WARNING: Spoilers ahead
The Tomb Raider returns. Netflix has brought Lara Croft back to a world of anime and fixed many-a-mistake.
Hayley Atwell (Agent Carter, Heartstopper, Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning) is voicing the iconic adventurer along with co-stars Richard Armitage, Allen Maldonado and Earl Baylon.
For those not in the know, Lara Croft arrived on the video gaming scene in 1996 and has established herself as an icon since. Lara is an archeologist adventuring tomb raider who is frequently embroiled in the consequences of meddling with supernatural treasure. There have been many games and film adaptations and there are more on the way.
We have a majority female crew running the show from the directors to the writers (Tasha Huo, Julie Olson, Giselle Rosser, Cassie Urban, Shakira Pressley and Troy Dangerfield), which is a point of difference from the other screen adaptations for Lara Croft. You can’t help but speculate that this is what Lara needs to be an engaging character.
Netflix has this to say for a blurb: Thrust into a high-stakes chase around the world, fearless adventurer Lara Croft confronts her traumatic past while unraveling an ancient mystery.
If you like Castlevania, this show is for you. It is produced by the same team and has the same level-progressing momentum. Game remakes — specifically for TV, the movies lately are questionable — are becoming a new favourite genre of mine. The building of a ‘big bad’ through the episodes and gaining tools and wisdom; it’s all the best parts of a video game without having to be skilled and actually play the game.
WHAT DID GLASS THINK?
So, disclaimer, I am aware of the basics of the world of Lara Croft through references to it in pop culture and the Angelina Jolie movies. That being said, I would say I am not a superfan, just ‘aware‘.
Upon doing a bit of research for this review, I found out this show picks up where the Lara Croft game Shadow of the Tomb Raider leaves players. Although an interesting piece of lore, I watched the complete show with an awareness that I was missing knowledge from the complete lore of Lara Croft but was still able to enjoy the show and be moved by emotional developments.
This particular characterisation of Lara is fleshed out and stands stark against from Angelina Jolie’s. She is flawed, haunted and rough, removing the ‘overly-perfect woman’ image I have seen in the past. I didn’t find myself groaning at bizarre character choices. This show removed decades of hyper-sexualising Lara and everything finally clicks into place. You aren’t harangued by balloon breasts and the world of Lara makes a whole lot more sense.
Another thing we love is a sexy, tortured villain and, boy, do we get one of them. Charles Devereaux serves as a ‘mirror-villain’ to Lara that challenges her responses to trauma. It is unfortunately a daddy-dies-boy-turns-evil story arc that lacks true depth. He is still a good villain, don’t get me wrong. He is still a sexy villain, believe me. But I found myself wanting something unexpected in his backstory and motivations.
The animation of the show was clean and had vibrant locations and it also allowed for creative action elements. It is a Netflix anime, so don’t be expecting a show true to the art. Please, if you are a true anime fan, don’t sling me up for recommending this show.
The writing is a tad cliche but I found it makes for a kitschy watch in the best way possible.
This show has sent me off on Lara Croft binge and I will be watching the 2018 Tomb Raider film starring Alicia Vikander. I shall report back <3
