Stanley Tweedle
Encyclopedia
Stanley Tweedle is a character on the science fiction series Lexx
.
" for the Ostral-B Heretics against His Divine Shadow
, an evil galactic dictator, Stanley H. Tweedle (played by Brian Downey
) was given a responsibility that he really did not merit: smuggling the DNA
of His Shadow's ultimate weapon
to Heretic forces. Instead, Stanley allowed himself to be captured by Sub-Nebulae mercenaries and sold to the Divine Order, providing them with the codes to the defense system protecting the Reformed Planets; as such he was branded Arch-Traitor. His compatriots were slaughtered, and Stanley was captured. The smuggled DNA was extracted from him and used to grow The Lexx, a living, sentient ship
able to destroy entire planets with a single devastating shot. His Shadow intended to use the Lexx to annihilate any planet in the universe
where even a whisper of rebellion surfaced.
Luckily for Stanley, he was deemed so harmless and unimportant that he soon faded into the bureaucracy
of The Cluster, His Shadow's central planet, eventually becoming a low-ranked security guard
for the same government
he had once fought against. As of the beginning of the series, he has been demoted to the lowest rank of Security Guard Class 4 (claiming to have previously been a Class 2), with an internal identity of Number 476329-43 Department 511 Level 4.
, one catastrophic
day (and an incredible series of blunders) saw Stanley receive the "key" to the Lexx. With the Lexx now answering only to him, Stanley fled from His Shadow's influence with a motley crew in tow; Zev
, an escaped love slave; 790
, a disembodied robot
head; and Kai
, an undead assassin
once in servitude to His Shadow. Together, they encounter a wide range of deviant people and creatures, most of a homicidal
bent, as they look for a safe place to call home.
, survival, and an overactive libido
are Stanley's primary motivations in any given situation.
Stanley occasionally shows some backbone, particularly when there is nowhere else left to run. For all his capriciousness, Stanley has spared the lives of his enemies and gone on the attack against suicidal odds because it was the right thing to do. Stanley has been instrumental in destroying various galactic threats, including the ultimate defeat of His Divine Shadow.
Stanley's opinion of himself, however, might ultimately be his downfall. Though he outwardly denies any actual culpability, Stanley feels a great deal of guilt
over his failure to keep Lexx's DNA out of His Divine Shadow's hands, and the billions of deaths that resulted. This guilt has been used against him several times, including in a trial that convicted him of high treason and in a spiritual test that briefly consigned him to Hell
.
From time to time, Stanley has lost the key
to the Lexx - best described as a symbiotic, living energy wave that can only exist inside a living person. On these occasions, he has been desperate in his efforts to get the key back. Even if he does not always live up to the responsibility, Stanley Tweedle knows that commanding the Lexx is probably the most important thing he will ever do.
Though he has a middle initial, H, his middle name is never revealed.
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....
.
Background
Originally an "assistant deputy backup courierCourier
A courier is a person or a company who delivers messages, packages, and mail. Couriers are distinguished from ordinary mail services by features such as speed, security, tracking, signature, specialization and individualization of express services, and swift delivery times, which are optional for...
" for the Ostral-B Heretics against His Divine Shadow
His Divine Shadow
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.-His Divine Shadow:...
, an evil galactic dictator, Stanley H. Tweedle (played by Brian Downey
Brian Downey (actor)
Brian Downey is a Canadian actor perhaps best-known for his portrayal of Stanley Tweedle, in the science-fiction television series Lexx....
) was given a responsibility that he really did not merit: smuggling the DNA
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...
of His Shadow's ultimate weapon
Weapon
A weapon, arm, or armament is a tool or instrument used with the aim of causing damage or harm to living beings or artificial structures or systems...
to Heretic forces. Instead, Stanley allowed himself to be captured by Sub-Nebulae mercenaries and sold to the Divine Order, providing them with the codes to the defense system protecting the Reformed Planets; as such he was branded Arch-Traitor. His compatriots were slaughtered, and Stanley was captured. The smuggled DNA was extracted from him and used to grow The Lexx, a living, sentient ship
Spacecraft
A spacecraft or spaceship is a craft or machine designed for spaceflight. Spacecraft are used for a variety of purposes, including communications, earth observation, meteorology, navigation, planetary exploration and transportation of humans and cargo....
able to destroy entire planets with a single devastating shot. His Shadow intended to use the Lexx to annihilate any planet in the universe
Universe
The Universe is commonly defined as the totality of everything that exists, including all matter and energy, the planets, stars, galaxies, and the contents of intergalactic space. Definitions and usage vary and similar terms include the cosmos, the world and nature...
where even a whisper of rebellion surfaced.
Luckily for Stanley, he was deemed so harmless and unimportant that he soon faded into the bureaucracy
Bureaucracy
A bureaucracy is an organization of non-elected officials of a governmental or organization who implement the rules, laws, and functions of their institution, and are occasionally characterized by officialism and red tape.-Weberian bureaucracy:...
of The Cluster, His Shadow's central planet, eventually becoming a low-ranked security guard
Security guard
A security guard is a person who is paid to protect property, assets, or people. Security guards are usually privately and formally employed personnel...
for the same government
Government
Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
he had once fought against. As of the beginning of the series, he has been demoted to the lowest rank of Security Guard Class 4 (claiming to have previously been a Class 2), with an internal identity of Number 476329-43 Department 511 Level 4.
