Nathan Drake and Indiana Jones might have earned their reputation as iconic treasure hunters, but neither of them compare to the legendary status of Lara Croft, one of the most beloved video game characters to ever exist. Starting its journey three decades ago, The Tomb Raider franchise has survived the ravages of time, thanks to its charismatic, sharp-witted, empowering, daredevil female lead, Lara, acting as an enduring presence throughout.

Despite the fact that three live-action movies were unable to do justice to the character’s legacy, animated ventures are a different ballgame altogether, which is why I was excited to binge through the first season of Netflix’s recently released animated series, Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft, in one go. Filled with cheeky Easter eggs from the game series, key references, traps and riddles, mystical artifacts, and most importantly—a healthy dose of history admixed with fantasy and...