You’re missing the point of Lazarus if you only watch it for the fights

When I started watching Lazarus, it was mostly because I loved Cowboy Bebop, and knowing that this show has the same creators, it could not have been skipped. And the anime did not disappoint as it has crisp and detailed animation, and every action scene kept me on the edge of my seat. One thing the fandom agrees on is that Lazarus knows how to keep us entertained.

But with all the adrenaline rush I felt watching Axel jump over a moving vehicle or huge buildings made I also reflected on a deeper theme this anime offers. What if the whole point of anime is not about finding Dr. Skinner, but a warning about the possible future where humanity will have to face the consequences of our actions?

I am not saying that just watching Lazarus for the insane action sequence is wrong, or that it was an unimportant element to the story. These scenes are bait to lure us in and take a look at a world where science is weaponized for profit or control.

Let us talk about Skinner before understanding the deeper themes that the series offers. He is a genius scientist who developed a medicinal drug known as Hapna. Anyone who takes their medicine will not feel pain or discomfort ever. Introducing such a miracle medicine should have made the world a better place.

But all it did was make everyone stop caring about survival. That is why, after three years, he resurfaced to announce that anyone who took this medicine would die. By that logic, someone who creates a slow poison should obviously be seen as a villain. I still am facing a tough time seeing him as a devil who sold his soul and became humanity's worst threat.

He is shown to be someone who cares about the environment and always tries to do good. Watching this anime, after finishing each episode, I started understanding his point of view. Some of the most powerful moments in Lazarus aren’t the fights, they’re the quiet ones.

The global governments are blaming each other. Survivors turning on each other. The internal conflict of characters who once supported Hapuna’s distribution now faces the weight of their choices. Interestingly, I believe the beauty of this show is how it branched out to portray other issues that mirror the real world.

We see icebergs being melted due to global warming, and Islands being drowned. If you’re still watching Lazarus just for the action, I won’t judge you. The action is phenomenal. But I urge you, please look deeper.

This series is trying to say something. It’s trying to make us uncomfortable. It’s trying to peel back the layers of a glossy, cyberpunk world and expose the rot underneath. In my opinion, the brilliance of Lazarus is that it tricks you into thinking you’re watching a sci-fi thriller when you’re actually being handed a manifesto.

Lazarus talks about real-world danger wrapped in a cyberpunk shell

What makes Lazarus especially genius is how it packages all these themes in such a digestible way. The cyberpunk aesthetic, the high-octane fights, the futuristic technology, all of it makes it easier to absorb what’s essentially a horrifying reality.

It reminds me a bit of how Akira or Psycho-Pass operated. You come for the cool visuals, but if you’re paying attention, you leave with a sense of dread. That uneasy feeling of “This could happen.” With Lazarus, that feeling is even stronger. Because it is happening. Maybe not with a drug like Hapna, but with the unchecked power of corporations, the commodification of health, the breakdown of public trust.

Final thoughts

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Lazarus is a short series that could be binge-watched in one sitting. But after watching the show, I can confidently say that it has packed layer on layer, which will make viewers reflect on real-world issues. The best part is that the creators have done a phenomenal job in maintaining the feeling of urgency that adding multiple themes does not feel forced. Yes, the fights will keep you entertained. But they’re not the point. They’re the medium, not the message.

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