A review of the Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft series about the adventures of Lara Croft

Contents:

• What the series is about
• Why the series is worth watching
• The series' disadvantages

What the series is about

The series begins with a prologue introducing young Lara. She and Conrad Rott, a friend of her late father and her guardian, set off into the Chilean jungle. Their goal is to explore ancient ruins, where they discover a mysterious green box, an ancient artifact. On their way back, they are stopped by a group of armed locals guarding the relic. The resulting conflict leads to Rott killing one of them, which shocks Lara and teaches her that sometimes extreme measures are necessary for survival. This moment lays the foundation for her future development as a character exploring a dangerous and adventurous world.

The events featured in the 2013 Tomb Raider games, Rise of the Tomb Raider and Shadow of the Tomb Raider unfold over the next three years. This period encompasses many key moments in Lara Croft's life. She survived the crash of the Endurance and faced the harsh conditions of survival on the island of Yamatai. Lara witnessed the tragic death of her friend Rott, who fell victim to the Brotherhood of the Sun cult. She also saved her friend Samantha from a horrific ritual and confronted the powerful organization Trinity. During her adventures, Lara prevented an impending apocalypse in Latin America, marking a significant milestone in her development as an adventurer and heroine.

The series' main plot takes place in Peru, where Lara struggles with her emotional torment. She can't shake the guilt over the death of Rott, who sacrificed himself to save her from an axe. Even participating in a traditional Peruvian fighting festival doesn't bring her relief or distract her from her oppressive emotions. Lara continues to search for a way to overcome her pain and find inner peace.

Lara gets After receiving a call from her friend and partner, Jonah, Lara decides to return to the UK and her estate. She plans to sell off collectibles that remind her of her father and Roth and organizes an auction. However, during the auction, an unknown thief breaks into her mansion and steals the mysterious green box that Lara and Roth discovered in Chile. It soon becomes clear that the thief is former French mercenary Charles Devereaux. This incident puts Lara in front of new challenges and mysteries that require her courage and determination.

The box contained an ancient stone possessing powerful powers, capable of dominating the mind of its owner and controlling the consciousness of others. Besides the stone in the green box, there are three other similar artifacts of varying colors in the world. According to legend, these artifacts contain the essence of human vice. If all four relics were to unite, the planet would be on the brink of chaos. Charles is unconcerned about the consequences of his actions, and so throughout the series, Lara strives not only to stop the villain but also to beat him to the punch by finding the remaining stones first. She decides to save the world from imminent destruction, despite all the dangers that lie ahead.

Why the series is worth paying attention to

The American studio Powerhouse Animation was entrusted with the creation of the animated series. Joy Hua, head of character design, emphasized that the team strove to combine the classic image of a strong woman from video games of the 1990s and 2000s with the image of the determined heroine from the latest trilogy. In this direction, they achieved some success.

The series features thrilling scenes of Lara performing backflips and other complex stunts on a bicycle in an evening gown. She gracefully avoids traps in dungeons, demonstrates parkour skills on the rooftops of Paris, chases a train on a motorcycle, and shoots a dinosaur with two pistols. These elements add dynamism and tension to the plot, highlighting the main character's skills.

In some scenes, Lara appears in a completely different light – exhausted and bleeding, she struggles to escape a dangerous situation with all her might. In moments of greatest tension, the heroine often struggles to control her emotions and often cries. This contrast gives the image of the invincible Lara a more human touch, but also raises questions. We will definitely discuss this in more detail.

In film adaptations of video games, elements of the original games are often presented as references. However, in The Legend of Lara Croft, many scenes seamlessly convey the spirit of the Tomb Raider series' gameplay. This is felt from the very first frames. Lara performs long jumps, moves statues, dodges dangers, and crosses large expanses of water, holding her breath underwater. These scenes will be familiar to fans of the games. Furthermore, Lara's wardrobe is almost identical to that of the original games, adding authenticity and depth to the character.

Series writer Tasha Huo collaborated with game developer Crystal Dynamics to create a narrative that seamlessly integrates with the unique gameplay aspects that have become the series' signature style. This interaction made the story so captivating that fans can easily imagine the events of the episodes in a video game format.

