# Legion (Red Dwarf) > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Legion_(Red_Dwarf) > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Legion_(Red_Dwarf).md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legion_(Red_Dwarf) > Source revision: 1306083672 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) 2nd episode of the 6th series of Red Dwarf "Legion" Red Dwarf episode Episode no. Series 6 Episode 2 Directed by Andy De Emmony Written by Rob Grant & Doug Naylor Original air date 14 October 1993 (1993-10-14) Guest appearance Nigel Williams as Legion Episode chronology ← Previous "Psirens" Next → "Gunmen of the Apocalypse" List of episodes "**Legion**" is the second episode of [science fiction](/source/Science_fiction) [sit-com](/source/Sit-com) *[Red Dwarf](/source/Red_Dwarf)* Series VI[1] and the 32nd in the series run.[2] It was first broadcast on British television on 14 October 1993,[3] was written by [Rob Grant](/source/Rob_Grant) and [Doug Naylor](/source/Doug_Naylor) and was directed by Andy de Emmony. ## Plot To maintain constant pursuit of *Red Dwarf*, [Dave Lister](/source/Dave_Lister) and [Cat](/source/Cat_(Red_Dwarf)) handle the piloting of *Starbug* through shifts. However, [Kryten](/source/Kryten) informs [Arnold Rimmer](/source/Arnold_Rimmer) that the ship is running low on food and water. As the ship passes by a deserted [space station](/source/Space_station), it is pulled in by a [tractor beam](/source/Tractor_beam), and the crew opt to explore the station for supplies. When aboard, Kryten notes that his scanner registers a life-form, despite not showing one earlier, which soon appears before them as a mysterious entity called Legion. After explaining that he was a creation of the greatest minds that inhabited the station, Legion offers a token of good faith by demonstrating his incredible technological intelligence. Legion gives Lister an instantaneous emergency [appendectomy](/source/Appendectomy). This detail creates a continuity error, as Rimmer says in the episode ["Thanks for the Memory"](/source/Thanks_for_the_Memory_(Red_Dwarf)), "That's why I had my appendix out twice". Legion also modifies Rimmer's light bee, allowing him to alternate between a "soft light" and "hard light" hologram – the latter form allows him to be able to touch and feel. Impressed, the crew try to recruit him to join them on their quest to find *Red Dwarf*, but Legion insists that they stay with him. The following morning, the group admit that they have become Legion's prisoners, despite each enjoying accommodations tailored to their unique personal tastes and requirements. When they attempt to escape by overpowering him, they find Legion is a gestalt entity – a combination of all active minds present on the station, melded together to form one, who became a mindless, formless entity when the station's original occupants perished from old age. Kryten notices that Legion loses a persona when one of them is unconscious, and so convinces the others to be knocked out, forcing Legion to manifest his persona only. Legion admits relief when this happens, wishing not to share their assorted neuroses, and helps Kryten to return the crew to *Starbug*, providing them with a stardrive that the scientists had created to help them catch up to *Red Dwarf*. However, when the crew attempt to use it, the drive shoots out of the ship, leaving them to struggle with the sudden decompression it creates. ## Production The working title for the episode was "Call Me Legion", and later shortened to "Legion".[4] This episode introduces the hologram Hardlight – an indestructible physical form which Rimmer could form into. It was becoming tiresome for the writers that Rimmer couldn't touch anything, so it was retained for the remainder of the series.[5] Nigel Williams played the character of Legion. The costume was so tight he had to be sewn into it, and stay in it until the shoot was finished.[6] Lister's room music in this episode was "Hot and Wild Number 1" by the musician [Chris Tsangarides](/source/Chris_Tsangarides).[7] ## Cultural references The [episode title](/source/Legion_(demon)) and certain dialogue reference Mark 5:9, wherein [Jesus](/source/Jesus) confronts a possessed man: "My name is Legion," he replied, "for we are many."[8] Audience laughter can be heard when Kryten mentions "Quayle" in a list of "the most brilliant minds of the 23rd century". In 1993 the name conjured up the image of [Dan Quayle](/source/Dan_Quayle), the former [U.S. Vice President](/source/Vice_President_of_the_United_States) who was popularly perceived as being incompetent.[9] He also mentions "Davro", most likely a reference to singer and comedian [Bobby Davro](/source/Bobby_Davro), as well as "Holder", a reference to Slade singer [Noddy Holder](/source/Noddy_Holder). The "Ionian Nerve Grip" which Kryten pretends to use on Rimmer is patterned after the famous [Vulcan nerve pinch](/source/Vulcan_nerve_pinch) from *[Star Trek](/source/Star_Trek)*. ## Reception The episode was well received by fans, and [Rob Grant](/source/Rob_Grant) has described this episode as one of his favourites, and has said that "I think that's the funniest start to a show we've ever done, [also] it's got some great set pieces in it, the chopsticks scene..."