Small Details You May Have Missed In The Legend Of Vox Machina Season 2
Amazon Prime's "The Legend of Vox Machina" is a must-see for fans of fantasy and tabletop roleplaying games alike. The adult-oriented animated series is rife with drama, adventure, and romance — along with plenty of graphic violence and vulgar humor. In Season 1, we meet our colorful cast of characters, including the gnomes Pike and Scanlan, Grog the half-giant, half-elf twins Vax'ildan and Vex'ahlia, Percy the human gunslinger, and the elf druid Keyleth.
Season 1 introduces the band of misfit mercenaries and the world of Exandria, and the show continues its epic storyline in Season 2. This new season has our heroes going up against the Chroma Conclave — an alliance of powerful, ancient dragons led by the Cinder King, Thordak. The task ahead of them seems impossible, but the party learns that the Conclave may be defeated with powerful artifacts known as the Vestiges of Divergence. They manage to obtain four of the vestiges, and Season 2 ends on a shocking cliffhanger that promises still more adventure to come.
As "The Legend of Vox Machina" is adapted from the streaming series "Critical Role," there are many details and Easter eggs hidden within the various episodes. Season 1 certainly had its share of winks to the audience, and Season 2 is no different. Now that all 12 episodes have finally been released let's take a look at some of the details viewers might have missed.
Playing by the rules
In Season 2's first action-packed episode, "Rise of the Chroma Conclave," the city of Emon is under attack by four ancient dragons. Many of Emon's citizens fall prey to the dragons' fury in all manner of gruesome ways. Luckily, cleric Pike Trickfoot (Ashley Johnson) is on hand to lend her healing touch to the party. After tending a serious wound on the wizard Gilmore's (Sunil Malhotra) side, she tells him that she will have to work on his injured leg later since she is "all tapped out."
While it's perfectly reasonable to assume that it takes a lot of energy to cast powerful magic, there is a practical reason for this explanation as well. As in many tabletop role-playing games, magic users don't get limitless spell-casting in "Dungeons & Dragons." Their magic use depends on their skill level, so the more they level up, the more spell slots they have at their disposal. When those slots are used up, they're done until the player is able to rest. The creators of "The Legend of Vox Machina" often throw in details like this in the series — at times because that's how it went down in the original "Critical Role" campaign.
Behind green eyes
At the end of Episode 1, Vox Machina barely escapes the attack by the Chroma Conclave. Using Keyleth's (Marisha Ray) transport via tree spell, they make it to Whitestone with a group of refugees in tow. There they are met by Percy's sister, Cassandra (Esme Creed-Miles), and by their old friend, Keeper Yennen (Gina Torres). As the refugees make their way to shelter, Grog (Travis Willingham) notices a small child standing nearby with distinct green eyes and a grim expression. He greets the "tough little tyke" with a friendly smile but is met with a stern frown before the child walks away without a word.
This very brief moment in the first episode is easily missed, but after the surprising twist at the end of Season 2, it might stand out upon a second viewing. In the season finale, "The Hope Devourer," the dragon Raishan (Cree Summer) makes a surprise appearance when it's revealed that she is impersonating Keeper Yennen. Her appearance shifts and her face takes on more draconic features, including bright green eyes. Yes, it turns out that the unnerving child from the first episode was actually Raishan, and she used her magic to blend in with the other refugees and infiltrate Whitestone.
Bigger on the inside
When the Vox Machina team regroups at Gilmore's magic shop following the Chroma Conclave attack, Gilmore reluctantly offers them free access to all of his remaining stock. Unfortunately, the dragons have destroyed most of his inventory, but our heroes do manage to pick up some very valuable gear. Some of the things they acquire are more than they appear — including a broom that can fly and a belt that allows its wearer to instantly grow a full beard.
The team stores their newfound goods in a handy-dandy magical sack, which can hold several large items despite its small size. This staple accessory of "D&D" is called a Bag of Holding. Like Doctor Who's TARDIS and Mary Poppins' carpet bag, the Bag of Holding is bigger on the inside than it appears. The bag allows things to be stored away safely in a pocket dimension, which the carriers can then reach into and take out what they need at any time. While the space isn't limitless, it can hold up to 500 pounds while always maintaining the same weight, making it an extremely useful tool to have while adventuring. It's very cool to see how "The Legend of Vox Machina" incorporates familiar items from tabletop gaming into the series for die-hard fans to recognize.
A familiar face in Vasselheim
It's been a whirlwind for the "Critical Role" crew the last few years, with their live-streaming series being more popular than ever and the resounding success of "The Legend of Vox Machina." Thanks to the show's rave reviews on sites like Rotten Tomatoes, Amazon Prime has given them not only a greenlight for Season 3 but also an exciting new venture on the horizon. In a recent announcement from Amazon and the "Critical Role" gang, it was revealed that the Mighty Nein (the adventuring party from the second "Critical Role" campaign) would soon be getting their own animated series on Amazon Prime.
