The Tomb Raider video game by Crystal Dynamics has been loved by many, and the same goes for the movie adaptations, which helped the franchise branch out. Now, Netflix has taken it upon itself to release an animated series of 8-episodes titled “Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft,” which is now available on the streaming platform.

In the last few days, Netflix has caused an uproar among subscribers after it chose to cancel the Jeff Goldblum starrer, Kaos. Now, it will be interesting to see if Netflix can make amends by releasing other high-quality content, which brings us to our review of Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft created by Tasha Huo.

The Villain becomes a Highlight in Netflix Series

Hayley Atwell takes over the role of Lara Croft in Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft, and to begin with, we have to give credit where it is due. While we will talk more about the episodes, narrative, and animation of the series, Atwell deserves a quick applause as she appears to be the perfect voice cast for Lara’s character, which immediately makes the series more watchable.

The Villain becomes a Highlight in Netflix Series
Credit: Netflix

Of course, we aren’t settling for just watchable when it comes to this series, which brings us to the first episode. There’s plenty of action from the get-go, which is expected when it comes to this franchise, but watching a strong female lead in action is always a treat, especially when she is being chased by three men who are carrying weapons, and attempting to catch her by her messy ponytail.

While the action continues, and the animation is absolutely fantastic throughout the series, the narrative feels slightly weak, especially considering this series is a part of the Tomb Raider franchise.

However, in an interview, Tasha Huo mentions, “I always wanted my version to be very character-driven,” and that stands true for the Netflix series, which may or may not be everyone’s cup of tea.

Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft
Credit: Netflix

While Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft Episode 1 did not have all our attention for the entire runtime, the series does get much better from the second episode, and we aren’t just talking about the animation, which continues to remain our favorite part. There is plenty of focus on Lara’s emotional strain as she deals with the death of Roth, and takes the blame for it too.

One of the best parts of the series, and when the narrative picks up its pace, is the villain Charles Devereaux, voiced by the talented Richard Armitage. The voice cast of the series helps raise the overall quality, especially for those who might not find themselves invested in the storyline right away.

Adapting video games to movies and series is always a risk, but the question here is – was Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft worth it?

Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft Episode 1
Credit: Netflix

Conclusion

Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft stays true to the franchise, but chances are, existing fans of the video game would probably rather have invested their time in another game instead of this Netflix series. Ultimately, some good adventures, great animation, and a splendid villain might just get this series another season!

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