Who Is Sam In Tomb Raider? The Legend Of Lara Crofts Character Tease Explained

Warning! This post contains spoilers for Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft.

Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft introduces a character named Sam in its final moments, raising questions surrounding her identity and fate. Set after the events of the 2018 game Shadow of the Tomb Raider, the Netflix series walks through a gripping adventure drama where the titular character races against time to save the world from destruction. Although her journey is marred with several setbacks and challenges, her friends help her navigate ancient mysteries and formidable enemies who hold her back from saving the world.

Towards the end of Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft, all ends well for the titular character after she saves the world in the nick of time. However, before the credits start rolling, the show introduces a cliffhanger in which Lara Croft grows increasingly concerned about a character named Sam. Since Sam is only introduced in the closing scenes of the season, many viewers may be wondering who she is and what happened to her.

Sam Was Central To The Story Of Tomb Raider’s 2013 Game Reboot

Sam Was Introduced As Lara’s Best Friend

Lara Croft’s best friend, Samantha “Sam” Nishimura, is portrayed as one of the main characters in the 2013 Tomb Raider reboot game. She first met Croft at UCL, where she was studying film. Although Lara Croft and Sam had different interests, they got along incredibly well with one another, and Sam even helped Lara break out of her shell. Apart from partying together in college, the two characters also went on several international trips.

One of these adventures eventually led them to a research vessel, Endurance, which was searching for the lost kingdom of Yamatai. Unbeknownst to the vessel’s crew, Sam and her family were descendants of Himiko, the mythical Sun Queen of Yamatai. As Himiko’s descendant, Sam proved to be the perfect candidate for Himiko’s possession. Therefore, Mathias’ cult, the Solarii Brotherhood, abducts Sam, hoping to use her body to resurrect Himiko.

In the game, it comes down to Lara to stop the Solarii Brotherhood and Himiko’s undead guardians to save her friend and her soul. She sets out to duke it out with all evil forces to protect Sam and get her out of Himiko’s grasp before it is too late. When Lara finally overpowers Mathias, the curse of Yamatai gets lifted, giving Lara, Sam, and the crew the perfect opportunity to flee the island. Although this is where the game marks the end of Sam’s journey, the Tomb Raider Dark Horse comics reveal what happened to her next.

What Happened To Sam After The Events Of Tomb Raider (2013)

The Comics Reveal Sam Was Possessed By Himiko

Although Lara Croft manages to rescue Sam from the cult, the comics reveal that Sam was slightly possessed by Himiko when Lara took her off of the island towards the first game’s ending moments. Therefore, Himiko soon takes control of Sam’s body, prompting Lara to take her to a mental health facility. In the story arc that follows, a character named Trinity heads the mental health facility and experiments on Sam. Himiko attempts to flee the facility by using Sam’s body as a vessel, but Lara tracks her down and brings her back.

Sam resorts to desperate measures in the comics to weaken Himiko. She intentionally hurts herself to ensure that Himiko, too, becomes less and less potent. Seeing this as an opportunity to save her best friend, Lara uses some of Himiko’s artifacts to pull her soul out of Sam and trap her in an artifact. Lara then helps Sam escape Trinity and takes her back to her family. Since the comics seemingly pave the way for Sam’s return, it makes sense that the Netflix show, set after the third game in the Tomb Raider timeline, brings her back.

How Netflix’s The Legend Of Lara Croft Brings Sam Into The Story

Sam Goes Missing In The Netflix Show’s Closing Scene

Netflix’s Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft does not even mention Sam until its final moments. In the closing of the show’s eighth episode, Lara suddenly receives a call from Sam but grows suspicious when she hears nothing from the other side. When she informs Jonah about it, he recalls that Sam had gone overseas for an investigation. With Jonah’s permission, Lara leaves the venue and arrives at Sam’s place, only to discover that her place was broken into.

When she goes inside, she not only finds traces of a struggle but also unsettling clues that suggest Sam has been abducted. One look at Sam’s investigation board helps Lara realize that she was seemingly trying to get to the bottom of an international conspiracy related to the trade of stolen artifacts on black markets. Netflix’s Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft‘s season 1 ends with Lara Croft setting out to rescue Sam before it is too late, promising that Sam will return in the next season.

Lara finds the following headlines on the newspaper clippings found on Sam’s investigation board:

• “ARTIFACTS STOLEN”
• “THIEVES STRIKE AGAIN”
• “BLACK MARKET TRADE AFFECTING ATLEAST 70 COUNTRIES”

What Sam’s Disappearance Means For The Legend Of Lara Croft Season 2

Sam’s Disappearance Sets Up Another Compelling Adventure For Lara Croft

Sam’s disappearance towards the end of Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft suggests that if the Netflix show’s season 2 sees the light of day, it will feature a whole new adventure for Lara Croft involving personal stakes. Determined to save her friend, Lara Croft will set out to find the people who abducted Sam in Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft season 2. The closer she gets to finding her, the deeper she will find herself in the hinted artifact smuggling conspiracy.

While only time will tell whether Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft season 2 will happen, the animated show has already set the stage for another high-stakes adventure for the titular character. By delving deeper into Lara’s relationship with Sam, the follow-up season could also further explore what drives Lara to do what she does. Given how Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft season 2 already sounds promising, it is hard not to hope that Netflix will confirm its release.

This animated series follows the iconic tomb-raider Lara Croft as she embarks on thrilling adventures, exploring ancient civilizations and uncovering hidden secrets. Balancing intellect and physical prowess, Lara navigates treacherous environments and encounters formidable adversaries, all while striving to protect the world’s archaeological treasures.

Cast

Hayley Atwell , Allen Maldonado , Earl Baylon , Richard Armitage , Zoe Boyle , Roxana Ortega , Maggie Lowe

Character(s)

Lara Croft , Zip , Jonah Maiava , Charles Devereaux , Camilla Roth , Abby Ortiz , Peruvian Fighter , Young Lara

Release Date

October 10, 2024

Seasons

1

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