Tomb Raider: The Legend Of Lara Croft Season 1 review: What does it mean to survive?

Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft is an animated adaptation of the iconic video game franchise, released on Netflix on October 10, 2024. The series takes many cues from Crystal Dynamics's Survivor Trilogy of Tomb Raider (2013), Rise of the Tomb Raider, and Shadow of the Tomb Raider.

Ever since the release of those games, the Tomb Raider franchise has focused on darker subject matter, most notably the trauma Lara has endured in her adventures and the survivor's guilt she's carried because of it.

Another major theme the series covers is the dangers of vengefulness, best exemplified by the series's antagonist, Charles Devereaux, who puts the entire world at risk to avenge his father's death.

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Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft shows Lara's struggles with being a survivor

Like the Crystal Dynamics trilogy, Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft looks extensively at the toll Lara has taken because of surviving adversity. The Tomb Raider (2013) game is particularly prominent in the series's backstory. Lara frequently has traumatic flashbacks to her ill-fated voyage to Yamatai, which led to the deaths of everyone on her expedition, including her mentor, Conrad Roth.

Despite vanquishing the threat posed by Himiko's spirit and making it out of the island alive, the weight of the incident still presses upon Lara in the series. She's shown to be conflicted about keeping anyone close to her, given how easily people can wind up dead in Lara's line of work.

The storyline of Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft focuses on the Peril Stones, magical gems such as the Stone of Greed, Stone of Wrath, Stone of Betrayal, and Stone of Power, that are seemingly cursed and destined to bring untold devastation to the world unless they're hidden away.

Lara and Conrad Roth come across the Stone of Greed at the beginning of the series, which shows a flashback to a point early in her career, before her trip to Yamatai. Despite the ominous undertones surrounding the stone at the very outset, Roth insists on taking the artifact anyway, even killing one of its guardians who tries to stop him.

Lara hasn't thought about the Peril Stones since Conrad Roth's death at Yamatai. To move on from her past burdens, she even begins auctioning off some of her father's artifacts. That opens the door for Charles Devereaux to break into her mansion and steal the Stone of Greed, which forces Lara to learn everything she can about the legend of the Peril Stones and the dangers they represent.

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Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft is a competent animation made for the fans

The series is perfect for those who want more of Lara Croft. (Image via Netflix)

Watching the Netflix series, it's clear that the primary audience for the animated series is Tomb Raider's fandom. If you're unfamiliar with the games, particularly the Crystal Dynamics Survivor Trilogy, you'll find yourself at a loss on what's driving Lara's survival guilt.

Charles Devereaux's motivations also make much more sense when considering the role secret societies like Trinity played in Rise of the Tomb Raider and Shadow of the Tomb Raider. Setting the barrier of entry aside, however, Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft is a well-made production.

The animation is smooth and captures the Tomb Raider aesthetic well. The series is also good at balancing its tone. For every scene that shows Lara buckling underneath her trauma, there are just as many showing her to be the badass we know and love.

Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft is ultimately best suited for those who are already fans of Lara Croft and want to see more of her adventures. People unfamiliar with the franchise might want to check out the Survivor Trilogy first, which is available on modern consoles and PC.