Lexx

When I first saw this show about a year ago I thought it was just weird. But as I found out the more I watched it, there are to kinds of weird shows. The ones that at just weird and stupid (step forward, Dr Who) and the ones that are weird and interesting, like this one. It's a really refreshing alternative to the more "serious" sci-fi-shows out there (like Star Trek and so on, although a absolutely adore DS9), and has some really fascinating plots and characters. I started watching in the middle of the seasons, and only later discovered, in my eyes, my favorite sci-fi-actress of all time (Eva Habermann). She is the only reason I gave Lexx a rating of 8. If she'd been on the whole show it would have been a 10. All in all, a great show and well worth a look.

The quote in my title, from Season 3, should be enough for you to rush out and find a copy of this great series. "Lexx" is the perfect embodiment of the 90s--the overlooked stepchild of the 80s--blending deadpan humor, dark themes, playful if not gratuitous sexuality, a healthy dose of cynicism, and some surpisingly deep & challenging themes of morality, all wrapped up with a childish grasp of fantasy & some of the coolest steampunk contraptions you've seen since HG Welles The Time Machine.

If you've seen any posters, you've probably realized that the major draw is the eye candy: the drop dead gorgeous Xenia Seeberg ("Xev") who in at least 1 episode saves an entire planet by asphyxiating someone with her bosooms (now that's the kind of feminism we can all appreciate), but if you swing the other way there's also the beefcakey Michael McManus ("Kai") who's a cross between Edward Scissorhands, Spock and a Navy Seal because he can kill you with a toothpick. Rounding out the troupe is their captain "Stanley H. Tweedle" (Brian Downey) who is the goofiest, most unqualified captain since Cap'n Crunch. There is also a hilarious disembodied robot head "790" suffering from considerable gender confusion.

But if you're expecting just a brainless, campy romp, you'll be surprised to see that a lot of these episodes pack some deep, philosophical and artistic power. I caught frequent allusions to classic films and art, such as the Season 3 episode "Gondola" which is a loving nod to the 1944 Hitchcock film "Lifeboat". In another episode, "Tunnels", art fans may recognize sets that are recreations of M.C. Escher (the artist known for drawing impossible figures). And the season 2 episode "Lafftrak" is the greatest (and I'm pretty sure the only) scifi homage to Three's Company, General Hospital & possibly a Van Halen video (Hot for Teacher?). Another fantastic episode to watch for is Season 2 "Brigadoom" which is a MUSICAL based on (any guesses?) Zeigfeld's 1947 "Brigadoon". And that's not all; there are some great scenes when the action, comedy and campiness take a break and we get some fascinating dialogue on spirituality, reincarnation, fatalism and the meaning of life. And of course the novel concept of the antihero (a ship full of outcasts who are either amoral, immoral or just plain zombies) was beautifully and charmingly presented here.

Also don't be fooled by the dated 90s cgi. Although the computer special effects may sometimes seem cheezy by today's standards, the actual sets and locations are impressive. A co-production between Canada & Germany, "Lexx" flew all around the world to find the right locations such as the deserts of Namibia, locations in Thailand, and of course the companies' home bases in Nova Scotia and Berlin.

This series had everything. Good stories, good action, great eye candy, surprisingly excellent acting, and just the perfect vibe of the 90s. As we entered the new millennium, our taste for scifi & fantasy turned to more serious, disturbing dramas like Battlestar Galactica and Lost. I consider "Lexx" to be the last and most potent dose of 90s awesomeness before the end of an era.

A final note: if you're on the hunt for the best copy of Lexx (which unfortunately is not available on blu-ray as of today 20 years later), look for the original Canadian DVD release on Acorn Media (2002) or Alliance (2012). Newer releases by Echo Bridge appear to be squashed down to fit on fewer discs and that sorta kills the video quality which is already in need of remastering. The entire 4-season series should span 19 discs, so beware of squashed cut versions that cram the whole show onto 9 or fewer. Also I've read that there's censorship on the American releases, Echo Bridge & Syfy (sexual jokes and some totally gratuitous but much appreciated nudity). Jeepers, someone needs to release this on blu-ray already! I've been petitioning The Criterion Collection to get their butts in gear but they just keep telling me to get a life. Pfft. One way or another, get your hands on this series and have a blast.

I love this show. It is Science Fiction for adults. By that I mean that it has a sense of humor, which can be appreciated by adults. It is sexy, in a nice way, not pornographic. Xenia Seeberg is terrific as Zev Bellringer. Her facial expressions are priceless and show that she is a truly talented actress, not just another pretty face (and body). The rest of the cast is superb. Kai has the coolness of a Mr. Spock, and Stanley Tweedle is all that the name would imply. The special effects can be spectacularly elaborate or comically cheesy when appropriate. LEXX, the most powerful weapon of destruction in the two universes, is the most entertaining Science Fiction program on the planet.

The series is enjoyable for its darkly entertaining sci-fi themed fetishist nature. It isn't meant to be deeply thought provoking in the normal sense, it is designed to be outside the box and provide an alternative to Kevin Sorbo firing blasts at everything. I enjoy it thoroughly for the mere fact that it does not follow normal conventions for a science fiction show and it dares to write story lines that appeal to the subcultures of sci-fidom. The plot is not the most inventive, but the banter and atmospheric situation of the show makes for a very enjoyable watch, especially late night when it normally airs. i highly recommend it to people who like science fiction that thinks outside normal sci-fi convention.

The Lexx series is the next step in (d)evolution for those of us who love and miss Dr. Who and Red Dwarf. It contains all the quintessential characters, the cowardly and low-minded everyman, the aloof and mysterious dead guy that every girl *must* have, the beautiful and fierce heroine for the guys, and the biting wit of their robot companion. Not to mention the Lexx itself, most powerful ship in the Light or Dark Universe. Although often dismissed as hoky and low-budget (and it can be both), the Lexx series has strong characterizations, good solid writing with multiple story lines that always seem to come together seamlessly at the end (and that is NOT easy), and plenty of eye candy. I highly recommend it.