Lexx

It's a shame that Lexx has been more or less forgotten about, while shows like Firefly, Star Trek, Stargate and the like live on a classics. Granted, I don't think Lexx is better than those shows, but it is certainly a more interesting show, for better or worse. I've seen a lot of sci-fi shows over the years, and I have to say, Lexx is probably the one that has stuck in my memory the most.

I'll start by acknowledging the bad: the show's CGI effects have, understandably, aged terrible. Also, the tone of pacing of each season is all over the place. The costumes and set pieces are also wayyy out there (like why is stanley STILL wearing his uniform, lol). Many of the actors ham it up like it's nobody's business, thought that could be seen as a positive if you like that sort of thing.

What sets Lexx apart the most, at least in my mind, is it's tone. From the first season, it presents us with this dark, dystopian future that would be utterly soul-crushing if not for the ridiculous over-the-top characters that strike a balance between the incredibly dark tone and a more comedic one. The first season is by far the darkest in tone, then the second season is probably the most prototypical sci-fi random misadventures in space season, the third season gets a bit more serious, and the fourth season just goes completely off the rails for better or worse (screw it let's just do a godzilla episode). But the nice thing about this show is, unlike many sci-fi shows, it ACTUALLY HAS AN ENDING. Granted, it doesn't tie up all the lose ends, but it still wraps things up neatly.

If you like big performances, absurd premises and colorful characters then by all means give this show a go.

My husband and I first caught Lexx during a marathon on the Sci-Fi channel in 2000. Up until that point, Sci-Fi's ad campaign was so wretched that neither of us bothered to watch the show. Although the episodes in the marathon didn't make a lot of sense (Sci-Fi aired the Season 2 episodes out of order) we were hooked by the black humor, the funky music, and the show's overall stylishness.

I think the show was a lot smarter than most people realize.

In a nutshell, Lexx is the American Red Dwarf. Fans of Red Dwarf know that the British creators once tried to sell the show to a US network ... and failed. Attempts at Americanizing Red Dwarf included adding more sex and "adventure" to the show while keeping the jokes and action squeaky clean. It didn't work. But Lexx succeeded where Red Dwarf failed by being hip and gritty.

Of the first four Lexx movies only the first and fourth are truly must-see material. The middle episodes feature fun cameos but don't really advance the plot ... they've always felt like filler designed to stretch out the production budget. But the first and last movies are sci-fi gems. Funny, sick, and slick all at the same time, they really solidified the mood of the show.

Episode for episode, Season 2 IS the heart of Lexx. The season offers up the most spot-on humor and the most interesting plots. The season bore a few misses (the hillbilly episodes mainly) but the shows are consistently enjoyable if you appreciate the bizarre. The running gag in which every new character introduced dies by the end of each episode never turns stale. The main characters grow with the plot throughout the season. There's even a thoroughly enjoyable MUSICAL episode toward the end (my favorite Lexx episode).

Season 3 was a complete misfire. I'm surprised Lexx survived to see a fourth season ... that how weak Season 3 is. A plot that should have lasted two episodes is stretched into an entire season. All of the character growth seen in Season 2 is tossed out the window. The episodes drag out via poor pacing, asinine logic, and de-emphasized humor. And the season only got worse as it went along. I didn't enjoy Season 3 when it aired, and it still sucks on DVD ... especially when compared to every other incarnation of Lexx.

Season 4 was a worthy successor to Season 2 and a return to form. It's a shame that the fourth season based several plot threads on the third season because, ideally, viewers should be able to skip Season 3 altogether. While the fourth season isn't as strong as the second, it comes pretty damned close. I was skeptical about the "Lexx comes to modern earth" theme... but through creativity and a keen sense of satire, Lexx's creative team pulled off a plot device that no other Sci-fi show has been able to successfully tackle (re: Battlestar Galactica 1980). There are some episodes that go nowhere (sadly the prison episode, which employs two actors from Red Dwarf, is one of the most disposable episodes) and the characters go through the exact same growth pattern seen in Season 2. But I give the creators props for having the balls to inject caustic anti-American sentiments into the season ... given the post 9-11 culture in which they were released AND the fact that it was the first incarnation of Lexx to be heavily promoted in the US. Sometimes the anti-American elements are too heavy-handed and belie a superficial grasp of US culture, but that's OK. It works more than it doesn't. The creators did a much better job at managing a continuing storyline than they did in previous seasons ... culminating in a truly rousing and tragic conclusion.

I also applaud the creators for ending their pet project decisively. Sure, there MIGHT be another Lexx someday, but the conclusion of Season 4 didn't leave any loose ends or nagging issues.

Warts and all, Lexx stands as one of the most interesting and innovative sci-fi shows ever attempted. I have a feeling that this show will grow more popular with the passage of time.

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.

I have to congratulate whoever came up with 'Lexx.' It is the least Hollywood influenced series I've seen since Babylon 5. The story and costumes are completely new, the acting perfectly suited for what is needed, and the effects certainly enough to fascinate viewers.

One of the scenes I liked best was in Episode One, which has a His Shadow ship attacking the homeworld of the Brunnen-G. Kai and several other ships fly to attack it, all chanting the same war song in time with each other. Very creepy, very poignant, and very rarely seen before.

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.