The following contains spoilers for Secret Level’s New World: The Once And Future King,” now streaming on Prime VideoSecret Level‘s showcase for Arnold Schwarzenegger is a great reminder of one of the actor’s best talents as a performer. The anthology nature of Secret Level allows each episode to stand alone as its own story, with the best experimenting with genre and style to impressive effect. One of the most entertaining episodes of the series is “The Once And Future King,” which is an adaptation of New World: Aeternum. Set on the island of Aeternum, the game’s universe introduces a mechanic where characters can never truly die and respawn after death.
“The Once And Future King” takes that premise and runs with it for some great gags, effectively fusing the grandiose action and proclamations of a fantasy adventure with the dry dark comedy of films like Groundhog Day or Happy Death Day. The short wouldn’t work as well without Arnold Schwarzenegger in the lead role of Aelstrom, a part that feels like a direct parody of the roles like Conan the Barbarian that established the actor in the first place. Here’s how Secret Level‘s video game adaptation and comedic approach to fantasy benefits from Schwarzenegger’s performance.
Secret Level Plays Arnold Schwarzenegger For Comedy
Secret Level Gives Arnold Schwarzenegger A Perfect Parody Of Conan The Barbarian
Arnold Schwarzenegger’s performance in Secret Level is a great reminder of Schwarzenegger’s comic chops. Schwarzenegger plays Aelstrom, a blowhard king who has only known a royal life. When he arrives at the island of Aeternum, Aelstrom repeatedly tries to establish himself as ruler, only to be killed each time for the effort. Due to the magical nature of the island, Aelstrom resurrects after each demise, only to have lost none of his bravado. While this builds to the episode’s moral about personal growth and evolution, the episode also leans into the dark and frequently goofy comedy of seeing Aelstrom killed.
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“The Once And Future King” quickly turns Aelstrom’s plight into a punchline, with one montage in particular highlighting how easily Aelstrom fails to match the island’s actual ruler in many forms of combat. Each bout of extreme self-confidence is met with pain and suffering. However, the episode plays it all for laughs, such as when Aelstrom takes a second to realize his arm’s been cut off or when he gets killed by chess pieces. There’s a visceral catharsis in seeing such a sterotypical-looking hulking warrior repeatedly being dispatched, especially because he always thinks he’s got the upper hand.
Arnold Schwarzenegger Has Always Been Quietly Hilarious
Schwarzenegger Has Some Pretty Great Comedies Under His Belt
Arnold Schwarzenegger has been an icon of the silver screen since his cinematic debut over forty years ago. For the most part, Schwarzenegger is known for his action-movie roles like The Terminator, Conan the Barbarian, and Predator. However, the actor has also always possessed a certain amount of unexpected comic timing. The result is an actor who can be surprisingly self-aware and silly when the situation calls for it, as in Secret Level. His bravado comes with unearned self-confidence that elevates “The Once And Future King” and keeps the audience from feeling bad for his repeated failures.
Arnold Schwarzenegger knows how to play the natural confidence and bravado he brings to his more serious performances for laughs…
Schwarzenegger has occasionally been given a chance to show off his comedy skills, with movies like The Last Action Hero, Kindergarten Cop, Twins, and Killing Gunter all benefiting from his surprising comic timing. Arnold Schwarzenegger knows how to play the natural confidence and bravado he brings to his more serious performances for laughs, offering his comedic roles plenty of strong moments. It’s one of the actor’s best talents that often goes overlooked when compared to his abilities as an action star. That’s what makes the amount of focus it receives in Secret Level all the more rewarding.
Secret Level
Secret Level is an adult animated series exploring original short stories set within the worlds of popular video games. Each episode introduces new adventures, delving into iconic gaming classics and forthcoming titles to unlock captivating narratives and immersive experiences. Created by Tim Miller, the series celebrates gaming culture.
- Release Date
- December 10, 2024
- Creator(s)
- Tim Miller
