MovieChat Forums > Glitch (2016) Discussion > "lazarus" syndrome

"lazarus" syndrome

posted 8 years ago by Bob_Loblaw_Lobs_Law_Bombs
5 replies | jump to latest

i remember in the first episode the dr mentioning something about lazarus syndrome "I've heard of people coming back to life 20 minutes to an hour after they are declared dead... but never 2 years". uhh, yeah, no kidding. that's because anyone familiar with the burial process knows that people don't get accidentally buried alive like you see in countless movies and tv shows because morticians literally drain their bodies of all fluid and replace it with embalming fluid. if you weren't dead prior to that process, you sure would be dead after it. 

I was annoyed by this show at first for being another stupid corpses coming back to life trope with zero explanation for why these bodies are somehow filled back up with human bodily fluid upon rising from the grave... but then I quickly realized after one of the characters literally turned in to ash whilst trying to cross a bridge that the rules of the universe they are creating here have absolutely no basis in reality whatsoever. so I just let it go.

but like I said, this is a main pet peeve of mine every time we have a zombie movie that is NOT just a catch-all throw-away supernatural explanation like this show where the writers made absolutely zero attempt to understand the modern day post-death processes a mortician/coroner follows.

Where did you get those clothes, the toilet store?

[–] paisley1 8 years ago

I meant to add that this is not always the case. Specific waivers are available with regards to the handling of the body, such as no embalming, etc... based on belief, religion, culture, etc... An elderly man I knew many, many, many years ago became a mortician for about 15yrs after he retired from the military. It hit me a few days after posting on the boards that various pre-burial methods can be waived on the basis of above. He said it was 1 of the reasons it was important to check & re-check before starting the process to make sure as to not go against the wishes of the family.

Of course it wouldn't be applicable here but still, I wanted to throw that out there b/c it is an actual option that is available & has been for many decades, even post embalming becoming the norm. Also, doctors are ot infaliable when it comes to calling TOD when the patient isn't actually dead. There have been cases where people have thought to have no brain function yet when taken off life support, have woke up with no neurological defect. It's a rarity but again, it has & does happen.

My stories propel mundane lives into magical worlds where all is possible -Paisley

[–] adrienewsom 8 years ago

Well...considering each one was markedly "whole" on their return: no aging, skin intact, eyes that didn't shrivel and rot, Kate got her hair and breasts back, etc. and the dead returning in general, I think it's safe to call this one a fantasy.

As for them not explaining their return, it seems like it is a key plot point for next season. There are some interesting theories on here, I'm definitely intrigued.

I liked your explanation on embalming though, I never really thought about it much. And kinda solidifies my stance on cremation.

~I wish we'd had a laugh but you're just not funny~

[–] margotlorena 8 years ago

We don't embalm the dead in my country. I don't know why you assume it's the norm everywhere.

[–] alzanden-1 8 years ago

What country is that? Just curious.

[–] therealjohnking 8 years ago

These obviously aren't zombies. They've been given medical examinations. They are living, per the rules of the simulation.