Red Dwarf Reviews, Series III, Episode 6: "The Last Day".

Airdate: 19 December, 1989

Some say that he's gone insane looking for his predecessor, and that he has no desire to watch Top Gear. All we know is, HE'S CALLED HUDZEN 10!

Synopsis (Spoilers): Lister receives a post pod from Kryten's manufacturers, informing him that Kryten's built in expiry date is almost here and that Kryten will undergo shutdown within 24 hours. Lister is stunned, but Kryten takes the news well. Kryten declares that, because he has lived a life free of vices and lived in servitude, he is going up to Silicon Heaven. Lister not only does not believe in a Silicon Heaven (although Rimmer tells him to respect Kryten's beliefs), but Lister is angry over the fact that Kryten is being turned off just to sell more models. Lister decides to throw Kryten a party that he will never forget, and the gang share very weird secrets.

The next morning, Kryten comes to, and realises that he can not turn himself off. However, he also learns that the new model, Hudzen 10, is on his way, and that if Kryten does not activate his own turn-off disc, Hudzen must terminate Kryten. The Boys from the Dwarf decide to gang up against Hudzen, who has gone crazy looking for Kryten. Kryten manages to defeat Hudzen using a lie involving Silicon Heaven.

Review: This episode is actually my third favourite from the third series (beaten out by the hysterical "Polymorph" and the tear jerking "Marooned"). This is a TV episode that manages to combine social commentary alongside wonderful humour. (I'll get to another TV episode that does NOT do social commentary well later). Silicon Heaven and it's criticism by Lister could be considered a bit of jab at the religious, but through it all, Kryten retains his faith in Silicon Heaven. Indeed, the message comes off as "believe whatever you want, as long as it does not result in your death", or "you don't have to be a fundamentalist to have faith, and cutting loose is not a bad thing". Keep in mind, Red Dwarf criticises the entirety of humanity, and it criticises the behaviours of all sorts of humans, so being somewhat offended once is ordinary for the viewer.

This episode also excels in Character Development. We learn that Lister never knew his mother, and that he was orphaned. We learn that Rimmer's mother, described a mere three episodes prior as "very prim, very proper, almost austere", actually had affairs. This episode also shows an integral part of Kryten's persona, and why he is the only character to (barring his series II debut) not want to anger Rimmer. (Although, this does lead to my one complaint about the episode: if Kryten rebelled against Rimmer in "Kryten", isn't he already damned by his standards for rebellion against humans?")

And the episode is just hysterical. Rimmer revealing his first kiss? Hysterical. Hell, the entire party is brilliant. Oh, and Rimmer's view on Kryten's 24 hour notice? "That's more than most of us get. All most of us get is 'Mind that bus.' 'What Bus?' Splat."

Overall, a wonderful note to end the game-changing series III on.

Favourite Scene: The party. Every part of it is hysterical.

Score: 9