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Episode 8 “Unforgettable Fire” Details

• Available On: Adult Swim
• Public Release Date: May 25, 2025
• Director(s): Yohei Tsuchiya
• Writer(s): Tsukasa Kondo

Episode 8 “Unforgettable Fire” Recap (With Spoilers)

SHE IS A WHAT?: Chris, Hersch, Leland, Inga, Segei, Axel, Eleina, Doug

So, why is Chris tied up to a chair in the Russian Arctic? She was a spy. She defected to the United States and, in order to secure her freedom, she joined Lazarus under Hersch. Now, how did she escape? Well, according to Inga, it was through assuming she was dead after an airport was attacked three years ago. But, even with cosmetic surgery and more, Inga recognized Chris and for being a traitor, Sergei beats Chris, and Inga holds off calling the motherland.

Meanwhile, as the team learns about Chris’ story, they have questions for Hersch who isn’t shy about revealing she worked at the Hague Institute with Dr. Skinner, even on Hapna, but when Dr. Skinner disappeared, towards the end of Hapna being created, she was blindsided as everyone else by his sudden return and warning. So, with that Q&A done, while the team initially doesn’t have Hersch’s support, they do later on as she settles in with the idea that they are a team and one of their own is in trouble.

In A Former Life: Chris, Inga

In traditional Lazarus fashion, you don’t get the full story when it comes to Chris’ past. We do know she was Alexandra, she was a Russian spy, and Inga was her handler. But as for why she became a spy, information about her family, or if she was an orphan raised by the KGB? No answers there. In addition, there isn’t an answer regarding special training, or being experimented on, which allowed her to consume that drug cocktail a few episodes back, and it having minimal effect.

The only thing we learn is that Chris fell in love with Inga, the feeling was mutual, and while Chris was willing to leave, Inga wasn’t, and when she technically died and was considered dead, Chris used that to leave Russia behind.

I’m Saving You For Who You Are Now: Chris, Hersch, Leland, Inga, Sergei, Axel, Eleina, Doug

When it comes to Chris, her bracelet isn’t exactly like the others. Hers gives her only three days to check in, and then she will receive a deadly dose of poison to kill her. With that in place, the team heads to the Russian Arctic, specifically the Barents Sea, and handles things as they usually do – with explosions and a grandeur nature which makes you question why this group of people was chosen, especially to be under the NSA, of all organizations?

But, despite Hersch’s warning that a mishap could cause a world war, Eleina hacks onto the rig, Leland operates a drone that gets caught, Doug ends up sniping multiple agents, and Axel boards the oil rig Chris was held, and causes death and destruction. Thankfully, not Chris’, but with Sergei wanting Chris’ death more than anyone else, Inga saves her life and says goodbye to the woman who was once her lover. Thus ending Chris’ background story and giving us potentially the best one yet.

New Cast and Characters

Inga (Sumire Uesaka)

• Check out other productions we’ve covered starring this actor: [Link to Actor’s Tag]
• Character Summary: Inga is Chris’ former handler, when she was Alexandra, and was also her lover. However, three years ago, Chris was involved in an incident where she was assumed dead, and Inga kept her faith alive solely because a body wasn’t found. Thus leading to a lot of animosity not only for Chris turning her back on the agency, but also her.

Sergei (Hidenori Takahashi)

• Check out other productions we’ve covered starring this actor: [Link to Actor’s Tag]
• Character Summary: Sergei is a Russian agent, secondary to Inga, who has a strong desire to end Chris’ life for betraying her country.

Review and Commentary

Highlights

Chris’ Backstory Was Far Better Than Previously Ones Seen [85/100]

Chris’ backstory gave us everything the others didn’t. It had a sense of real emotion to it, gave a good idea of what Chris’ past was and even if they didn’t go into was she born into the life or not, enough was told to allow you to theorize and make it up yourself, and not feel like the writers were making you do homework. On top of that, her rescue mission was compelling from the team deciding, whether Hersch wants to help or not, they are going, to Axel battling it out, doing his usual parkour antics.

