Lazarus Episode 3: Shocking Revelations Unfold in Istanbul!

The following contains spoilers for Lazarus, Episode 3, “Long Way From Home”, available on Max.

Summary

Eleina works to uncover Skinner’s whereabouts by dissecting doctored surveillance footage.
Axel and Doug track leads in Istanbul and gather information from Skinner’s caretaker, Granny Belinda.
Action-packed scenes and significant plot progression amplify the anticipation for the next episode of Lazarus.

In the third installment of Adult Swim’s series Lazarus, characters Axel and Doug venture to Istanbul, the city that was once home to Dr. Skinner during his formative years. They encounter an elderly woman named Belinda who looked after Skinner following the loss of his parents due to regional political turmoil, a backstory we have yet to be fully informed about. At the same time, Eleina is grappling with the challenge of identifying the individual(s) responsible for disguising Skinner’s whereabouts by manipulating surveillance footage from various locations worldwide.

This latest installment of Lazarus offered some developments in the storyline and occasional bursts of excitement, yet it hasn’t quite recaptured the magic of the first episode’s atmosphere.

It seems to me that life often demands us to face sorrow, pain, and hardship. Isn’t it just wishful thinking to expect only joy and no troubles? That’s what struck me when I learned about Hapna. Some people claimed it could alleviate the ache of heartbreak. I thought, ‘That sounds unbelievable. Can a wounded heart truly be free from pain? Isn’t this too good to be true? Might I be falling for a trick?’ Those doubts definitely crossed my mind.

– Chris, Lazarus Episode 3 intro

Finding a Lead on Skinner

Vital Information Gained Through Deduction

In the third gathering of the Lazarus team, they regroup to explore new leads concerning Dr. Deniz Skinner, their primary objective following the unsuccessful mission by Eleina to track him down via global surveillance cameras in episode two. The reason for Eleina’s failure was that Skinner manipulated his image into footage from various locations worldwide, making it difficult for searchers like Hersch to isolate the genuine Skinner among the enormous number of hits (100 000). However, there is a positive aspect to this predicament: if Skinner went through such extensive measures to alter his appearance, it implies that he may still look similar to how he did before vanishing three years ago. This gives the team hope as they continue their pursuit.

Eleina shares with everyone that only three individuals worldwide possess the skill to perform such extensive image alteration, among them herself. Following the discussion, Hersch assigns Chris and Leland to Skinner’s residence, while Axel and Doug pursue a clue related to their university professor, Claude Cline. This professor collaborated with Skinner in research projects. Upon visiting Stanford Hospital, they discover that Cline has retired and now lives homeless. It is here that Axel’s skills come into play.

Skinner’s House

Chris and Leland Find Something Potentially Interesting

At Skinner’s residence, there’s been an influx of reporters, graffiti artists trying to deface the property, and police officers maintaining order outside. Pretending to be employees from a cleaning service, Chris and Leland manage to convince the guards to let them in, fearing they might have to pay a hefty fee for canceled services. Once inside without charge, they conduct an investigation but discover nothing of significance. As they relax on the couch, Chris comes across an odd pill with the number 5 etched on it and ponders if it could be the antidote, yet doubts it could be that simple. She tucks the pill away in her pocket, momentarily forgetting about it.

Life on the Streets

An Old Friend Gives Much-Needed Information

Moved by the street gossip suggesting Claude Cline’s homelessness, Axel and Doug venture into the city’s large informal settlement known as the Homeless Area. Axel had met the district’s former leader, Jerry, during their shared prison time, but upon inquiry, no one seemed to recognize Jerry; instead, they knew a well-respected figure named Jill, who was once Jerry. Overjoyed at their reunion, Axel and Jill reminisce after their long separation, and as Axel suspected, she provides them with the information they need, guiding them directly to Cline. Doug and Cline share a significant history, dating back to when Doug stood up for Cline following an altercation with the dean of their university over racist remarks. With their past collaboration with Skinner in mind, Cline appears to be an excellent lead to pursue. The older man admits he hasn’t spoken to Skinner in years, and it’s evident that Cline is grappling with guilt and shame concerning his career.

