Who is Sam in Tomb Raider Legend of Lara Croft: Character Origins and Future Explained

Lara Croft’s bestie Sam is in for an all-new plotline in Netflix’s Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft, making things extremely interesting.

As an extremely important character from the 2013 video game, Sam’s re-entry teases new challenges while simultaneously deepening the mystery that shrouds her link to old forces and Lara’s ongoing journey.

Here’s a detailed account!

What Is Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft?

The fan-favorite animated series was built on the 2018 edition of the game Tomb Raider, namely Shadow of the Tomb Raider.

This game saw the introduction of a new character “Sam”, who appears only for a brief scene in the finale of Season 1, leaving fans excited and even more impatient for Season 2. But who is this new character that is demanding so much attention? Let’s understand who Sam really is.

Who Is Sam?

The game introduced Samantha “Sam” Nishimura as the best friend of the MC (Lara Croft). She’s a filmmaker and student at University College London (UCL) and has lived her share of thrilling adventures with Lara Croft in the past.

Their bond isn’t just limited to friendship, as fans also noticed that Sam played a very important role in Lara’s journey and growth.

Fun fact: the duo survived a harrowing experience together on a deadly expedition to the lost kingdom of Yamatai, escaping in one piece (More on Yamatai ahead).

Why Was Sam So Important in the 2013 Tomb Raider Game?

The story begins with the duo getting on a research vessel, Endurance, in the hope of finding the lost kingdom of Yamatai.

Going ahead, we learn that Sam is actually a descendant of the Sun Queen Himiko, making her a direct target for the treacherous Solarii Brotherhood. Imprisoned by Mathias, the cult leader, she becomes the key to their well-thought plan to bring the Sun Queen back to life.

Fighting tooth and nail, Lara saves Sam and breaks the curse that threatens the life of Sam.

What Happened to Sam After Tomb Raider 2013?

After Sam was rescued by Lara, the OG comics delved deeper into Sam’s fate, and as the plotline unfolded, we learned that Himiko’s spirit was haunting her.

Eventually, the haunting transforms into full-fledged possession of Sam’s body, forcing Lara to take extreme measures, even admitting Sam to mental health facility.

As the struggle continued, we learned that this possession was actually the result of an experiment by a sinister organization, Trinity.

In what comes across as an emotionally scarring experience for Lara, she succeeds in trapping Himiko’s spirit and saves her friend’s life, setting her free.

How Does Netflix’s Tomb Raider Series Bring Sam Back?

After those deadly adventures, Sam returns in The Legend of Lara Croft, except she’s now in some visibly new circumstances.

The finale hints at the same by featuring a silent call that Lara receives from Sam, forming an apprehension of something sinister about to happen.

With alarm bells ringing in the heads of both fans and Lara herself, season 2 is set to bring new adventures that involve the abduction of Sam during the investigation of an artefact smuggling ring.

What Does Sam’s Disappearance Mean for Season 2?

The disappearance of Sam raises the stakes for Lara higher than ever, promising a dangerous yet thrilling adventure.

With personal stakes involved, Lara would be plunged deep into a worldwide conspiracy that involves artefact smuggling, while she retraces her friend’s footsteps, only to discover yet another new mystery.

With so many presets, fans can easily expect plenty of drama, thrill, and character-driven plotlines that Lara would be seen fighting through to bring her friend back home in one piece.

Will Sam Return in Season 2?

Sam’s sudden reappearance, the finale going on unexpected plotlines, and the all-new challenges in front of Lara brought fans to the edge of their seats, and all this can clearly be seen to suggest one thing: Sam will be returning for the coming season (yay!).

This new set of twists implies that we might see Sam in a central role next season along with, yeah, you said it: Lara.

The presence of unresolved issues from the past seems like an implication of this, changing what fans were previously expecting from the following season.

Season 2 goes as far as promising to reveal Sam’s hidden secrets while simultaneously testing Lara’s resilience, making it all the more interesting.

Final Thoughts

Netflix, with Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft, adds waves of excitement to the beloved franchise.

As we await further announcements, one thing’s crystal clear: Lara’s story is far from over, and with Sam, Season 2 is going to be quite a wild ride!

About Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft

Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft is an American animated action-adventure television series based on the Tomb Raider video game series by Crystal Dynamics, starring Hayley Atwell as the voice of Lara Croft. The series is set in the same continuity as the video game reboot trilogy that started in 2013, and takes place after the events of the 2018 game Shadow of the Tomb Raider. Tasha Huo serves as showrunner with Legendary Television and DJ2 Entertainment producing, and it is animated by Powerhouse Animation Studios in Austin, Texas. The series premiered on Netflix on October 10, 2024.