Lexx: Series 4 Volume 3
September 2003 Reviewed by: Anthony Di Marco Format: DVD	(all ratings out of 5): Overall Enjoyment Picture Quality Packaged Extras Sound Quality

I have watched Lexx: Series 4 Volume 3 and a couple of episodes from Lexx: Series 4 Volume 4, but beyond testing my limits of repulsion, I am no closer to understanding the central theme behind the show. I am sure fans would laugh at me and say that the point behind Lexx is as obvious as the bad carrot trying to gain entry into my lower intestinal track, but for this inhabitant of a Type 13 planet, the meaning of Lexx is as evasive as a love-struck Stanley Teedle attaining Xev.

Some of Lexx's qualities are very appealing, although many who enjoy the show may not advertise it for fear of being judged. This is not a show for individuals with closed minds or sensitive sensibilities. Lexx is wickedly irreverent, campy, and quite sexy. Sexual innuendo is peppered throughout each storyline, and everything from masochism to homoerotica is both literally and figuratively touched upon. What makes this nastiness digestible is the good-natured, and very human, cast.

First, you must know that the Lexx is an enormous biomechanical insectoid spaceship with awesome destructive powers. Its captain, Stanley Tweedle, is a wimp as well as a sexual opportunist. Xev is a carnivorous cluster lizard in the guise of a sex toy, and Kai is an unemotional, undead assassin. There is a profound sense of loyalty among them. On the surface, Stanley wants one thing from Xev, but we see a bond of friendship surface after a space vampire named Vlad puts the bite on. Of course, one can also argue that the bond really arises out of need. Stanley is the only one who has control of the Lexx, so it is in Kai's and Xev’s interest to keep him alive.

I can see connections with other characters from other popular science-fiction series. Kai’s logic and emotional coolness are certainly very Spock-like in spirit. But like Superman’s Bizarro counterpart, Stanley Tweedle’s spineless captain is the opposite of James T. Kirk’s fearless cowboy. Robot Head 791 is the antithesis of every warm, well-mannered robot sidekick ever seen on science-fiction television.

The quality of the DVD transfer is excellent for a television series, though the cinematography and lighting are generally by the book. Images have solid colors and very little noise but are quite two-dimensional. This lack of depth belies many of the well-done digital effects and gives the show a decidedly "video" look. Audio is a cut above Red Dwarf in overall clarity and production quality. The DVD includes both 5.1 surround and 2.0 stereo soundtracks. The 5.1 mix has quite a bit of action going on in the surrounds, while the stereo version offers excellent vocal intelligibility.

It takes about 15 minutes to sample all the special features on Lexx: Series 4 Volume 3. It would have helped if the features section actually looked as though someone had put time into it. Only the "CGI Gallery" is interesting, while deleted scenes, trivia games, and behind-the-scenes photos are blatant filler. Considering the density of Lexx mythology, a primer would have been nice. Overall, the extras are very disappointing.

Lexx has a lot of promise, including some very original ideas and a refreshing sense of irreverence when compared to formula television. What it desperately needs is a way for new fans to catch up with its densely layered mythology. Countless Internet searches resulted in very little detailed information. Apart from a funny link promising naked cast pictures, the Lexx website offers absolutely no information about the series. It does point to "related websites," but the only link is a single "unauthorized website" with badly formatted facts. The Sci-Fi Channel does offer cast bios, but nothing in terms of Lexx history or themes. Lastly, Acorn Media Publishing includes nothing beyond a basic marketing description of the respective shows.

I may not quite know what to make of Lexx, but I do think it is a show that deserves to flourish. Its characters are memorable and its stories are both thought provoking and fun. Take a look at what television has to offer and you’ll realize that Lexx is a dirty gem that is not afraid to venture into the dark reaches of the human condition.

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