History Recap / RedDwarfSeasonIIIPolymorph

* OohMeAccentsSlipping: When looking for the Polymorph (the first time), Kryten, instead of speaking with his Canadian Accent, briefly speaks with Creator/RobertLlewellyn's British accent.

* SequelHook: After the crew defeats the eponymous creature, it is revealed that a second one has made it on board. Subverted in the remastered version, in which on-screen text reveals that this one, much less intelligent than the first, took up residence harmlessly in Lister's underwear drawer and eventually died of old age. Doubly subverted by the episode ''Emohawk: Polymorph II'' three series later in which they meet another one.

The space-pod that the creature emerged from is shown, and belatedly reveals a sign that states "Contents 2". Back on the cargo bay, the group walk in line, first Cat, then Kryten, Rimmer, Lister - and finally a second Lister, who looks at the screen, turning into another Polymorph.

* BrainBleach: Rimmer is increasingly disturbed by his mother's [[spoiler: (really the Polymorph's)]] sexual escapades with Lister. It finally reaches a head when she mentions that, sometime during their fun, Lister did something involving Alphabetti Spaghetti.

--> '''Rimmer''': (very cross) ALPHABETTI SPAGHETTI?????!!

* ShapeshifterShowoffSession: The eponymous EmotionEater first demonstrates its powers in a deliberately showy fashion in order to provoke fear in Lister so that it can feed. Initially impersonating one of his kebabs, it then goes for his neck, before becoming his underwear and painfully constricting him from the waist down, then becoming a boa constrictor and trying to attack him head-on - before finally reverting to its gigantic armoured ShapeshifterDefaultForm and devouring Lister's fear.

%% * GettingCrapPastThe Radar: Due to overwhelming and persistent misuse, GCPTR is on-page examples only until 01 June 2021. If you are reading this in the future, please check the trope page to make sure your example fits the current definition.

-->Epilogue: The second Polymorph, not as bright as the first one, hid in Lister's clean sock drawer and died of old age.

* FunTShirt: The anger-free Rimmer sports a t shirt with "[=GIVE QUICHE A CHANCE=] printed on it.

* ShowStopper: When Rimmer walks in on Kryten trying to remove Lister's shorts, there is a considerable pause before Chris Barrie can deliver his line as he waits for the audience laughter to subside.

* ApologizesALot: Kryten, before being affected by the polymorph, turning him into a....
** {{Jerkass}}: Kryten loses his ability to feel guilt, and begins insulting everybody that moves. When discussing the plans to take down the polymorph, all of them include killing the others for his own gain.

* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: The episode contains a mention of the female anatomy, use of the word "twat" (as in to smack), and a scene where Kryten has to remove Lister's boxers, which, when viewed from an angle, makes it look awkward. Subverted, however, in that the episode, at least in its original airing, was aired after 9.00. Still, this is stronger then most ''Series/RedDwarf'' episodes. (See BannedEpisode above on how strong this was).
** Rimmer can be seen looking visibly disgusted at the pipe he was smoking during the "We were all a bit whacked out there." "You can say that again." exchange, implying that he wasn't smoking hologrammatic tobacco.

-->'''Lister:''' It ''needs'' killin'! And if that means I have to sacrifice my life in some stupid, pointless way, so much the better!

A weird life-form is able to slip upon the ship. The life form is able to change shape into anything to deceive its enemies, targeting the emotionally unstable.

It starts out as an average day aboard the Dwarf. Lister is preparing a meal that is being served with medical utensils. The Cat is disgusted by it. Rimmer is watching some old home movies, and Kryten feels incredible guilt over calling Rimmer's mother a trout. Their peace is shattered by Holly declaring that a non-human has been found aboard Red Dwarf.

Said life form winds up messing around with Lister. The shape-shifter turns into a kebab, and attacks Lister, before squirming away. It then suddenly changes into his boxers, and begins shrinking. Kryten has to use his new vacuum attachment to pull the boxers off. Rimmer comes in to see Kryten pull rapidly to try and get Lister's boxers off. Because of his vantage angle, Rimmer remarks that Lister has finally surrendered all standards. The shape-shifter turns into a snake, and then a monster, eventually sucking an emotion out of Lister.

As it turns out, the creature, a Polymorph, was a shape-changing genetic mutant that went wrong, the 'Ultimate Warrior' that leeches off negative emotions like fear, guilt, anger, paranoia and drains them out of its prey. There was just one problem though. "It's INSANE!" They discuss their options and decide to run off rather than take it on. They seal Lister (who, due to having no fear, is all too eager to take on the Polymorph and "twat it") in the medical unit and go off to prepare Starbug, deciding not to tangle with anything that has "more teeth than the Osmond family".

As they travel through the cargo decks, Rimmer nervously points out what he believes to be the polymorph. The Cat and Kryten quickly let off a couple of heat-seeking bazookoid bolts down the corridor. As the bolts head down and turn back, Rimmer apologises for the false alarm. However, the bolts are now homing in on Cat (he is the only one who can produce heat), and he makes a run for it. He manages to trap the bolts behind a door, and on his way back, he is joined by a woman who goes on to flatter the Cat on his good looks, but she then turns out to be the polymorph and drains the Cat's vanity. Kryten rushes around the corner, followed by Rimmer. Rimmer tells Kryten that this is his fault, then changes into the polymorph and drains out Kryten's guilt, transforming him into a colossally snarky JerkAss. On their arrival back at the medical unit, Rimmer finds his mother lying down with Lister. Rimmer tries to suppress his anger, but eventually fails when he learns about the fact that Lister's sex life with her involved Alphabetti Spaghetti. Rimmer's mother quickly changes into the polymorph and drains Rimmer's anger.

* Rimmer plans to hit the polymorph with a major leaflet campaign followed up by a series of charity drives. His biggest problem is deciding on what acronym to use: one of his favourites is the same as the name of a certain body part it's not polite to mention out loud.

* Kryten turns into a cowardly slimeball like the old Rimmer, wanting to sacrifice the others and acting like a JerkAss along the way.

Despite the disadvantage, the four head down to the cargo decks to confront the creature. Although things don't start well, the two heat-seeking bazookoid bolts are released and finally find the Polymorph, destroying it. The four are then restored to normal, with the Cat desperate to clean himself up, Kryten ready to commit suicide to make up for his bad behaviour, and Rimmer confused.

The pod that floats by near Red Dwarf reveals a sign that states "Contents 2". Back on the cargo bay, the group walk in line, first Cat appears, then Kryten, Rimmer, Lister - and finally a second Lister, who looks into the screen, turning into another Polymorph.

* ShoutOut: "[[ComicBook/TheThing It's clobberin' time!]]"

* ShoutOut:
** The episode was inspired by ''Film/{{Alien}}''.
** Post-Polymorph, Lister dons an attitude and costume (leather jacket, boombox, and baseball bat) similar to [[Series/DoctorWho Dorothy "Ace" McShane]]. (Ironically, this episode aired less than a year before the BBC pulled the plug on ''Series/DoctorWho''.)

* OohMeAccentsSlipping: When looking for the Polymorph (the first time), Kryten, instead of speaking with his Canadian Accent, briefly speaks with Robert Llewellyn's British accent.
** The Cat briefly slips into Danny John-Jules' natural accent with the line "I'm sure I have an opening in my schedule somewhere."

-->Epilouge: The second Polymorph, not as bright as the first one, hid in Lister's clean sock drawer and died of old age.