The Lazarus Project Season 1 Episode 1 Review: Episode One

The world is on the cusp of yet another horrific pandemic, and one group works to stop it on TNT’s latest overseas acquisition, The Lazarus Project Season 1 Episode 1, “Episode One.”

There’s a lot to introduce in the first hour of this time travel drama, and there is no wasted real estate as we get glimpses of the players involved, the team’s purpose, and what’s at stake if everyone fails.  

We meet George on the morning of his big bank meeting for a potential loan for his app. After acing the interview and getting the loan approved, life only gets better for him. Marriage, a baby on the way, and professional success.

But as his life improves, the world around him worsens at the hands of another pandemic that is far deadlier than the most recent one. George thinks he’s safe until one day, he and Sarah exhibit the same symptoms they’ve been warned of and ultimately realize they aren’t leaving this pandemic alive.

The show’s mechanism kicks in at the bleakest moment, taking George and the viewers back to that morning before the bank interview. The way George decides to process time repeating itself is to fall into a research rabbit hole, trying to find answers and a way to get through it.

George’s reaction to what’s happening to him is refreshing, opting to go the “calm and methodical” route after the understandable freak-out.

After going through another loop, he finds a potential source for answers courtesy of the mysterious woman in the alley named Archie.

Admittedly, her introduction and initial role are exposition-heavy as she’s seemingly George and the viewers’ tour guide through the covert multinational organization, The Lazarus Project. Despite the heavy exposition, it doesn’t feel too heavy-handed for the story and what the scene mainly tries to do.

While explaining The Lazarus Project’s entire purpose for existing, I appreciate that they take the time to set the rules and boundaries for the mechanics of their version of time travel.

When we get to time travel in a story, it’s easy to play fast and loose with not only the mechanics of it but also how it’s incorporated into the story’s universe and the rules that all characters must abide by.

The Lazarus Project clearly dictates what can and can’t be done within the first half hour and puts parameters on how time travel can be done.

Archie: We’re not here to make the world a better place. We’re here to stop it from ending.

If the show can stick with the rules they’ve set up for themselves in this episode, I will be so impressed.

The use of “It’s The End of the World as We Know It” over the montage is perfect.

But everything feels like it goes way too smoothly for George and Sarah, and it’s only a matter of time before we see him deal with some heartbreaking loss again.

That final scene is heartbreaking and makes me wonder if there will be an attempt at looping back.

Will they be breaking their own rules already? We’ll have to wait and see.

What did you think of this episode of The Lazarus Project? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Critic Rating:

User Rating:

 

The Lazarus Project airs Sundays at 9/8c on TNT.

 Follow us on Twitter and on Instagram!

Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!

What to Watch on TV: Cruel Summer, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and Never Have I Ever