the whereabouts of his forbidden pet cat. When he emerges from stasis, three million years later, he discovers that everybody has died from a radiation leak.

"Me2" (pronounced "me, squared") is the sixth and final episode from series one of the science fiction sitcom Red Dwarf, which was first broadcast on BBC2 on 21 March 1988. Written by Rob Grant and Doug Naylor, and directed by Ed Bye. The script was written as a late addition to the series following an electricians' strike at the BBC. The episode follows on from the cliffhanger set by "Confidence and Paranoia"—there are now two Rimmers on board Red Dwarf. The episode was remastered, along with the rest of the first three series, in 1998, to bring it up to a standard suitable for international broadcast.

"Marooned" is the second episode of science fiction sitcom Red Dwarf Series III, and the fourteenth in the series run. It premiered on the British television channel BBC2 on 21 November 1989. Written by Rob Grant and Doug Naylor, and directed by Ed Bye, the story is about Lister and Rimmer being marooned together on a bleak ice planet. The episode was re-mastered, along with the rest of the first three series, in 1998.

"White Hole" is the fourth episode of science fiction sitcom Red Dwarf Series IV and the twenty-second episode in the series run. It was first broadcast on the British television channel BBC2 on 7 March 1991. Written by Rob Grant and Doug Naylor, and directed by Ed Bye and Paul Jackson, the episode features the crew's attempt to escape the influence of a white hole.

"Legion" is the second episode of science fiction sit-com Red Dwarf Series VI and the 32nd in the series run. It was first broadcast on British television on 14 October 1993, was written by Rob Grant and Doug Naylor and was directed by Andy de Emmony.

"Stoke Me a Clipper" is the second episode of science fiction sit-com Red Dwarf Series VII and the 38th in the series run. It was first broadcast on the British television channel BBC2 on 24 January 1997, was written by Paul Alexander and Doug Naylor, and was directed by Ed Bye. It was the first episode to involve a writer other than co-creator/writers Grant or Naylor.

Red Dwarf: Back to Earth is a three-part miniseries continuation of the British science fiction sitcom Red Dwarf, broadcast on UK television channel Dave between 10 and 12 April 2009 and subsequently released on DVD on 15 June 2009 and on Blu-ray on 31 August 2009. It was the first television outing for Red Dwarf in over ten years, and features the characters Rimmer, Cat, Kryten and Lister. The storyline involves the characters arriving back on Earth, circa 2009, only to find that they are characters in a television series called Red Dwarf.

<i>Red Dwarf X</i> Season of television series

Red Dwarf X is the tenth series of the British science fiction sitcom Red Dwarf. It was broadcast on UK television channel Dave between 4 October and 8 November 2012. There are six episodes and it was the first full series of Red Dwarf since 1999.

"Trojan" is the first episode of science fiction sitcom Red Dwarf series X. Originally broadcast on the British television channel Dave on 4 October 2012, it marked the return of Red Dwarf to a regular series run, 13 years after the conclusion of series 8. The episode touches upon Rimmer's relationship with his brothers and his urge to become an officer, following the discovery of a hologram of his brother Howard.

"Fathers & Suns" is the second episode of science fiction sitcom Red Dwarf series X, originally broadcast on the British television channel Dave on 11 October 2012. Lister celebrates the fact that he is his own father by sending a message to himself for Father's Day. This involves scolding himself for being a useless son, and resigning from the ship's crew to force himself to get his act together. Meanwhile Rimmer and Kryten install a new computer personality called Pree.

"Entangled" is the fourth episode of science fiction sitcom Red Dwarf series X, originally broadcast on the British television channel Dave on 25 October 2012. Lister loses Rimmer in a game of poker to a group of "biologically engineered garbage gobblers", and in return gets an unwanted gift: a groinal exploder programmed to detonate in 24 hours unless Lister pays his debts. Meanwhile, Kryten and Cat become quantum entangled and do everything in perfect unison.

"Dear Dave" is the fifth episode of science fiction sitcom Red Dwarf series X. Originally broadcast on the British television channel Dave on 1 November 2012. Lister receives a letter from an old flame telling him he might have become a father three million years ago, all while finding himself stuck in a love triangle with two vending machines.

"The Beginning" is the sixth episode of science fiction sitcom Red Dwarf series X, originally broadcast on the British television channel Dave on 8 November 2012. The crew are attacked by Simulants, and in desperation are forced to rely on Rimmer to save them.

"Officer Rimmer" is the fourth episode of Red Dwarf XI and the 65th in the series run. Originally broadcast on the British television channel Dave on 13 October 2016, it was made available early on 7 October 2016 on UKTV Play.

<i>Red Dwarf: The Promised Land</i> British television film

Red Dwarf: The Promised Land is a 2020 British science-fiction comedy television special and the thirteenth installment of the British science-fiction sitcom, Red Dwarf.

References

  1. 1 2 Red Dwarf Series 10 – 3. Lemons, www.radiotimes.com. Retrieved 24 October 2012
  2. Lemons, www.reddwarf.co.uk. Retrieved 24 October 2012
  3. 1 2 TV Review: RED DWARF X Episode 3 'Lemons', www.starburstmagazine.com. Retrieved 24 October 2012
  4. Red Dwarf X: Lemons Review, www.ganymede.tv. Retrieved 24 October 2012
  5. Interview: RED DWARF Writer / Co-Creator DOUG NAYLOR, www.starburstmagazine.com, retrieved 19 February 2013
  6. 1 2 10 Things We Learnt About Red Dwarf X From "We're Smegged", www.sfx.co.uk, retrieved 20 June 2023
  7. Red Dwarf 10.3 "Lemons" REVIEW, www.sfx.co.uk. Retrieved 23 October 2012
  8. Red Dwarf: "Lemons" Review, uk.ign.com. Retrieved 24 October 2012