[10] ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-British_Sitcom_Guide_–_Red_Dwarf_–_Series_6_1-0)** ["British Sitcom Guide – Red Dwarf – Series 6"](https://web.archive.org/web/20081122104040/http://www.sitcom.co.uk/red_dwarf/series6.shtml). sitcom.co.uk. Archived from [the original](http://www.sitcom.co.uk/red_dwarf/series6.shtml) on 22 November 2008. Retrieved 1 February 2008. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-TV.com_–_Legion_summary_2-0)** ["TV.com – Legion summary"](http://www.tv.com/red-dwarf/legion/episode/10976/summary.html). tv.com. Retrieved 1 February 2008. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-BBC_–_Programme_Catalogue_–_RED_DWARF_VI_–_LEGION_3-0)** ["BBC – Programme Catalogue – RED DWARF VI – LEGION"](http://catalogue.bbc.co.uk/catalogue/infax/programme/NMRE271Y). BBC. Retrieved 12 December 2007.[*[permanent dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*] 1. **[^](#cite_ref-News_From_The_Dwarf_4-0)** News From The Dwarf, Red Dwarf Smegazine, volume 2 issue 1, May 1993, Fleetway Editions Ltd, ISSN 0965-5603 1. **[^](#cite_ref-Red_Dwarf_Series_VI_Writing_5-0)** ["Red Dwarf Series VI Aftermath"](https://web.archive.org/web/20080104013125/http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck05/series_6/aftermath.html). Red Dwarf.co.uk. Archived from [the original](http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck05/series_6/aftermath.html) on 4 January 2008. Retrieved 17 December 2007. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-Red_Dwarf_Series_VI_Costumes_6-0)** ["Red Dwarf Series VI Costumes"](https://web.archive.org/web/20061006082910/http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck05/series_6/costumes.html). Red Dwarf.co.uk. Archived from [the original](http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck05/series_6/costumes.html) on 6 October 2006. Retrieved 17 December 2007. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-candc_7-0)** [Cast and Crew | Series VI | Guide | Red Dwarf](http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/guide/index.cfm?seriesID=6§ionID=cast-and-crew), www.reddwarf.co.uk, retrieved 11 May 2013 1. **[^](#cite_ref-Series_V_review_by_Gavrielle_8-0)** ["Series V review by Gavrielle"](http://www.reviewsbygavrielle.com/dwarf3.shtml). reviewsbygavrielle.com. Retrieved 29 January 2008.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_deprecated_archival_service)) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Robert E. Gilbert, (1998), *The Mortal Presidency: Illness and Anguish in the White House*, page 290. Fordham Univ Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0823218376](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0823218376) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-inquisitor_10-0)** ["Rob Grant Interview"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160118000040/http://theinquisitorsreddwarfsite.4t.com/custom3.html). *The Inquisitors Red Dwarf Site*. Archived from [the original](http://theinquisitorsreddwarfsite.4t.com/custom3.html) on 18 January 2016. Retrieved 29 November 2012. ## External links Wikiquote has quotations related to ***[Legion](https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Red_Dwarf#.22Legion.22)***. - ["Legion"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00bplf6) at [BBC Online](/source/BBC_Online) - ["Legion"](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0684163/) at [IMDb](/source/IMDb_(identifier)) - [Series VI episode guide at www.reddwarf.co.uk](http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/guide/index.cfm?seriesID=6) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20121219191726/http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/guide/index.cfm?seriesID=6) 19 December 2012 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) v t e Red Dwarf Characters Dave Lister Arnold Rimmer Holly The Cat Kryten Kristine Kochanski Books Infinity Welcomes Careful Drivers Better Than Life Last Human Backwards Red Dwarf: Titan Episodes Series I (1988) "The End" "Future Echoes" "Balance of Power" "Waiting for God" "Confidence and Paranoia" "Me2" Series II (1988) "Kryten" "Better Than Life" "Thanks for the Memory" "Stasis Leak" "Queeg" "Parallel Universe" Series III (1989) "Backwards" "Marooned" "Polymorph" "Bodyswap" "Timeslides" "The Last Day" Series IV (1991) "Camille" "DNA" "Justice" "White Hole" "Dimension Jump" "Meltdown" Series V (1992) "Holoship" "The Inquisitor" "Terrorform" "Quarantine" "Demons & Angels" "Back to Reality" Series VI (1993) "Psirens" "Legion" "Gunmen of the Apocalypse" "Emohawk: Polymorph II" "Rimmerworld" "Out of Time" Series VII (1997) "Tikka to Ride" "Stoke Me a Clipper" "Ouroboros" "Duct Soup" "Blue" "Beyond a Joke" "Epideme" "Nanarchy" Series VIII (1999) "Back in the Red" "Cassandra" "Krytie TV" "Pete" "Only the Good..." Miniseries (2009) Back to Earth Series X (2012) "Trojan" "Fathers & Suns" "Lemons" "Entangled" "Dear Dave" "The Beginning" Series XI (2016) "Twentica" "Samsara" "Give & Take" "Officer Rimmer" "Krysis" "Can of Worms" Series XII (2017) "Cured" "Siliconia" "Timewave" "Mechocracy" "M-Corp" "Skipper" Television film (2020) The Promised Land Unmade episodes "Bodysnatcher" Other Red Dwarf Remastered Grant Naylor Dimension Jump "Tongue Tied" Dave Hollins: Space Cadet Category --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Legion (Red Dwarf)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legion_(Red_Dwarf)) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legion_(Red_Dwarf)?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.