Legend of Vox Machina Part 3: The Review Part 2

Hey Critters,  

Percy's demanding I finally finish this post

Happy 7th Anniversary Week of Critical Role, well a couple days past it! At long last I've gotten around to try to finish this series of posts, and I find it fitting it's done during their anniversary week, or at least started to write it then, will see if my anxiety and internet cooperates. So if you haven't already read parts one and two, so you're no lost here, and let's get this wrapped up! As always I'm trying not to do major spoilers, but some minor things will be talked about, so if you want to be completely spoiler free on even minor things skip this post.

Scanbo-

The De Rolo kids at school. I was bored in class like Cassandra but still a good student like Percy myself. Though none of my teachers made me worry they we're plotting my demise.

Inspiration from dreams. I've been inspired by dreams too, though if one for a weapon comes calling may be wary.

Keyleth and the Sun Tree, wish Matt could have done his Sun Tree for this, that was the best part of her talks with him, also wouldn't be attempting to put a fire out with ale make it worse, or am I mistaken on that front.

Poor Scanlan, sucky thing about being the funny guy of the group, no one takes you seriously when you have a serious plan. Uh poop shot, followed by Scanlan saying the word over and over, gross yet funny. Plus him coming across guards playing Dungeons and Dragons it seems. 

Talk about your burning indigestion. I can't remember if that's how the fire happened in the original, and we have Triceratops Scanlan!!!! I was getting worried at first when it hadn't happened I thought they weren't going to do it and they did! So happy! I also love the magic hand to sword combat.

Scanlan is the example for everyone that you can be the hero no matter who you are. All people are vital to an operation, even the small, wise cracking, sex driven ones. 

 

A Silver Tongue-

I think this is a great example of why we school need to keep the teachers of the world happy.  Can you imagine all of them suddenly turning against society? *insert Gir from Invader Zim's "Doom Song"*

Don't you guys just love witty banter between enemies? You know before you have to take them out or be killed. Grog being the tank man, amazing. He may not be able to read, but he is a magnificent fighting force, just add ale.

Beautiful animation on Keyleth's morph into Minxie form, I think I spelt that right, and bless her trying to take out the living armor. 

Can we talk about the professor's tongue action? I've heard of a golden tongue, but silver. I cringe when he moves his tongue like he does. Reminds me of a frelling jerk back in high school who would do tongue motions similar to that. It was disgusting. Plus that tongue of his can charm you to kill you friends... another reason to loath it. Although I thought half elves were immune to being charmed? 

Keyleth's sky writing is cool, even cooler is when it happened in real life, the look on Marisha's face is priceless.

I like the Everlight's words about walking the path true to you, and in doing so that'll being righteous to you. 

Hate when your trying to warn people and you can't get your words out, even worse when they assume you're talking dirty.

The Tide of Bone-

The villain backstory that adds a bit of humanity to them, or I guess in this case how one became inhuman, although how much humanity Lady Briarwood has left in her is questionable too.

So yay more scarily animated undead... really don't like living dead, cause they are hard to defeat and just keep coming at you, sometimes even when they're in pieces.

I see we have thry intense back to your wall looks like we're going to die situation, but does it meet the check list?

Big Bad We Surely Are Going To Die Battle Checklist *WARNING MAJOR SPOILERS*

1.Hysterical Character getting slapped to snap them out of it. Check.

2. Characters asking someone to speed a plan up. Check.

3. Beloved character dying horrible death. Check. 

4. Impassioned speech to rouse the masses. Check.

5. Ill timed love confession. Check.

6. Character getting peeved at ill timed love confession. Check.

7. Epic miraculous rescue. Check.

8, Oppressed people getting their revenge in a disturbing way. Check.

Why is Percy blaming himself for leaving his sister, he thought he saw her die by that arrow. If that had happened to me I would have thought that too.

Depths of Deceit-

Talk about your inner demons, Percy's really have manifested into a scary thing. Speaking of scary things, nothing worse than having to fight the undead, worse when their your family, even more worse  is your friend dancing in a shower of their broken remains.

