Gordon Rimmer is a character in Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency.
Gordon Rimmer (originally Pollux and later Lux Dujour) was a high ranking member of the Men of the Machine. Though egotistical, Rimmer is often revealed to be incredibly unaware of the meaning of the events that occur around him. Previously, he was living the life of Lux DeJour before being forced to swap into a new body.
Biography
Original life
Gordon Rimmer was married, lived in a house in Logan Heights in Seattle, and worked at the Seattle Zoo.
Approximately around the year 2001 the Men of the Machine chose an unused building at the Seattle Zoo as new headquarters. Because his job-related access to the site, they transferred their member Pollux, who had previously inhabited rock star Lux Dujour, into Gordon Rimmer's body.[1] What became of Gordon's soul and his wife is not shown.
Pollux, An Original Soul
The man who would come to inhabit Gordon Rimmer's body was Pollux, a member of the Men of the Machine.
Pollux was one of a group of hippie squatters living in the abandoned Webb Mansion in the 1960s, led by Jake Rainey. These hippies found a mysterious machine and formed a cult around it and its soul-swapping capabilities.[2][3]
At some point Pollux was soulswapped into the body of rock star Lux Dujour. Pollux in Lux's body continued to life the latter's rockstar life, staging a comeback. As Lux, he was in a relationship with a woman called Sammy.[4]
Around the year 2001, Pollux was redesignated by Rainey to inhabit the body of Gordon Rimmer. Rimmer worked at the Seattle Zoo, and his identity would give them access to the abandoned Animal Transfer Unit, which had been chosen as new location for the cult's temple. An unsuspecting Pollux was summoned to Gordon Rimmer's house in Logan Heights where he was confronted with these facts by Rainey. Pollux vehemently protested, wanting to keep his current body and life, relishing the rockstar's lifestyle and power, but was forced to do it. Lux's body was buried under Rimmer's garage, and Pollux was forced to continue life as Gordon Rimmer.[1]
Season 1 (A Completely Lost Dog)
Meeting Lydia Spring
Sometime after being redesignated, Lydia Spring arrives at Rimmer's house wanting answers about her family. Using Zackariah Webb's machine, he swapped Lydia's soul with that of his corgi Rapunzel's, keeping both at his house.
Searching for Lydia
Eventually, Lydia (in Rapunzel's body) manages to escape and Rimmer can be seen walking around the neighborhood with flyers. Todd Brotzman sees the seemingly stray dog and using the information written on the dog tag, returns her to Rimmer, spotting Lydia (occupied by Rapunzel) in the process. [2]
Becoming the Supreme Soul
Rimmer's house is broken into by Dirk and Todd who are investigating Lydia's disappearance. Since the Supreme Soul has died, Gordon is left in charge. With his newfound power, he plans to retrieve Edgar Spring's second machine, killing anyone in his way. Overhearing a cell phone ringing in his bathroom, Rimmer investigates the noise and discovers Dirk in his bathroom. He is temporarily blinded by Dirk throwing his business cards at his face and Dirk manages to escape. Before Rimmer can pursue him, he realizes that his house is on fire and scrambles to put out the flames.
Since he has Dirk's business cards and thus Dirk's number, Rimmer calls and arranges a deal to exchange Farah Black's life for the return of the dog. During the exchange, Todd throws the corgi over the bridge, distracting Gordon and allowing Farah time to escape. [3]
Searching for Edgar Spring's Machine
Rimmer receives a call from Farah demanding to know where Lydia is. Rimmer, however, is more concerned with finding Edgar Spring's second machine which was promised to him by Patrick Spring before his demise.[1]
Eventually, Lydia managed to escape but was soon returned to Rimmer by Todd Brotzman. (read more)[5]
By the time Dirk and Todd breaks into his house, the Supreme Soul has died, leaving Gordon in charge. With his new power, he becomes determined to rectify the situation to kill anyone who comes in his way. After Dirk steals his dog, lighting Gordon's house on fire in the process, Gordon makes an unsuccessful deal to spare Farah Black's life if they return the dog. [6]
Gordon receives a call from Farah demanding to know where Lydia is. Gordon, however, is more concerned with finding Edgar Spring's second machine which was promised to him by Patrick Spring before his demise.[1]
...[2]
...[7]
...[8]
On the 10.08.2016, Rimmer confronted the captive Dirk and Todd at the Animal Transfer Unit, who had been captured and brought there with the Unlimited Energy Device. He questioned them about the many confusing facts and details of the case, but they knew just as little. When distracted by a commotion outside, their captives managed to overwhelm them, Dirk taking the UED and Todd taking Lux's yak fur coat, and barricaded themselves in the altar room.[8] Rimmer went outside, where he was beaten up by Detective Estevez, but aided by Rapunzel managed to get away. Estevez followed him inside the ATU and shot up the place, so Rimmer and his remaining drones Ed and Zed fled, leaving behind both machines and human!Rapunzel.[3]
Later that day, Rimmer went the police station with Ed and Zed, asking Edmund Doyle for reinforcements to seize back the stolen Soul Exchanger, which Dirk and team had taken to the Spring Mansion. Doyle sent a Seattle Police SWAT team along with Rimmer, and they attacked the Spring mansion after nightfall. Rimmer himself went inside and had firefight in the halls against Farah and Estevez. A disarmed Farah picked up Rapunzel as a living shield, then thew the dog at Rimmer who caught it, distracting him momentarily. Estevez thew her a gun, and Farah killed Rimmer with a headshot.[9]
Behind the scenes
- Gordon Rimmer is portrayed by actor Aaron Douglas.
- In the show bible, the original Rimmer is described as a veterinarian, and said to have been soulswapped into a bird and killed in a microwave.[10]
Appearances
- Season 1 (BBC America) (body inhabited by Pollux)
- Horizons
- Lost & Found
- Rogue Wall Enthusiasts (Pollux & original Gordon Rimmer)
- Watkin
- Very Erectus
- Fix Everything
- Weaponized Soul
- Two Sane Guys Doing Normal Things
Notes
- Gordon was seen walking across the street holding flyers before Todd first met him. Dirk almost ran him over with his car.
- As Gordon, he keeps Lux Dujour merchandise as a reminder of his previous life. He also was seen trying to draw Lux Dujour tattoos on his arm with a sharpie.
- He thought that Dirk killed Patrick Spring
- Before the assault on the Spring Mansion, Rimmer camo-paints his cheeks with glittery blue paint that harkens back to Lux Dujour's style and colors.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Rogue Wall Enthusiasts
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Watkin
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Weaponized Soul
- ↑ Watkin, Rimmer: "I jumped into him after the second album. I was the comeback."
- ↑ Horizons
- ↑ Lost & Found
- ↑ Very Erectus
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Fix Everything
- ↑ Two Sane Guys Doing Normal Things
- ↑ Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency Show Bible, 2015