Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft – Safe, Watchable, Memorable?

Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft may be the beginning of a reboot. The IP is in a bit of a mess since Crystal Dynamics were acquired by Embracer Group. Embracer Group are in trouble for various reasons. They need a win and remasters of the classic games have been their go-to choice for the moment. Celebrating the past.

Celebrating the present has been left to The Legend of Lara Croft, along with a mobile game called Tomb Raider Reloaded in 2023, it is Lara’s newest adventure since Shadow of the Tomb Raider in 2018. And it’s fine. Faint praise I suppose. 

The Legend of Lara Croft has been made for fans of the series who have kept up to date with the games: this takes place after Shadow but I also feel it’s made for newcomers who aren’t into games. And in trying to please both, I’m not sure it will achieve this. It didn’t for me. There’s nothing offensive about it except to say that it oversells some aspects and undercooks others. Some of it works, and some of it doesn’t. And that’s the rub on whether you find something believable.

Still, Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft was successful enough for Netflix to renew it for a second season. It premiered on November 10th 2024. And I hope it builds on the foundations laid here.

For those interested, Tomb Raider is making a comeback, remasters of IV-VI being the latest additions which came out in February 2025, as reported by Gavin Pottle. 

Story: The Past Is What Defines Us

Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft is a present-day story. Set after the newest Tomb Raider games, the “Survivor” trilogy. Lara Croft struggles to move with her life. Conrad Roth was her father figure and mentor. And he’s no longer with us. In fact, since the survivor trilogy, some of Lara’s friends are dead, some of them don’t talk to her, a few have been steadfastly by her side. However, it is memories are what plague Lara. Do they drive her or consume her?

From the beginning, the past is right in front of us. And I understood that from a gaming perspective; they are about travelling and seeing different civilisations and cultures. Some of that is here. However, memories drive Lara Croft. Croft Manor is an empty shell, too many of them. She decides to do some tidying up, donating many of the artifacts the family had “found” over the decades. During said auction however, one item is stolen from inside the house. A box containing a powerful gemstone. Stolen by a mercenary with a past, a Mr. Charles Devereaux. And so, the inevitable chase around the world for gemstones begins. We find out ancient stories of mythical legends and deities, deal with historical cults as well as stalling the end of the world as we know it.

The actual story is solid enough. It’s predictable but nicely told. It was enjoyable without getting the heart racing. Some of the small interludes about other cultures were welcome but are fleeting. And the story does build to a decent climax, it just takes it’s time getting there.

Lara’s adventure starts years before when she finds a mysterious box with her mentor, Conrad Roth

Lara Croft & Charles Devereaux

The main reason for that is character development. Charles Devereaux doesn’t really get much. He gets enough that he is the cliched, vengeful archetype of trying to go after the people who wronged him. There is the mention of a secret society who we almost never see. They aren’t important. The goal is important, and Charles will do anything to see it through. Conviction is admirable, but reasoning for putting the entire world in jeopardy is not in my book.

For Lara, this is tough. I enjoy the character, as a gamer and realising this set after the Survivor trilogy, I almost admire the attention paid to all that she has been through as a person and what she has lost. However, as a TV show to watch, there was just too much of it. I may sound callous but I would be preferred restraint here in showing her broken psyche; there are times when they take up multiple scenes. I found her headstrong approach at odds with being broken down. Realising she is vulnerable, I found it predictable that it takes far too long for her to accept people’s help, realising that they are supposed to be a team.

I didn’t hate it, but I felt it dragged down the plot of the story.

Charles Devereaux is a mercenary determined to get the stones for retribution.

Characters & Performances – Actors Are Good, Characters Are Cliché

Everyone in The Legend of Lara Croft do a good job. Haley Atwell, reprising the role from the games Legend, Anniversary & Underworld, was great and did well with the range of emotions the character has to go through. I enjoy seeing Lara but did think too much of the story had Lara looking backwards. I found her almost too emotional. As stated above, this is a realistic take the writers have went with; I just think it’s interpretation is a bit much.

Richard Armitage as Charles Devereaux brings out a typical performance from the actor. I like him but I would say he never sounds any different to other roles. He was fine. As was Charles, he is someone to be a foil against Lara. Like a reflection of actions, he doesn’t have the support network Lara has (as much as she tried to ignore it) and is your typical vengeful supervillain.

It was nice to also hear Earl Baylon back as Jonah Maiava, her steadfast friend from the Survivor trilogy. He is predictably stubborn in his refusal to back away, gets stuck in and gets in trouble. He’s the kind of friend everyone should want to have. Allen Moldonado was Lara’s tech friend Zip, who I remember from the PS2 era games, so that was a nice touch. Being the tech whizz mind you, he has screen time, but not much character development and a bit bland, which is like everyone else.

The big surprise though was an old friend, Interpol agent Camilla Roth, daughter of Conrad, Lara’s mentor. Zoe Boyle was great, strong, independent and the pair had great chemistry to the point there is a hint of something more which was nice. Camilla is in most of the show and can handle herself in a scrap.

Camilla and Lara have a great chemistry together and make a good team.

Cinematography & Sound – Gorgeous & Plain in the Same Scene

This was a weird one, as The Legend of Lara Croft character models felt basic and plain to watch at times. Especially since the backgrounds and action set pieces could look great. There was one point Lara & Jonah fall down a slope and must avoid spikes. This is where they show it like 3D across a 2D plane. Some of the landscapes showing off various temples and world locations looked great.

The action itself was predictable but kinetic enough to appreciate. I did think for a lot of it that you had to suspend your disbelief, specifically on how much physical damage Lara could absorb – there were many times that she gets smashed into walls etc. Even at the beginning, she gets chomped on by an alligator. She defeats the alligator of course.

The music fit the mood great. I wouldn’t say anything stood out mind you. It was all fine. The voice acting was also very good.

A lot of the backgrounds showing off temples and scenery look amazing.

Editing & Pacing: Enjoyable but Sometimes Questionable

This is a quibble of mine, but I did ask myself more than once, “how did someone get here? How has Jonah suddenly arrived?” Like they missed the odd scene out. The Legend of Lara Croft action scenes were enjoyable, some camera shots were great. Then other scenes have Lara defying literal physics in what she can do. The story itself as said was good, but the emotional scenes could drag it show down. I just wanted them to move on eventually, just like the cast want Lara to.