But I will say, considering the explosion and all that went on, I feel like Hersch’s warning of this becoming an international incident probably should have come true. I get Inga not calling it in regarding finding Chris was a factor, but how are you going to blow up an oil rig, never mind with a huge boat, and it not cause problems?

Answers Regarding Hersch’s Situation [81/100]

Even though the answers were matter of fact and left the possibility there could be more involved, I appreciate the show having Hersch be straight forward in what led her to join Lazarus and her past with Dr. Skinner. Also, I think it was a good choice to pair that with Chris’ story so that it wouldn’t come off as boring as it could have been.

An Emotional Reaction Could Be Had [82/100]

While Inga is another one suffering from the sapphic curse, I admittedly got into the idea of her and Chris, and it made Chris more interesting. Now, again, in terms of having to fill things in, it isn’t 100% clear if being queer was the main driving force of Chris leaving Russia, but the desire to be openly in love with her handler, it’s sweet and could give you butterflies.

Though, Axel saving Chris because of who she is now and not caring who she was before, that also did something for him. Especially since Chris and Axel aren’t flirty in a way that makes you think they are maybe destined. They are cool, despite her being the one who got him into this situation in the first place. And maybe it is because she tazed him, got him caught up in this Lazarus nonsense, and he still rescued her, which helps me see Axel in a better light and not as a generic, smart-mouthed, highly athletic lead.

On The Fence

By Explaining Why Chris And Hersch Are Part Of Lazarus, It Makes You Further Question Everyone Else [73/100]

Chris is a Russian agent who defected, and the terms of her being able to live in the United States is being part of Lazarus – understood. Hersch worked with Dr. Skinner and seems to have some need or desire to ask him why he disappeared and said nothing to her – also, understood. The rest still are a bit of a mystery to me.

Axel, you can claim it is because his luck is crazy high, he is good in combat, and moves about like a ninja. But, even with that said, surely there are lower-risk individuals who could do the same, right? Then with Doug, he is a college dropout who seems to be able to drive multiple types of vehicles, and shoot well. Okay, that makes sense, but this is what makes his background episode frustrating since you don’t know if the NSA or military trained him, or he learned all this through his years on Lazarus?

Plus, with revealing how young Doug and Axel are in the last episode, it further complicates trying to understand why they were chosen. Then with Leland, who seems to be next up for his backstory, he is a literal teenager who, unlike Doug, Axel or Chris, can’t handle a gun, isn’t necessarily an agile fighter, he just knows how to use drones.

Then throw Eleina in there, and it really pushes you to wonder if the requirements were people who likely could easily be disposed of, but had enough talent where they could be useful in some capacity? I mean, the struggle with giving all the answers we could need from Chris is that it makes the frustration of how everyone else was developed worst.

Overall

Our Overall Rating [80/100]

This episode of Lazarus delivers some of the strongest emotional scenes of the series so far, thanks largely to Chris’ backstory finally offering something layered, heartfelt, and genuinely compelling. Her history filled in the blanks of need to know information, and it continued to build off the idea that whether it comes to Lazarus or her past relationships, Chris is someone who is loving and sweet to the point of wanting to go to the ends of the Earth to rescue her or, in Inga’s case, potentially kill her. Add in Hersch’s past, even if presented matter-of-factly, to balance things out, and things were better than expected.

But with these answers came a downside: the lack of development for the rest of the team became all the more glaring. As we learn why Chris and Hersch are part of Lazarus, the absence of clear motivations (or coercion) and backstories for the others feels increasingly frustrating, especially with the show having uneven logic on recruitment. Still, with strong action, emotional stakes, and a standout rescue sequence, the episode remains one of the show’s best so far, even as it shines a harsher light on what’s still missing.

Here is hoping, though this could be a turning point and not just a blip.

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