The server migration is on hold. Check here for more info. |
Red Dwarf/Arnold J. Rimmer
| Arnold J. Rimmer | |
| Red Dwarf | |
 | |
| Actor | Chris Barrie |
| First Appearance | 1x01 - The End |
| Last Appearance | 8x08 - Only the Good... |
| Series Billing | Series: Billed |
| Episode Count | — |
| Notable Episodes | — |
Contents |
Basic Information
Second Technician Arnold J. Rimmer comes from a long line of successful, military veterans. However despite years of trying for a promotion, Arnold is the second lowest rank on Red Dwarf. Only Dave Lister holds a lower rank. These factors combine to make Arnold Rimmer an irritable, pompous, arrogant, smeghead. He can also be a jerk at times.
He has at times, however, proven to have the makings of a nice guy inside him, seen scattered through Seasons 5-8.
Character History
He was killed by a radiation leak in the first episode and brought back as a hologram to keep Lister company.
In the season 6 episode Legion the gestalt entity Legion upgrades Rimmer's light bee to "hard light"; meaning that he can now touch things and do anything that a normal human can do with the added bonus that he is virtually indestructible.
In the episode Stoke Me a Clipper Arnold's alter-ego Ace Rimmer dies. But before he does, he recruits Arnold as the next Ace Rimmer in what has become an unending chain of Ace Rimmers.
Memorable Moments
- The final scenes from Better Than Life.
- The final scenes from Holoship.
- His bravery and destruction of the time drive from Out of Time.
- The Rimmer Experience from the episode Blue.
Trivia
Childhood/Family
- He has three brothers: John, Frank, and Howard. They were all successful, and grew up to join the Space Corps.
- He has a sister-in-law named Janine.
- Rimmer once had a pet lemming.
- His nickname in school was "bonehead".
- He went to school with the inventor of the tension sheet, Fred Holden.
- Apparently he once set fire to Stinky Bateman's turn-ups in third from prep.
- As a child Rimmer was in Space Scouts.
- He divorced his parents when he was 14.
- At age 15, Rimmer was alone with Fiona Barrington in his Dad's greenhouse. He though he had gotten lucky, but all the time his hand was in warm compost.
Habits
- He keeps his underpants on coat hangers.
- Rimmer often adds the honorifics BSC and SSC to his name.
- BSC - Bronze Swimming Certificate
- SSC - Silver Swimming Certificate
- He keeps issues of the magazine Fascist Dictator Monthly.
- He has a photograph collection of 20th century telegraph poles.
- Rimmer is a fan of Morris dancing.
- Rimmer keeps a Risk campaign notebook, so he can replay his "moments of glory" over a glass of brandy in the sleeping quarters.
- He would eat his food in alphabetical order.
- He would use only three pieces of toiler paper: one up, one down, and one to polish!
The Rimmer Salute
One of Rimmer's most enduring habits: his own, personal, non-standard salute.
You can perform a Rimmer salute by following these steps in quick succession:
- Stand at attention.
- Extend your right arm in front of you, so that your arm, hand, and fingers form a straight line slightly upward.
- Keeping your arm still, rotate your hand so that your finger tips trace a circle in the air. Two or more such circles are the norm.
- Bend your elbow to bring your still flattened hand to your forehead (palm outward) with the fingertips at or near your temple.
- Maintain this posture for the appropriate length of time, then back to attention.
You may perform any/all of these steps with flourish to be more Rimmer-like.
Miscellaneous
- The J in his name stands for Judas.
- His last words were "gazpacho soup".
- He believes that in a previous life, he was Alexander the Great's Chief Eunuch.
- Rimmer was once a member of the Samaritans (for one day). He spoke with five people ... They all committed suicide. One of them was even a wrong number. The papers called it "Lemming Sunday".
- He was a member of the Love Celibacy Society.
- He has an infalatable doll, named Rachel.
- Rimmer was treasurer of the Hammond Organ Owner's Society.
- Up until season 5, the only woman Rimmer had ever made love to was Yvonne McGruder (she had been hit on the head with a winch).
Quotes
- Mr. Flibble's very cross. ... 5x04 - Quarantine
- Better Dead Than Smeg. ... 6x06 - Out of Time
- Stoke me a clipper, I'll be back for Christmas! ... 7x02 - Stoke Me a Clipper
- Follow the Rimmer-shaped blur! ... 8x07 - Pete 2
