Lets get something out of the way early with this one. There’s no way I’m gonna be able to say what I want without going into the details so this is gonna be one of those read after you watch reviews. I normally like to think of my reviews as guides to find what to watch but it’s just how it has to be for this one. No point in going into too much detail since you’re totally going to watch the show, but bottom line is I liked it a lot. It’s another sci-fi show in line with some of my favorites and you should definitely give it a try. Then once you do, you can come back and nit pick this thing to death with me.
Lazarus is a very different anime. Even more so than the obscure sci-fi shows I typically love. Rather than the up front, easy to parse enjoyment of most anime, it seems laser focused on the mood each episode is setting and the implications that are brought along with it. As the world marches quickly towards the end, the people remain disengaged and seemingly oblivious to the ticking clock, even to the point where, as a viewer, you can’t help but wondering why nobody seems to care. Even the main cast approaches the task of saving the world with a laid back attitude half the time. It helps to create this eerie feeling throughout the show that really is at its best when the team is sitting around across the world, admiring locations where nature has reclaimed once civilized lands. The constant barrage of red herrings in the plot and confusing direction between the episodes seemed to add to this feeling as well (although I’m sure there are some holes I couldn’t quite defend in this way). I’m not bold enough to speak for the creators, but it felt like they wanted the feelings and experience of watching the show to tie into its themes in some way.
To me Lazarus was less about the plot and more about the emotional message it was trying to send about a failed world. It was a statement in the form of a show, backed up by a cast of cool characters in an interesting world. Sure the plot and ending were a bit messy and all but the feel of each episode was so on point I can’t help but enjoy it. Even the stupidity of Skinner showing up in episode 3 and basically being right next to them all along felt right in line with the haphazard Lazarus team being the ones to figure it out amidst a squabbling, incompetent government. It all added to the sense that Skinner was right to judge humanity and only by a kind of stupid miracle from unlikely heroes could they hang on.
Basically, I liked Lazarus for the interesting way it framed its episodes and told its story. If you watched it and didn’t find yourself a fan, maybe give it another shot over a shorter period of time than a whole season. Let the feelings and impact of each episode work together more. It’s entirely possible I’m up my own ass with this show, but I hope other people can enjoy it as well, cause it was a really cool show for me and I want to see more of it eventually.