Lexx - The Complete Series [DVD] [1997]

I have little idea which series was airing when I first picked up on Lexx, because it never really appealed to me at the time. I do remember that it showed on (I think) Channel 5 at some ungodly hour of the night in that odd hiatus between having finished watching Eurotrash and finally dragging myself upstairs to bed. It was certainly a head-turner with its (at the time) spectacular CGI-SFX and equally spectacular leading lady. At the same time it had a strange "feel" to it, being camp, complex and obviously not an "American" show (why that should count as a negative is beyond me now). Another count against it was that it seemed important to have seen the preceding episodes in order to understand what the he11 was going on. At the time it seemed easiest to write it off as an interesting oddity and just go to bed.

Now, looking for decent and engaging TV drama to watch, its potential called to me over the decades and I can (imperfectly) see these apparent failings as real strengths. I bought Lexx - Series 1 and only then discovered that it was also available in the much more pocket-friendly form of a 4-season boxset.

Lexx - the series
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Just to set the scene, Lexx ran over four seasons between its debut in 1997 and its closure in 2002 and it follows the adventures of a small, eclectic band of misfits as they travel the universe in their enormous (and stolen) spaceship, The Lexx. The main characters are: Stanley Tweedle (Brian Downey) an ex-security guard 4th class, arch traitor, agent of a failed rebellion, and accidental captain of the Lexx; Zev Bellringer (Eva Habermann/Xenia Seeberg), a renegade love-slave and Kai (Michael McManus), an emotionless, undead assassin, last of the Brunnen-G race and owner of a truly magnificent beehive hairdo. They are supported by a small cast of associates such as 790 (a detached robot head, deeply in love with Zev), Lyekka (Louise Wischermann), a cannibal and occasional Lexx crew member. The Lexx is are chased by His Divine Shadow, the sinister galactic overlord and erstwhile owner of the Lexx and the first series essentially deals with the crew's efforts to escape his malign attentions and find a safe haven. Look out for guest appearances from such thespian luminaries as Tim Curry, Rutger Hauer and Malcolm McDowell to name but a few. I wonder if "Lexx" features on any of their CV's?

Yes indeed, it is hugely camp and has a strong flavour of scifi from a bygone age - Barbarella, Zardoz, Flash Gordon and so-on. It is also not a little saucy, with plenty of sexual references. This is, as far as I can make out the uncut version, so look out for the famous "shower scene" in the second episode of the first series. Stanley is, of course, fixated on Zev, but being (how can I put this kindly?) a far from heroic hero, in appearance as well as deed, the chances of him ever getting his end away with her have to be pretty low.

Is it in any way flawed? I can't see it myself. The acting may be a little over the top but given the intentional campness of the whole thing, the overacting is really just a part of the deal. Bear in mind that later seasons go even further off-kilter (there's even a musical episode...!) and I have yet to determine whether they stray too far into the world of parody but, for the time being, if you accept all this for what it is, there is nothing to complain about. Yes, the CGI SFX look a little obvious to our sophisticated eye, but remember, this was produced nearly 15 years ago and, at the time, it must have been groundbreaking. Certainly the "vision" that the series tries to deliver is literally universal - the size of the Lexx and the distances it covers are mindboggling. This is one way in which Lexx scores over Firefly/Serenity, a series that I always felt was just a little constrained to what Joss Wheedon could fit on a large map. Lexx, by contrast, never worried about such humdrum practical limitations and, if ever it fails, it can hardly be the result of a lack of imagination or effort (of course, and to soothe the sensibilities of Browncoats, Firefly is a better series in many other ways and the comparison isn't entirely a fair one).

Series 1
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This consists of four movie-length (2 hour) episodes: "I Worship His Shadow", "Super Nova", "Eating Pattern" and "Giga Shadow". The characters are introduced and Zev and Stanley steal the Lexx. Zev has a shower, Tim Curry want Stanley to have his babies and Kai goes to pieces. The Lexx has dinner and Rutger Hauer looks fabulous; then they all go back to the Cluster, but everyone's been eaten - oh noes! The acting is pretty rough and if I'm honest, these two hour long, feature length episodes do drag a bit. Let's be frank - they could have done with some editing.

