Stan and Xev are given the universe's tastiest food to eat as a gift from Lyekka while Kai gets a flower that opens when he sings. However, it quickly becomes clear that Stan and Xev are hallucinating after partaking of the food and if left unchecked they will kill each other.

Now this is more like it. The inside of the LEXX has always been pretty claustrophobic, and this episode uses it well. After some early rather enjoyable stuff where the characters admit how close they've become over the years, it's an effective contrast to see how quickly their sanity breaks down when influenced by hallucinations of things they want to see. It's also wonderfully believable to the viewer for a while as Kai is granted the gift of life by Prince before the evil one plant the seeds of doubt and mistrust among the crew. While we're not sure who is responsible for what, it's great to try to work out just what is going on.

With some fine acting from the main cast, especially Michael McManus, who not only shows off his fine singing voice again but also is allowed to cut loose as an emotional, living Kai, this episode works because of how good the leads can be if they're given something to work with. Even 790 gets some fun if scary moments when he realizes what is happening and eggs on Stan and Xev as they try to kill each other.

Whether Prince really was there we still can't be entirely sure, nor do we know if he will stay true to his promise. But with some quirky images and odd concepts, this is LEXX on good form and we get a better understanding of how the three of them work as a team and help each other, especially when there is no-one else around to protect them. It also shows a new and nastier side to Lyekka and her people, and I'm not sure even the LEXX crew can get out of this one. And if they do, from the look of this episode, it's not clear whether they will have anywhere habitable to go to by the time Lyekka and company have finished. Will they perhaps make the ultimate sacrifice on realizing that they will be left in an empty universe once more? Will they destroy the Earth rather than let Lyekka's people continue their feast? Two more episodes and we'll know.

****

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