His Divine Shadow
Encyclopedia
His Divine Shadow is a fictional character in the TV series Lexx
. He is portrayed as the absolute ruler of the Divine Order and the League of 20,000 Planets.
driving the current avatar is passed in "the kiss" to a new avatar when the current avatar's body is discarded and the brain joins the collective, a process which normally destroys the persona
of the host. Unbeknownst to his worshippers, he is the last surviving member of the Insect Civilization
, which had been destroyed by the Brunnen-G
. That survivor (correctly) assumes that he will be more successful in wiping out humanity by getting it to destroy itself. He works towards humanity's destruction by starting a religion centered around himself (his possessed human bodies), gradually becoming “the most powerful ruler in the two universes.”
In the opening episode, as result of the noted single failure of the destruction of the new host persona, a new avatar whose persona includes that of a prior host not destroyed like the others takes the collective on board the LEXX
and leaves The Cluster, allowing it to personally wipe out all opposition in preparation for the rebirth of its insect form through the Gigashadow
, the recreation of the insect civilization, and the complete destruction of humanity.
, Last of the Brunnen-G, as foretold by the Time Prophet
, but not before a part of his essence is transferred to Kai, who later passes it on to Mantrid
, who goes on to destroy the Light Universe. Kai at one point refers to the Shadow as "the enemy of humanity," so in that sense his Divine Shadow lives on until the destruction of Mantrid by the Lexx crew, which like the Divine Shadow's defeat is mostly Kai's doing.
Despite his death and the downfall of his Order, His Shadow's legacy haunts the characters throughout the series, even when the Light Universe is destroyed and they are forced into the Dark Zone. The phrase "I kill you in the name of His Divine Shadow" is repeated several times throughout the later half of the series, even though there is no longer a Divine Shadow, emphasizing the extent of his effect upon the Two Universes.
to anyone who opposes him (known commonly as heretics), and his lineage of flagships use very advanced forms of technology to destroy any planet he wishes. It has been shown consistently that almost all of His Divine Shadow's flagships (save the Lexx
) are immune to all forms of weapons fire, and have superior defenses.
played the dying His Shadow in the first Lexx movie, I Worship His Shadow, and provided the voice of His Divine Shadow throughout the rest of the movies/Season 1, and in the Season 2 episode "Brigadoom." He also played several other characters in the run of the series, including The Wuzzard and Dr. Ernst Longbore.
Lexx
Lexx is a science fantasy television series that follows the adventures of a group of mismatched individuals aboard the organic space craft Lexx. They travel through two universes and encounter planets including a parody of the Earth....
. He is portrayed as the absolute ruler of the Divine Order and the League of 20,000 Planets.
His Divine Shadow
His Divine Shadow rules from The Cluster, in the collective form of a current humanoid avatar and the disembodied brains of prior avatars, the Divine Predecessors. The cluster is the religious center as well as the supreme military command of the LEXX universe. The portion of his consciousnessConsciousness
Consciousness is a term that refers to the relationship between the mind and the world with which it interacts. It has been defined as: subjectivity, awareness, the ability to experience or to feel, wakefulness, having a sense of selfhood, and the executive control system of the mind...
driving the current avatar is passed in "the kiss" to a new avatar when the current avatar's body is discarded and the brain joins the collective, a process which normally destroys the persona
Persona
A persona, in the word's everyday usage, is a social role or a character played by an actor. The word is derived from Latin, where it originally referred to a theatrical mask. The Latin word probably derived from the Etruscan word "phersu", with the same meaning, and that from the Greek πρόσωπον...
of the host. Unbeknownst to his worshippers, he is the last surviving member of the Insect Civilization
Insect Civilization
In the science-fiction television series Lexx, the Insect Civilization is an ancient race of massive millipede-like organisms bent on destroying the Brunnen-G and all of Humanity.-The Early War:...
, which had been destroyed by the Brunnen-G
Brunnen-G
The Brunnen-G are a race of humanoids on the TV series Lexx. They were a society of romantic warriors, most famous for their key part in defeating the Insect Civilization during the Insect Wars...
. That survivor (correctly) assumes that he will be more successful in wiping out humanity by getting it to destroy itself. He works towards humanity's destruction by starting a religion centered around himself (his possessed human bodies), gradually becoming “the most powerful ruler in the two universes.”
In the opening episode, as result of the noted single failure of the destruction of the new host persona, a new avatar whose persona includes that of a prior host not destroyed like the others takes the collective on board the LEXX
LEXX
Lexx is a science fantasy television series that follows the adventures of a group of mismatched individuals aboard the organic space craft Lexx. They travel through two universes and encounter planets including a parody of the Earth....
and leaves The Cluster, allowing it to personally wipe out all opposition in preparation for the rebirth of its insect form through the Gigashadow
Gigashadow
The Gigashadow is the last fully grown denizen of the long-lost Insect Civilization, in the sci-fi television series Lexx.- The Back Story :...
