There is a welcome simplicity to it Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft. You may be wondering: who is Lara Croft? But then the title of the series answers you in no uncertain terms: She’s a tomb raider. And it really is that simple. Whether it’s the hugely successful video games of the late 1990s, the Angelina Jolie-starring films that quickly followed, or the most recent PlayStation titles, the joy of immersing yourself in the Lara Croft universe has always rested on her ongoing adventures around the world. where hidden temples, mysterious objects and forgotten knowledge keep her moving, tackling and conquering one obstacle after another.

This latest version of Croft’s story – of her legend, even – is fun precisely because it doesn’t stray too far from the basics of what a Grave robber story worth watching or playing. It helps that this eight-episode animated saga takes us back in a flashback by way of introduction as we see this cunning British archaeologist (voiced here by Hayley Atwell) doing what she does best: digging a coveted object out of the ground. some ruins in a remote part of the world. In this case, it’s a jade box that ultimately forces her then-companion Conrad Roth (Nolan North) to kill a group of men who want to keep the box safe and out of the hands of people like Lara. Not only will that box become the key to a globe-spanning journey as Lara (of course) attempts to fend off an advancing threat foretold by an ancient Chinese myth. But the series also anchors Lara’s own emotional journey in the grief she’s struggled with since losing Roth during another ruinous mission where he gave his life to spare her.

Still numb from his death and happy to wallow in that pain, away from those who love her, Lara is soon drawn into a self-driven campaign that sees her reconnect with old friends and perhaps even her old self. And it all starts when the jade box she and Roth recovered together is stolen by a mysterious villain (is there another kind in shows like this?) who has ulterior motives and may need to be stopped by Croft himself. Charles Devereaux, voiced by Richard Armitage, proves to be quite an enemy for Croft, searching for treasures that could threaten the balance of power in the world as we know it. He is also sad and sad; and Lara could become just like him if she doesn’t heal and forgive herself for what happened to Roth.

Devereaux’s search for other boxes around the world (which, of course, requires scouring age-old myths) forces Lara to once again enlist the help of her friends. This includes tech expert Zip (Allen Maldonado) and trusted traveling companion Jonah (Earl Baylon, who viewers may recognize from his voice work on previous Grave robber games), who are eager to see the wounded Croft face herself and forge a path forward that isn’t solely dependent on her father’s (and Roth’s) legacy. She may want to do it all alone, to reduce the risks to their lives, but time and time again she realizes she can’t. She can embrace her coterie of collaborators, or she can follow in Devereaux’s footsteps.

Lines like “The sooner you learn to stop needing people, the sooner you learn to survive” and “You must appreciate the people in your life – they are the treasures, not the ones buried in tombs or in ruins.” both to Lara and to the audience in a way that describes this choice very bluntly. Lara’s journey may take her to sacred mountains where ancient creatures and forces demand she put her parkour and self-defense combat training to good use, but her story is also about learning to embrace the community she has long relied on.

But what makes up the biggest part Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft There are many quite entertaining sequences where one of the most famous video game characters ever gets the chance to show off her wit, knowledge and many badass moves. Throughout this first season, you’ll see Lara fend off a cat burglar while wearing a dress, fight her way through a lava-filled cave, avoid a flood while riding her motorcycle – all while also teaching us about everything from lore from the Templars to battle. of the Zhuolu mythology. This is as simple an adjustment as you are likely to encounter. The show is a propulsive watch that winningly brings Croft to life, and the TV medium feels perfectly suited to her many archaeologically focused missions.

Oscillating between the two modes: an action-adventure in which Lara solves puzzles and fends off muscular thugs in far-flung places that quickly become increasingly supernatural, and a moving drama based on grief and the power of building lasting connections.Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft agrees with the recent one X Men ’97 as the heir to the Saturday morning animated series that defined the millennial generation. This Netflix series moves with grace from level, episode to episode, and is a welcome, enjoyable binge watch that will likely appeal to Lara Croft newbies and fans alike.

Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft premieres on Netflix on October 10