A Different Perspective
Fresh off the reveal, Lazarus is the team that Hersch formed to find Dr. Skinner. We start here in episode 2 with an introduction to the rest of the cast. In the previous episode, we saw a small peek, but in episode 2, we get a proper introduction. Matter of fact, the episode opens up with a different narrator. A member of Lazarus named Leland. He paints a different perspective on the drug Hapna. Although its primary goal is to be a cheap and effective painkiller, young adults sought Hapna as a cheap replacement for a high. That is another way it quickly took over. Matter of fact, the whole Lazarus team has taken Hapna. This shows how far-reaching this drug is.
The Lazarus Set Up – Recap of Episode 2
The team’s been briefed on the mission, which is to find Dr. Skinner. They present information about Dr. Skinner and his past. Maybe as a glimpse into why he decided to go AWOL or what his true motivations are. But as they dug deeper into his history, the conclusion that team Lazarus comes to is that Dr. Skinner is a noble man. His prior actions do not paint the picture of a man who is out for humanity. In fact, it sounds like he was doing his best to protect humanity and the planet. Advocating for climate change and protesting for world peace.
The setup is that Lazarus has five members: Axel, Chris, Doug, Eleina, and Leland. Each has a reason as to why they got locked up. But for now, Elaina has found a potential lead on Skinner. Skinner has seemingly purchased a survival bunker from a company. However, this company can’t be reached via a phone call or email. Hersch proceeds to split up the group into pairs to investigate both the company and the potential shelter that Skinner purchased.
On the way to both destinations, both pairs share moments revealing some backstory as to why they served time. Doug tells Leland the reason he is incarcerated is because of a misdemeanor. Leland says he got time for small petty thefts. Doug also gives Leland and effectively us (the audience) a revelation into Eleina. Stating “she is a notorious hacker who’s committed crimes on a global scale”.
Personal Reflection on Episode 2
During the journey, there are shots of the world which act as depictions of our own future. The scenery gives the world a tether to our reality, which I appreciate. There is some action that concludes this episode, and during these action moments, we see how capable or even lucky these members are. The music in episode 2 starts out ambient with a much lower tempo to really drive home the intrigue. Then, as the action revs up, the jazz melodies kick into full gear.
Axel has a moment during this action sequence where he shows Chris his necklace, to which he tells her the necklace is his good luck charm. Then, he proceeds to run straight into the gunfire with no regard. This, alongside a few other moments in episode 2, got a chuckle out of me. The characters’ banter with each other is subtle yet has humor behind the words. And the end successfully subverted my expectations on where I thought this episode would end up. The final moments of this episode convey this feeling of a daunting mission that may prove to be insurmountable. Skinner is still out of reach, and we only have 28 more days left to find him. We shall see what happens in episode 3!
