Legend of vox machina full#
Legend of vox machina series#

“We’re Vox Machina! We f–– s–– up,” Scanlan proclaims in the trailer – and boy, do they do just that. Scanlan’s songs, along with the long-running game between Grog and Vax, are distinct highlights.

Legend of vox machina full#

And where the primary narratives of these are generally overly serious and full of drama, usually centering on evil forces inciting a great war or attempting to destroy all that’s good in the world, Vox Machina’s adventures are genuinely fun. In a genre that can often seem to favour churning out Young Adult (YA) properties at an alarming rate – with Shadow and Bone, The 100, and Shadowhunters proving particularly popular – Vox Machina makes for a bold and invigorating switch-up from the trend. Fun, Fun, FunĪs previously alluded to, Vox Machina maintains the adult-orientated content of the table-top campaign, fully embracing the tirade of violence, sexual innuendo, and adult humour and language. Mercer and the gang have used and twisted preconceived notions of villain archetypes to incorporate clever rug pulls when it comes to the series’ antagonists, too – deliberately leading you down a certain path before ripping up the rule book. But it’s not just the main players who are much more developed than we’re used to. Viewers very quickly start to root for them, both throughout their individual arcs and larger quests. Thanks to the creative team’s rich and considered development of their protagonists, the assembled members of our motley crew are much more nuanced and loveable than many of the characters we meet in fantasy properties.

This results in a far more multifaceted group than we are perhaps used to seeing in the fantasy genre on screen. Each member of the gang has their own flaws and struggles to contend with throughout the series, whether that’s Keyleth grappling with her confidence in her own powers, the surprisingly brawny-yet-emotional Grog, or Percy who is haunted by revenge.

Multifaceted Heroes and Villains The Vox Machina gang is a ragtag bunch of nuanced individuals.ĭespite the characters being a variety of magical and fictional races, what’s so endearing is the fact that they’re, surprisingly, so relatable and honest. With the realm’s band of champions instantly (and gruesomely) killed off – and Pike’s suggestion of maybe trying to do some good this time – it appears that the mercenaries are Tal’Dorei council’s last hope. The long-held ‘chosen one’ narrative trope is thrown out the window, as we’re introduced to the gang as mercenaries and anti-heroes who rely on killing goblins and (occasionally) thieving for gold. However, following a shockingly gory tavern brawl and a hilarious sexual romp, it’s clear to see the protagonists aren’t your typical collection of fantasy heroes. The misfit group includes gnome cleric Pike Trickfoot (Ashley Johnson) barbarian Grog Strongjaw (Travis Willingham) the twins, half-elf rogue Vax’ildan “Vax” Vessar (Liam O’Brien) and half-elf ranger Vex’ahlia “Vex” Vessar (Laura Bailey) gunslinger Percival “Percy” Fredrickstein von Musel Klossowski de Rolo III (Taliesin Jaffe) bard Scanlan Shorthalt (Sam Riegel) and the half-elf druid Keyleth (Marisha Ray).

Legend of vox machina series#

The series revolves around the adventures of the titular rag-tag band of misfits in the Kingdom of Exandria. Thanks to the Critical Role team – along with celebrity fans including Joe Manganiello, Deborah Ann Woll, and Jack Black – the role-playing game is now perceived as much more inclusive and accessible, making this the perfect time for The Legend of Vox Machina to make an impact. Likewise, Dungeons & Dragons has also enjoyed a resurgence recently, driven in part by its inclusion in Stranger Things with geeky kids playing make-believe in their basements. Following the wild, unprecedented success of HBO series Game of Thrones, many streamers are now looking for the next hit fantasy series, marking a shift in the overall preconception and audience base for the genre. That is to say, it was niche and, at best, had cult appeal. It’s fair to say that fantasy used to hold certain ‘nerdy’ connotations prior to becoming mainstream in pop culture. It’s certainly a long way from the animated Dungeons & Dragons kids’ series from the 1980s, despite both being laced with humour.

Much like Robert Kirkman’s adult animated superhero series Invincible, Matt Mercer and the CR crew gleefully defy and subvert fantasy expectations for a wholly original and, yes, fresh take on the genre. Prime Video’s highly anticipated adult animated series The Legend of Vox Machina, based on Critical Role’s hugely successful first Dungeons & Dragons campaign, is set to change the way we view fantasy and animated projects.