Appreciating the series' visuals without a deep understanding of 2D graphics can be difficult. However, it's clear that the visuals are appealing. The often-blurred background helps focus the viewer's attention on the characters rather than the environment. This style may not be to everyone's taste, but ultimately it's a matter of personal preference. It doesn't distort perception; rather, it helps focus on the emotions and character development. This approach allows for deeper immersion in the story and a better understanding of the characters' inner worlds.

When focusing on the environment, numerous details characteristic of the Tomb Raider series' level design become apparent. The game's style evokes associations with animated series from the 1990s, evoking a sense of nostalgia and a desire to see Lara's classic appearance. However, these expectations are only partially realized, leaving room for new interpretations and approaches to familiar elements.

The Series' Weaknesses

"The Legend of Lara Croft" evokes mixed feelings among both fans of the classic games and new viewers attracted by the reboot trilogy. This is explained by the fact that the film pays too much attention to Lara's inner experiences and her struggle with the loss of loved ones. A similar situation was observed in the film adaptation of "Tomb Raider: Lara Croft" with Alicia Vikander, which also failed to leave a strong impression and was quickly forgotten. As a result, viewers expect a more dynamic plot and interesting twists that could restore interest in the franchise.

Throughout the series, Lara Croft experiences a variety of emotions, which is reflected in her constant tears in between exciting action scenes and exploring picturesque landscapes around the world. The number of episodes where she cries even exceeds those moments in the 2013 game, which also featured dramatic and sometimes shocking events. This aspect reveals the character's inner world more deeply and enhances the emotional weight of the series, introducing elements of psychological drama and human vulnerability.

The heroine displays arrogance and sometimes rudeness in her interactions with others, which contradicts her image as an educated woman. Her bad manners often become a source of problems for Jonah, who constantly accompanies his friend. However, the scene in which the heroine elegantly "borrows" an expensive car from auction guests to pursue a thief evokes associations with the classic image of Lara Croft. But this positive image is soon destroyed in another episode associated with her internal conflicts and mental anguish.

The line of the antagonist Devereaux looks quite intriguing. His personality is intriguing due to his resemblance to the protagonist. Both characters share similar physical fitness, personality, mindset, and destinies. Lara's father was a victim of Trinity, while Charles's father died at the hands of the Light, a modern-day Templar. These circumstances create a sense of emptiness in both characters, driven by the impossibility of revenge. At first, it seems that their confrontation will be not only exciting, but also profound, raising important questions of revenge and justice.

Charles refuses to accept reality and seeks to acquire the ancient stones to harness their power and confront a powerful organization. He respects Lara, viewing her as an equal, and insists that she not interfere with his plans. However, Lara already realizes that uniting the stones will not lead to positive change in the world. At each meeting, she unsuccessfully tries to convince him of common sense, but all her efforts prove futile. Over the course of the story, Charles increasingly descends into dark forces, becoming an adept of evil, ready to subjugate human will with the magic of the stones and bring about destruction. As a result, interest in his character quickly fades, as his actions become predictable and ruthless, leaving Lara in the sole role of defending the world from the impending threat.

The narrative contains a number of inconsistencies with the original source material. For example, in the prologue, Lara Croft is shown wearing the standard equipment from Tomb Raider: Legend, the seventh installment in the series, released in 2006. These inconsistencies can affect the perception of the plot and characters, raising questions about canon compliance.

Lara Croft's appearance in the series clearly references the popular game, but the events that take place at the beginning take place before the events described in it. Lara already looks like an experienced tomb raider, able to deftly escape from pursuers and fight a huge alligator using a knife. This emphasizes her skill and confidence, which makes her character more deep and multifaceted.

Zip, Lara Croft's coordinator from the games Tomb Raider: Chronicles, Tomb Raider: Legend, and Tomb Raider: Underworld, which in the chronology of the series take place after the events of "The Legend of Lara Croft," unexpectedly appears in the series. It is likely that after the completion of the new trilogy, Lara could hire a personal technical assistant for navigation. However, his appearance in the series is not explained, and viewers are simply faced with the fact that this eccentric young man is one of Lara's close friends and acts as her butler. Thus, his character adds an interesting element to the dynamic of Lara's relationship and helps to reveal her character through interactions with him.

