Warhammer and Warhammer 40,000 are distinct extensions of a single brand. While most fans know Space Marine armor, chainsaw swords, and villainous aliens, the fantasy wing of the franchise captures a similar tone through a different genre. The game rarely earns praise for its narrative, but the endless world of lore provides several stories worth exploring. Warhammer TV has a selection of animated series introducing new and old fans to heroes and villains in shows like Blacktalon.
The tone of Warhammer and its sci-fi sibling is called grimdark. 40,000 coined the term in its succinct tagline, “For in the grim dark of the future, there is only war.” That clever turn of phrase applies to the fantastical original wargame as well. Fans expect a haunting, terrible experience in every new Warhammer outing. Heroes rarely earn a fate happier than noble self-sacrifice. Villains frequently claim countless innocent lives on their way out. Every Warhammer story paints its walls with blood and upholsters its furniture with skulls. Blacktalon is no exception.
What is Warhammer: Blacktalon about?
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Director |
Cameron Lizotte |
|---|---|
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Writers |
Story Forge Team |
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Stars |
Rebecca Hanssen, Andrew Spooner, Michael Geary, Helen Keeley, Lynsey Murrell |
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Release Date |
April 12, 2023–June 14, 2023 |
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Streaming On |
Warhammer TV+ |
Blacktalon follows an elite team of warriors in service to the God-King Sigmar. The show’s lead and title character is Neave Blacktalon, the leader of the Stormcast Eternals. The Stormcast Eternals fight valiantly to defeat the forces of chaos, but their quest frequently leaves them in pieces. Luckily, the God-King’s will allows them to return to the mortal realm with a bolt of lightning. Sigmar selected each of the Stormcast from the mightiest mortal souls, seizing them from the lords of the dead and forging them into his principal weapons. They can die with impunity as they defend the innocent and wipe out chaos, safe in the knowledge that their bodies will emerge anew from the forge. Unfortunately, each trip through the forge allows Nagash, the god of death, to claim another piece of them. This gradual loss leaves Neave Blacktalon with only part of her identity intact. The brief six-episode season depicts the Stormcast carrying out missions for Sigmar, while the overarching plot concerns Neave’s quest to uncover her memories and learn the secret of her true self.
How to watch Warhammer: Blacktalon
Blacktalon is available to stream exclusively on Warhammer TV+. Yes, the franchise that brought the world Blood Bowl and Vermintide has its own streaming service. Warhammer TV is a fascinating service with several unique features. It costs $6.99 a month or $59.99 for a yearly subscription. Subscribers who pay for a year, all at once or over 12 installments, get a free miniature, which may justify the cost on its own for some. The vast majority of the content involves practical tutorials about painting minis, building armies, or understanding decades of lore. The subscription also provides access to two apps designed to make the war game easier, a vault of text-based resources, and several potential discounts at the larger store. The main draw is the original animated content, including Blacktalon. Warhammer TV has several hours of entertainment, though it falls miles short of streaming services like Dropout, which matches its price point. Hardcore fans will likely find a lot to love in Warhammer TV, but it’s not as appealing to more casual devotees.
How does Warhammer: Blacktalon end?
The grand mystery behind Blacktalon surrounds Neave’s identity. She frequently experiences brief flashes of an earlier life as a warrior, but she can’t put the pieces together. In the fourth episode, she stumbles upon evidence of a battle that forces her through several visions. As she reaches the climax of her perceived memory, her mentor, Hendrick, suddenly kills her, sending her to the Anvil with a lightning bolt. The fifth episode depicts Neave conversing with a mysterious spirit during her journey to the forge. The malevolent being brings Neave through her memories with a new perspective, explaining the details in a harsh voice. Neave, it explains, was an evil Champion of Chaos before Sigmar seized her soul, split it in two, and devoted it to her current task. Her memories of earlier warriors were actually those of several heroes she killed. Neave also learns that she’s experienced this revelation several times before. Each time she gets close to uncovering the truth, Hendrick kills her, leading her back to this conversation. Neave’s past self offers her a choice between returning to the Stormcast for another battle or accepting the truth. She insists that her soul, life, and sense of self are small prices to pay for redemption. The Champion of Chaos promises that she’ll return again. Neave assures her that she’ll make the same choice. In a sinister tone, Neave’s past responds, “you usually do.”
The final episode depicts Neave and the Stormcast’s final battle against the season’s primary villain. Thysis was once a human man, but an attack on his home left everyone he loved dead. He survived, trapped within a tree for centuries with no one to save him. This fate worse than death led Thysis to consume a plague seed, giving his life to the Lord of Decay, Nurgle. He gains immense power and dedicates himself to spreading the plague through the mighty city of Hammerhal. While Neave struggles with her identity, the other Stormcast fight Thysis and his devotees. Hendrick dies horribly, taking him out of the fight. Neave returns in the nick of time, delivering a near-fatal blow as she emerges. Thysis promises to force the truth upon Neave, but a coordinated strike by the team allows her to decapitate him. With Thysis dead, his scheme to seed plague into the city fails. Neave returns to the Anvil, where Hendrick lies about her most recent death. The demon figure behind Thysis remains a threat, promising a potential second season.
Blacktalon is a fascinating show with some big ideas. Its animation leaves something to be desired, but the compelling narrative and surprising reveals will carry most fans through it. Future outings could dig deeper into Neave Blacktalon and her squadron of allies. The Stormcast Eternals may always come back, but there’s no telling whether Blacktalon will be so lucky.
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