What exactly went wrong with the Shinichiro Watanabe story?
Lazarus can rightfully be called one of the loudest premieres of the spring season. It is hard not to notice the anime, if only because several star names came together in the project: director Shinichiro Watanabe, Chad Stahelski and studio MAPPA.
It looks like a dream title. On the screen there is a powerful visual, but there is nothing behind it. Here's why the new project of the famous director did not live up to expectations.
What Is Lazarus About?
Lazarus takes the viewer into the near future. Several years before the beginning of the story, the famous scientist Skinner freed humanity from pain with the help of the universal drug Hapna.
But the drug turned out to be deadly, and its creator unexpectedly disappeared with the antidote. To find it, a secret organization assembles a special group – the Lazarus team, which includes people with a shady past.
They have 30 days to find Skinner and use the antidote, or humanity is doomed.
Lazarus Is Not About a Gripping Plot, but Impressive Battles
The title tries to realistically portray people's reactions to the news of the impending apocalypse, and the philosophical subtext, questions about immortality and the value of life, provide the basis for an eventful plot with adult reflections.
But it is clear from the five episodes that have been released that the writers are not too interested in developing the idea. The story is just an excuse to show beautiful visuals, while the plot is driven by clichés and stereotypes.
All Characters in Lazarus Are Flat And Faceless
The characters are never revealed. Their past and motivations are only hinted at, and the rare flashbacks do not provide enough information to empathize with them during shootouts or another unsuccessful attempt to catch a crazy genius.
Watanabe uses well-known archetypes: a sociopathic hacker, a femme fatale, a smart guy with a difficult fate, an unapproachable altruistic scientist, but he does not bring his own original vision to them.
Maybe that will change in the next eight episodes, but for now, Lazarus isn't about the story. It's stifled by fights for the sake of fights and the characters' desperate attempts to find some kind of clue.
Lazarus Is a Must-See Only if You Want to Watch a Bright Action Show
Lazarus is a title worth watching for the visuals and the action, as the imagery, pacing, and production are all top-notch.
But the style doesn't always convey the story and the idea doesn't convey the development. The anime doesn't try to play with a well thought out plot with multidimensional characters, but has fun with the usual detective and action genre patterns.