Netflix’s Tomb Raider Series Sets Up the Return of a Major Character

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Netflix's Tomb Raider Series Sets Up the Return of a Major Character

Key Takeaways

  • Lara Croft’s relationships with family and friends are explored in Netflix’s Tomb Raider series.
  • Some familiar faces appear in the show, such as Lara’s longtime friend Jonah and her mentor Conrad Roth.
  • Sam Nishimura, Lara’s best friend from the games, is absent initially but is expected to return in the series.

As a long-time fan who has followed Lara Croft’s adventures since her early days, I must say that Netflix’s Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft has been a breath of fresh air! It was heartwarming to see familiar faces like Jonah and Zip, but the absence of Sam left me feeling a bit nostalgic.

Netflix’s movie “Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft” marks the first revisit to the franchise since the 2018 game, “Shadow of the Tomb Raider.” In this installment, the story delves deeper into the personal aspects of Lara Croft, focusing on her connections with her family and friends.

As a dedicated follower of the Tomb Raider saga, I’m thrilled to delve into Crystal Dynamics’ continuation of the Survivor trilogy with Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft. This adventure brings back many beloved characters from the games, and one of the most notable is Earl Baylon reprising his role as Lara’s long-standing companion Jonah, who graced all three games in this series.

Who is Sam Nishimura in Tomb Raider?

Netflix's Tomb Raider Series Sets Up the Return of a Major Character

In the 2013 movie “Tomb Raider”, we initially encounter Sam as Lara’s long-time college companion. They crossed paths at university. Sam, a talented filmmaker, directs the documentary that follows their expedition in search of the ancient city of Yamatai, as depicted in the initial game. During their stay on the island, Sam is captured by the Solarii Brotherhood who think she holds the key to breaking the island’s curse. The leader, Mathias, abducts her and attempts to use her as a vessel for Himiko, the queen of Yamatai, initiating a spirit transfer. However, Lara manages to save Sam from this perilous situation and ultimately lifts the curse, enabling them to safely return home.

In the Tomb Raider series of games, Sam doesn’t appear after this point. Although Sam is mentioned in Rise of the Tomb Raider and Shadow of the Tomb Raider, she doesn’t reappear on screen. However, her story carries on in the Dark Horse Tomb Raider comics. In these comics, it’s disclosed that Sam is still connected to Himiko’s spirit, who has been using Sam to perform violent deeds. Sam gets arrested and admitted into a mental institution, but with Himiko controlling her, she manages to break free and disappear. Lara eventually locates Sam and uses a Wei Mirror to liberate her from Himiko’s influence.

What Happened Between Sam and Lara?

Netflix's Tomb Raider Series Sets Up the Return of a Major Character

As buddies forged in the heat of adventure, I can’t help but recall how countless times I put myself on the line to shield Sam. So it came as a shock when Lara, my Tomb Raider partner, mysteriously vanished from the narrative. It seems that following their encounter with Himiko, their bond seemed strained, with Sam making efforts to reconnect, only for Lara to hold off on responding to his calls.

As the story unfolds in “Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft”, set following the comics and “Survivor” games, it appears that the bond between Lara and Sam may be strained. In the initial installment, Lara extends invitations for her companions to assist with artifact organization at Croft Manor; however, only Jonah and Zip make an appearance. Upon inquiring about Sam’s whereabouts, Jonah discloses that she is engaged in work abroad and suggests Lara contact her directly.

How Sam Could Return In Netflix’s Tomb Raider Series

CastHayey Atwell, Richard Armitage, Earl Baylon, Allen Maldonado
Release dateOctober 10, 2024
Number of Episodes8
Where to watchNetflix

The conclusion of Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft leaves a strong hint that Sam will reappear. Throughout their adventures during the series, they finally achieve their goals in the Tomb Raider finale. Lara attends Jonah and Abby’s wedding, but is interrupted by a call from Sam, who sounds distressed. However, the conversation abruptly ends. After informing Jonah about this odd occurrence, Lara decides to leave the wedding to look into it further.

Lara drops by Sam’s residence to make sure she’s okay, but finds instead that the apartment has been ransacked violently, with no sign of Sam. Delving deeper into the mystery, Lara discovers that Sam had been investigating a criminal organization led by a man named Vladimir, who specializes in plundering and trafficking antiquities. As the Tomb Raider adventure concludes, it seems Lara’s next objective will be to find Sam and dismantle the syndicate.

Currently, there’s no word on another season of “Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft”, but if one does materialize, it’s hinted that Sam will make a comeback to the Tomb Raider universe after a significant hiatus. Although she appears in just a brief flashback in the first episode of the Netflix animated series, “Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft” has replaced Arden Cho (from “Teen Wolf”) with Karen Fukuhara (known for “The Boys” and “Suicide Squad”) as Sam’s voice actress. While Fukuhara had a guest role in Season 1, her inclusion in the cast could be a major draw for Netflix when deciding whether to renew the series.

Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft is streaming now on Netflix.

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2024-10-19 19:05