Based off the famous Tomb Raider franchise, Netflix have released their latest foray into the world of anime adaptations. But is this just another rote addition to an old franchise, or something to explore new facets of a beloved character?
Lara Croft is inarguably one of the most recognised characters in gaming – since her low polygon rendering on the Saturn and PS1, up the latest of the several reboots that have occurred since her inception in the 90s. Add in two different film series, a bunch of crossovers – and you’ve got a monstrous amount of content of varying quality. However, this is Lara’s first foray into an anime style cartoon (one previous web only cartoon exists – for complete accuracy). So where does it land amidst the existing canons? Apparently somewhere within the 2013 reboot series…which mercifully I have played some of, so I have some context.
The story begins as it often does – Lara is exploring the darkest depths of a far-flung country (Chile in this case) searching for a valuable and probably dangerously magical MacGuffin – a green one in this case. After some suitably video game inspired traversal and standard Croft-style exploration using makeshift grapples and ropes, it becomes apparent that the MacGuffin is, surprise surprise, very dangerous and is one of a set of different coloured other dangerous MacGuffins that could destroy checks notes the world!
All of this is fairly standard fare for Lara and the franchise, so let’s begin the international hijinks full of high society, secret society, the power of friendship, love, loss and plenty of action sequences showing off our heroine’s skills. The latter of these is arguably the most impressive, taking inspiration from a wealth of anime that has come before, the fight sequences are fluid, dynamic, and despite the magical elements within the series, manage to come across as almost believable – at least assuming Lara’s typically borderline superhuman skills. As per the 2013 series Lara, she is often a reluctant but at this point hardened combatant, not just blasting her way through enemies with firepower.
Something else that the series has managed to carry over from the game – at least a little is some of Lara’s trauma. However, whether it has been due to lack of perceived time within the series, or reluctance from the showrunners, this hasn’t been explored enough. Part of what has given the 2013 reboot series so much more emotional weight has been Lara’s experience of PTSD, she struggles with her actions and her past (on account of all the violence, loss and death that her line of work and family past has linked to it…). However, without this as an emotional anchor, the series starts to drift, as this starts as soon as the first episode.
Packed with action, exotic locales (albeit in animated format) and a world-ending plot line, there is so much potential in the series which largely goes squandered. Out of eight episodes, I found my attention drifting frequently, and even a concerted effort to keep my eyes on the screen had me asking ‘why?’. Without any real emotional weight, or investment in the character and her relationships with those close to her – there isn’t much to keep you watching. Yes, the world might be ending, but it’s not one that’s easy to become attached to or invest in.
It is worth noting, that the inimitable Hayley Atwell does a predictably stellar job in voicing Lara, her RP voice might sound like cut glass, but she manages to add cracks and chips to this, showing a fragile side to Lara, and is the main redeeming factor in this iteration of her. Richard Armitage also manages to bring in some suitable chops for menacingly posh bad guy Devereux, but despite his abilities and backstory, still seems like a fairly typical ‘I want the world to burn because people did bad things’ villain. There’s a few caddish lines to try and add levity to the proceedings, but without genuinely emotional moments to counterbalance the comedy, it just feels like the badly written puns and gags they are.
The series may work for die-hard fans of the franchise – and in this reviewer’s opinion it’s about on par with the film entries, which is hardly glowing praise. The series is fun where it counts, but Lara’s character has evolved over the years, and this should have grown with her – the games will do a better job of showing Lara’s character if you wanted to explore it, and are more enjoyable.
Author: Tom, Cardiff Store
