---
title: "The Lazarus Project: the reviews"
canonical: "https://film.one/tv/the-lazarus-project/reviews"
title_page: "https://film.one/tv/the-lazarus-project"
critics_score: 78
critics_reviews: 7
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# The Lazarus Project (2022): what the critics said

Critics' score 78 from 7 reviews: 6 positive, 1 mixed, 0 negative.

Most critics respond warmly to The Lazarus Project, with praise clustering around Paapa Essiedu’s lead performance and the personal costs of resetting time. The reviews find that its questions about whose lives can be saved give the science-fiction premise emotional weight, while the action and espionage keep it moving. Essiedu is the clearest point of agreement, though the ensemble also earns praise. Several critics welcome a story that develops beyond its apparent procedural beginnings into something more morally complicated.

The reservations concern familiarity and how much effort the plotting demands. Most find enough human interest to carry them through the complications, but The Telegraph considers the thriller clichéd despite its strong opening and excellent lead. Den of Geek is the most enthusiastic, praising the way large ideas are grounded in ordinary lives. The spread runs from qualified approval to considerable enthusiasm, with only one mixed assessment and no outright rejection.

## Empire — Jordan King

Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 17 June 2022. 

The review highlights the series' blend of high-stakes action, espionage, and deep exploration of time-travel's personal and ethical costs, calling it a gripping and original sci-fi thriller. It singles out the intelligent writing on morality, character arcs, and strong ensemble performances (especially Paapa Essiedu) as standout elements.

[Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/tv/reviews/the-lazarus-project/)

## Radio Times — Huw Fullerton

Rating 4/5. 14 June 2022. 

The critic finds the series subverts initial expectations of a standard procedural by delving into the emotional and moral consequences of time resets, creating a slick, surprising serialised story. They single out Paapa Essiedu's raw yet likable performance and the inventive visuals and storytelling for particular praise.

[Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/the-lazarus-project-review-sky/)

## The Guardian — Lucy Mangan

Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 16 June 2022. 

The critic finds the series gripping, fun and stylish in its time-bending premise about a secret organisation resetting global catastrophes. Strong performances and moral dilemmas keep it compelling despite complex plotting.

[Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/jun/16/the-lazarus-project-review-paapa-essiedu-thrills-in-fun-stylish-brain-scrambler)

## Evening Standard — Jochan Embley

Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 16 June 2022. 

The time-loop thriller resembles a more accessible Tenet and explores murky morality around saving the world repeatedly. The human core and Paapa Essiedu’s performance stand out as most compelling.

[Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/tvfilm/the-lazarus-project-review-trailer-sky-b1006637.html)

## The Times — Carol Midgley

Rating ★★★☆☆. 16 June 2022. 

The series packs in multiple genres and moral questions about resetting time to avert disasters, with an excellent lead performance. Time-travel stories can be hard to follow but this one has timely resonance.

[Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/the-lazarus-project-review-time-to-save-the-world-then-again-and-again-325cs2rb5)

## The Telegraph — Anita Singh

Rating 3/5. 16 June 2022. 

The opening is strong and Paapa Essiedu excellent, but the time-travel thriller feels clichéd and familiar overall. It is watchable but best not overthought.

[Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/0/lazarus-project-review-time-travelling-sci-fi-thriller-should/)

## Den of Geek — Louisa Mellor

Rating 5/5. 16 June 2022. 

The critic praises the series as an ambitious, robust sci-fi thriller that grounds big ideas in ordinary lives and delivers meaty action. Paapa Essiedu’s lead performance and the strong ensemble cast are singled out as highlights.

[Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/the-lazarus-project-review-sky-sci-fi-thriller/)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/tv/the-lazarus-project.md