Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft is an animated series that premiered on Netflix on October 10, 2024, and continued Lara Croft's journey after the events of the 2018 game. Shadow of the Tomb Raider. In the game, Lara closes a book about the Trinity organization and confronts her demons, including guilt over her father's death. The series picks up from this point, exploring the aftermath of these events and setting the stage for new adventures.
With Lara's fate no longer tied to Trinity's, the animated series delves deeper into Lara's life as a seasoned adventurer in pursuit of ancient artifacts and dangerous mysteries. But it also makes room for the emotional and personal stakes left over from previous series. A notable aspect of the show is the way it hints at the unresolved storyline surrounding Lara's best friend Samantha Nishimura (Sam), who played a key role in 2013's 2013 series. tomb raider Reboot.

relevant
Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft sets up the return of a major character.
Netflix's new Tomb Raider series hints that missing characters may reappear in future seasons.
What you need to know about Lara's best friend Samantha Nishimura
Samantha Nishimura was a significant figure in 2013. tomb raider In the reboot, she is revealed to be a descendant of the Sun Queen Himiko, making her the target of a cult aiming to resurrect the queen. In fact, she was kidnapped and almost sacrificed. Sam was rescued by Lara Croft, but the story took a darker turn as he became possessed by Himiko's spirit, and she was eventually institutionalized.
However, in the new Netflix series, Sam makes a brief appearance at the end of Season 1 in a mysterious phone call. This small teaser setup could become a major plot point moving forward if the show is renewed for Season 2. Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft, Season 1 ends with a foreshadowing of an artifact smuggling operation. This hints at a larger global conspiracy. Another cliff to move forward again.
What happens if the show isn't renewed for season 2?
If the series doesn't receive a second season, any unresolved issues, especially regarding Sam's fate, could be resolved in the next season. tomb raider game. Sam's history of possession and relationship with Himiko presents rich emotional and narrative stakes for Lara and should be canon. The games have already established a bond, and the series hints that Sam's return could lead to new mysteries and potentially darker adventures for Lara, so it's essential that future franchise entries continue this storyline.
Sam is connected to Lara's past and potentially unresolved guilt and fears
The series sets the stage for a potential story arc in which Sam's influence on Lara cannot be ignored. At this point, she is not just an old friend, but a symbol of Lara's past, perhaps even unresolved guilt and fear. Lara carries the weight of the losses she has experienced through her decisions and adventures, and this event adds to that weight. furthermore, Tomb Raider (2013) In the reboot, Sam was the emotional anchor that grounded Lara, but the unfinished supernatural elements surrounding her story, including a possible connection to Himiko, remain and are not well understood.
Ultimately, if tomb raider The animated series ends without further exploring Sam's role in Lara's life, so the next game will have to pick up that part. This relationship cannot be neglected. The emotional weight of Sam's story is worth wrapping up, and the supernatural context hinted at in the reboot and addressed in the series is worth exploring.