One of the most intriguing aspects of everything tomb Raider a movie, show, or game would always be the villain’s intention. It becomes exhausting to see the colonial aspect of the property and people of European origin pillaging for fun.
However, if there are nuances to the mission, it makes the story much more engaging. This is exactly what happens in Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft Season 1. The Netflix series actually has a villain in Charles Devereaux, who is multidimensional. It depends on its mission; one that is very similar to Thanos’ arc in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, it is much better done in tomb Raider for one key reason.
Who is Tomb Raider: The Legend of Charles Devereaux by Lara Croft?
Charles Devereaux wants to reset the world
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Charles is the rival raider trying to beat Hayley Atwell’s Lara Croft against the Relic Stones.. He orchestrates many schemes, ambushes and thefts because he wants these rocks to rewrite reality. These are divine stones believed to have been used by the gods in the past and which Nu’wa hid because they represent power, greed, corruption and betrayal.
Charles cleverly puts stones together, just like how Thanos lived his life in the MCU. The Mad Titan watched his family and people waste away after warning them of overpopulation and dwindling resources. He knew the cosmos had become too selfish, so he turned into a warlord and wanted the Infinity Gauntlet to destroy half of life. This would heal the galaxy and allow for a greater degree of control from governments at all levels.
Charles has a similar plan. His father was a pastor who was the target of a terrorist group called the Light. They wanted his church to find one of the stones and they killed his father. This led to Charles becoming bitter towards humanity.. He transformed himself into a mercenary and killer, honing his skills because, like Thanos, he believed in population control and a purge for the greater good.
Why is Charles Devereaux a better villain than Thanos?
Charles Devereaux and his goal are more humanized
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Even though Josh Brolin did a fantastic job with Thanos during the Infinity Saga, the MCU hasn’t explored his full potential.. He performed the Snap in Avengers: Infinity Wardied in End of gameand had another variation try to use the Gauntlet. However, it felt rushed and suboptimal, as his story was sold short. There was no flashback to witness his disagreement with his family and the council on Titan. Exploring his past in a meaningful way would have added depth to his story, making him more sympathetic.
The fact that he was killed twice in End of game left fans wondering if a prequel series would have fully done it justice. Books like Thanos: Consumed Titan are not canon, so all of Thanos’ motivations, quirks, and history are all a blank slate. It is the opposite for tomb Raider Charles. In this Netflix series, fans connect with his struggles, how trauma and grief destroyed him in the wake of his murder, and the emotional conflict Lara relates to even him.
Charles Devereaux Actor Details
Actor name |
Richard Armitage |
Date of birth |
August 22, 1971 |
Place of birth |
Leicestershire, England |
Notable films |
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, Ocean’s 8 |
Notable TV shows |
Hannibal, Castlevania |
With her father also killed by terrorists, Lara understands Charles’ point of view. He’s a bad guy, but part of her wonders if he’s a necessary evil — something the MCU could have addressed with members of the Avengers showing empathy toward a lost and misguided Thanos. Above all, Lara doesn’t kill Charles The Legend of Lara Croft End of season 1. She removes the stones and powers it down, restoring balance as nature destroyed the planet..
This leaves him open to a redemption arc in a possible season 2 of The Legend of Lara Croft. This is something the comics did for Thanos that helps rehabilitate villains like The Walking Dead Negan. In the end, Charles gets a second chance to understand that his elimination was a mistake. Regardless, genocide is not acceptable, which makes Charles strategically and philosophically more complex than Thanos having an existential crisis..
Season 1 of Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft is now streaming on Netflix.