White Hole

Episode aired Mar 7, 1991
TV-14
28m

IMDb RATING

8.4/10

997

YOUR RATING

Comedy Sci-Fi

After repairing Talkie Toaster, Kryten has the idea to restore Holly's 6,000 IQ at the cost of reducing her lifespan but she instead gains an IQ of 12,000. Meanwhile the Red Dwarf hurtles to... Read allAfter repairing Talkie Toaster, Kryten has the idea to restore Holly's 6,000 IQ at the cost of reducing her lifespan but she instead gains an IQ of 12,000. Meanwhile the Red Dwarf hurtles towards a white hole, the opposite of a black hole.After repairing Talkie Toaster, Kryten has the idea to restore Holly's 6,000 IQ at the cost of reducing her lifespan but she instead gains an IQ of 12,000. Meanwhile the Red Dwarf hurtles towards a white hole, the opposite of a black hole.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

8.4/10

997

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Photos4

User reviews3

8.4997

Featured reviews

10MrFilmAndTelevisionShow

"So you're a waffle man!"

I shan't spoil the story of the episode, instead I will suggest that if you love quality programming, and especially if you love talking toasters, named Talky Toaster, you should watch this episode!

9john_maudlin

The Greatest Red Dwarf Episode?

With as many quotable lines as Kane, my favorite episode from a dearly loved series - including one of the best 'character' inventions too - Talkie Toaster - who lives only to provide his companions with grilled bread products, every minute of every day.

Hence the question below posed to a new revamped Holly (The ship's computer) who has just had her IQ increased to 12000 and who now knows everything there is to know in the Universe.

'Given that God is infinite and that the universe is also infinite would you like a toasted teacake?'

Oh joy!

9snoozejonc

Superb episode, both funny and clever

Red Dwarf encounters a rare space-time phenomenon and Holly has some technical issues.

This is a very strong episode that combines clever sci-fi concepts with some exceptionally funny banter.

The ideas of Holly's computer senility and the White Hole were both excellent, combining well for the plot and also to entertain. The final resolution to the White Hole problem is not just classic Red Dwarf moment, but also classic Dave Lister moment.

What makes this one so good is the quality of the comedy banter between the characters. There are so many funny lines in this it is difficult to pick a favourite, but the most memorable for me comes as Rimmer quotes his own directive 271 back to Kryten who makes an unwelcome suggestion. Chris Barrie's timing is impeccable throughout the episode and Robert Llewelyn is up there too.

The Talky Toaster scenes are okay, but for me these jokes get quite tiresome pretty quickly, but thankfully the character doesn't take centre stage for too long. I suppose he is built up by Lister to be annoying and that's exactly what he is. If the intent was us just to laugh at how the other characters react, it's moderately funny, but if it was to make us laugh with any of his punchlines, I struggled. However, I appreciate how subjective comedy is and how tastes can differ greatly between individuals.

For me it is an 8.5/10 episode, but as always I round upwards.

Trivia
Ed Bye was ill during filming, so studio executive Paul Jackson came in to direct at the last minute. Jackson has a notorious reputation for discipline on set and was extremely annoyed when the notoriously tardy Danny John-Jules arrived late for the shoot. Jules received a rather quiet dressing down from Jackson, but in front of many of the cast and crew. According to Chris Barrie, Jackson's presence alone caused the crew to suddenly double in size. Robert Llewellyn even commented on a soundman walking precariously along the gantry above the set, "risking life and limb," and various other crewmembers removing nails with their teeth and hammering in other nails with their heads, a humorous reference to the fear that Paul Jackson struck into the hearts of the crew.

Goofs
When Lister (Craig Charles) is talking about breaking down the ship's internal doors, he accidentally blows out the lighter that he took out of his pocket.

Quotes
The Cat: So, what is it?
Kryten: I've never seen one before - no one has - but I'm guessing it's a white hole.
Rimmer: A *white* hole?
Kryten: Every action has an equal and opposite reaction. A black hole sucks time and matter out of the Universe; a white hole returns it.
Lister: So, that thing's spewing time...
Lister: [donning his fur-lined hat] ... back into the Universe?
Kryten: Precisely. That's why we're experiencing these curious time phenomena on board.
The Cat: So, what is it?
Kryten: I've never seen one before - no one has - but I'm guessing it's a white hole.
Rimmer: A *white* hole?
Kryten: Every action has an equal and opposite reaction. A black hole sucks time and matter out of the Universe; a white hole returns it.
Lister: [minus the hat] So, that thing's spewing time...
Lister: [donning his fur-lined hat, again] ... back into the Universe?
Kryten: Precisely. That's why we're experiencing these curious time phenomena on board.
Lister: What time phenomena?
Kryten: Like just then, when time repeated itself.
The Cat: So, what is it?
[Kryten, Rimmer, and Lister stare at Cat]
The Cat: Only joking.