Lazarus – Episode 04

Episode Synopsis:

Eleina is one of three hackers in the world skilled enough to pull off the technical wizardry that is allowing Dr. Skinner to evade her facial detection software. Another is known as Doctor 909. Eleina hacks Doctor 909’s account and discovers a scheme. A stock broker named Sam apparently dumped a ton of money into Doctor 909’s account right before the secret of Hapna was revealed. The Lazarus crew attempts to track down Sam by attending one of his lavish parties and get answers about Skinner.

Review:

Awwww yeah, it’s time to go CLUBBING!

Okay hold on, we gotta dish out some plot first. Skinner is capable of evading Eleina’s facial recognition algorithms and there’s no way he managed that on his own. A break in of a fellow hacker’s bank accounts reveal transactions from the super scummy broker-turned-influencer Sam.

I loved the humor in this episode. Yeah, a human massacre is gonna occur in 27 or so days, but that doesn’t mean we have to put up with a pervy scumbag inside trader profiting on Youtube! Let’s get ’em!

The club scene is a blast. Christine is in her element, clearly indicative of the fact that she likely had an active night life before whatever crime she committed got her a ticket onto team Lazarus. Equally fun is straight laced, academic Doug. He’s definitely (not) got the Moves Like Jagger but that doesn’t stop him from trying. Leland is of course the star, as he cross dresses and apparently makes a very cute girl. I figured Sam would go straight for him (must we add to the tally of that man’s creepiness), but of course its the sketchy ass “DJ” that goes after him for his “pure look”. UGH…

I put Velocity’s title as “DJ” in quotations because he’s a fraud. If you are old enough to remember Ronny Matthews from Hey Arnold!, it’s that all over again with a splash of the modern day specter; AI. AI apparently runs most vehicles, pilots drones, and oh yeah…makes and plays popular music from a for you. Many of these things are already in effect in our modern world so I am highly unsettled by how familiar it is. Sam’s insane party is in sharp contrast to Episode 03 with the homeless commune. This also translates artistically. Unlike the commune, which was mostly drawn in traditional 2D with muted browns, Club 8 Miles High is very high gloss and almost all in CG. It fits the mood and the plot (we’re chasing hackers and discussing stock trading/other technology related things) and I love the juxtaposition. Something that’s tangentially disturbing in this story is how there’s the imminent threat of mass death and those with vast resources spend them on booze, drugs, and date-rape. I can feel the cynicism towards influencers and those who drink deep from the Capitalist well in this writing.

On a random note, I wouldn’t be surprised if someone told me the broker’s name is Sam in reference to Sam Bankman-Fried. If true, it’s a great choice as Bankman-Fried is a perfect poster-child for a human dumpster fire. Watanabe, using his knowledge of Western culture, would definitely pull a stunt like that. Speaking of stunts…

I also wouldn’t be surprised to hear that Watanabe and/or some of Lazarus’ writing staff are fans Western action films like Mission Impossible, James Bond, and Oceans 11. This episode’s mission of having to infiltrate the club and find a super hacker is something straight out of a heist scene. It’s got some sex appeal, some savvy tech, and lots of ass kicking. Oh right, did I mention there’s also a helicopter chase?!

I have some minor concerns after this episode about Axel being a “Wonder Boy”. The guy pulls a Tom Cruise and jumps off a building to catch a helicopter, he has the “Luck of the Fae” in terms of recovering from high falls (or maybe he just possesses a superpower called “Summon Drone”??), he’s impervious to bullets or something, and he’s got the agility of a spider monkey. Look all, I’m all for a hot, smarmy leading man as much as the next girl, but we gotta make sure our characters still feel grounded. Each episode opener which gives a little glimmer of the reasons why our lead characters turned to Hapna reveals they are all damaged people in their own ways. I am sure there’ll be a crack in Axel’s facade inevitably.

The action and stunts are a blast in this episode regardless of my slight complaints up above. Christine kicking the stuffing out of Sam was worth the price of entry alone. Despite being no closer to Skinner just yet, we got some data to analyze and had a hell of a time!

Summary:

Slick, sexy action and cynical commentary about Influencers and the obscenely wealthy?! A badass helicopter chase?!?! Now you’re speaking my language! I’m excited for more of this show!