Racing Against Time in Lazarus Episode 2

Episode 2 of Lazarus keeps things moving fast with intense action, slick visuals, and deeper dives into the story’s mysterious villain—Dr. Skinner. Episode 2, titled 'Life in the Fast Lane,' starts with another haunting voiceover, this time showing how people actually wanted the Hapna drug. It gave them relief, hope—even if it’s now killing them.

Who Is Dr. Skinner?

The episode pulls back the curtain on Dr. Deniz Skinner, revealing a genius with a tragic past. Orphaned at 12, a prodigy by 16, and a triple Nobel Prize winner, Skinner was once a respected scientist and activist. But instead of basking in fame and fortune, he gave away all his prize money to charities, supporting causes like education, climate action, and poverty relief. He wasn’t in it for money or fame—at least, not back then. People saw him as a visionary. A bold truth-teller. Someone who cared enough to challenge the system.

He was also politically outspoken, speaking at global protests and international summits, even making a now-infamous speech at the United Nations where he predicted a total environmental collapse. But somewhere along the way, something changed. Whether it was years of being ignored or the weight of the world becoming too much, that idealism twisted. He went from wanting to save humanity to deciding that maybe the only solution was to wipe the slate clean. Enter Hapna, the miracle drug turned death sentence. The same genius who once wanted to heal the world is now the one holding it hostage.

Check out Lazarus at Max.

Meet the Lazarus Crew

Axel Gilberto finally joins the Lazarus team, not because he wants to, but because he has no choice. Through him, we learn more about the team’s own baggage. They’re not heroes—they’re people with pasts. Leland and Douglas have their secrets; Eleina was a notorious hacker, and even Axel, who’s serving a ridiculous 888-year sentence, mostly earned it by constantly escaping prison. They’re all misfits, brought together for one reason: to stop Skinner.

Whether they can trust each other—or even themselves—is still up in the air. But right now, they’re all humanity’s got.

The Hunt Begins

The team gets a lead on Skinner’s old survival shelter. Axel and Christine check it out and find Kobayashi, a sad, lost man addicted to Hapna, while Douglas and Leland hit the shelter company’s HQ. Things get tense when they run into armed debt collectors looking for the same guy. It all paints a bleak picture of what the world’s becoming—desperate people clinging to whatever hope they can find.

Just when it seems like they might finally be closing in on Skinner, Eleina makes a shocking discovery. Surveillance footage shows thousands of people with Skinner’s face scattered across the world. Is it deepfake tech? Clones? Or something worse? Whatever it is, Skinner isn’t just hiding—he’s made himself impossible to find.

Conclusion: Everything Is On a Brink of Falling Apart

The second episode of Adult Swim's Lazarus provides us context for the main story of the show and establishes foundations for the future episodes. Interesting dynamics between Axel and the rest of the crew are at the forefront, but the whole conflict surrounding Hapna drug and Dr. Skinner is compelling enough for the people to stay with the show.

For now, Lazarus is enticing us to continue with the story of legendary Shinichirō Watanabe, who once again brought us high-stakes storytelling, slick animation, and complex characters. Until next time!

More about Lazarus at My Anime List.