The Mighty Nein's adventures are vastly different from the ones of Vox Machina but are no less engaging. We still have a group of lovable characters making their way through Exandria — just with their own set of troubles. Season 1 already snuck in one Easter egg reference to the Mighty Nein campaign ("Tusk Love," anyone?), and we are treated to another one in Season 2.
When Vox Machina first arrives in the religious city of Vasselheim, Pike points out the city's array of impressive temples. One of them is a temple to the Wild Mother, and if you look closely, you can spot a pink-haired cleric addressing some worshippers. This is none other than Caduceus Clay, an integral member of the Mighty Nein. Created and played by Taliesin Jaffe in Campaign 2 of "Critical Role," Caduceus is a beloved character that we can't wait to see in the foreground of the future Mighty Nein series.
The Slayer's Take recruits all kinds
Season 2 of "The Legend of Vox Machina" introduces the Slayer's Take — a rowdy group of beast hunters who kill monsters for coin. Among them are Zahra and Kashaw, voiced by Mary Elizabeth McGlynn and Will Friedle (respectively). The voice actors portrayed those same characters as guest players in the original "Critical Role" campaign, and we are thrilled to see them reprise their characters this season.
While Kash and Zahra both have important roles in the series, the rest of the Slayer's Take are an impressive bunch on their own. Warriors from all backgrounds make up this tough band of monster hunters. In fact, two members of the Slayer's Take were "borrowed" from another intellectual property altogether.
Comic book fans and gamers might recognize Garrison and Red Monika from the "Battle Chasers" comic and the "Battle Chasers: Nightwar" video game. Both characters are tough customers that fit in perfectly with the battle-hardened mercenary guild. "The Legend of Vox Machina" lead character designer Phil Bourassa confirmed the animated cameos on Twitter and thanked "Battle Chasers" creator Joe Madureira for allowing their usage.
Grog's meme-able moment
Grog may have the biggest muscles, but he's a bit short on brains — and attention span. It's okay, though, because we love this gentle half-giant for his fierce loyalty and unwavering optimism, not to mention the plethora of comic relief. There are tons of hilarious moments with Grog in "The Legend of Vox Machina," and a lot of them came from Travis Willingham's great one-liners from the original "Critical Role" campaign (the "bidet" joke, for one example). However, with an animated series, there are even more opportunities for visual gags.
In "The Legend of Vox Machina" episode "The Trials of Vasselheim," for instance, Grog wanders away from the group when his empty stomach leads him to a nearby tavern. After partaking in some good mead, Grog exits the tavern, but instead of rejoining his friends, he is distracted by a pretty butterfly that leads him to the temple of the Storm Lord and the powerful monk Earthbreaker Groon (Ike Amadi).
Internet experts should recognize this visual gag as a reference to the classic meme, "Is this a pigeon?" The meme originated from the anime series "The Brave Fighter of Sun Fighbird," and became a template for countless jokes online. "The Legend of Vox Machina" has provided the perfect screenshot to revive this gem, so do your thing, internet!
Master of the elements
Despite her self-doubt and awkward social graces, the elf druid Keyleth is a powerful wielder of elemental magic. As the future leader of the Air Ashari, she is sent to complete a rite of passage known as an Aramente. Throughout "The Legend of Vox Machina," her time with the misfit band of mercenaries has helped her acquire great wisdom and strength — as well as a few gnarly hangovers.
In the Season 2 episode "Pass Through Fire," we see a flashback that reveals Keyleth's origins. When she was a child, Keyleth's mother, Vilya, left home to complete her own Aramente. Unfortunately, that would be the last time Keyleth ever saw her mother alive. The important scene shows Vilya teaching Keyleth about the balance of the four magical elements — fire, earth, water, and air — as she gives a demonstration of her powers.
This magical display of the elements may call to mind another hit animated series, "Avatar: The Last Airbender." Keyleth's voice actor, Marisha Ray, has spoken on many occasions about the influence "Avatar: The Last Airbender" had in creating her character. This connection comes full circle with the casting of Janet Varney as Vilya, who also provided the voice of Korra in "Avatar: The Legend of Korra." It's a respectful nod to an influential series that paved the way for many fantasy adventures to follow.
Garmelie the Traveler
After a harrowing battle against Umbrasyl in Season 2, Vex'ahlia (Laura Bailey), Vax'ildan (Liam O'Brien), Percy (Taliesin Jaffe), and Keyleth find themselves in the Fey Realm. While wandering through the strange new dimension, they run into a curious little creature named Garmelie (Billy Boyd), a mischievous satyr. He is also something of an amateur artist with a penchant for drawing dirty sketches of the crew.
While traversing the dangers of the Fey Realm, the gang goes head to head with a gelatinous fey monster, which seems to have a personal vendetta against Vax. Garmelie reappears after the fight and applauds their quick thinking as Percy reprimands him for not lending a hand. The satyr replies that he "was merely the traveler on this journey," preferring to observe from afar.