Since the official teaser was released, fans have expressed doubts that the anticipated series would live up to their expectations, as evidenced by comments on social media. Later, Tasha Huo, one of the project's creators, added fuel to the fire, stating in an interview with IGN that the script is aimed at both an adult audience and "little girls." She emphasized that players will be able to enjoy watching the series with their children, opening up new opportunities for family viewing and discussion of gaming topics.

The content of "The Legend of Lara Croft" is far from childish. The series contains numerous scenes of violence, including brutal episodes. For example, the moment when Lara, under the influence of the Rage Stone, mercilessly deals with guards, clearly illustrates this aspect. This content raises questions about how appropriate such scenes are for a younger audience and what moral message they carry.

The series repeatedly hints at the protagonist's sexuality, which has sparked heated debate among fans. Their discontent is entirely justified, as Lara's personal life has always remained in the shadows in the games. This is understandable, as an aristocrat consumed by the search for ancient treasures faces difficulties in building relationships. Thus, her focus on adventure and exploring unknown places makes her personal life secondary.

In an interview, the screenwriter claims that early versions of Lara Croft appear less emotional because her image was created by men. She insists that the heroine could not have been like that, and that the series was planned to more deeply explore her femininity and everyday behavior. This underscores the developers' desire to show the character's multifaceted nature and make her more relatable to women and viewers in general.

Lara Croft was created by a man – designer Toby Gard. In his original concept, the heroine is depicted as a cold-blooded woman in complete control of the situation. It is important to note that Lara's image was not initially sexualized; it was the publisher that began using her as video game iconography with an emphasis on prominent forms. This was one of the reasons why Toby Gard left Core Design, the studio that developed the classic installments of the series. This doesn't mean a male designer is incapable of creating a feminine look, but rather that the original concept didn't include sexualization of the character. Lara, as a character, could have behaved differently in everyday life, sometimes breaking away from her "Iron Lady" persona. However, in the series, her character is presented in an exaggerated light, emphasizing her strength and determination. This exaggeration reinforces the show's core themes and makes her more memorable for viewers. Thus, Lara becomes a symbol of female strength, but her versatility remains underrepresented within this interpretation.

The shortcomings of the new series, along with the showrunner's controversial statements, have triggered a wave of review bombing on Metacritic. Many Tomb Raider fans couldn't accept the radical changes to the main character's character. Viewers are likely tired of directors' constant attempts to adapt well-known stories and canon to modern trends, which causes dissatisfaction and disappointment.

"The Legend of Lara Croft" is a series that attracts attention, but leaves behind mixed feelings. While it's worth watching for its vibrant and nostalgic scenes, it doesn't always live up to the classic concept of a treasure hunter or the image of a new Lara who has learned to survive in difficult conditions. As a result, the entire season can be quickly binge-watched in an evening simply for the sake of it, and it quickly fades from memory, much like the 2018 film adaptation. The series is interesting, but not profound enough to leave a noticeable mark on world cinema.

The finale of the final episode hints at a sequel, which has already been officially confirmed. In the new season, Lara will finally reunite with her friend Samantha, with whom she failed to establish a connection throughout the first season. According to the showrunner, the heroine will become more social, and the events that happen to her will contribute to her development, which will make her more reminiscent of the character familiar to viewers from the nineties. This promises an interesting plot development and a deepening of the characters' personalities, which will attract the attention of both old and new fans.

In the new season, Lara and Samantha will set out in search of ancient African masks that possess mysterious powers. However, an influential billionaire is hunting these powerful relics, and the main characters must do everything possible to prevent the masks from falling into the wrong hands. Despite the exciting announcement, the question remains whether the creators of the series will be able to restore the trust of viewers. Expectations are high, and fans are hoping for an engaging and captivating storyline that will allow them to once again immerse themselves in a world of adventure and mystery.

The series demonstrates how difficult it is to adapt the character of Lara Croft to modern standards of heroism. Frequent references to the first film starring Angelina Jolie in reviews confirm that many viewers, even those unfamiliar with the original, are eager to return to the world of classic, brutal characters they want to follow. Even if such images seem outdated to some, their appeal remains relevant.