, the recreation of the insect civilization, and the complete destruction of humanity.
The Aftermath
His Shadow's Order is destroyed by KaiKai (LEXX)
Kai, Last of the Brunnen-G, is an undead assassin on the science fiction television show Lexx. He is played by Michael McManus.-Character history:...
, Last of the Brunnen-G, as foretold by the Time Prophet
Time Prophet
The Time Prophet is a character on the science fiction series LEXX.The Time Prophet is a pivotal character in the TV series Lexx. She was capable of seeing the future, although she claimed that, as time was cyclical, she was actually seeing the past, though not always clearly. As she explained it,...
, but not before a part of his essence is transferred to Kai, who later passes it on to Mantrid
Mantrid
Mantrid was the main antagonist of the second season of Lexx. He was played by Dieter Laser.When he was alive, he was the supreme Bio-Vizier of His Divine Shadow , until His Shadow exiled him to a barren snow-covered world...
, who goes on to destroy the Light Universe. Kai at one point refers to the Shadow as "the enemy of humanity," so in that sense his Divine Shadow lives on until the destruction of Mantrid by the Lexx crew, which like the Divine Shadow's defeat is mostly Kai's doing.
Despite his death and the downfall of his Order, His Shadow's legacy haunts the characters throughout the series, even when the Light Universe is destroyed and they are forced into the Dark Zone. The phrase "I kill you in the name of His Divine Shadow" is repeated several times throughout the later half of the series, even though there is no longer a Divine Shadow, emphasizing the extent of his effect upon the Two Universes.
His Divine Shadow's Personal Flagships
His Divine Shadow exclusively owns and commands the most advanced pieces of military technology known in the entire Lexx universe. He can wantonly deploy a weapon of mass destructionWMD
WMD may refer to:* Weapon of mass destruction, a term used to describe munitions with the capacity to kill large numbers of human beings indiscriminately* Weighted mean difference, a measure in statistical meta-analysis...
to anyone who opposes him (known commonly as heretics), and his lineage of flagships use very advanced forms of technology to destroy any planet he wishes. It has been shown consistently that almost all of His Divine Shadow's flagships (save the Lexx
Lexx
Lexx is a science fantasy television series that follows the adventures of a group of mismatched individuals aboard the organic space craft Lexx. They travel through two universes and encounter planets including a parody of the Earth....
) are immune to all forms of weapons fire, and have superior defenses.
The Foreshadow
- The Foreshadow is the first personal flagship of His Divine Shadow, and was deployed during the complete destruction of Brunnis-2, KaiKai (LEXX)Kai, Last of the Brunnen-G, is an undead assassin on the science fiction television show Lexx. He is played by Michael McManus.-Character history:...
's homeworld. It is somewhat spider-like in shape, having eight spokes radiating from a central command hub (Resembling a giant, space-born predator which later menaced the Lexx itself in the episodes "The Web" and "The Net"). Its main weapon generates dark sheets of destructive energy which retain the general shape of the Foreshadow itself. The Foreshadow is capable of destroying an entire planet, but unlike the Lexx 2000 years later, it has to fire its weapon numerous times to achieve complete destruction. The Foreshadow has smaller defensive guns attached so it can take on smaller craft, unlike the Lexx which only has its main weapon.
The Megashadow
- Never in any of the Lexx episodes has the Megashadow been seen actually destroying a planet, however it does possess the same ephemeral wave that the Foreshadow uses by unfolding its front "legs". It is immune to all weapons fire, save of course for the world destroying wave of the LEXX's "ocular parabola" which destroys it in the first season.
The Lexx
- When compared to the sheer size and weight class of the Foreshadow and the heavy armored defences of the Megashadow, the LexxLexxLexx is a science fantasy television series that follows the adventures of a group of mismatched individuals aboard the organic space craft Lexx. They travel through two universes and encounter planets including a parody of the Earth....
is a rather inferior vessel to this proud heritage. This is not to say that it is weak by any standard; what it lacks in defense and size, it makes up for in pure firepower. It can destroy whole planets in one shot. The Lexx is the most powerful weapon in the two universes, and the only ship in the two universes that can pass through the fractal core. No other His Divine Shadow flagship can land on planets.
Portrayals
Walter BordenWalter Borden
Walter Borden is a Canadian actor, poet and playwright. Borden was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal, the African Nova Scotia Music Association Music Heritage Award, and the Portia White Prize, which is awarded annually by the Nova Scotia Arts Council to someone who has made a...
played the dying His Shadow in the first Lexx movie, I Worship His Shadow, and provided the voice of His Divine Shadow throughout the rest of the movies/Season 1, and in the Season 2 episode "Brigadoom." He also played several other characters in the run of the series, including The Wuzzard and Dr. Ernst Longbore.