Series 2
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The second season consists of 20 episodes of a more conventional 45m in length: Mantrid, Terminal, Lyekka, Luvliner, Lafftrak, Stan's Trial, Love Grows, White Trash, 791, Wake the Dead, Nook, Norb, Twilight, Patches in the Sky, Woz, The Web, The Net, Brigadoom, Brizon and End of the Universe. Eva Habermann hands over the reins to Xenia Seeberg (as Xev) and Lyekka makes her entrance. The story arc revolves around our heroes' attempts to escape the clutches of the evil and potty scientist Dr Mantrid (who's goal in life is to destroy the Dark Universe. Well, everyone has to have a hobby, don't they?). Look out for the musical episode "Brigadoom".

Series 3
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The thirteen episodes in Season 3 are: Fire and Water, May, Gametown, Boomtown, Gondola, K-Town, Tunnels, The Key, Garden, Battle, Girltown, The Beach and Heaven and Hell. The Lexx is caught up in a war between two planets (Fire and Water).

Series 4
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The twenty episodes of Series 4 take place on a familiar "Little Blue Planet". Fortunately it's an alternative reality as the Lexx is hungry. The episodes are; Little Blue Planet, Texx Lexx, P4X, Stan Down, Xevivor, The Rock, Walpurgis Night, Vlad, Fluff Daddy, Magic Baby, A Midsummer's Nightmare, Bad Carrot, 769, Prime Ridge, Mort, Moss, Dutch Treat, The Game, Haley's Comet, Apocalexx Now, Viva Lexx Vegas, Trip, Lyekka vs Japan and Yo Way Yo. Look out for cameos from Hattie Hayridge and Craig Charles.

Production
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One complaint is the sound repro in which the dialogue tends to fade somewhat behind the ambient sound effects and score. This may be down to the settings on my TV as it seems to be a common problem and I generally overcome it by engaging the sub-titles. Unfortunately there are none on this release - a big negative for me.

Extras
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The set includes some extras including: "making of" featurettes. I've only seen the Season 1 featurettes that come on the first two discs (there's one for each S1 episode) and they're pretty dire! Picture, if you will, the producer, stood outside his office and flanked by two of his crew. They are huddled against the driving rain (one has his coat pulled over his head to shelter him) and the producer announces that he is contractually obliged to fill an additional 20m per episode with some sort of extra (he reiterates this point several times in the documentaries). What follows is (inside in the dry, mercifully) the three crew men talking fairly unenthusiastically for 20m about the production of the series with almost no footage from the production itself. I watched (sorry fast forwarded through) the first two of these so perhaps I missed the really exciting third or fourth "making of" documentary, but I didn't feel in any way tempted to find out.

Buying options
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It's worth bearing in mind that it's hugely more economcal to buy this, the four season boxset, but given that this costs rather a lot you may want to dip your toe in the water first. Fortunately, it's /still/ worth getting the Lexx - Series 1 box set and then go the full monty if you like it.

Summary
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Financial considerations aside, what you have here, however, is something a little special. I readily admit that I use the word "little" very deliberately: Lexx will never be looked on as a serious contender against Star Wars/Firefly/Star Trek/insert-fave-scifi-epic-here (although, having just watched the entire Star Wars box-set, I'm not so sure...). It does fulfill a role as an enthusiastic, fairly well done epic, but its main strength is that has a sense of humour and doesn't try to take itself seriously. It won't be to everyone's tastes but if you approach it on those terms then you may well find yourself lost on this sexy, exciting, silly and even slightly mad journey. Enjoy

LEXX must be just about the most entertaining, quirkiest science fiction show ever produced. Tremendous guest stars like Rutger Hauer, Tim Curry and Malcolm MacDowell. Weird & wonderful storylines with brilliant characters. And two of the sexiest leading ladies you can ever imagine doesn't hurt either...

This is one of most original sci fi shows that I have ever watched. The first two seasons are absolutely excellent (although I was a bit disapointed when Xev/Zev was recast). The 3rd season is good if not a bit repetitive and leads interestingly into the 4th series.

Having missed this series on TV first time round I was suprised by the amount of sexual content and innuendo that is included and increases as the show moves forward, although it is presented in a way that doesn't spoil the show whatsoever.

A good purchase for sci fi fans who like me may have missed this the first time round.