Lazarus [Season 1 Episodes 1-13]

Lazarus: Watanabe’s Cyberpunk Parkour Thrill Ride Hits Hard—But Can It Keep Up?

If you’ve been craving that classic Shinichiro Watanabe magic—stylish action, killer music, and a side of existential chaos—Lazarus just dropped its first episode, and it’s like the director raided a vault of his greatest hits, blended them with MAPPA’s signature flair, and hit “blow minds.” Let’s break down why this 13-episode post-cyberpunk series is already sparking debates, hyping fans, and making everyone ask: “Is this the next AOTY?”

First, let’s get the basics straight. Lazarus is Watanabe’s first full-on action series in years (sorry, music lovers—Carole & Tuesday was great, but this is different). Produced by Sola Entertainment and animated by MAPPA (yes, the studio behind Jujutsu Kaisen and Attack on Titan’s final season), it’s set in 2048, where humanity thought it won. Dr. Deniz Skinner—dubbed “Einstein 2.0”—cooked up Hapuna, a miracle drug that cured every disease. No more cancer, no more flu, just… perfect health. Then, he vanished. Fast forward, and he’s back with a bombshell: Hapuna’s a slow-acting poison. 8 billion people are ticking time bombs. Oh, and he’s got the cure—if we can find him in 30 days. Cue the panic.

The first episode wastes zero time. We meet Axel, a parkour god with a 888-year prison sentence (yeah, that’s not a typo) who’s suddenly the key to finding Skinner. The opening 10 minutes? Pure, unadulterated chaos. Axel leaps off skyscrapers, bounces off walls, and even hijacks a drone—all while a jazz-synth soundtrack (Watanabe’s calling card) blares. Fans are losing it over the animation: “Those action scenes were insane! Super smooth, stylish, and fast-paced,” raves one viewer. Another compares it to Mirror’s Edge: “Holy moly, did you see the way Alex kept jumping off walls? Man, that was pure Mirror’s Edge goodness.” MAPPA’s fingerprints are everywhere—cinematic angles, fluid movement, and that “how did they even animate that?” energy.

But let’s talk about the Bebop elephant in the room. Watanabe’s iconic Cowboy Bebop is the gold standard for cool, and Lazarus wears that influence on its sleeve—maybe a little too much for some. “Axel really feels like Spike from Bebop except he’s on the other side of the law,” one fan notes. Another jokes, “SEE YOU PARKOUR COWBOY…” But here’s the thing: Watanabe’s not just copying. He’s remixing. The jazz is there, but it’s mixed with cyberpunk synths. The anti-hero vibe is present, but Axel’s not a laid-back bounty hunter—he’s a desperate man with a target on his back. As one comment puts it: “The show feels like its own premise with its own message packaged in a Watanabe classic wrapping.”

Of course, it’s not all perfect. The exposition dump is real (“Humanity is immune to all sicknesses and diseases… until now!”), and some dialog feels clunky. “The writing so far is some sort of mid-tier cyberpunk novel from the 80s,” a critic says. The English dub? Divisive. “Voice acting felt kinda robotic sometimes,” one fan complains, while another defends it: “The Japanese VAs sound great—maybe the dub’s just not for everyone.” And let’s not forget the plot holes: “A doctor made a miracle drug that got adopted by the whole world in 4 years? Okay,” a viewer side-eyes. But hey, it’s episode one—we’re here for the ride, not the fine print.

What’s really exciting is the potential. The “miracle cure gone wrong” premise isn’t new, but Watanabe’s never shied away from big questions. Is Hapuna a mistake… or a plan? Why does Skinner want to be found? And most importantly: Can Axel save humanity before time runs out? Fans are already theorizing: “Skinner might have other goals… annihilating humanity is too easy,” one speculates. Another adds, “It sets up a lot of philosophical and moral questions—like, what do you do when the thing that saved you is killing you?”

The hype is real. “Watanabe is back, better than ever,” declares a die-hard fan. “This is already one of the AOTY contenders.” Even skeptics are on board: “I’m not a Bebop fan, but MAPPA’s production quality compensates for any story gaps,” admits one viewer. The music, as expected, is fire—“Absolutely loved the jazz-synth blend,” says a commenter. And let’s not overlook the little things: the way Axel drops his guard for a selfie (relatable), the team’s banter, the “ticking clock” tension that makes every scene feel urgent.

But here’s the catch: Can Lazarus keep this up? MAPPA’s track record is spotty—some series start strong then fizzle. And Watanabe’s last few projects (looking at you, Terror in Resonance) had their ups and downs. “I hope the animation stays consistent,” a fan pleads. “Don’t let it be a Ninja Kamui part 2!” (Ouch—burn.)

At the end of the day, Lazarus is exactly what we needed: a fun, stylish, high-stakes anime that doesn’t take itself too seriously… yet. It’s got parkour, jazz, a ticking time bomb, and enough Bebop vibes to make old fans nostalgic. Is it perfect? No. But is it worth your time? Absolutely. As one commenter sums it up: “ABSOLUTE CINEMA. Can’t wait for more eps!!”

So grab your popcorn, turn up the volume, and get ready to chase Dr. Skinner with Axel and the crew. Lazarus isn’t just an anime—it’s a reminder that when Watanabe’s in charge, you’re in for a wild ride.

Final Verdict (for now): 4/5 stars. Great start, needs to iron out the kinks, but the potential is off the charts.

Lazarus is streaming now on Adult Swim and HBO Max. Don’t miss it—unless you want to be the last person on Earth who hasn’t seen the parkour scene. (Spoiler: You’ll regret it.)

— A fan who’s already counting down to episode 2.