Key Takeaways
- Netflix’s animated series reveals a new side to Lara Croft after the events of the Survivor trilogy of games.
- Hayley Atwell delivers a strong performance as Lara Croft, capturing her humor, fragility, and resilience.
- The Legend of Lara Croft excels in capturing the essence of a Tomb Raider game through adventure-filled storytelling.
As a longtime fan of the Tomb Raider series, I must say that the new Netflix adaptation, The Legend of Lara Croft, has truly outdone itself in delivering a captivating and emotionally resonant portrayal of Lara’s journey. With Alicia Atwell’s stellar vocal performance as Lara, we are treated to a nuanced exploration of her humor, fragility, resilience, and the inner turmoil that shapes her character. Richard Armitage’s villainous turn as Charles Devereaux is also noteworthy, adding depth and complexity to what could have been a one-dimensional antagonist.
As a die-hard fan, it’s mind-blowing to see Lara Croft finally making her small screen debut! After gracing 2D and 3D games, movies, comics, theme park attractions, it was only a matter of time before she conquered our TV screens. Netflix’s latest animated series, Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft, has finally brought her to the small screen, offering an innovative perspective on this timeless icon. The story and style of this series feels like a seamless addition to the franchise, making it feel both natural and indispensable for any Lara Croft fan.
The adventure game titled “Tomb Raider: Lara Croft’s Legend” was created by Tasha Huo, who has previously delved into expanding the lore of an already well-known universe, as demonstrated in her work on the Netflix series “The Witcher: Blood Origin“. This new series intends to connect the dots between the trilogy of games from Crystal Dynamics (consisting of “Tomb Raider”, “Rise of the Tomb Raider”, and “Shadow of the Tomb Raider”) and the original 1990s games that made Lara Croft a cultural icon. Although Lara has always been portrayed as strong and competent, she didn’t transform into the dual-pistol-wielding tough guy we know today overnight. This series aims to reveal a more vulnerable side of the Tomb Raider character that audiences have yet to witness.
Netflix’s Tomb Raider Series Shows A New Side of Lara
| Creator/Showrunner | Tasha Huo |
|---|---|
| Stars | Hayley Atwell, Richard Armitage, Earl Baylon, Allen Maldonado |
| Release date | October 10, 2024 |
| Number of Episodes | 8 |
| Streaming on | Netflix |
In the aftermath of “Shadow of the Tomb Raider”, Lara is grappling with past losses and trying to escape them by cleaning up her estate, Croft Manor. However, when a holy artifact goes missing from her home, she embarks on a quest to recover it, staying true to her commitment of safeguarding the world’s secrets. Alongside her are some familiar companions, notably Jonah (played once more by Earl Baylon as seen in the game), and there are hints towards characters like Sam, Roth, and Lara’s father, Richard Croft. Although knowing the “Tomb Raider” video games can enhance the experience, it isn’t necessary to appreciate “Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft”. For those familiar with Lara’s journey, there are numerous Easter eggs and references throughout the series that will surely delight them.
Some fans might find it disheartening that Camilla Luddington, who voiced Lara in the Survivor trilogy, is not present in this new version. But fear not, as Hayley Atwell (Captain America: The First Avenger) steps into the role of Lara Croft, making it seem like she was destined for this part. Whenever the facial animations don’t quite convey the emotions of a scene, Atwell delivers with a solid vocal performance that captures Lara’s wit, vulnerability, and strength. Richard Armitage also brings depth to his character, Charles Devereaux, who could easily become a one-dimensional stereotype, but instead proves to be an outstanding counterpart to Lara’s character.
The evolution of Lara Croft’s character throughout “Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft” gives credence to the enduring nature of the series. In the initial “Survivor” trilogy, Lara Croft is portrayed as a young and ambitious individual striving for validation, whereas in the 90s games she emerges as a confident and self-reliant figure. The series effectively portrays a more authentic depiction of Lara, emphasizing how loss and rage can mold an individual. In contrast to her traditional role of unravelling ancient enigmas and mysteries, the Netflix series challenges Lara with the most intricate puzzle of all – self-discovery.
Adventure Through Animation
Recently, many video game stories have been brought to life through animation, and Tomb Raider is no exception. The animation for Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft is produced by Powerhouse Animation Studios, known for their work on Castlevania: Nocturne and Masters of the Universe. As a result, the animation style is lively and somewhat similar to classic cartoons. While there are visually striking moments across the episodes, the animation often falls short of being truly exceptional. One area where it particularly stumbles is in conveying emotional moments between characters, which is unfortunate because Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft offers fans a rare glimpse into the personal life of their hero.
The show truly shines by perfectly encapsulating the atmosphere of a Lara Croft game in an animated setting. The Legend of Lara Crof delivers everything you’d anticipate from a Tomb Raider adventure: thrilling action sequences, enigmatic ancient mysteries to unravel, and a narrative that takes us around the world. It skillfully converts platforming and puzzle elements into its animated format, and the familiar tools like the pickaxe, bow, and grappling hook fit seamlessly into the Netflix series. Although the Tomb Raider franchise isn’t renowned for realism, its penchant for the extraordinary actually enhances the animated series, as it finds equally imaginative ways to portray this mythology visually.
Structurally, each episode in this series is well-built, offering fresh, thrilling locations or action sequences to engage viewers. At first, it seems a bit sluggish, especially as Lara spends time reflecting on her past, but once she’s presented with a new enigma to unravel, the pace picks up significantly. The variety is what makes this series shine, something that might have been challenging in the games due to increased development workload. Here, Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft is free to explore every nook and cranny of the world, encounter towering adversaries, and test the boundaries of action animation. Overall, this series deserves its spot in the Tomb Raider franchise and offers an unique insight into Lara Croft that fans have yet to see elsewhere.
All eight episodes of Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft are available to stream on Netflix.
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2024-10-11 17:06