Meeting the Lexx
After years of toiling in anonymityAnonymity
Anonymity is derived from the Greek word ἀνωνυμία, anonymia, meaning "without a name" or "namelessness". In colloquial use, anonymity typically refers to the state of an individual's personal identity, or personally identifiable information, being publicly unknown.There are many reasons why a...
, one catastrophic
Disaster
A disaster is a natural or man-made hazard that has come to fruition, resulting in an event of substantial extent causing significant physical damage or destruction, loss of life, or drastic change to the environment...
day (and an incredible series of blunders) saw Stanley receive the "key" to the Lexx. With the Lexx now answering only to him, Stanley fled from His Shadow's influence with a motley crew in tow; Zev
Zev (later Xev) Bellringer
Zev of B3K is a major character on the sci-fi television show Lexx. Zev was portrayed by Eva Habermann and Xev is portrayed by Xenia Seeberg; fat Zev was portrayed by Lisa Hines in "I Worship His Shadow" and "Woz"....
, an escaped love slave; 790
790 (robot)
790 is a robotic character on the science fiction series Lexx.790 is simply a head with three screens, two displaying eyes, the last displaying a mouth. His original semi-organic body was devoured by a Cluster Lizard, during Zev's love slave transformation...
, a disembodied robot
Robot
A robot is a mechanical or virtual intelligent agent that can perform tasks automatically or with guidance, typically by remote control. In practice a robot is usually an electro-mechanical machine that is guided by computer and electronic programming. Robots can be autonomous, semi-autonomous or...
head; and Kai
Kai (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:...
, an undead assassin
Assassination
To carry out an assassination is "to murder by a sudden and/or secret attack, often for political reasons." Alternatively, assassination may be defined as "the act of deliberately killing someone, especially a public figure, usually for hire or for political reasons."An assassination may be...
once in servitude to His Shadow. Together, they encounter a wide range of deviant people and creatures, most of a homicidal
Homicidal
Homicidal is a 1961 thriller film produced and directed by the self-proclaimed "King of Showmanship", William Castle. Written by Robb White, the film stars Glenn Corbett, Patricia Breslin, Eugenie Leontovich, Alan Bunce, Richard Rust, and Joan Marshall...
bent, as they look for a safe place to call home.
Personality
Unfortunately, Stanley is petulant, cowardly, short-sighted, quick-tempered, weak-willed, perverted and a perpetual under-achiever, which makes him exceptionally underequipped to handle the most powerful weapon in the two universes. His amorous advances are rebuffed by Xev, and he must endure a constant stream of verbal abuse from 790, not all of it undeserved. HungerHunger
Hunger is the most commonly used term to describe the social condition of people who frequently experience the physical sensation of desiring food.-Malnutrition, famine, starvation:...
, survival, and an overactive libido
Libido
Libido refers to a person's sex drive or desire for sexual activity. The desire for sex is an aspect of a person's sexuality, but varies enormously from one person to another, and it also varies depending on circumstances at a particular time. A person who has extremely frequent or a suddenly...
are Stanley's primary motivations in any given situation.
Stanley occasionally shows some backbone, particularly when there is nowhere else left to run. For all his capriciousness, Stanley has spared the lives of his enemies and gone on the attack against suicidal odds because it was the right thing to do. Stanley has been instrumental in destroying various galactic threats, including the ultimate defeat of His Divine Shadow.
Stanley's opinion of himself, however, might ultimately be his downfall. Though he outwardly denies any actual culpability, Stanley feels a great deal of guilt
Guilt
Guilt is the state of being responsible for the commission of an offense. It is also a cognitive or an emotional experience that occurs when a person realizes or believes—accurately or not—that he or she has violated a moral standard, and bears significant responsibility for that...
over his failure to keep Lexx's DNA out of His Divine Shadow's hands, and the billions of deaths that resulted. This guilt has been used against him several times, including in a trial that convicted him of high treason and in a spiritual test that briefly consigned him to Hell
Fire (LEXX)
In the sci-fi television series LEXX, the fictional planet "Fire" is the afterlife for all evil souls, and the location for much of Season 3. It shares a tight mutual orbit and an atmosphere with the Planet Water, which is the afterlife for all good souls...
.
From time to time, Stanley has lost the key
Key (lock)
A key is an instrument that is used to operate a lock. A typical key consists of two parts: the blade, which slides into the keyway of the lock and distinguishes between different keys, and the bow, which is left protruding so that torque can be applied by the user. The blade is usually intended to...
to the Lexx - best described as a symbiotic, living energy wave that can only exist inside a living person. On these occasions, he has been desperate in his efforts to get the key back. Even if he does not always live up to the responsibility, Stanley Tweedle knows that commanding the Lexx is probably the most important thing he will ever do.
Though he has a middle initial, H, his middle name is never revealed.