"Lexx" (1997) TV series 1997-2002

Creator:

Paul Donovan

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

Release Date:

18 April 1997 (Canada)

Genre:

Adventure | Sci-Fi | Fantasy | Comedy

Tagline:

Sci-Fi with an attitude!

Plot:

A group of desperate fugitives from an interplanetary tyranny find themselves in control of a massively powerful starship.

Plot Keywords:

Crude Humor | Exploding Planet | Giant Insect | Spaceship As Character | Cleavage

Awards:

6 nominations

Cast

Brian Downey	...	Stanley H. Tweedle / ... (61 episodes, 1996-2002)
Michael McManus	...	Kai / ... (61 episodes, 1996-2002)
Xenia Seeberg	...	Xev Bellringer / ... (55 episodes, 1998-2002)
Jeffrey Hirschfield	...	790 / ... (46 episodes, 1996-2002)
Tom Gallant	...	Lexx / ... (45 episodes, 1996-2002)

Also Known As:

Lexx: The Series
Tales from a Parallel Universe (USA) (first season title)

Runtime:

60 min (65 episodes)

Country:

Canada | Germany | UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Germany:16 (television) | Australia:MA

Filming Locations:

Berlin, Germany

Company:

Salter Street Films International

Trivia:

It was revealed on the Season 2 DVD that 790's fragment of human brain came from a woman.

Quotes:

Kai: I am Kai, last of the Brunnen-G. Millennia ago, the Brunnen-G led humanity to victory in the war against the Insect civilization. The Time Prophet predicted that I would be the one to destroy the Divine Order and the League of 20,000 Planets. Some day, that will happen... but not today, as today is my day of death. The day our story begins.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Peyton Doves (2008) (V)

A Classic Cult Series

I didn't like Lexx at first. This was mainly due to the fact that, like many other negative reviews I see here, I only caught odd episodes here and there. Not surprisingly, the story and characters made absolutely no sense whatsoever to me. As a result, I ignored this show for a long time. Luckily for me, I gave it another shot, from start to finish, and I can honestly say I enjoyed every episode (well....nearly every one....there were a few stinkers).

If you are thinking of giving it a go, make sure you see the initial four mini-movie episodes (the first season). Without the background on the characters and universe, much of what follows will be meaningless. I'll try and summarise the important parts below.

The plot centres mainly around Kai, last of the Brunnen-Gee, a dead assassin who is prophesied to bring about the destruction of His Divine Shadow (bad guy Emperor of the universe). Kai can be reanimated for brief periods of time to perform various tasks (mostly killing people). Unlike other shows such as Star Trek, the crew of the Lexx (giant, biological insect spacecraft) do not get along that well most of the time. In particular, 790 (a disembodied robot head) is particularly hateful of the male crew because of his love of Zev (a female love slave) who is another crewmember. The Lexx is captained by Stanley H Tweedle (a big coward) who has designs on Zev of his own. However, Zev only has eyes for Kai (the dead guy), so there is a weird love triangle thing going on there. Along the way, the crew gets joined by Lieka, a plant woman who likes Stan.

The show is very camp and played for laughs more often than not. As with most such shows, the plot and situations become less important with time. Instead the way the characters react and deal with the situations they find themselves in are far more enjoyable.

The mini-movies featured guest stars such as Tim Curry and Malcolm McDowell and were perhaps the better produced of all the series. Season 2 (the first proper series) focused on a new nemesis - Mantrid - and his designs on the universe. Season 3 is essentially one long episode cut into chunks, a formula that was recently copied by season 3 of Enterprise. And season 4 takes the crew to Earth, giving them the opportunity to interact with the 20th century in all its hideous glory.

Each season had its merits and pitfalls, just like each episode did. One of the interesting quirks was the limited cast list of extras. Actors reappeared from one episode (or season) to the next, playing different characters or in seasons 3 and 4, alternate versions of their previous characters. There is an explanation for this, but you'll have to watch the show to find out.

My favourite episode, ironically, is one of the least sensible. Entitled Brigadoom, it's a musical episode. Much of Kai's past is revealed through song and even now it brings a smile to my lips as I write, just thinking about it.

If you watch Lexx expecting to see Babylon 5, you'll be bitterly disappointed. It's pure fun, campy entertainment at its best. Treat it as such and you'll find it growing on you rapidly.