Deron Generally
Deron GenerallyThe Legend of Vox Machina
Prime Video
The cast of Critical Role returns with the third season of the hit animated fantasy series and makes sure viewers know that this season is starting with a bang.
Not only does the season begin with huge action, but it keeps that momentum going with huge thrills for viewers and fans of the characters. The first episode starts with an awesome Mission Impossible style infiltration from Liam O’Brian’s Rogue Vax’ildan who is tasked with checking out the capabilities of the villainous Thordak (voiced by the late Lance Reddick) as well as the validity of the story told to them by the Diseased Deceiver Raishan (Cree Summer). What follows is a blistering action extravaganza that shows the team that they are not prepared to take on the remaining members of the Chroma Conclave alone, especially their leader.
The story then takes the heroes of Vox Machina to hell and back in more ways than one as animation studio Titmouse rolls out some of the best character animation and visual thrills I have seen in an animated series. I not only love the character designs and beautifully detailed backgrounds, but the visual depiction of hell reminds me of an 80’s heavy metal album cover fever dream filled with rolling canvases of damned souls and creatures straight from your worst nightmare.
As a fan of this world and a confessed Critter (Critical Role fan), this season has everything I wanted from the conclusion of the Chroma Conclave story and the changes not only are necessary for the flow of the character stories and narrative, but many of them enhance the story and those characters as well. Ashely Johnson’s Cleric Pike Trickfoot is given more to do this season and her character arc not only allows her more comedic moments that solidify why she and Grog are the best of “buddies”, but also gives her moments of doubt and reflection that allow her to grow.
Among the huge action and high stakes, there are moments of both tragedy and romance that are brilliantly balanced throughout the season. Two of the most emotionally guarded characters in the troupe, Taliesin Jaffe’s Percival (Percy) Fredrickstein von Musel Klossowski de Rolo III (I am physically unable to not write out that entire name) and Laura Bailey’s Ranger Vex’ahlia find themselves navigating their feelings for each other this season including a moment fans have been clamoring for while the two more emotional members of the team Vax’ildan and Marisha Ray’s Druid Keyleth must find a way to deal with the reality of their possibly diverging futures and what that means for their feelings towards each other.
Marisha Ray’s Keyleth is awesome this season and Ray plays her with not only the innocence that we enjoy, but with a growing frustration at her impending new role among her people and the leadership qualities she has gained during her journeys that seem to be ignored by her friends. Keyleth comes into her own this season and is not afraid to speak her mind even when she thinks no one is listening. There are some great moments from Travis Willingham’s Barbarian Grog this season that showcase that he might not be the smartest member of the group, but he is uniquely clever and has skills the others lack.
One of the other great story beats this season comes from Sam Riegel’s Bard Scanlan and his attempts to be better than his reputation. There are some emotionally painful moments between him and his daughter Kaylee (Aisling Franciosi) as he struggles to find a balance between trying to be the father he never was and the person his friends need as they face mounting terrors and trials. Riegel infuses the often comedic character with tragic introspection and heart.
Beyond all the wonderful character moments, the story is brilliantly layered to draw in the viewer and make this journey emotional on several levels. The characters are put through the ringer emotionally this season and the actors continue to give performances that are nuanced and amazing. Matthew Mercer and company continue to build a beautifully rich and emotionally immersive world in this series and this third season not only hits all of the right beats both in tone and style, but makes you want to see and learn more about this epic fantasy. There are few things that consistently feel fresh, new and innovative in entertainment, but The Legend of Vox Machina manages to do that with every episode and the end of this season just makes me hungry and excited for more.
The Legend of Vox Machina Season 3 premieres on Prime Video October 3rd.
Editor’s Note: I will be reviewing each episode independently and those spoiler free reviews will launch the day the third season airs on Prime Video.