Yes! Heavy metal Scanlan, playing in a magic hand over and acid pool, while a stark naked Grog dives into it. There's you a rock show

 

Whispers at the Ziggurat-

 The Ziggurat looks beautiful, but creepy. That green glow effect is amazing. 

 My sister and I have had some cut throat sibling rivalry, but these siblings take the cake.

Scanlan's heart dice eyes are so cute when Pike saves him. Grog fighting with his eyes shut, I think he did that at one point in the original series, I seem to recall it. So Grog.

Keyleth's epic light shown is another example of the beautiful animation in this series. I know I've mentioned that so much, but I can't help it, it's so amazing.

So yeah Ziggurat glowy, eerie, beautiful, green outside, dark creepy den of death and purple glowing eyes inside...

The Darkness Within-

 So I feel there's a lesson on the timing of things here.

Scanlan's incantations are as hilarious as his songs.

Ah the inner struggle with an inner demon, I know that pain well. I really sympathize with the guy having a dark force kicking your butt.

Eh seeing a death from the dying perspective unnerving.

And we end as many season finales do with a cliff hanger... 

 

Final Conclusions:

This show is amazing. It captures the heart and sole of the campaign. It was beautifully animated, voiced, and soundtracked, I know it's not a word, but it is now. The only faults I give it is that some of my favorite parts didn't make it, but I understand sometimes you gotta cut your darlings, especially when you have 300 hours to whittle down in 12 episodes. If you find yourself aching for more, or are curious about the original material then I highly encourage you to watch Campaign One. If you don't want spoiled for what I'm almost sure will be season two, just watch the episodes that lead to the point we left off in the animated show. If you find you can't find the time to watch it, then try the podcast they offer, especially good if you have a long commute to work.

I do hope you have enjoyed my Vox Machina posts. Sorry it took a minute for this one, but I'm glad to have done it. I hope your week is good, adventure on, and God bless you!

*Thrifty Geek*

The Legend of Voxmachina Part 2: The Review Part 1

 Bidet Critters,

 

Well today, as promised, I'm gonna bring you my review of The Legend of Vox Machina. As I mentioned in the last post I've been so excited since they announced they were making an animated series to campaign one of Critical Role. I found myself imagining if my favorite scenes would make the cut, what they might look like, and wondering what would be changed. So to fully give you my thoughts on the season we'll take this episode by episode. I'll give my thoughts and observations for each one, and then end with an overall review. Now originally there was just going to be two parts to these Legend of Vox Machina posts, but as I was writing this post, I realized it'd be a monster post doing all 12 episodes in one, so I'll do the first half of the episodes in this post then finish in a third part. Sound like plan? Okay let's get at it! 

Warning if you haven't seen it, there might be some spoilerish things here because I'm writing it as if you've seen the episodes, I'm going to try not to do any major spoilers though if I can help it. So if you don't want to know anything about it, may want to skip this post and the next.

The Terror of Tal'Dorei Part 1-

OK, so right off the bat I think you'll realize this is an animated series not suitable, for work, children, or the squeamish. Lot's of language, gore, and adult thingds.  Yeah so there's your warning. 

Can we just fan over the fact David Tennant, 10th Doctor and Good Omens' Crowley, is doing a voice for this show. When I first learned he was going to be in this, one I freaked, and two I'm like how'd they rope in this talent for their show, I didn't even know something like this be on his radar, until you remember him and Sam Riegal worked on the new Ducktales together, which is also an awesome show. 

The first scene with Vox Machina, which had been one of the sneak peeks we got of the show,  I think just sets the tone for this group, and campaign one in general. I love the exchange between Vax and his antagonist. Love that moment you make your big winded enemies mess up beautifully. The ensuing fight was so hilarious. Although I will admit the projectile puck to the mouth, made me cringe and wanna gag, I got a thing about puke a bit, but still a gross yet effective way to throw off your assailant even if it was accidental.

I love we have a part where Scanlan is peeing on a Matt Mercer looking character, voiced by Matt Mercer. I'm just wondering who came up with that bit the writers or the original cast? Is this commentary for those times the players in game has peed on Matt's plans for a campaign. DM's know what I'm talking about.

