Review: Hammer and Bolter “Plague Song”

Overview (Spoilers Below):

When the Death Guard champion Morior Dermatis finds his warband’s ambitions thwarted, the sorcerer Ephisis takes matters into his own hands and decides on a new approach. Realizing that Grandfather Nurgle’s gifts are not bound by mortal conceits of space and time, Ephisis plans to unleash a plague unlike any the Imperium has suffered before. 

Our Take:

It has been a few months since I first covered one of the shows on Warhammer Plus. It almost felt like an eternity. From what I can remember, I happened to find some enjoyment in some episodes despite not playing the games myself. From its anthology storytelling to its animation style, Hammer and Bolter proved to be the type of show that most people can get into with or without knowledge of the games.

Recently, the show came back with more episodes to please its fanbase, including its latest one, “Plague Song”. In this chilling episode, Morior has been replaced as the leader of his army by the sorcerer Ephisis. After seeing another garden destroyed by their enemies, Ephisis transforms Morior and his army into grotesque beasts and assumes his new role as their commander. The rest of the storyline has him annihilating his foes with a plague that consumes everything in his path.

There’s not much to say about this episode after being away from the show for so long. It’s a story about betrayal and Ephisis’s rise to power, thanks to his ability. The episode’s narrative felt like part of a larger story that it’d probably never revisit, adding to its depressing and disturbing nature. The animation still holds up pretty well regarding its bleak atmosphere, designs, and creepy imagery. I’m not joking about the latter, by the way. The gross transformations and fatalities are terrifying, especially during the one scene involving the door killing one of Ephisis’s minions.

Aside from its disturbingly dark tone, “Plague Song” is another compelling chapter in the anthology series. Ephisis has proven to be a menacing and power-hungry character worthy of being an unstoppable threat. Plus, its style works in providing some unsettling visuals that deserve its 15+ rating. I don’t think it’s the best episode in the series, but it does enough to welcome me back into the world of Warhammer.