In simpler terms, the person described Skinner as being overly fixated, which made collaboration challenging for many. Cline found it impossible to match his relentless work pace and eventually distanced himself from him. However, as Cline’s star rose, he became envious of Skinner and attempted to outshine him by manipulating research findings, resulting in his downfall and homelessness. Later on, Cline recounted a passionate argument with Skinner over baklava, during which Skinner boasted that his grandmother made the best baklava in the world. Meanwhile, Doug converses with Cline, while Axel gets drawn into an intense one-on-one basketball match against a local con artist, showcasing his impressive acrobatics and ball handling skills. Jill informs Doug that Axel can adapt to various environments effortlessly but tends to vanish just as suddenly.

Off to Istanbul

Finding Granny Belinda

In Cline’s recollection of debating with Skinner about baklava, Axel and Leland are led to a gritty district of Istanbul, devoid of any security cameras in a crime-ridden area. To fit in, Leland adopts traditional Arabic clothing, which ironically makes him more conspicuous. Not long after, they find themselves encircled by thieves eyeing their extravagant doom-bringing bracelets. With his usual flair, Axel transforms what could have been a distressing situation into another thrilling pursuit or battle scene, navigating the decaying streets of this part of town. Although some may find the Arabic and inspired-by-Arabia aesthetic in Lazarus displeasing, there is an abundance of rich textures that evoke a sense of wear and tear, as well as culture, with architecture, rugs, furniture, and other artifacts showcasing a more ancient feel contrasted against the towering futuristic buildings of the sprawling city overhead.

As Axel deftly beats, leaps, and glides above his adversaries, Leland struggles in his long robes, barely keeping pace, yet manages to catch up to a speeding bus amidst a crowd of people pursuing them. They navigate rooftops, but a weak corrugated roof gives way beneath Leland’s weight, causing him to fall into the home of a little girl hosting a tea party with her dolls. The thugs, unable to remove his bracelet, almost sever his arm with an axe in front of the terrified child. However, Leland is saved when he yells that they only sought Granny Belinda’s famous baklava, leading their enemies to guide them to her house instead. Her home, nestled atop a hill, is a charming cottage filled with the unique charm, texture, patterns, and aesthetic beauty that Turkey is known for.

The Famous Baklava

Getting Insight Into Skinner’s Childhood

After Axel playfully suggests that he’s a secret agent like Bond, Belinda deduces they’re there to discuss Skinner. As Belinda explains, Skinner had a typical childhood and was quite emotional as a kid. Despite his actions, the old woman can’t help but think of him as the child she raised. Sadly, she hadn’t seen him for three years prior to the series events, but he did send her a video message before disappearing. In their conversation, Belinda draws attention to a striking tulip on her windowsill that Skinner had given her. She mentions it’s an unusual type that blooms seldom. The tulip could be either an ‘acuminata’ or ‘elegans rubra’, characterized by its spiky red petals and leaves. Both of these tulips originate from Istanbul, and are rare in the sense they aren’t found naturally. In the language of flowers, tulips symbolize death & rebirth; deep, perfect love; and in Turkish culture, they represent paradise on Earth – which seems to be what Hapna was intended to be, given the series context.

Recognizing that Skinner has great respect for this elderly woman, Axel guesses he’d be concerned about Belinda and locates a concealed camera, vowing to uncover Skinner. An unidentified observer chuckles at the prospect, while Eleina tracks down the digital wallet of the hacker who assisted Skinner, gearing up for conflict in her familiar style. The third installment of Lazarus proved engaging and seemed to advance the plot more effectively than its predecessor. It also offered stunning visuals, breathtaking landscapes, and exhilarating action scenes that heighten our excitement for the upcoming episode.

Lazarus is available to stream on Max. New episodes drop on Saturdays at midnight.

2025-04-22 19:11