Deron Generally
Deron GenerallyThe Legend of Vox Machina
Prime Video
Season 3 Episode 9
Thordak’s Throne
Thordak strikes back! The combined armies of Whitestone and Syngorn are in trouble as the dragon’s ambush is sprung. Betrayed by Raishan and left with nowhere to run, Vox Machina scrambles to find a new plan before their allies are wiped out.
With their plans falling apart, the combined forces of Whitestone and Syngorn find themselves facing the fury of Thordak and his forces. It’s a devastating fight that the animators sprinkle with visual beauty throughout. As the team watches the devastation, an unlikely member comes up with the only viable plan for them. One that will split them into three teams with one heading back into the city to bolster the failing armies.
More familiar faces return to join the fight and there is a great moment of combat that is beautiful to see. A moment that is both triumphant and unexpectedly tragic as the story once again takes a new path that was delightfully shocking while also being devastating to me as a fan. It showcases a moment of brilliant heroism as well as the stakes involved in the fight. Stakes that Vax finds himself seeing face to face in his role as the champion of the Raven Queen.
As the forces rally, things take some interesting twists and turns with Pike dealing with more issues involving her new armor and Raishan finally showing up to the battlefield, but not in the way they think. I cannot speak enough about how brilliantly beautiful the animation in this episode is. Every moment is stunning and blew me away with detail and emotion.
There is an awesome scene with Scanlan and Grog in Thordak’s nest that is fantastic in its comedy, action and stakes. Events take some huge turns throughout those moments and culminate in another great Pike moment where she finally finds the power she needs to bring down Thordak. A moment that also allows for Vax and Vex to finally come to terms with their past as Vax has one of the best visual moments I’ve seen from the character.
Episode 9 is beautifully tragic, brilliantly thrilling and an emotional rollercoaster for the viewer. It doesn’t let up for one minute and was a delightful surprise from start to finish.
The Legend of Vox Machina Season 3 Episode 9