I love Scanlan's music, that was one aspect of this I was wondering how it'd be done. In the original web series Scanlan's songs were the best, but they usually were parodies of main stream songs, I was hoping they'd find someway to leave that element in, of course I knew they'd have to create it from scratch, and I have to say it doesn't disappoint.

Now, this first episode and it's second part are an adventure we never saw in in the original web series, this adventure took place in the home games, we only hear about it in the gang's remembrance when they have to revisit it later.

Then of course there's the end of the episode that pulls at your heart, that you hate to happen, but you know for story and character progression purposes has to happen to get this unlikely group to come together to whip evil's butt.

The Terror of Tal'Dorei Part 2-

In this episode we have Felicia Day voicing the Captain of the army, which not surprising given her involvement with the show, and sad to say not surprised the outcome for her character. I feel like I've seen so many of her characters end up like that. 

In this episode is where we seen the opening used for the first time, which was another sneak peek fans got before the show. Is this similar to the tune they eventually would use for their campaign one opening? I think it's beautifully animated. The animation on this whole project is amazing, and in some cases very grossly disturbing, but that's how you know it's well done when animation can leave you awed and grossed out.

I love Scanlan is is unfazed by royalty. He is himself no matter who is standing before. I respect that. I also love the little mini bear cuddles scene. Trinket who is vicious in battle being cuddle like a living teddy bear. I love it so much! Trinket should have all the cuddles.

This is the first episode we see the glorious Gilmore in all his glorious...ness? One of my favorite NPC characters from campaign one. When he is around his energy just makes you smile. The shop is more beautiful than I could ever imagine, and for those who are familiar with campaign two, did you see the book? I know! Awesome little nod to the Might Nein era!

Vox Machina versus the door scene, another sneak peek we got. I love how they took a joke from like midway in the campaign, and made it an official thing through out the animated series. For those who are new to this world who are wondering did Vox Machina really have this much trouble with doors in the web show, yeah at some point doors became the real enemy of this group.

These episodes have actually helped refresh my memory of elements of the series. It's been three years about since I've seen campaign one, and I've only had the pleasure of one watch through. So I love how my fuzzy memory has allowed some moments to be a mystery up to the "oh yeah that happened" moment. 

This dragon fight scene is amazing, and the blue dragon alone is a work of art. Dragons often can be some of the most beautifully done beings in a fantasy animation, and this one is amazing. I was just staring at it like what a animated master piece.

We have first look at the Briarwoods. I don't know why I get a kick out of the scene where Lady Briarwood is calmly sipping her tea in the foreground while her husband is in the background dealing with the ruffians. Yes, my humor can get pretty morbid at times.

The Feast of Realms-

I enjoy the little scene in the morning. The gentle chaos of it that really gives sense of the bonds these guys have: from their jokes, to not batting an eye when Keyleth's birds land on the table as she makes her perky entrance, even their bickering shows their a tight knit group who's become accustomed to each other's eccentricities.

The gang's entrance at the ball is great. A rag tag team trying to be "dignified", and you can tell Percy is the only one who truly in his element. Scanlan's codpiece totally puts me in the mind of the voice actor's costumes from the live shows. Yes he lit in up on occasion.

I'm happy that Jenga's still the safe word of the group for when their in trouble. I'm so glad that made it to the animation from the web series. I also smiled when I saw Vax's snake belt, I forgot about the little guy. I'm not even a fan of snakes and I find this little guy cute.

I feel so bad for Percy in this episode, first nightmares, then seeing the people responsible for them. Talk about dinner nightmares, it's always so awkward when they set you across from you family's murderers. Even worse when they have tainted your family legacy. The Briarwoods are amazing villains though are they not? Dark, calculating, and deadly, but refined. Silas is the ever classic, sophisticated vampire complete with a blood thirsty blade that's black as his soul.

I find it interesting the juxtaposition of the dark, bloody battle taking place outside to the ridiculous, funny performance of Scanlan's going on the inside. We finally see an even darker side to Percy, and his plague doctor chic. Those new to the realm can see why he earned the fan title of "No Mercy Percy".

