There’s a welcome simplicity Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft. You may be wondering: Who is Lara Croft? But then the title of the series answers you unequivocally: She is a grave robber. And it really is that simple. Whether in the hugely successful video games of the late ’90s, in the films soon to follow starring Angelina Jolie, or in the latest PlayStation titles, the joy of immersing yourself in the Lara Croft universe has always come from her continued adventures throughout World where hidden temples, mysterious objects and forgotten lore keep you moving, tackling and overcoming one obstacle after another.

This latest version of Croft’s story – even her legend – is fun precisely because it doesn’t stray too far from the basics of what makes you one Grave robber A story worth watching or playing. It helps that this eight-episode animated saga takes us back in flashback as an introduction, where we see this clever British archaeologist (voiced here by Hayley Atwell) doing what she does best: namely, extracting a coveted object from some Ruins in a remote area of ​​the world. In this case, it’s a jade box that 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 does this box become the key to a globe-spanning journey as Lara attempts (of course) to fend off an impending threat foretold in an ancient Chinese myth. But the series also anchors Lara’s own emotional journey in the grief she’s been dealing with since Roth was lost during another ruinous mission in which he gave his life to save her.

Still numb from his death and happy to revel in the pain of those who love her, Lara soon finds herself embroiled in a self-directed campaign to reconnect with old friends and perhaps even her old self. And it all starts when the jade chest she and Roth found together is stolen by a mysterious villain (is there anything else in shows like these?) who has ulterior motives and may need to be stopped by Croft himself. Charles Devereaux, voiced by Richard Armitage, proves to be an adversary for Croft as he is looking for treasures that could threaten the balance of power in the world as we know it. He is also grieving and hurt; 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 chests around the world (which, of course, requires sifting through centuries-old myths) once again forces Lara to enlist the help of her friends. These include tech expert Zip (Allen Maldonado) and trustworthy travel companion Jonah (Earl Baylon, who viewers may recognize from his voice from previous series). Grave robber Games) eager to force the wounded Croft to face herself and find a path that isn’t just beholden to her father’s (and Roth’s) legacy. She may want to do everything on her own to reduce the risks to her life, but she always realizes that she can’t. She can either join her coterie of collaborators or follow in Devereaux’s footsteps.

Lines like “The sooner you learn to stop needing people, the sooner you’ll learn to survive” and “You should value the people in your life – these are the treasures, not the ones buried in graves or ruins.” to both Lara and the audience in a way that clearly expresses this decision. Lara’s journey may take her to sacred mountains where ancient creatures and forces require her to put her parkour and self-defense combat training to good use, but her story is also about learning how to support the community she has grown up with who has left for a long time, can embrace.

But what makes up the majority? Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft There are many quite entertaining sequences in which one of the most famous video game characters of all time gets the chance to show off his wit, knowledge and lots of badass moves. In this first season, you’ll watch Lara fend off a burglar in a dress, make her way through a lava-filled cave, and brave a flood on a motorcycle – all while teaching us everything from History of the Templar Knights to the Battle of Zhuolu Mythology. This is the most straightforward customization you’re likely to find. The show is a compelling program that convincingly brings Croft to life, and the TV medium seems perfectly suited to her many archaeological-themed missions.

The game oscillates between its two game modes – an action-adventure in which Lara solves puzzles and fends off brawny goons in far-flung places, which soon becomes increasingly supernatural, and a touching drama based on grief and the power to form lasting connections. based –Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft joins the youngest X Men ’97 as a successor to the Saturday morning cartoons that defined the Millennial generation. This Netflix series moves with grace from level to episode – er, episode to episode – and is a welcome, entertaining binge-watch that will resonate with Lara Croft newcomers and fans alike.

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