Shinichiro Watanabe’s Lazarus has been a point of much discussion in recent days. Being a Netflix launch with many geniuses behind it (including Chad Stahelski), Lazarus has failed to impress. The reasons for this are manifold: the skewed chronology of events, the forced chase scenes, the lack of meaningful progress, and completely sidelining the main character, Axel.
From the very beginning, Axel was made out to be the savior who could stop the crisis and save the world and its people from their impending doom, only to be shown running around. But recently, the series seems to have finally shifted focus onto the main character.
Lazarus kept jumping around the main narrative
Lazarus has a brilliant setting. With complex themes, chaotic action, and villains who seem to be both philosophers and mavericks, the fans have never had time for a stray thought.
Yet, after it all ends and the curtains close, there seems to be something vital missing from the narrative. That is the main character, Axel Gilberto. Although there is no dearth of his actual appearances and screentime, the main character seems to lack any meaningful part in the narrative.
Over the many episodes, it felt like Axel’s only job was running around and jumping from rooftop to rooftop, looking cool. There were many places at which it felt like Axel was not the main character anymore.
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With many meaningful stories intertwining, Axel seemed to stand out as someone with no stakes or growth in the story. But as the main character, there was a need for Axel to be special, or important at least. That moment finally came with the revelation of Axel’s past.
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As an experiment himself, Axel could be the cure for the hapna, and it finally feels like the story is focusing on what it should, and not its impressive parkour (it gets repetitive).
Axel was missing from his own story
As a main character, Axel was to spearhead the operation. Although Team Lazarus has been hard at work, there seems to be no indication of its true role in the grand setting of Lazarus. The fate of humanity rests on the shoulders of a young man whose talent seems to be jumping around.
With the Skinner narrative as the focus, the story should’ve delved into Axel’s past earlier, making even the dead ends the team hit in the couple of episodes seem meaningful and increasing the urgency.
Axel is the main character and the one entrusted with the fate of humanity. He could turn out to be the cure for hapna. His past and his involvement in the prison experiment (involving the hapna prototype) could’ve been a central theme.
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Better late than never, now that Axel’s past has been explored, this will give him a certain gravitas and make his actions feel more attuned to the main narrative. Instead of being a character with no background or purpose, Axel has now become a key to the future events.
You can currently stream Lazarus on Crunchyroll.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