Shadows a the Gates-

In this episode we find the party under house arrest in their keep, as result of their actions in the last episode. Confining this lot to one space... yeah what can possibly go wrong there? Nothing much just some middle finger battling between Vax and Scanlan, a brilliant, but batched escape attempt led by Percy, and oh yeah an army of undead trying to murder them for an old creepy tome... Any one else have a scene from the 90's The Mummy pop in your head.

We have Jarret in the series for the first time, who is elevated to the role of a Captain. In the web series is one of their keeps' guards Vox Machina hired. Either way he guarding this lot, so his character's essence is still similar .

I think Grog eating the ashes of Pike's ancestors in his search for food is one of my favorite bits of new humors material that has been brought to this version of the story. I enjoyed the exchange between Pike and Grog, really one of the sweet moments in this series that showcases how close they are as friends and also shows Grog displaying a rare moment of profoundness. 

Anyone else in the scene with the napping guard get some Ghostbusters Dana be taken by Zuul vibes with that? Am I the only one? Plus I'm also getting like some like The Exorcist or other movies involving possession notes during the battle. *shivers*

Ok, the undead in this is creepy as all get out. I mean they look terrifying and plus seeing what they can do to a body. I'd go as far to say if your easy to scare and/or have an overactive imagination, don't watch this episode at night by yourself. If you do I recommend watching something lighthearted and fuzzy afterwards to nullify it before you go to bed.

The end of the episode of course has the group splitting with a couple members of the party. Pike I was expecting due to the fact for a portion of this game play Ashley Johnson was very scarce due to her job on a show, which of course took precedence, so they had to creatively come up with a reason for Pike's absence in the original game play. Then there's Trinket, while I love the bear with all my heart, I know why they left Trinket behind, because I remember in the game the mobility of Trinket was such a difficult thing for the party, and since we've yet to reach that point in the story where they find something to aid that, I guess everyone decided for story flow sake and party traveling ease to leave him safely behind. I'm not sure if that was what they originally did during this journey in the web series.

Fate's Journey-

Here we have the gang at Gilmore's shop really taking the just really taking the concept of showing up at your besties' place and just cleaning them out of stuff to a new level. What is more sad Gilmore doesn't even look surprised to find them doing so and despite trying to steal from him he just let's then saty and carry on like normal.

Grog missing Pike is so sad, yet cute. You just wanna give him a big hug.  As for the big scary dog like creatures. If it wasn't for the fact their creepy beyond reason and full of dark magic I'd say there's you some guard dogs. Then there's poor Scanlan giving a new meaning to getting tongued; which anyone else surprised in the scene with them revisiting their strangest kills that Scanlan's involved a romantic encounter? Me neither.

The bit at the end with the warning at the sun tree for Vox Machina. I forgot that happened and uh hit me harder I think than in the web series. It's always really hard too after they show the people living their lives or having happy moment, then you see horrible things befall them. It rips at your heart even more.Then if that wasn't bad enough the credits have this sad music with the sound of the weighted rope swaying in the breeze, which just makes it all eerie. 

Spark of Rebellion-

This episode finds Dominic Monaghan voicing the rebellion leader Archibald. I have a friend who loves the actor who might decide to watch the series for that alone. That was also one of the surprising voices I found being part of the cast. I also was delighted to find Gina Torres (Zoey from Firefly/Serenity) playing Keeper Yennen, an excellent choice for that.

I like in this series we get more glimpses of what Pike was doing in her time apart from the group. In the original we'd only see her on and not see really a lot what she'd been going through on her end.

I found the group's ridiculous plan's of rescue complete with cute, crude doodles a nice light moment in all the darkness. I really love Scanlan the Revolutionary, with his beret. That drawing is just cute and funny, it just makes me smile.

Percy with Bad News on the roof with that coat billowing in the breeze... I don't what it is just loving Percy in this series. He was my second favorite character in the web series. Vax being first and being tied with Vex, but in this season of this show, Percy is shining for me. Now in later seasons, which really hoping for more seasons, that may change, but for now, loving the stoic, brilliant aesthetic Percy is projecting, you know when not being overtaken by darker entities.  

