Roses Are Red (Dwarf)
A Valentine's Day look at the show's top romantic moments.
14 February, 2014
Red Dwarf has always had a special relationship with this time of year. The show's very first episode was originally broadcast on 15th February 1988 - that's twenty-six years ago tomorrow, if you hadn't realised - while two other episodes (Camille and Blue) have been shown on Valentine's Day itself, and Series V and VIII both premiered within a week of the date.
Perhaps subconsciously, then, there's been a surprising amount of love and romance featured in what is usually just a programme about four blokes drifting alone through deep space. So in honour of V-Day actually falling on a Friday this year, we thought we'd take a look at some of our favourite romantic moments down the years...
5. Thanks For The Memory
Okay, so the memories of Lise Yates that were implanted into Rimmer's head by Lister weren't actually real, but having spent his entire life thinking that nobody could or would ever actually love him, wasn't it nice to see Arnold enjoy the flushes of romance for a brief, glorious time?
What's more, while we'd hesitate to call it romantic as such, this episode was one of the first times we actually saw Lister wanting to do something nice for his previously-hated bunkmate, entirely off his own back. Which is really kind of sweet.
Watch Thanks For The Memory on iTunes
4. Parallel Universe
No, we're not talking about the two Listers' ill-advised drunken fling - really, the pair of them should have known better. Nor could we possibly use the word "romantic" to describe the flirtation that went on between Arlene Rimmer and her counterpart Arnold. And we don't even mean the swift but loving union between the respective ships' Skutters (not least due to the uncomfortable suggestion that Bob the Skutter might have been - gasp! - unfaithful to his wife Madge).
Instead, the true romantic heart of the tale of the two crews from opposing dimensions finally getting to meet was that which took place between Holly and Hilly. After all, there's love - and then there's love that's so strong that when you get home you immediately change your face to look like your paramour...
Watch Parallel Universe on iTunes
3. Holoship
Yes, it's another Rimmer one - but let's face it, the poor git had so little luck in love while he was alive, so shouldn't he finally get the chance to experience romance once he was dead? He certainly made up for his previous lack of action during his short time aboard the holoship Enlightenment, falling hard for Commander Nirvanah Crane.
Here was a woman who not only allowed Rimmer into her sleeping quarters, but paid him extensive compliments (possibly the first person ever to tell him that "underneath all that neurotic mess is someone nice trying to get out") and was even willing to give up her electronic life so that he could stay onboard the holoship. It was only a shame that the very circumstances of their meeting meant that they could never see one-another again. Sniff.
2. Camille
Who'd have thought a mechanoid could find love? Certainly not Kryten, who was still grappling with the most basic of programming-breaking human emotions when he happened across the perception-altering Pleasure GELF known as Camille. While initially seeing her as a surprisingly foxy 4000 Series (GTi) model, Kryten's E5 A9 08 B7 for Camille even survived seeing her in her original "squidgy green blob" form, and was strong enough for him to let her go - recognising that her needs outweighed his own.
Frankly, this story couldn't have been more romantic if it had co-starred Robert Llewellyn's own other half and been broadcast on Valentine's Day. Which, er, it was.
1. Blue
Well, for that kiss, obviously...
Have we missed out your favourite? Chat about Red Dwarf past and present on the Forum!
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