Abhiroop Das
Sky’s ‘The Lazarus Project‘ centers around George Addo, who wakes up one day with the awareness of time looping around him. Soon, this lands him in a secret organization called The Lazarus Project, which is dedicated to taking down world-ending events and looping the world back to a safe checkpoint in case they fail to do so. Among those tasked with this immense responsibility are the protagonist’s fellow operatives, Dennis Rebrov and Archie. While the latter stands out as a model operative, the former begins the story as a rogue agent. However, as the secrets of the organization come to light, the two allies with George are united in the mission of saving the world from a three-week time loop. The solution appears to be hidden in the past, and both agents end up making some drastic decisions to make sure George gets the job done. SPOILERS AHEAD.
Rebrov Likely Survives the Ordeal and Looks Forward to the Future
In the season finale, Rebrov heroically chooses to stay back in 2014, with his past counterpart assisting him in taking down Wes’s forces. In doing so, he ensures that his daughter, both her adult and child versions, make it to the plane. The responsibility falls on George, who has developed a trusting relationship with Becky’s father over the time they have spent together. While we do not see what happens to Rebrov following George’s departure, the horde of enemy forces that charges at him casts doubt on his survival. However, knowing that he is a skilled operative, his winning the fight is not out of the question. Furthermore, he is driven by rage, given the fact that his wife, Janet, has just been killed in both her past and present forms, which potentially adds to his chances of overpowering the opposite side.
Although a time reset is the only way Rebrov can bring Janet back to life, he likely does not take that route, as it would mean undoing George’s progress with the time machine and jeopardizing the life of Becky. As such, if he survives, his goal is more likely to shift to revenge against Sarah, who also chooses to stay back in 2012. While Rebrov has previously displayed a desire to end his life, this time he has a reason to keep living. The fact that his daughter makes it to 2024 can act as a driving force for him to survive the next 12 years and reunite with her. However, as the world has unraveled significantly, their reconnection is bound to be embroiled in the larger conflict. As such, he has one more reason to make it out alive, on a narrative level, to protect Becky from Sarah.
Archie’s Fate Hangs in the Balance
Alongside Rebrov, Archie is another one of the Lazarus Agents who ultimately decides to act out of her own agency and make use of the time machine to save Janet. Although she fails in this mission, she refuses to endanger the lives of the rest of her teammates, choosing to take down one of the enemy cars on her own. However, the car crashes, leaving her with grave injuries. While Zhang does come to her rescue, she doesn’t have the means to give immediate medical care, which makes Archie’s survival increasingly improbable. Additionally, her arc has been one of accepting the importance of sacrifice, as her death was crucial to saving the world in 2018, but Ross took the fall in her stead. Given that, Archie’s death can serve as her story coming full circle.
However, as we are never shown if she dies, her survival is still on the table. This is best substantiated by the words of Zhang, her partner, who declares that she will stay back to save Archie. As the story doesn’t enter a time reset within the checkpoint, saving her via reverting time is out of bounds, but it is possible that Shiv, or even Rebrov, comes to her rescue. Additionally, an equally important piece in the puzzle is Archie’s present self in 2014, who is yet to be recruited. Given that Ross already knows how their future will pan out, it is likely that he will enact a different plan to save Archie’s life in 2018. On the other hand, if she dies, he no longer has any means of convincing Wes to call for a time reset, as he can no longer blackmail her about the existence of the time machine. This adds a cruel spin to the web of possibilities awaiting Archie.
The Lazarus Project’s Cancellation Played a Part in Rebrov and Archie’s Stories Being Cut Short
A big reason why Rebrov and Archie’s fates remain unresolved is that ‘The Lazarus Project’ has not been renewed for a third season. As of writing, Sky has not provided any official reason for this, with a Sky representative making an official statement to Digital Spy, “The Lazarus Project has brought audiences jaw-dropping action and time-bending storylines across two seasons, and we are incredibly proud of this BAFTA-winning series. Whilst we won’t be commissioning another season, we would like to thank the incredible team who made this show possible.” Several possible reasons might have played a part in informing this decision, such as production costs, audience interest, and an emphasis on newer projects.
In an interview with Radio Times, actor Anjili Mohindra, who plays Archie, reacted to the series’s cancellation, “I feel a little bit unsatisfied and really saddened by the news that it won’t happen again. But who knows, maybe someone will start a campaign somewhere, maybe something might happen? don’t know.” This shows that the creative team is eager to get things going once again, providing a deeper insight into the lives of Rebrov and Archie. The ebbs and flows in their trajectory have defined the larger storyline, as it is Archie who introduces George to the organization, and Rebrov who opens his eyes to the truth of the system. As such, they still have a purpose in the story, both in managing plot threads and enhancing the narrative.
Read More: The Lazarus Project Season 1 Finale Recap and Ending Explained
