Based on the first Dungeons & Dragons campaign, Critical Role, live-streamed to thousands, The Legends of Vox Machina follows a group of ragtag adventures and heroes as they attempt to save the mystical realm of Exandria. This band of misfits was only brought from the streaming platform Twitch to Amazon Prime Video with the overwhelming support of a Kickstarter that raised a shocking $11.3 million. Safe to say the pressure was on to deliver something great, and they certainly did!
One of the main selling points of Critical Role is its cast. The main cast are all seasoned and professional voice actors with numerous accolades between them, including The Last of Us actor Ashley Johnson, which meant that the original cast was able to play their own characters in this show. Everyone gives a fantastic performance, not only showing their amazing talent but also their connection to the characters. After playing them around a table for countless years, there is no one who better knows these characters and it absolutely pays off. As someone who watched the first campaign, it never got old hearing their voices behind their animated counterparts.
Something many people love about Dungeons & Dragons is the visualisation of all the epicness that is unfolding, and this show perfectly personifies that feeling. Picturing what is happening is one thing, but seeing it animated by professionals is something else entirely. Fight scenes are done excellently and keep you engaged throughout, while more intimate moments are done justice with attention to detail that pervades the quirks and personality of each character. This is only reinforced by a stunning soundtrack that will consistently have you tapping your feet.
This show may miss a lot of people due to its Dungeons & Dragons' origins and all the complexities that may hold, but The Legend of Vox Machina does a fantastic job of bridging the gap between new and old fans. While at times it can be a little indulgent to the older fans with niche references, for the most part, it does a great job of portraying this fantastic world without needing any other prior knowledge.
Don’t go in expecting the next Lord of the Rings or you might find yourself slightly disappointed. This is a Dungeons & Dragons first and foremost and does a mighty fine job of scratching that itch.