Critical Role The Legend of Vox Machina: Bawdy, Bloody, and Funny

With The Legend of Vox Machina, Critical Role comes full circle from being voice actors playing D&D (first in a private game, then streaming on Geek & Sundry) to an $11 million Kickstarter for an animated special. That success attracted streaming network interest, which then morphed into a 24-episode animated series where they're voicing their own characters.

If you've never watched Critical Role Season 1 or read any of the stories, TLoVM the animated series is easy to jump into. Instead of being exposition heavy or thrusting viewers into a lot of world building, it starts with some classic fantasy – especially fantasy RPG – tropes like a drunken bar brawl and mercenaries being killed (a TPK) by a mysterious force. Those scenes are delivered with hefty dose of humor, a bit of blood, and some nudity.

This isn't the '80s Saturday morning Dungeons & Dragons cartoon for kids. While there is gore, it's less than an episode of Invincible and far less than that show's season 1 finale. Similarly, TLoVM has nudity and a bit of sex in the first few episodes, but far less than Game of Thrones.

Vox Machina is an established group at the start of the series, but one that needs money and has a less than stellar reputation. The land of Emon is being ravaged by a mysterious threat. A bit of desperation on both sides leads to the bickering heroes taking the job.

TLoVM is bawdy, bloody, and funny, but it also has heart. The first two episodes tell a complete story with an obvious hook at the end that leads into the rest of the episodes – and a stinger hinting at new threats.

The animation style has clean lines with some anime influence, but nothing excessively intricate or artsy. At the same, the art direction has style, like a scene that adds interest to the characters walking by showing it through a spider's web dotted with raindrops.

The first episode establishes the eight members of Vox Machina quickly with the following episodes building nicely upon each character's traits. Matthew Mercer voices several of the supporting characters, but in this format he doesn't have to cover all of the NPCs. The guest star talent includes David Tennant, Stephanie Beatriz, Tony Hale. Felica Day is the voice of a bandit.

And if they don't sell a stuffed toy bear version of Trinket at some point, Critical Role is missing out on a merchandise opportunity. TLoVM hits the perfect sweet spot between making Vex's companion bear fierce in battle, amusing when waiting, and adorable the rest of the time.

No critic has been given advance access to the entire first season, let alone all 24 episodes, so it's impossible to say how well the entire story arc plays out, but the first few episodes are entertaining and well made.

You don't have to be a fan of Critical Role to enjoy The Legend of Vox Machina, but if you're a fan of fantasy adventure, TLoVM might turn you into Critter. The Legend of Vox Machina debuts on Amazon Prime on Friday, January 28, with the first three episodes. Critical Role will be holding watch parties on their Twitch channel at 7pm Tuesdays.

 

[Mind of tempest]

I liked it and will watch the rest of it as it comes out, but I wished Prime released all of it at once but that is something they don't do which is a bummer being able to only watch new episodes weekly like a damn caveman instead of all at once like a normal modern person.

I like the older system gives you something to do in the week.

 

[Benjamin Olson]

It seems that you’re justifying the character being puerile on the TV by saying he was puerile on the live show. That doesn’t really make sense to me.

It makes perfect sense on the premise that this is something that should be judged both as an adaptation and on its own merits, and it sounds like the two of you have simply crossed wires on which metric you are judging it based on. On its own merits, it's true that if you find it puerile here the source material is irrelevant to your enjoyment. But meanwhile the thing that's bothering you is mostly just faithful adaptation and radically changing the characters for the show was (thankfully) never in the cards.

Personally I feel that Scanlan comedic hijinks that were often highlights in a long, slow livestream are perhaps a bit much in a tightly paced half hour show that has more consistent general comedy beats. I both find him a little annoying in this show at times and appreciate the faithful adaptation of a character. But right now its only been three episodes and he is one of the members of the group who has the most dramatic character growth, so we'll see where it goes.

 

[Dragonhelm]

I thought it was really good. There's a bit too much gore for my tastes and I don't need that much cussing, but I will say that all those elements help this to stand out against standard fantasy.

Well done, Critical Role. You are making a Critter out of me.

 

[darjr]

 

[beancounter]

I watched the first 15 minutes of the first episode. Seems pretty juvenile...

 

[Scott Christian]

My wife and I watched the first two episodes last night. I have seen a few CR episodes. She has never seen an episode. We are people that do not mind sex, violence or foul language, especially when it serves for characterization or setting/mood purposes. We both thought some of cursing stuff was a miss, as it did nothing to engage the viewer in the plot or character. (Although much of it did.)
We liked the plot, and the hook was solid. The pacing seemed a bit rushed, but I get that - animation is not cheap. The fight scenes were well done, although, just my personal preference, I prefer it to be less anime and more realistic. But they were still good. I think the setting is fantastic. They did such a good job visualizing it.
The only part neither of us liked, and I can't believe I am going to say this, are the characters. I know that is their bread-and-butter. I know they are great at it. But each and every character seemed forced. There was no subtlety to their motivations or traits. It was: "Look at me, I am sooooooo awkward" or "Look at me, I am sooooo angry." It seemed very forced.
That said, I will definitely continue watching, and who knows, maybe that style will grow on me.

 

[dalisprime]

That’s correct I have no clue what a character is supposed to be like. I can only infer from what I see on the show. That’s TV. Surely you don’t expect people to have to watch Critical Role first to be able to understand the Tv shows characters?

It seems that you’re justifying the character being puerile on the TV by saying he was puerile on the live show. That doesn’t really make sense to me.

Erm... it makes perfect sense? The show depicts the character as he was in that stage of his career. He is supposed to rub you the wrong way initially. Over the course of the campaign he develops into a far more sympathetic character (as do the rest of VM to be fair).
Now as a new viewer you may not know that immediately but it's not like this is the only show that uses this trope and to dismiss it, based on Scanlan's antics is being frankly unfair.

 

[CleverNickName]

Of course Scanlan is off-putting and annoying, and the whole group suffers because of him and his antics.

He's a bard.

 

[JThursby]

But each and every character seemed forced. There was no subtlety to their motivations or traits. It was: "Look at me, I am sooooooo awkward" or "Look at me, I am sooooo angry." It seemed very forced.
That said, I will definitely continue watching, and who knows, maybe that style will grow on me.

Having just watched the first 3 episodes this is what stood out to me the most. The characters need more depth and to have more than just 1 default reaction to everything around them. As an adaptation of a D&D game this show is pretty good, but it's in a genre of animation that places it next to productions like Castlevania and Invincible where the characterization and writing are a lot stronger. Hopefully this will improve as the show goes on.

 

[Vaalingrade]

It seems that you’re justifying the character being puerile on the TV by saying he was puerile on the live show. That doesn’t really make sense to me.

The show was funded by fans of that show. Should they just ignore what those people wanted for someone else's sensibilities?