You Won’t Believe Who’s NOT Dr. Skinner in Lazarus Episode 2!

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The following contains spoilers for Lazarus, Episode 2, “Life in the Fast Lane”, available on Max.

Summary

  • Lazarus episode 2 provides more context on Dr. Skinner‘s past and the crew’s dynamics.
  • The crew follows leads on finding Skinner, leading to a chaotic encounter with multiple factions.
  • The search for Skinner hits a snag when they find out the person they confront is not actually him.

In simpler terms, the second episode of “Lazarus” on Adult Swim didn’t quite reach the quality of the first one, but it did provide some additional context for Dr. Skinner‘s actions and offered a few intriguing tidbits about the Lazarus team, which I found helpful.

The storyline initiates with the team pursuing a clue about the vanished scientist, which later transforms into an absurd and complex chase involving multiple factions, among them the FBI. Although this installment wasn’t bad per se, it seemed to lack something essential despite the thrilling events that unfold in the latter part.

Setting Up Shop

Lazarus HQ Is Established and Members Start Getting To Know Each Other

In contrast to the previous installment, this time around, it’s Leland, not Doug, who narrates the unusual opening scene, sharing some of his personal encounters with Hapna. Hapna, as you may recall, gained popularity among teens and young adults for its unique ability to induce feelings of happiness and a subtle euphoria. Meanwhile, both Leland and Doug are preoccupied with the impending doom that threatens the world in just 29 days. In the midst of Hersch’s briefing, Axel attempts to kidnap Chris, but the special bracelets worn by all members ensure compliance, or else they risk losing their hands.

Following our debriefing, the conversation among us drifted towards hypotheticals if we ever chanced upon Skinner. Ideas ranged from cornering the vaccine market to cashing in big on it. However, I, as the de facto leader of this band, made it clear that Lazarus was not a means for personal profit; instead, we’re a unique collective entrusted with a world-saving mission.

In the end, Axel queries if anyone from the group has experience with Hapna, and everyone responds by lifting their hands, indicating they all have interests in locating Dr. Skinner‘s whereabouts. Having agreed on this, they make their way into a small, run-down building that now functions as their headquarters. Doug guides Axel to his assigned living space, expressing initial reservations about his involvement due to his past actions, which he feels could negatively impact the team. As they walk across the property, ordinary-looking steel doors conceal a sophisticated facility.

This version retains the original meaning while using simpler language and more conversational phrasing.

The World Tries to Find Answers

Wait, Is That Ariana Grande?!

28 days remain until D-Day, and the world seems to be on edge, scrambling to uncover any clues about Dr. Skinner and whether there were hints that such an act was in his future. I find myself flipping through channels, catching snippets of a White House press conference where the speaker grapples to instill confidence that a resolution is imminent. Meanwhile, on what appears to be the Tonight Show, a figure bearing a striking resemblance to Ariana Grande mourns the approaching apocalypse, as it’s set to occur before her upcoming album release. Elsewhere, a man who once tended Dr. Skinner‘s gardens finds himself in the limelight, only to disappoint reporters when he fails to provide any meaningful information about the enigmatic doctor.

Continuing our exploration from the initial episode, following the Lazarus team’s gathering for their inaugural meeting with Hersch, we delve deeper into the intriguing character of Dr. Deniz Skinner (1996 –), a man whose legend has grown over time. Born in Istanbul, tragedy struck at age 12 when he lost his parents amid local turmoil, leaving him to navigate life alone. Driven by scientific diligence and academic excellence, he found himself enrolled at Cambridge University at the tender age of 20, setting the stage for a life brimming with potential as people began to refer to him as “the next Einstein”.

Doug Briefs the Lazarus Crew

Learning About the Cartoonishly Good Dr Deniz Skinner

The moral integrity demonstrated by Skinner throughout his life is almost impeccable; from earning three Nobel Prizes and giving the winnings to charity, relinquishing patents on drugs he invented and advocating for various issues, sometimes single-handedly. He participated in environmental conferences and addressed the United Nations General Assembly, urging powerful nations to take stronger action to avoid catastrophe. A poignant scene at the UN General Assembly, just before his disappearance, shows him fervently pleading with world leaders to prioritize climate change and the rapidly melting ice caps, warning of impending disaster, but his words fell on unresponsive ears.

