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.