I don't know what it is, but I especially in a fantasy world, love story lines where we see these hidden factions of rebellion in a secret hide outs plotting the down fall of evil overlords, then little by little start bringing them down.

Whew, that's a lot. I basically just relived college. As film student we watched movies where our teachers would pause it every few minutes to point out something or another. Well since I was writing each little write up while watching each episode, I had to stop the video a few times to be able to get all my words out so I could focus. Doing six episodes in such a fashion, yeah takes a lot out of you, because I've been working on this for a couple or so days feels like. So I'll end it here and get back with  part three hopefully sometime this week. Gonna take a day or maybe two to recharge and not work on a blog post and just rest. So I'll see you all in the next one.

*Thrifty Geek*

The Legend of Vox Machina Part 1: Origins

Bidet Critters,

So for the last month my fellow critters and myself have been watching The Legend of Vox Machina, the cartoon adaption of Critical Role's first Campaign. The last episodes of the season just dropped this past Friday, so I decided to do this write up about it. I was going to do it after the first episodes came out, but I struggled once more to sit and be motivated to write. But better late than never. So since there's so much to discuss I decided to break it into two parts. This part will be introductions and my personal story, and part two that will be my review of the show itself.

Vox Machina POPs have gathered to aid me in this writing...**

Introductions

Now there are those of you who I'm sure are sitting there going Vox Machina? Critical Role? What is this madness? Let me explain, and it's best to start at the beginning.

A decade or so ago, some voice actors decided to get together regularly and play Dungeons and Dragons. They'd been playing for a while when Felicia Day (cue the geeky heavenly choir) told them they should do a show of them playing their game. Well in 2015, on the Geek and Sundry channel, I think on both the Twitch and then YouTube, the show Critical Role premiered, and they just kept going. The first campaign of the show follows the adventures of Vox Machina, a group of friends and heroes of different races and classes kicking butt and taking names in the world of Exandria, often in unorthodox and hilarious ways. Plus, did I mention there was a cute bear?

Our Characters:

Dungeon Master- Our game is led by the talented Matthew Mercer. With his story teller's flair and voice acting Mercer creates this amazing world for our cast to traverse, and fills it with equally memorable and lovable NPC's that are as recognizable to fans as the main characters themselves.

Vax- The half-elf rogue, voiced by Liam O'Brien, who's masterful hands can make quick work of a locked chest, and your coin purse. He's stealthy, charming, but be wary lest he "Dagger, Dagger" you. He also has a caring heart if all the rest wasn't awesome enough for you. 

Vex- Vax's twin sister and a ranger/rogue, voiced by Laura Bailey. Don't worry if you mix up the names for a bit, we all probably did that our first time here. She's protective, good with a bow, and armed with a sassy wink. She's the treasurer of the group who loves her coin, and knows how to haggle. 

Grog- He's a goliath barbarian/fighter with a giant love of ale, who's voiced by Travis Willingham. His not the brightest of the team, but he is the strongest. May his rage never fall upon you. He takes great joy in bashing in heads. He's also proud of his impossible beard, long story.

Percy- The human gunslinger, voiced by Taliesin Jaffee. Hailing from Whitestone, something he takes pride in. He's a bright man who designed and built he's own gun, well with a little questionable inspiration. He seeks to reclaim he's family home from those who took it and his family.

Keyleth- a half-elf druid of the Air Ashari tribe, voiced by Marisha Ray. She's going through her Aramenté, a rite of passage that she has to complete to become leader of her people. Gifted at her nature based magic she is often found changing into amazing beast, or chatting up chill sun trees.  She's also on a mission to locate her mother, who went missing during her Aramenté.

Pike- She's a deep gnome who's a cleric, voiced by Ashley Johnson. Her goddess is Seranrae, and she knows her way around magic weapon. Friend of Grog and object of affection for Scanlan; I feel like Pike is the sweet heart of the group.

