The Legend of Vox Machina Season 3, Episodes 1-3 Review

Oct 9

Oct 9 The Legend of Vox Machina Season 3, Episodes 1-3 Review: Romance and Ruin

The Legend of Vox Machina is back, kicking off Season 3 with episodes 1-3, “A Deadly Bargain,” “Prisoners of Ank’Harel,” and “Vexations.” Again, as a reminder from the last time I discussed this series, I haven’t watched Critical Role, but I am aware of some campaign spoilers. Overall, I am looking at the animated series from the point of view of someone who hasn’t watched the original source materials.

And oh boy, Season 3 is going to wreck me, isn’t it, Critters?

What always amazes me with this show is how much they pack into a single episode. These opening three entries covered a ton of ground. It introduced the next part of the search for the Vestiges of Divergence while fully bringing back Anna Ripley with a massive surprise twist. Raishan's dangerous dealings drive a wedge into the group. A new part of the world is revealed with Ank-Harel, setting up a new ally through J'mon Sa Ord. In the midst of all of this, at no point did this opening salvo feel overstuffed or rushed. The pacing still allowed for plenty of character moments, which is very much the heart of the series.

Heart was at the forefront of these episodes, developing one part I’ve been waiting for with the romance. All the main ships popped off, some for victory and others in tragedy. This is the one part of the story of Critical Role where I know how all of these relationships end, making it the most fun to watch. I adore seeing how emotionally messy these characters are, and I mean that in the best way possible. After two seasons of slow burns, it’s great seeing things developing across the board. Keyleth and Vax are killing me in a completely different way from Percy and Vex. I cannot wait to be ruined more by this group.

Keyleth’s question to Vax of “So, joy today isn’t worth pain tomorrow?” is going to haunt me for some time.

Every character got a good moment to shine at some point. Two standouts were Grog and Scanlan. I adored Grog connecting with the children to get information. It’s so incredibly hard to write “dumb” characters, and this team always chooses the right moments to show how aware and smart Grog is in his own way. His emotional intelligence makes him endearing, allowing these moments to shine.

Scalan’s failed attempt to get to know his daughter, Kaylie, is uncomfortable to watch, as it should be. The secondhand cringe in watching him spiral and torn between trying to connect to her while worried about his team if fitting. He’s come so far since Season 1, but it’s clear that he’s still on his character arc. He shouldn’t be at the end. Backslides like this are part of the journey. The fact that Scanlan is trying, something that he wasn’t doing two seasons ago, says so much. With Kaylie, he has so much more to protect against the threat of the Chroma Conclave.

This season’s villains' complexities made these three episodes stand out. The Briarwoods of Season 1 were straightforward and the perfect baddies to show what Vox Machina can do as a group. The Chroma Conclave massively upped the stakes by taking over the capital while smaller villains and antagonists were peppered in throughout Season 2. Where Season 3 takes things a step further is by diving into the nuances of these villains. The dragons aren’t a united team, as Raishan schemes against Thordak. Anna Ripley is back with some company, revealing an evil ally that made me gasp! However, she’s not twirling her proverbial mustache as a one-note character; she’s trying to team up with Percy. Where the villains of Season 2 felt far more like a one-off adventure like with Kevdak, so far, Season 3’s bad guys feel like they have far more lasting power. They’re fascinating this time around, and I’m far more invested in them than I was in Season 2.

It’s also a joy to see the side characters in action. I adore watching Allura and Kima mix in with the group and learning more about their past. I am aware of the character Tiberius, who started Campaign One (shoutout to SuperGeekMike on his coverage of that), so it was really neat as someone who hasn’t watched Critical Role to really get to see a Draconian for the first time. I also always love it whenever Gilmore is on the screen. He chews it up in the best way possible. To add to it, seeing him in action using his magic is always a surprise for me to see what he can do. Give me more Gilmore all the time.

The first three episodes of The Legend of Vox Machina Season 3 have hooked me in. It was worth the wait for my favorite assholes to come back. I can’t wait to see where the rest of the season takes us as we literally dive into Hell next time!