.
The real issue might be that the Sci-Fi Channel, which has played up Lexx's sexual content in its on-air promotional materials, has not coincidentally shuffled the run so all the most "adult" episodes come at the beginning.
There's only one problem: the reality of what sex sells rarely lives up to the promise of the sensual images.
Anyone with half a brain who's seen ads for love lines on late night TV realizes that there aren't really legions of hot lingerie babes sitting around in a pre-orgasmic fervor just waiting for them to call.
The profit lies in projecting an illusion enticing enough to overcome this realization and convince viewers to pick up the phone, or in the case of Lexx, to tune in again next week.
Unfortunately, implied pleasures of the flesh alone do not make for compelling television. The Sci-Fi Channel risks alienating their target audience -- smart, self-consciously discriminating viewers -- by forcing Lexx to pander to the lowest common denominator.
As a publicity trick, it's sure to bring in viewers. As a strategy to keep those viewers coming back, it's ill-advised.
All this might be forgiven if "Luvliner" was a great piece of television. Unfortunately, that isn't the case. The "bad guys take over the ship, force the crew to do their bidding" story is standard science fiction fare, and this episode does nothing to advance the frontiers of this tired plot, much less the series' fractured storyline.
BLOWED UP!
After two episodes, the count stands at 1 planet, 1 moon and 1 space station. Who knows what the Lexx will destroy next week?
TUNE IN NEXT WEEK WHEN . . .
Reruns continue with "
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