As a long-time gamer and fan of the Tomb Raider franchise, I must say that my experience with Netflix’s “Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft” was a bit mixed. On one hand, it was great to see Lara back on screen in an animated series, especially since her last live-action adaptation left much to be desired. However, the show seemed to assume that I had played the most recent games from over a decade ago, which wasn’t the case for me or my wife.
The following contains minor spoilers for Netflix’s Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft.
Although I used to play a lot of video games, now I don’t have to since many popular gaming franchises like Fallout, The Last of Us, and Super Mario Bros., among others, are getting new life on TV and in movies. These iconic game characters are now starring on both big and small screens, reaching new viewers through various media. Some upcoming video game adaptations have already been released, with the latest being a Netflix animated Tomb Raider series.
Before diving into the new Netflix animated series based on Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft (differentiated from Amazon’s live-action project), my knowledge was limited. Yet, as an enthusiast of the franchise, I felt confident enough to give the show a chance without needing any additional information.
Overall, the experience was quite predictable, much like following a step-by-step guide. It didn’t leave a profound impact, but I did find myself enjoying it. Unfortunately, my wife didn’t share the same sentiment. Reflecting on it now, it seems that one’s appreciation for this series might hinge on whether or not they have played the latest installments.
Netflix’s Tomb Raider Is A New Series And It’s Also A Sequel
The Legend of Lara Croft” isn’t just a new series as I had anticipated due to its Tomb Raider name. Instead, it turns out to be a direct continuation of the latest trilogy of Tomb Raider video games.
2013 marked the unveiling of Tomb Raider, a game that stood alone without a subtitle as it served as a fresh origin tale for Lara Croft. Two sequels followed in 2015 and 2018. Notably, the opening scene of the new Netflix series unfolds before these three games’ events. Subsequently, the narrative leaps forward three years and continues after the games have ended their storyline.
In this production, an intriguing and debatable decision is made, one that stands out due to a character who dies between scenes, a personage other than Lara Croft. Typically, a series might delve into the cause of the character’s demise over several episodes or flashbacks, providing insights into the elapsed time. However, in this case, the death occurred years ago in a video game, so there are no flashbacks to fill in the gaps.
Tomb Raider: The Legend Of Lara Croft Assumes You Played A Video Game A Decade Ago
In “The Legend of Lara Croft,” flashbacks are indeed included, but they primarily focus on the demise of Roth, who served as a father figure to Lara. These flashbacks vividly portray Roth’s death, including an attack from a flying ax that strikes him in the back. However, these flashbacks do not delve into the specific details or circumstances surrounding his death. The fact that Lara was present at the time of his death is confirmed.
If you’ve played the 2013 version of ‘Tomb Raider’, the movie adaptation of which stars Alicia Vikander in 2018, then you’re familiar with the plot as it provides insights into Roth’s demise. In this game, Lara Croft, along with her companions including Roth, Jonah (a crucial figure in the series), and other characters from the franchise, were shipwrecked on an island. This island was home to a mysterious cult. Sam, one of Lara’s friends, gets abducted by this group, prompting Lara to launch a rescue mission and find a means of escaping the island. Regrettably, Roth meets his end at the hands of the cultists.
In Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft, while the specifics of how Roth perished aren’t crucial for grasping the storyline, it’s essential to know that Roth died and Lara carries guilt over his death. This aspect significantly shapes her character, so if you haven’t played the game or don’t recall these events, some elements of Lara’s personality might seem incomplete.
Back in the day, I vividly recall diving into the thrilling world of Tomb Raider – a memory that’s etched deep within me. I’m fairly confident I tackled it on more than one occasion. However, it’s been over a decade since its release, and I must confess, I had forgotten all about Roth being part of those adventures. A quick recap or refresher would have come in handy for someone like me!
The Legend Of Lara Croft Requires More Work To Enjoy It Properly
With franchises growing rapidly, it’s increasingly crucial – yet challenging – to absorb every aspect of them as they proliferate.
If enjoying one series depends on previously watching another series, that’s the case with the Star Wars: Ahsoka series. Essentially, it serves as a sequel to the Rebels animated series. To fully appreciate it, watching Rebels is highly recommended. Fortunately, if you already had a Disney+ subscription for viewing Ahsoka, accessing Rebels wasn’t an added burden, making it relatively easy to watch both shows if you wished to do so.
Instead, let me rephrase for you: Now, the “homework” spans multiple mediums. Unlike many other stories, Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft presupposes that you have played the game and can recall its specific details.
The Tale of Lara Croft provides essential details from the games, yet it lacks the contextual backdrop. While it reveals that a character’s death held significance for Lara, this fact alone doesn’t resonate without the context provided by playing the games. Consequently, Lara’s emotional turmoil becomes more comprehensible to those who have played, but it fails to evoke similar feelings in viewers unfamiliar with her journey, thereby limiting the series’ capacity to convey a profound narrative.
Tomb Raider: Lara Croft’s Legend does something else that I’m finding increasingly frustrating, which is concluding its storyline with a cliffhanger, leaving us uncertain if another season will even materialize. If it does, all I can wish for is that the upcoming season won’t necessitate viewers to have watched the previous one. Unfortunately, I worry that many people might not finish watching the new Netflix series because they also didn’t play the game.
Read More
Sorry. No data so far.
2024-10-17 15:37