The fey trickster's choice of words here is puzzling — and very deliberate. As revealed at the end of the episode — when he transforms from a satyr into a tall, otherworldly being — Garmelie is not what he seems. "Critical Role" fans familiar with the Mighty Nein campaign know that the enigmatic character has another persona: the Traveler. The character will have an important part yet to play in "The Legend of Vox Machina" and is likely to also make an appearance in the future Mighty Nein series.
A surprise cameo in Syngorn
In the episode "The Fey Realm," four members of Vox Machina enter the elven city of Syngorn. It also just so happens to be the home of Syldor (Troy Baker), the father of Vex and Vax. Sydlor explains to the twins that when the attack of the Chroma Conclave began, the city was magically whisked away into the Fey Realm to escape the fray. The party must pass through the city in order to find the bow Fenthris, a Vestige of Divergence. Unfortunately, this means that the twins are forced into an unhappy reunion with their estranged father.
As Vox Machina explores the city, we see a scene with two elves in a marketplace. One is a merchant selling a type of unique blue melon, while the other is a potential customer examining the quality of the fruit. This brief animated interaction is not just an opportunity for an obvious double entendre.
The elf customer is voiced by none other than Brandon Auman, the executive producer and showrunner of "The Legend of Vox Machina." He was even animated to look like Auman, with a short goatee and a distinctive cap that Auman himself has often been seen wearing. Though it hasn't been confirmed for sure, the elf merchant bears a striking resemblance to Brian Foster, a former producer for "Critical Role" and former host of the "Talks Machina" series.
The cow story
Vox Machina had many adventures during the first "Critical Role" campaign, but with approximately 450 hours of D&D gameplay, the makers of "The Legend of Vox Machina" had to drastically cut down on content to make the series fit into manageable episodes. The show takes the most important story arcs from the campaign and adapts them incredibly well, but a lot of memorable moments were understandably left by the wayside.
In Season 2's "The Killbox," Scanlan (Sam Riegel) and his newfound gnome friend, Kaylie (Aisling Franciosi), leave the celebration at a Westruun tavern for some alone time. As they enter the room, Scanlan is finishing up an anecdote in which he recalls how he once turned the whole group into cows. This is actually a reference to "Critical Role" Episode 26, titled "Consequences and Cows."
In the episode, Vox Machina takes on a job to hunt down a giant bird called a roc that is causing trouble in a nearby farmstead. To catch the roc, Scanlan casts a spell to disguise everyone as dairy cows to lure in the beast. As events progressed, they also used flying magic — while still in cow form — to track down the monstrous bird, resulting in a hilarious mental image that would become a frequent callback during the campaign.
Don't forget the lyrics
Gnome bard Scanlan Shorthalt has treated us to a few serious bops in "The Legend of Vox Machina" series. First, there was the soulful "Pull My Beads of Love," which he performed at the fancy palace shindig in front of a crowd of tight-laced nobles in Season 1. Then there was the heart-wrenching love ballad in the Season 2 episode, "Into Rimecleft," which wounded the heart of the stoic sphinx, Kamaljiori (Tony Plana). And let's not forget the accompaniment he provided for Grog's potty time.
In "The Killbox," Scanlan performs a duet with Kaylie and a band of roving musicians led by Doctor Dranzel (Matthew Mercer). The musical troupe leads the tavern crowd into a rousing sing-along — and in true Scanlan style, it's chock-full of mature content. If the lyrics from "Pull My Beads of Love" made audiences blush, then "Make the Bald Man Cry" had them probably sweating bullets. Mostly because, yes, it's a song about self-stimulation.
Things get especially cringy when you find out later that Kaylee is Scanlan's long-lost daughter. That's right — the father and daughter duo sing about "flicking the bean" and "spanking the monkey" on stage together. Talk about an awkward family reunion.
Where in Exandria is Matthew Mercer?
Matthew Mercer has lent his voice-acting talents to hundreds of projects, particularly in anime and video games, but it's his prowess as a professional Dungeon Master that has made him a legend. For the better part of a decade, Mercer has been the puppet master of "Critical Role," pulling the strings and rolling the dice to decide the fate of the player characters. He also created the world of Exandria, including the majority of its history and lore.
Though it was a collaborative effort of the entire "Critical Role" team, Mercer is arguably the beating heart at the center of "The Legend of Vox Machina." It only stands to reason that he would contribute to the series by playing various characters, including the quirky black-powder salesman, Victor, and the vicious black dragon, Umbrasyl. However, he also appears in the show in other ways — look closely, and you'll notice a few background and side characters with Mercer's trademark long brown hair.
In Season 2, he can be seen (and sometimes heard) as the guard at the gate of Vasselheim, an elf among the cheering crowd during Grog's vision of a colosseum battle, the elf guard with a wheelbarrow during the Chroma Conclave's siege on Emon, and a lot more. It's a veritable "Where's Waldo?" that fans of "The Legend of Vox Machina" should be on the lookout for during a rewatch of the series.