Lazarus 1×10 and 1×11 Review: “I Can’t Tell You Why” and “Runnin’ with the Devil”

Lazarus anime season 1 episode 10 ‘I Can’t Tell You Why’ and episode 11 ‘Runnin’ with the Devil’ had the team find yet another clue to locate Skinner as Soryu attacked Axel.

I will begin my review by saying that if it weren’t for the fact that Lazarus season one will conclude after two more episodes, I wouldn’t be spending my time reviewing it anymore. The show opened strong with some nice visuals and a well-known creative team behind the helm. I expected the 13-episode first season about the potential extinction of humanity to be excitingly fast-paced.

However, what I got was a slow burn featuring a special team that wasn’t as proactive as one would like them to be. More often than not, our leads are reacting to stuff happening to them instead of coming across as competent enough to handle the mission they have been assigned. As I have mentioned in my previous reviews, except for Eleina, none of the characters have demonstrated any irreplaceable skill or showcased why they are crucial to finding Skinner.

Hersch selecting Axel, Chris, Leland, and Doug to be part of Lazarus makes no sense because I haven’t been given a single reason as to why they were picked by her. Again, I should not be having such doubts 11 freaking episodes in!

Ugh!

I will be incredibly surprised if the creative team manages to turn things around in the final two episodes. But as of now, Lazarus as an anime series is just… mid. Some viewers might even put it under the “Flop” category. And you know what? I understand where they’re coming from.

Anyway, talking about ‘I Can’t Tell You Why’, it focused on revealing Leland’s backstory after the team uncovered the link between Skinner and the mysterious pill Leland and Chris found a while ago. It turns out that the pill was meant for people who had undergone a heart transplant, insinuating that Skinner might have had such a surgery. Of course, someone of Skinner’s caliber would visit an extremely discreet clinic. It’s the type of medical facility that Leland knew about because… drumroll… he’s from a very rich and influential family.

The plot convenience made me roll my eyes so hard!

What follows was Leland visiting his family’s mansion to ask his half-sister Isabella to connect him to the clinic’s staff. I mean, I would have been okay with Leland’s backstory if there were hints about him “conveniently” having connections that came in handy during the previous episodes. A reason for him to be part of Lazarus, you know?

But we got none of that. So, episode 10 showing Leland magically be part of a family who visited the secret medical facility that Skinner went to for his surgery came across as poor writing to me. A far better plot to hype the team’s competence would have been them trying to sneak into the clinic to steal Skinner’s medical records. Wasn’t Chris introduced as someone who was all about making people let their guard down around her? Why hasn’t she demonstrated more of that skill? Where are the disguises?

Having said that, I did find Leland’s dynamic with Isabella interesting. Their family had very outdated notions about only the sons being heirs, with the daughters needing to marry to be given importance. However, the creative team didn’t have time to fully explore such issues. Here’s hoping Leland’s able to change the family’s rules and make Isabella the chosen heir once humanity’s saved.

Upon visiting the clinic, Leland, Axel, and Doug talked to Dr. Millie and learned that Skinner indeed received an artificial heart. Though Millie was supposed to keep an eye on the heart’s readings, the data was encrypted post-operation. So, yeah, Millie had no idea about Skinner’s location.

A major reveal was how the readings of the artificial heart were being monitored by Popcorn Wizard in Pakistan. I’ve been waiting for Popcorn Wizard to show up again. And I’m glad we got to see a bit more of her.

Another significant reveal dealt with Axel’s past and why the assassin Soryu was targeting him after being paid by INSCOM. Turns out, Axel was one of the inmates who were experimented on during the human trials for a Hapna prototype. Apparently, Axel’s the only survivor of those trials and INSCOM wanted him gone.

Hersch and Abel didn’t know about the experiments. So, again, why was Axel handpicked to be part of Lazarus? Sure, he’s skilled at breaking out of prisons. But that particular skill hasn’t proven incredibly useful to find Skinner.

Similar to Leland, Axel’s past came across as a plot convenience to move things along instead of an organic development.

Episode 11 ‘Runnin’ with the Devil’ featured a lot of action as Axel fought Soryu. The anime has given us some cool visuals. But exciting visuals and fight choreography can only do so much to distract from a subpar narrative.

With Axel being busy with Soryu, Eleina and Doug flew to Pakistan to track down Popcorn Wizard. Hersch paid INSCOM a visit to make them lift the hit on Axel. Of course, her plan didn’t work. She’s supposed to be Lazarus’ manager. And yeah, unfortunately, Hersch isn’t even half as interesting or capable as Amanda Waller.

As for Doug and Eleina’s visit to Islamabad, Pakistan, they realized they were being followed by INSCOM. Even though I’m excited to see Eleina interact with Popcorn Wizard in-person, the trip served as yet another example of how the show continues to feel low stakes. There are only 5 more days left for the first Hapna-related deaths, and yet there’s no chaos to be seen anywhere the co-leads go. Society’s incredibly chill, and that takes away from the urgency such an anime should be accompanied by.

Even though Axel put up a good fight against Soryu, I liked that Soryu was the better fighter (as an assassin of his caliber should be). Axel’s one-winged necklace played a role in messing with Soryu’s psyche as it reminded Soryu of the Hundun and the training he underwent.

I don’t want Soryu to get some kind of a redemption arc and join the good guys, but I think that’s where the narrative’s going.

As for his battle with Axel, Soryu had to retreat due to Chris coming in hot with an assault rifle. I’m not worried about Axel surviving being harpooned by Soryu. However, with only two more episodes to go, I am worried about Lazarus season one ending on a cliffhanger and not offering a satisfying conclusion to the search for Skinner. Especially with the show’s chances of getting renewed being low. 

What did you think of Lazarus anime episode 10 ‘I Can’t Tell You Why’ and episode 11 ‘Runnin’ with the Devil’?

Let us know.

Author: Farid-ul-Haq

Farid has a Double Masters in Psychology and Biotechnology as well as an M.Phil in Molecular Genetics. He is the author of numerous books including Missing in Somerville, and The Game Master of Somerville. He gives us insight into comics, books, TV shows, anime/manga, video games, and movies.

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