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Lexx S3 V4
Acorn Media // PG-13 // September 24, 2002
List Price: $24.95 [Buy now and save at Amazon]
If you are thinking of picking up Lexx Season 3 Volume 4 without having seen any of the previous episodes, you're as crazy as most of the characters on the show. But for the uninitiated, Lexx is a very odd science fiction show that centers around a misfit crew on board a stolen quasi-organic starship (the eponymous Lexx). In Season 3, the Lexx is suspended between two planets locked in orbit and perpetual war with each other. The planet of Fire is an unpleasant place, while Water appears to be a kind of paradise, though one populated by rather odd people. (Then again, is there any other kind of people in the Lexx universe?) Volume 4 picks up with the final three episodes of the season, "Girltown," "The Beach," and "Heaven and Hell," all three in their original uncut form.
Despite some early hints to the contrary, there really isn't much of a plot in Season 3; it's more of a consistent setting for Stan, Kai, and Xev to explore and get into trouble in, with some continuity of storyline and secondary characters over the course of the thirteen episodes. In Volume 4, the story draws to a close, and appears to promise some answers to puzzling issues raised in the earlier episodes. I was hoping for something relevant, even conclusive, out of the final episodes. I had even heard that there was something of a "twist" ending. Well, there is. Kind of. That is, there's a twist, but it's fairly pointless. (I'm not going to give it away, even so.)
The trouble with a show in which planets are blown up on a regular basis is that it's hard to up the ante. Considering that Season 2's finale included the destruction of an entire universe, not just a planet, it's even harder to see how Season 3 could top that. For a while, it seemed that the focus was shifting more to the characters, specifically Xev and Stanley's search for a permanent home, and Kai's search for a reason to exist. But it all comes to nothing meaningful in the end.
Do we see any actual change in the relationships among the three main characters? No. Does anything significant happen in the Lexx universe? Again, not really. The conclusion of Volume 4 undermines any apparent story development in Season 3 as a whole. With the option to explore something new and have some actual development of the premise – perhaps best expressed by Kai's wistful comment about his "living essence" having a chance at a new life – Lexx instead chooses childish violence, the selfish kick of smashing something precious in order to get what you want. It's in line with Lexx's previous track record, but foolishly enough I was hoping for something better, and was disappointed.
Video
Lexx is presented in its original television aspect ratio of 1.33:1. The look of the show is reasonably good for a television program, with a generally clean print and attractive colors. Contrast is generally satisfactory, though some detail is lost when dark images are silhouetted against a bright background. It's not a particularly sharp picture, but all in all it should be pleasing to fans of the show.
Audio
The Dolby 2.0 soundtrack is adequate but no more than that. As a science fiction show, Lexx could certainly have made good use of a greater degree of surround sound than is provided, but at least the dialogue is generally clear, and the music and effects are balanced appropriately with the dialogue.
Extras
Acorn Media has consistently put a nice selection of special features on its Lexx discs. Volume 4 includes Part IV of the "Making of" featurettes that have appeared on the previous four discs, as well as an interview with Alex Busby, the visual effects producer for the show. Other supplemental material includes location photos, storyboards, production sketches, and interactive trivia.
Final thoughts
Lexx Season 3 Volume 4 is certainly not the DVD to pick up if you've never seen Lexx before. As to how to recommend it... Completionists who bought the first three volumes of Season 3 might as well pick up Volume 4, even though I would consider it a disappointing finale.
Despite some early hints to the contrary, there really isn't much of a plot in Season 3; it's more of a consistent setting for Stan, Kai, and Xev to explore and get into trouble in, with some continuity of storyline and secondary characters over the course of the thirteen episodes. In Volume 4, the story draws to a close, and appears to promise some answers to puzzling issues raised in the earlier episodes. I was hoping for something relevant, even conclusive, out of the final episodes. I had even heard that there was something of a "twist" ending. Well, there is. Kind of. That is, there's a twist, but it's fairly pointless. (I'm not going to give it away, even so.)
The trouble with a show in which planets are blown up on a regular basis is that it's hard to up the ante. Considering that Season 2's finale included the destruction of an entire universe, not just a planet, it's even harder to see how Season 3 could top that. For a while, it seemed that the focus was shifting more to the characters, specifically Xev and Stanley's search for a permanent home, and Kai's search for a reason to exist. But it all comes to nothing meaningful in the end.
Do we see any actual change in the relationships among the three main characters? No. Does anything significant happen in the Lexx universe? Again, not really. The conclusion of Volume 4 undermines any apparent story development in Season 3 as a whole. With the option to explore something new and have some actual development of the premise – perhaps best expressed by Kai's wistful comment about his "living essence" having a chance at a new life – Lexx instead chooses childish violence, the selfish kick of smashing something precious in order to get what you want. It's in line with Lexx's previous track record, but foolishly enough I was hoping for something better, and was disappointed.
Video
Lexx is presented in its original television aspect ratio of 1.33:1. The look of the show is reasonably good for a television program, with a generally clean print and attractive colors. Contrast is generally satisfactory, though some detail is lost when dark images are silhouetted against a bright background. It's not a particularly sharp picture, but all in all it should be pleasing to fans of the show.
Audio
The Dolby 2.0 soundtrack is adequate but no more than that. As a science fiction show, Lexx could certainly have made good use of a greater degree of surround sound than is provided, but at least the dialogue is generally clear, and the music and effects are balanced appropriately with the dialogue.
Extras
Acorn Media has consistently put a nice selection of special features on its Lexx discs. Volume 4 includes Part IV of the "Making of" featurettes that have appeared on the previous four discs, as well as an interview with Alex Busby, the visual effects producer for the show. Other supplemental material includes location photos, storyboards, production sketches, and interactive trivia.
Final thoughts
Lexx Season 3 Volume 4 is certainly not the DVD to pick up if you've never seen Lexx before. As to how to recommend it... Completionists who bought the first three volumes of Season 3 might as well pick up Volume 4, even though I would consider it a disappointing finale.
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