According to his estimates, there were merely three years remaining before the ice caps would melt permanently, triggering a cascade of additional environmental destruction. It was possibly the chilly reception he received at that specific conference that might have sparked his ambitious plan initially, as the various world leaders departed the conference, disregarding his entreaties. The Lazarus team were taken aback to learn that someone who had been so supportive of humanity; one with no blemishes on their clean record, turned out to be a pharmaceutical terrorist. During the debriefing meeting, the crew’s in-house hacker, Eleina, discovered a clue about Skinner’s whereabouts, and the team set off to locate the scientist.

On Skinner’s Trail

The Calm Before the Storm

Based on Eleina’s clue, Skinner has bought a self-sustaining shelter from Kobayashi Shelters, one of those companies that cater to doomsday preppers. However, they can’t be reached over the phone. This shelter could enable Skinner to live in isolation for nearly a century without any problems. The team divides into two groups: Axel and Christine in one car, Doug and Leland in another, while Eleina remains at base to use facial recognition software on global surveillance cameras to search for leads. Unfortunately, the division of the team means Chris (voiced by Uchida Yuuma) and Leland (voiced by Maaya), won’t be together on this mission, but future episodes will provide more opportunities for their humorous interplay.

As they journey towards their location, Chris queries Axel about the duration of his sentence. Upon learning the length of his prison term, she swiftly ejects him from her vehicle, expressing discomfort about collaborating with someone like “Leatherface”. However, she’s reassured to discover that Axel’s extended stay in prison was due to his penchant for jailbreaking. In a twist of fate, Axel amassed an astounding 888 years due to each escape attempt doubling the initial sentence. This installment of Lazarus is rich with diverse backdrops, showcasing an abundance of overhead, long-range, and establishing shots to provide a sense of transition as the operatives depart from the city and reach their designated spots. For Axel and Chris, the destination is the Arizona desert, a region dotted with shelters, while Doug and Leland navigate towards Kobayashi Shelter Sales to converse with those in charge; however, they are not alone, as others have joined them.

Chaos! At the Bunker

Multiple Factions All Looking For the Same Guy… Or Not

Toward the end of episode 2 of Lazarus, events take a rapid and chaotic turn for both sets of characters. Doug and Leland encounter thugs at Kobayashi sales offices, while Axel and Chris stumble upon a solitary figure seated in a dimly lit space, only to be confronted shortly by an assortment of Russian, Mexican, and local gangsters, as well as the FBI and police forces who all seem to be competing to reach the location first. As the situation becomes dire, Axel’s character unfolds further, with him clinging to a pendant hanging around his neck as if it were a potent talisman that keeps evil at bay.

Chris is less reckless, allowing us to see more of Chad Stahelski’s action style as Axel dodges bullets, scales walls, and leaps into action against several adversaries. During his escapades, he encounters Chris again, leading them both back to the hall where they initially found the unconscious man in a chair. However, upon reaching him, they find themselves caught in a standoff between the FBI and DEA. There’s a humorous moment when the FBI and DEA all point their guns at Axel, shouting their agencies, to which he responds by mimicking a gun gesture and yelling “Lazarus! Hands up!

The Wrong Guy

The First Lead Turns Out to Be a Bust

In a surprising turn of events, the man seated in the chair suddenly awakens to find himself surrounded by several men heavily armed. Upon analyzing his DNA, it was revealed that this wasn’t just an elaborate disguise for Skinner, but Kobayashi himself – a debtor who sought refuge in one of his own shelter constructions for a client. The episode initially felt like mere setup, until the climactic moments when Kobayashi delivered a chilling soliloquy about his life as a series of high-stakes gambles, his dreams of wealth and success unrealized. Despite his expressed desire to live fully, he seems trapped by the mess he’s created, hinting at an inner struggle between wanting to embrace life and accepting the consequences of his actions.

It’s possible that Kobayashi could become more important as events unfold. For now, Eleina’s investigation into Dr. Skinner‘s whereabouts yields thousands of leads. With only 28 days remaining until the world ends, the search for Dr. Skinner isn’t off to a promising start in the second episode of Lazarus. Although the scenery was lovely with its diverse landscapes, it’s hard not to feel that the episode mostly served to display Skinner’s online biography rather than providing an engaging story.

Lazarus is avaialble to watch on Max.

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2025-04-14 00:54