Polymorph (Red Dwarf episode)
| "Polymorph" | |
|---|---|
| Red Dwarf episode | |
The crew are hunted down by a shape-changing genetic mutant
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| Episode no. |
Series 3 Episode 3 |
| Directed by | Ed Bye |
| Written by | Rob Grant & Doug Naylor |
| Original air date | 28 November 1989 |
| Guest appearance(s) | |
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"Polymorph" is the third episode of science fiction sitcom Red Dwarf Series III, and the fifteenth in the series run. It premiered on the British television channel BBC2 on 28 November 1989. It is considered by some to be the series' best. Written by Rob Grant and Doug Naylor, and directed by Ed Bye, the episode has the crew fighting a shapeshifting, emotion-stealing creature. It is the only Red Dwarf episode to feature a pre-credits warning about the content. The episode was re-mastered, along with the rest of the first three series, in 1998.
Holly (Hattie Hayridge) detects a non-human life-form aboard Red Dwarf and alerts Rimmer (Chris Barrie). Meanwhile Lister (Craig Charles) is preparing a meal, of his own recipe — Shami Kebab Diablo. The shape-shifting creature appears, as a basketball, and bounces into the sleeping quarters where Lister is enjoying his meal. Lister catches the basketball, and places it on the table before going to look outside in the corridor. The creature rolls onto Lister's plate and changes into a shami kebab to disguise itself. Lister returns to his meal, but as he prods the kebab, it attacks him, triggering Lister's fear. To maximise terror, the creature turns into a boa constrictor, knowing Lister is terrified of them. Completing Lister's fear, the creature returns to its normal shape: A huge, fleshy, slimy-appendaged monster with sharp fangs. From between the jaws, a thin, slimy sucker extends and sticks to Lister's forehead, leeching Lister of his fear, on which the creature feeds.
As Lister recovers in the medical unit, Kryten and Holly explains what the monster is: A "Polymorph"; a shape-changing genetic mutant that went wrong, the 'Ultimate Warrior' that leeches off negative emotions like fear, guilt, anger, paranoia and drains them out of its prey. The crew discuss their options and decide to run off rather than take it on. They seal Lister (who, due to having no fear, is all too eager to take on the Polymorph) in the medical unit, and go off to prepare Starbug for a getaway.
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