Episode 4 of Lazarus, titled “Don’t Stop the Dance,” sees Team Lazarus venturing into a vibrant nightclub scene in their ongoing pursuit of Dr. Skinner, the creator of the deadly Hapna drug. This installment blends action, investigation, and social commentary, making it a standout episode in the series.
Synopsis
Following up on the cliffhanger from the previous episode, Eleina believes that Hacker 909 may be helping Dr. Skinner hide his tracks. This famed hacker has a friend named Sam, who is known for his love of clubbing and womanizing. This leads our heroes to their plan of going to a club he loves to attend and get some information out of him. The episode follows the familiar pattern of the team tracking down leads, engaging in intense action, and uncovering a piece of the puzzle that points them toward their next destination. In this case, the team’s investigation leads them to a nightclub owned by Sam, a stockbroker who profited immensely from Hapna before its dangers were revealed.
Plot Breakdown
- The Hacker Connection: Eleina discovers a hidden crypto-wallet linked to Dr. 909, a hacker she considers her equal. Transactions reveal that 909 received funds from Sam, a stock trader.
- Undercover at the Club: Team Lazarus infiltrates Sam’s club, “8 Miles High.” Christine takes the lead as a femme fatale, while Leland is forced to disguise himself as a woman as a backup plan. Axel and Doug work on getting into a restricted area of the club, where Sam may be.
- VIP and Villainy: Christine and Leland gain access to Sam’s VIP area, where they meet DJ Visionary. Sam drugs the women’s drinks in a date rape attempt, but Christine is somehow immune to roofies.
- Action Erupts: When Sam’s plan is revealed, a fight breaks out. Axel and Christine take on security while Doug and Leland prepare for an escape.
- Helicopter Chase: Sam and Visionary attempt to flee in a helicopter, but Axel jumps onto it. Leland uses a drone to provide Axel with a glider, and Axel shoots down the helicopter.
- Delta Medicinal: Sam reveals that 909 hacked into Delta Medicinal, a pharmaceutical company, to gain insider information about Hapna. Axel arrests Sam and Visionary for insider trading.
Key Themes and Analysis
- Technology and its Perils: Episode 4 emphasizes the duality of technology. Eleina’s skills as a hacker are crucial to finding leads, but the episode also showcases how technology can be used for exploitation. Sam and his friends use AI to automate tasks, from stock trading to music creation, highlighting the potential for technology to enable laziness and greed.
- Social Commentary: The episode critiques social media culture and the shallowness of some elites, with narcissistic social-media-vampire-yuppies being called out in the series.
- The Morality of Hapna: The series continues to explore the complex morality surrounding Hapna. While Dr. Skinner is initially blamed, the episode suggests that the distributors, Delta Medicinal, also knew the dangers of the drug. The episode also touches on the idea that Hapna was initially embraced as a cure for sadness.
- Case-of-the-Week Format: “Lazarus” has evolved into a case-of-the-week anime, and it’s working for this Adult Swim series. In the last two episodes, team Lazarus discovers new clues about Dr. Skinner’s whereabouts and chases them down to find the Hapna creature before everyone who took the drug dies.
Standout Moments
- The Club Scene: The futuristic club is a visual highlight, with impressive 2D animation for the interior. The dance scene featuring Christine is well-animated and energetic.
- Christine’s Fight Scene: Christine shines as she takes on Sam and his cronies after they attempt to drug her and the other women. Her immunity to roofies and her fighting skills make her a formidable force.
- Axel’s Action Sequence: Axel’s over-the-top action sequence, including jumping onto a helicopter and using a glider, is a highlight of the episode.
- Leland in Drag: Leland’s discomfort and awkwardness while in drag provide some comedic relief.
Critic Reviews
Critics have generally praised “Don’t Stop the Dance” as one of the stronger episodes of Lazarus. Some have called it the first unqualified success of the series, praising its pacing, action sequences, and social commentary. Others note that the episode follows a predictable formula, but that the formula works well when executed effectively.
Final Thoughts
“Don’t Stop the Dance” is an action-packed and visually stunning episode of Lazarus that moves the plot forward while also exploring relevant themes. The episode’s blend of action, mystery, and social commentary makes it a standout in the series. While the team doesn’t get any closer to finding Skinner, they do uncover a crucial piece of information that will likely lead them to Delta Medicinal in the next episode.
