Execution makes all the difference — and if that’s not true, then how do you explain the Lazarus anime? The anime was extremely hyped before its premiere, mostly because of all the experts associated with it. That includes John Wick director Chad Stahelski.
However, irrespective of the dedication and genius that have been put into the show, none of the episodes have completely utilized their full potential. The impact of all the great aspects of the show gets sabotaged by its biggest flaw, which is the lackluster plot progression. The action sequences exemplify this the best.
The exciting action sequences of Lazarus fail to carry its weight
The action choreography being handled by the John Wick director was one of the biggest selling points of Lazarus. Fans were excited to see how the fights would play out, and they didn’t disappoint. Alex’s escape from the prison or his clash with the rest of Team Lazarus gave us a good hint that the fights were going to be both exciting and interesting.
The subsequent episodes lived up to that impression. Some of the fight sequences that stand out are the ones from the visionary episode and the one where the serial killer wipes out the officers. Most of the scenes have been great, but they fail to leave an impact. Now, that should be a mystery given how stellar they look.
The absence of any emotional stakes and Axel’s superpowers, along with his lacklustre characterization, dampen the overall enjoyment of the fight scenes. The one scene that most fans remember is the elevator scene. Fans remember it because of how awkward it looked. Maybe the reason why fans remember the worst scene is that it lives up to the overall reception of Lazarus.
Instead of being different in a good way, the elevator sequence has a weird synergy with the overall lackluster impression the show has left. It visually doesn’t make sense and looks jarring, similar to how the story fails to flow well. If we flip around that image, and if the plot progression of Lazarus lived up to the rest of the aspects, maybe the final product might have been a lot better.
Lazarus painfully wastes its potential
Lazarus has all the ingredients that make a great anime. It has good music, an intriguing premise, which has the perfect elements that spark tension and curiosity, and beautiful visuals. The action sequences also stand out for how good they are. However, none of these things have been able to carry the complete weight of the show.
The story didn’t progress much until episode 7, and even then, the graph hasn’t been steady. The story could use the great visuals and sound as embellishments to polish a great story. Instead, what we have is an anime that looks and sounds great, with a plot that doesn’t let you enjoy the goodness.
Fans are still holding onto the hope that the conclusion might reveal some easter eggs or tie up all the episodes in a seamless manner. It’s great to be hopeful, but Lazarus tells us that caution might be the better way out. Minimal expectations might just surprise us in the end.
Lazarus is currently available to stream on Adult Swim.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
