Ep 6. Me2

In the sixth episode of Red Dwarf, entitled "Me2," the crew faces a major crisis when a highly sophisticated matter duplicator malfunctions and creates a second version of Dave Lister, the last human being alive on board the spaceship. This creates plenty of confusion and panic as the team tries to figure out how to handle having two Listers running around.

Initially, things seem to be going well as the two Lister's are simply excited to have someone to hang out with who understands their pop culture references and their sense of humor. However, things quickly turn sour when the two versions of Lister start to bicker and argue over everything from who gets to hang out with Cat to who gets to pilot the ship.

Worse still, the matter duplicator appears to be spitting out other copies of things aboard the ship, including a second version of Arnold Rimmer, Lister's former crewmate who was killed in an accident before the start of the series. The two Rimmers, of course, can't stand each other from the get-go, and their constant bickering only adds to the chaos.

Throughout the episode, the crew frantically searches for a way to restore order and get rid of the duplicate Listers and Rimmers. But every solution they come up with seems to create more problems. They eventually turn to Holly, the ship's sentient computer, for help, but even Holly seems to be stumped.

As tensions mount and the duplicates continue to cause trouble, Lister realizes that there's only one way to end the madness: he has to sacrifice one of the duplicates and let them be destroyed for the sake of the crew's sanity. But which Lister will it be? And what will happen to the other Rimmer?

"Me2" is a tension-filled episode that showcases the strengths of the Red Dwarf series, particularly its sharp humor and ability to blend science fiction with human drama. The concept of being confronted with a duplicate version of oneself is a common sci-fi trope, but Red Dwarf puts its own unique spin on it, exploring the quirks and eccentricities of the two Listers and Rimmers while also asking deeper questions about identity and the nature of the self.

Despite the high stakes and potentially dire consequences, the episode never loses its sense of humor. The banter between the two Lister's and Rimmers is laugh-out-loud funny, and the episode is filled with clever one-liners and comedic moments. At the same time, the show doesn't shy away from the darker implications of the story, and there are moments of real suspense and tension as the crew struggles to find a solution to the problem.

Overall, "Me2" is a standout episode of the first season of Red Dwarf, showcasing the show's strengths as a sci-fi comedy that's both smart and entertaining. With its playful exploration of identity and its strong character work, this episode remains a fan favorite and an excellent entry point for anyone looking to dive into the world of Red Dwarf.