Scanlan- He's a sassy bard gnome, voiced by Sam Riegel. He is a killer performer, with plenty of inspiration to give to his friends. He loves the ladies, especially his fellow gnome Pike. He also has a bad habit of defecating on things.

Tiberius- A sorcerer dragonborn, voiced by Orion Acaba. He was only in 25 episodes, plus he is seen by Vox Machina in one other episode apart from these. I don't have a lot to say on him cause my memory is fuzzy, it's been almost three years since I did my first Campaign One watch and four years since I saw any with Tiberius, and last few years has been in a pandemic fog. So I promise it's not cause I didn't like the character it's cause I have a crappy memory. Blame the Mental Health Hydra B----!

Trinket- Vex's bear companion, voiced by Mercer. Discovered by Vex as a cub, the two are great companions. He fights by her side as well as gives her massages apparently.

The Show:

The show picks up where the home games left off, with Vox Machina already established in the world with a few adventures under their belts. We come in as their setting out on a new mission for Lady Allura to find a missing friend at the Kraghammer mines. The adventures only grew going across the world of Exandria:  land, air and sea, even under them.

Needless to say, the show proved to be a rousing success. It was so popular that they would host live shows that would be taped at conventions with a full house audience. It spawned fan made content, comic lines, and books. The first campaign ran from 2015 to 2017, with one shots that continued the adventures of this particular group after the dust of the campaign has supposedly settled. It soon grew to be so popular that Critical Role spawned it's own channel. Now the show is in it's third campaign. The following two campaigns also take place in Exandria,but across different continents and two new sets of main characters, though things from Campaign one have found their way into other campaigns. 

Now the latest milestone of the story of Vox Machina is The Legend of Vox Machina, the animated series that will make the campaign one story more, dare I say it, animated.

My Personal Story

I am subscribed to Geek and Sundry. So I'd been seeing this Critical Role show for a while, but it didn't peak my interest until I learned Travis Willingham was in it. I have been a Travis fan since college or there abouts, and I learned his wife Laura Bailey was in it who I was familiar with as well. The only problem was I saw the episode count which was pretty high at the time and each one being about 3 hours or so, and I already had a lot of YouTube I was watching at the time, so it seemed a bit much to tackle then (a common feeling for first timers). I did try one of their one shots to get an idea what it was like. 

Well in late 2017 or early 2018 there was a huge lull in my subscribed videos section on Youtube, I think some YouTubers were on breaks or just not putting out things I was enjoying, so I had a huge chuck of time to fill in my evenings, so I gave it a shot. I. LOVED. IT! It was spell-bounding and funny.  I loved these amazing characters that were funny, epic, and sometimes ridiculous. I watched regularly up until Spring of 2018 then I had my first manic high, and I couldn't sit still for nothing let alone these three hoursish videos. So my watching slowed down. Then that Fall I began to have my first manic low, by December I was in tears everyday. It was a horrible time period for me. Luckily I had this show to provide me with a way to get out of my head, and it gave me the biggest laughs during that rough period. So I thank you guys for that. You gave me respite when I really needed it.

When I heard a animated version was coming out I was excited. I couldn't wait to see things we heard and imagined in these sessions all these years getting brought to life. I was counting it down with them, and getting more hyped as I heard more and more about it. Glad to say it didn't disappoint, but I'll cover that more in part two of this post.

I hope you enjoyed this introductory look at the world of Vox Machina, hope to see you here for the next one. Have a a good day, be weird, and God bless!

*Thrifty Geek*

** Yes I know this isn't all of them. Fangirl, who has gifted me all these guys, is working on getting the twins and Trinket. But I mean in this picture these Funkos seem to be having fun in their own way at my desk as I write. Keyleth is looking like "You got this friend"! Pike is praying for my success. Scanlan looking the way he does is like he's pointing at me saying "YOU. WRITE. NOW"! I'm seriously thing about making him a permanent writing companion. Maybe he'll give me inspiration. Percy looks like he's so fascinated by what I'm doing at the keyboard. Then you got Grog who's like ready to kick my writing demons butts.