Polymorph story

rd1988e3x03 · 1989-11-28

The crew become radically different people after they encounter a polymorph, a genetically engineered shape-changing mutant that feeds on negative emotions - in the crew's case vanity, guilt, anger and fear. They decide that there are only two options against the polymorph, one: take it on, or two: run away. Two has always been the Cat's favourite number anyway. Directed by: Ed Bye. Story by: Rob Grant & Doug Naylor.

20 total · 13 major · 7 minor

ThemeLevelMotivation
anger major Rimmer lost his aggressiveness to the polymorph and turned into some sort of gentle hippie. The Rimmer hologram pointedly lost his temper upon seeing Lister in bed with what he thought was his mother.
being that feeds on the mind major The shapeshifting mutant creature fed on the crew's emotions and character traits.
fear major Lister lost his sense of fear to the polymorph.
felinoid being major The cat-man Cat.
human vs. monster major The crew was terrorized by a genetically engineered shapeshifting mutant creature.
humanoid robot major The humanoid robot Kryten.
monster major A genetically engineered shapeshifting mutant creature was loose aboard Red Dwarf.
second guessing one's self major Kryten lost his character flaw of indecisiveness to the polymorph, and came to second guess himself at every turn as a result.
sentient computer major The Red Dwarf computer Holly.
shapeshifter major The Red Dwarf crew was terrorized by a genetically engineered shapeshifting mutant creature.