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''White Dwarf'' is a made-for-television movie that aired in 1995. Set in the future, student doctor Driscoll Rampart expects to become a physician to the rich and powerful; but is required by his school to perform his internship on a distant, rural planet named Rusta, orbiting a white dwarf star. The world has a distinct oddity -- it doesn't rotate about its axis, leaving one side perpetually light, the other perpetually dark; with a massive wall separating the two sides. Rusta is only able to support life due to [[Terraforming]], maintained by the [[Applied Phlebotinum|Regulators]]. The light side is a Victorian-style colony which has adapted the tropes of the American Old West; while the dark side a Medieval-style kingdom. The story follows Rampart's character development from vain, arrogant snob to compassionate and caring physician. The movie also includes a side plot involving politician intrigue between the rulers of the light side and dark side; including a ''[[Hamlet]]''-style murder, an association [[Lampshade Hanging|deliberately referenced]] by the assassin.
'''''White Dwarf''''' is a made-for-television movie that aired in 1995. Set in the future, student doctor Driscoll Rampart expects to become a physician to the rich and powerful; but is required by his school to perform his internship on a distant, rural planet named Rusta, orbiting a white dwarf star. The world has a distinct oddity—it doesn't rotate about its axis, leaving one side perpetually light, the other perpetually dark; with a massive wall separating the two sides. Rusta is only able to support life due to [[Terraforming]], maintained by the [[Applied Phlebotinum|Regulators]]. The light side is a Victorian-style colony which has adapted the tropes of the American Old West; while the dark side a Medieval-style kingdom. The story follows Rampart's character development from vain, arrogant snob to compassionate and caring physician. The movie also includes a side plot involving politician intrigue between the rulers of the light side and dark side; including a ''[[Hamlet]]''-style murder, an association [[Lampshade Hanging|deliberately referenced]] by the assassin.


''White Dwarf'' was written as an allegory of prejudice and ignorance by ''[[Wild Palms]]'' writer Bruce Wagner. Essentially a [[Recycled in Space]] retelling of [[Akira Kurosawa]]'s film ''[[Red Beard]]''; and follows many of the tropes invoked by that film; plus many of its own.
''White Dwarf'' was written as an allegory of prejudice and ignorance by ''[[Wild Palms]]'' writer Bruce Wagner. Essentially a [[Recycled in Space]] retelling of [[Akira Kurosawa]]'s film ''[[Red Beard]]''; and follows many of the tropes invoked by that film; plus many of its own.

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{{tropelist}}
=== ''White Dwarf'' contains examples of: ===
* [[Clap Your Hands If You Believe]]: The ritual at the Sea of Tears when Never's Proteus Syndrome threatens to kill him.
* [[Clap Your Hands If You Believe]]: The ritual at the Sea of Tears when Never's Proteus Syndrome threatens to kill him.
* [[Dark Is Not Evil]]: Although Strake makes a valiant attempt to turn it evil.
* [[Dark Is Not Evil]]: Although Strake makes a valiant attempt to turn it evil.
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* [[Genius Loci]]: Rusta is implied to be this, particularly the Sea of Tears, also known as the Blood of Rusta; though alien enough that it's never entirely clear.
* [[Genius Loci]]: Rusta is implied to be this, particularly the Sea of Tears, also known as the Blood of Rusta; though alien enough that it's never entirely clear.
* [[Great Offscreen War]]: Some sort of conflict between Humans and the native Rustians roughly a half-century earlier is implied; but not elaborated on.
* [[Great Offscreen War]]: Some sort of conflict between Humans and the native Rustians roughly a half-century earlier is implied; but not elaborated on.
* [[Knight in Sour Armor]]: Dr. Akada definitely fits this role. He's fully aware that [[Humans Are Bastards]], thanks to his past; but is determined to do what good he can, [[The Atoner|to atone for his past]].
* [[Knight in Sour Armor]]: Dr. Akada definitely fits this role. He's fully aware that [[Humans Are the Real Monsters]], thanks to his past; but is determined to do what good he can, [[The Atoner|to atone for his past]].
* [[Light Is Not Good]]
* [[Light Is Not Good]]
* [[Morality Pet]]: Never, to Dr. Rampart.
* [[Morality Pet]]: Never, to Dr. Rampart.
* [[Pet the Dog]]: Driscoll Rampart's relationship with Never.
* [[Pet the Dog]]: Driscoll Rampart's relationship with Never.
* [[Royal Brat]]: Rampart is a classic non-blueblooded version.
* [[Royal Brat]]: Rampart is a classic non-blueblooded version.
* [[Schizo Tech]]: Justified in that it's a terraformed colony in decay, replete with alien refugees, and colonists who adopt cultural tropes as fashion.
* [[Schizo-Tech]]: Justified in that it's a terraformed colony in decay, replete with alien refugees, and colonists who adopt cultural tropes as fashion.
* [[Screw the Rules, I Have Money]]: Rampart attempts unsuccessfully to invoke this trope upon learning that he'll be serving his internship on a primitive backwater world instead of a prestigious private hospital.
* [[Screw the Rules, I Have Money]]: Rampart attempts unsuccessfully to invoke this trope upon learning that he'll be serving his internship on a primitive backwater world instead of a prestigious private hospital.
* [[Space Western]]: The Light side has elements of this.
* [[Space Western]]: The Light side has elements of this.
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{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Films of the 1990s]]
[[Category:Films of the 1990s]]
[[Category:White Dwarf]]
[[Category:White Dwarf (film)]]
[[Category:Film]]
[[Category:Film]]
[[Category:Science Fiction Films]]
[[Category:Foreign Remake]]
[[Category:Pages with working Wikipedia tabs]]

