The following contains spoilers for Secret Level’s Dungeons & Dragons episode, “The Queen’s Cradle,” now streaming on Prime VideoSecret Level’sepisode adaptingDungeons & Dragonstakes a different approach than the most famous modern riffs on the source material and highlights one consistent element of the franchise.Secret Levelis an exciting take on an animated anthology, exploring the settings and worlds of several different games. This includes the legendary table-top role-playing game,Dungeons & Dragons. The lore of the classic RPG serves as the direct inspiration for “The Queen’s Cradle,” which allowsSecret Levelto bring one ofDungeons & Dragonsmost powerful villainsto the screen.
The fact that “The Queen’s Cradle” is such a straightforward riff on the franchise makes it stand out from other on-screen adaptations ofDungeons & Dragonsin recent years, which have leaned more heavily into self-aware comedy than full-throated fantasy action. Those subversions have been excellent, but have also raised questions about what room is left for a straight adaptation of the epic RPG.Secret Level’s D&D-inspired episodeis a far cry from other recent adaptations of the property and highlights how fertile the series really is for adaptation.
Secret Level Plays Dungeons & Dragons Completely Straight
Secret Leveltackles its adaptationofDungeons & Dragonswith a much more serious and dramatic approach than other recent takes on the material, highlighting the natural versatility of the iconic RPG franchise. In “The Queen’s Cradle,“the fantasy world ofDungeons & Dragonsis treated with a serious character element. The plight of Solon is tragic, and his interactions with Mora speak to her own sense of guilt for past crimes. Just because he’s set to be sacrificed to a dragon god or that she’s a Drow paladin does nothing to undercut the deeply human elements of their interactions.
This gives the world of “The Queen’s Cradle” a grounded aspect even when dealing with fantastical subject matter and makes it stand out from other recent adaptations ofDungeons & Dragons.
For all the swords and sorcery elements at play in the story, “The Queen’s Cradle” plays the dangers completely straight and highlights the tragic cost of evil’s victory. Even the lighter moments of levity are cheeky allusions to the dynamics of the tabletop game, and in-universe are still treated with a certain dramatic resonance.This gives the world of “The Queen’s Cradle” a grounded aspecteven when dealing with fantastical subject matter and makes it stand out from other recent adaptations ofDungeons & Dragons.
Secret Level Doesn’t Embrace The Silliness Present In Modern D&D Stories
The Legend Of Vox MachinaAndHonor Among ThievesPlayed The Fantasy World For Comedy
Secret Level’s approach to adaptingDungeons & Dragonsis different than two other high-profile adaptations of fantasy worlds. Released in 2023,Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thievesbrought the RPG back to the big screen. The film was a fantasy epic that traveled across multiple realms and introduced plenty of fearsome forces, but it was also a self-aware comedy that poked fun at the strange conventions of the fantasy genre and the tropes ofDungeons & Dragonsplaythroughs.Secret Level’s approach to similar things (like murderous cults and shapeshifting fighters) is far more grisly and dramatic.
Is Secret Level Connected To Love, Death & Robots?
Secret Level has a lot of similarities with animated anthology Love, Death & Robots, and the two shows share a surprisingly close connection.
The Legend of Vox Machinais an animated adaptation ofCritical Role, which began life as a live stream of aDungeons & Dragonscampaign taken on by a group of friends. As a result, both shows have deep roots in the systems and lore ofDungeons & Dragonsbut alsomaintain a somewhat goofy approach to the world and character. Even as the show gets dramatic,The Legend of Vox Machinamaintains a lighter sense of humor and modern approach than anything seen inSecret Level.
Different Approaches To D&D Proves The Setting’s Inherent Adaptability
Dungeons & DragonsCan Work In A Lot Of Different Forms
One of the things that has always madeDungeons & Dragonsso enduring is the way the RPG can adapt to different play-styles and tones. Based on the players and their approach to the open-ended RPG,Dungeons & Dragonscan go in so many different directions. The recent adaptations of the game highlight inherent versatility, especiallySecret Level. While stuff likeThe Legend of Vox Machinashowcases the ways modern subversions reinvent the fantasy wheel,Secret Levelproves there’s still room for straight serious adaptations ofDungeons & Dragons.
A straightforward take on the concept especially works in the shortened format of the anthology series, allowing the action to be the driving factor when there’s no room for lots of pure subversion. Sometimes though,a straightforward story just needs to be well-executed to be entertaining, and that’s the principle at the core of a lot ofSecret Level. A lot of modern fiction comes with a certain degree of self-aware characters or tongue-in-cheek comedy, so it’s nice thatSecret Levelreinforces the idea that serious adaptations can work perfectly well alongside more overtly silly takes on the same premise.
Secret Level
Cast
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.
