TV Show review
Review basis: 1 season, 13 episodes · through June 29, 2025
April 6, 2025 · 25 min · TV-14 · Ended
Woke Score
Lower is better
Review
Lazarus is a 2025 anime series about a team of agents racing to find a scientist whose miracle painkiller drug Hapna will kill almost everyone in 30 days. The ragtag group travels the world on an action-packed mission to stop the mass deaths. The show features a transgender woman in a supporting role and a full episode focused on a lesbian relationship between main characters. It also includes critiques of big pharma, governments, and wealth gaps.
Breakdown
These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for Lazarus.
Woke representation / casting
Prominent international cast fills lead roles with Brazilian man, Nigerian man, Russian woman gun expert, and young Hong Kong female hacker. Skilled female characters show competence in action. Visible diversity pattern in a sci-fi future setting.
Woke political dialogue
Some lines address pain, institutional failures, and inequality. Scenes drew complaints for feeling like oppression themes but do not dominate every episode.
Identity-driven story themes
Core chase story with action. Dedicated focus on Chris's lesbian past with Inga in one episode and supporting trans woman Jill add clear identity elements that stand out.
Western institutional / cultural critique
Story centers on big pharma deception, government and military weaponizing the drug, rich vs poor divides, and systems leaving people behind. Ties to real-world crises like opioids.
Woke character or canon changes
Production
Not relevant.
Anti-woke backlash and complaints
Viewers on X, Reddit, and review sites criticized the trans character, lesbian episode, diverse team, and social commentary as woke, DEI, or hamfisted. Complaints remain niche.
Creator track record context
Watanabe has consistently used multicultural casts and recently framed stories around inequality, pharma, and societal issues. Focus on inclusive global characters appears across his career.
