It’s rapidly getting harder to find new things to say aboutThe Legend of Vox Machina. It’s a show that set forth a goal and accomplished it with flying colors. Anyone who has any interest in tabletop games,Dungeons and Dragons, fantasy TV, animation, orCritical Rolewill loveThe Legend of Vox Machina. Anyone without interest in those topics will likely still find a lot to love in the series.
The conclusion of the second season ofThe Legend of Vox Machinasets the bar high for the upcoming world ofCritical Rolecontent. Just likethe finale that came before it, it’s a thrilling conclusion that also sets the stage for the following season.
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The legendary adventurers of Vox Machina have reached multiple endgames as the series ends another season. Grog’s emotional journey has been a rollercoaster, taking one of themost simplistic characters throughevery imaginable state. He’s been robbed of his strength and pitted against an impossibly powerful foe. Grog has been forced to reckon with his past as a dangerous brigand, and he’s chosen to deal with it the way he deals with most things. Episode 10 finally pays off the ongoing subplot of Grog’s training. Though the answer is fairly obvious, it feels genuine to watch Grog figure it out. It all pays off in yetanother stellar action scene, playing with simple well-executed aspects of animation.
Though it’s taken a lot of fun side roads along the way, the headline event of this season is the final battle with the dragon Umbrasyl. As the DM to the stars,Matt Mercer’s voice isthe oneCritical Rolefans would hear most in an average episode, but he’s used sparingly in the series. As a callback to his role, he often portrays the primary antagonist. He’s also Trinket the Bear, but that role is a bit less demanding. He played Sylas Briarwood andthe demon Orthax last season, and he’s back as Umbrasyl in season 2. Mercer is spectacular in the role, not only capturing the intimidation and malice of the character but selling his intelligence and cunning. The animation of the character even captures some of Mercer’s distinct facial expressions, granting it an eerily human feel. He’s a solid villain and an appropriate climax for the season.
Most of the final two episodes of this season are built around taking down Umbrasyl. Even as the battle picks up, multiple characters are struggling against their self-contained narrative stakes and learning new lessons from strange places. One of the strongest elements of the series is its ability to blend tones seamlessly. In a film, it can often be jarring to switch between cathartic action violence and wacky slapstick humor.In a TTRPG campaign, characters can often be living entirely different stories from one turn to the next.Vox Machinacaptures that spirit perfectly, snapping in quick camera cuts from a brutal exchange of blows to a large-scale puerile gag. It works every time, it flows like a single stream of consciousness, and nothing overstays its welcome.
The magic ofThe Legend of Vox Machinais multifaceted and all-consuming. It’s just impossible not to feel artists having fun with their creations. The established cast is across-the-board excellent, but there is a non-stopflood of brilliant guest starswho bring a lot to the show. The great Lance Reddick brings his bracing voice to Thordak, the threat waiting in the wings for a future season. Legendary cartoon voice actor Cree Summer appears in a role that will be far more important later. Kelly Hu’s Dr. Anna Ripley is still around and still extremely compelling. The voice acting fits the animation perfectly and both work very well. There’s not a weak performance in the bunch.
Another season down, another rousing success.The Legend of Vox Machinais a triumph without any secrets behind it. There’s no mystery as to why it works. It’s a great conceptmade by people who caremore about it than most people care about their physical well-being. It’s an adaptation made by the people who made the original material. They don’t have to find what people loved about it, they already found it. It’s a simple piece of art that fires on all cylinders. Fans can now binge through the first two seasons and enjoy a chunk of the story that used to take days to get through. It’s the best version of the story, bringing great material to a new format for a new audience to enjoy.
The Legend of Vox Machinais an excellent fantasy adventure. It’s non-stop fun in a world of frustratingly grim other options. These heroes still have a lot ahead of them, but don’t forget to enjoy each new peak as it comes.Vox Machinaproves that they’re the stuff of legend once again.
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