Red Dwarf Justice (1988– ) Online

Red Dwarf Justice (1988– ) Online

The Red Dwarf crew transport a defrosting stasis capsule to 'Justice World', a remote penal space station, where they believe the person in the capsule may be one of the convicts or one of the guards. And Rimmer is convicted of the radioactive disaster that wiped out the entire crew of Red Dwarf.

The glass vases that were smashed over Lister were actually made from wax and left lumps on Craig Charles head.

It's not stated what legal system was in use by the prison and it can be assumed to something other than English law, which had no concept of "second-degree murder" at the time this episode was made. While you might expect that negligent homicide would be manslaughter at most, the Justice computer describes Rimmer's actions as "willful" indicating that he intended to kill (thus murder). This is either the Justice computer counting Rimmer's hatred of the crew as a motive, or the computer just being hard on him.

This episode retcons some of the background details from previous series:

• Rimmer is no longer said to be responsible for the crew's extermination. It had been decided behind the scenes that his abilities were far too lacking for him to realistically be assigned a task that could endanger crewmates' lives.
• The number of crew aboard Red Dwarf is increased from 169 to 1,169 (which makes more sense considering the sheer size of the ship).

On the side of the simulant's gun is written 'Make My Day' in reference to the famous line "Go ahead, make my day" from Sudden Impact (1983).

Scenes cut from the episode:

• The boys take in a walk in the "park" - the botanical gardens held in the "hanging scales" of Justice World. The scene was actually filmed in a London park, and extra effects were never added to it. Lister explains to the Cat how the Justice Field works, and soon after throws an empty can into one of the bins in the park, but misses. In response to littering, a giant bird swoops down and defecates on Lister; a great glob of reddish gunk.
• Numerous extended dialogue scenes, including extra lines at Rimmer's trial.

The first set for "Justice World", with the large number of dials in the background, was being used as the set for influential videogames show "Gamesmaster" at the time this episode aired.

Final appearance of Rimmer's Captain Scarlet-esque hat, which was introduced in Series III along with his new green uniform. This is the only episode in Series IV where he wears it and it's only worn in one scene, when they arrive at Justice World and step into the escorting boots.

Richard Ridings (The voice of the Justice Computer) also provided the voice of the D.N.A computer in Red Dwarf: D.N.A. (1991) and later had a cameo in Red Dwarf: Psirens (1993) as the crazed Astro whose brain is sucked out by a Psiren.

The justice computer sentences Rimmer to 9000 years imprisonment for the deaths of the entire Red Dwarf crew which was accidental, which is involuntary manslaughter. Involuntary manslaughter is the unintentional killing of another human.

During Rimmer's trial, when the Justice Computer asks Lister is anybody had shared intimate moments with Rimmer, Lister says only one, "and she's got a puncture". This is a reference to Rachael.

The Simulant Convict was the first Simulant encountered by the Boys from the Dwarf. Simulants would become a recurring enemy in the show after this, and are also the final villains in the last episode of the show.

An interview on the official Red Dwarf website suggested that Ackerman, warden of The Tank on Red Dwarf in Series VIII, used to work at Justice World, alongside Barbara Bellini, whom he was having an affair with and had to leave in a hurry when caught out. Ackerman was the one who accidentally set the simulants free; providing an interesting irony that he later imprisoned those who helped contain one of those he had set free.

The writers' vision of the Justice Zone was with a background that appeared to disappear into infinity. This was perceived as impossible to achieve with the budget available so a compromise was reached. A huge light was placed at the back of the set masking the background limitations and giving the illusion that there was nothing behind.

Rimmer's trial marks the only appearance of a more elaborate version of his green uniform. It's still the same outfit but has had other bits added to it - shoulder boards, a belt with a large gold buckle, a shoulder belt, a name badge and a large gold decoration similar to a Bath star.