Latest revision as of 16:20, 14 November 2017

White Dwarf is a made-for-television movie that aired in 1995. Set in the future, student doctor Driscoll Rampart expects to become a physician to the rich and powerful; but is required by his school to perform his internship on a distant, rural planet named Rusta, orbiting a white dwarf star. The world has a distinct oddity—it doesn't rotate about its axis, leaving one side perpetually light, the other perpetually dark; with a massive wall separating the two sides. Rusta is only able to support life due to Terraforming, maintained by the Regulators. The light side is a Victorian-style colony which has adapted the tropes of the American Old West; while the dark side a Medieval-style kingdom. The story follows Rampart's character development from vain, arrogant snob to compassionate and caring physician. The movie also includes a side plot involving politician intrigue between the rulers of the light side and dark side; including a Hamlet-style murder, an association deliberately referenced by the assassin.

White Dwarf was written as an allegory of prejudice and ignorance by Wild Palms writer Bruce Wagner. Essentially a Recycled in Space retelling of Akira Kurosawa's film Red Beard; and follows many of the tropes invoked by that film; plus many of its own.

Tropes used in White Dwarf (film) include:
  • Clap Your Hands If You Believe: The ritual at the Sea of Tears when Never's Proteus Syndrome threatens to kill him.
  • Dark Is Not Evil: Although Strake makes a valiant attempt to turn it evil.
  • Empathic Shapeshifter: Never is a shapeshifter whose ability is the result of a disease known as Proteus Syndrome.
  • Genius Loci: Rusta is implied to be this, particularly the Sea of Tears, also known as the Blood of Rusta; though alien enough that it's never entirely clear.
  • Great Offscreen War: Some sort of conflict between Humans and the native Rustians roughly a half-century earlier is implied; but not elaborated on.
  • Knight in Sour Armor: Dr. Akada definitely fits this role. He's fully aware that Humans Are the Real Monsters, thanks to his past; but is determined to do what good he can, to atone for his past.
  • Light Is Not Good
  • Morality Pet: Never, to Dr. Rampart.
  • Pet the Dog: Driscoll Rampart's relationship with Never.
  • Royal Brat: Rampart is a classic non-blueblooded version.
  • Schizo-Tech: Justified in that it's a terraformed colony in decay, replete with alien refugees, and colonists who adopt cultural tropes as fashion.
  • Screw the Rules, I Have Money: Rampart attempts unsuccessfully to invoke this trope upon learning that he'll be serving his internship on a primitive backwater world instead of a prestigious private hospital.
  • Space Western: The Light side has elements of this.
  • Zeerust: Deliberately invoked by the retro-futurist Rustans.
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