I’ve watched a lot of Warhammer TV in my time. Too much, some might say, ‘some’ being my wife. And I get it, the TV shows that tie into Games Workshop’s sci-fi and fantasy worlds can be hit, miss, or worse.
The same goes for the books. There are the greats, like Eisenhorn and (as I’m currently finding out) the Horus Heresy series, the goods, like the Forge of Mars trilogy and any of those pertaining to your favourite faction, and the bads, which I won’t name here to spare their embarrassment.
Video games, too, struggle for consistency. For every Space Marine 2 and Rogue Trader, there is a mediocre Realms of Ruin, money-grabbing Warpforge, or downright bad Storm of Vengeance.
Rogue Trader is a far better video game than Space Marine 2, but you’re not ready for that conversation.
Astartes Is The Pinnacle
In the TV department, it’s widely agreed that the best show ever produced is Astartes. The series of fan-made YouTube shorts total about ten minutes, but perfectly encapsulate the vigour and brutality of the Emperor’s finest. The attention to detail that creator Syama Pedersen put into every frame didn’t go unnoticed. From the clicks and hisses of power armour, to the savage action sequences and chaotic influences, this is as close as we’ve come to perfect visual storytelling in 40K form.
It’s no surprise that, in addition to working on a sequel with Games Workshop itself, Pedersen had a hand in the Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 episode of Secret Level. Amazon’s upcoming anthology show. There’s only one way a 40K TV show can stand up to the might of Astartes, and that’s if its creator is involved.
And the 40K Secret Level episode does just that. It borrows liberally from the fan animation, focusing on striking visuals and unique foes rather than trying to tell a tale of galaxy-wide heresy. There’s more dialogue than Astartes, with Lieutenant Titus reprising his role from this year’s hit video game alongside an Idris Elba-voiced compatriot, but this is far from the wordiest Secret Level episodes.
The Ultramarines are suitably stoic and grim, speaking only when absolutely necessary. Despite this, Secret Level manages to weave a compelling narrative through its 15-minute runtime. It’s not just a tale of “the super soldiers need to kill this thing” either, it’s a proper story with flashbacks and emotional stakes, which is tricky to pull off in such a short runtime. I won’t spoil anything for you, because this needs to be experienced firsthand to have its true impact, but your high expectations will be exceeded.
The Warhammer 40K Secret Level Episode Diverges From The Miniature Range
However, my favourite aspect of the Space Marine 2 Secret Level episode is the fact it diverges from the miniature range. Warhammer stories often fall short because they ruin the conceit that they’re anything other than marketing for the newest toy soldiers, and it’s those that stray furthest from the plastic path that tend to succeed.
Think about it. The Horus Heresy didn’t have miniatures for years. The same goes for Eisenhorn. Both eponymous protagonists from The Infinite and the Divine have miniatures, but it expands on them in such creative ways that they feel rejuvenated. The same goes for Secret Level.
While Lieutenant Titus has a miniature and the squad of Bladeguard Veterans who accompany him on this mission feel like a slightly egregious push to sell their corresponding models, it’s the villain who is most interesting.
Again, I won’t spoil who or what the mighty Space Marines face in the episode, but it’s safe to say there’s no miniature that represents it on the tabletop. It inspires me to create my own version out of sculpting putty, to start a completely new army unlike anything I’ve built before, and to dive deeper into the rabbit hole that is Warhammer 40K.
There’s so much interesting, for want of a better word, lore in 40K and it’s a shame that licensed deals only ever exist to push the miniatures. The winds of Chaos can corrupt anything in any way, the far planets of the galaxy are home to creatures unimaginable to the tabletop rosters, and even the Space Marines themselves adapt to new situations in ways that their rigid plastic counterparts could only dream of. 40K is at its best when it’s trying new things and fighting its way out of the boxes that sit on the shelves of your local Warhammer store. 40K is at its best when it tries new things. 40K is at its best in Secret Level.
Next
Why Is Napoleon Dynamite Making A Warhammer Documentary?
Napoleon Dynamite star Jon Heder is trying to track down John Blanche for a Warhammer documentary.