Reviews: Danger, betrayal and fire in the first 3 episodes of The Legend of Vox Machina season 3

As a seasoned gamer who’s seen more dragons than a medieval hoarder, let me tell you, the third season of The Legend of Vox Machina is a rollercoaster ride that keeps you on your toes!

Please note: there are minor SPOILERS in this article.

Get ready for the ongoing thrill as the third season of “The Legend of Vox Machina“, inspired by the escapades of the Critical Role role-playing group, is streaming on Amazon Prime Video! Catch the opening act with episodes 1 to 3 available currently, and look forward to new sets of three episodes every Thursday. Enjoy the ride!

To kick things off, let’s briefly discuss what each episode in Vox Machina brings to the table. The characters are remarkable, with their flaws and strengths alike. The opening sequence hints at the challenges and repercussions that lie ahead. I find it clever how alcohol is subtly portrayed as “liquid courage” throughout the series; wine bottles even bear labels emblazoned with the word ‘courage’.

In intriguing styles, our heroes’ dragons are depicted – specifically, the red dragon, Thordak. On both sides of his neck, he sports lines that glow scarlet as he prepares a fierce blast of fire. This resembles the way contemporary Godzilla readies himself to unleash his destructive breath.

In Scanlan’s quest, his bond with his daughter becomes crucial. Many characters yearn for connection but worry about the exposure and vulnerability that commitment entails. A central aspect of Vox Machina is friendship. The back-and-forth between Grog and Pike is amusing, and they are swift to protect each other.

Now let’s get to the new episodes!

Episode 301: “A Deadly Bargain”

Vax spies on the dragons and runs straight into Thordak’s eggs. The odd thing to me is Thordak is male, so when he says “his children” I wonder if, in this world, all dragons lay eggs, not just females. Vax gets hit with a vision about the world burning.

The story backs up a day. The dragon Raishan takes her human form and offers information about a vestige of armor and a team-up to face Thordak. We learn the story behind the elemental gem imbedded in Thordak’s chest and about Raishan’s desire for revenge.

At an unfavorable time, Vax finds himself with a new foresight – this time, it’s a glimpse into the possible downfall of Vox Machina.

Vox Machina journey towards Thordak’s lair to retrieve the eggs, and we transition to the final moments of the initial scene when Vax unearths the eggs, triggering a chase by Thordax and Vorugal. The entire team flees for safety, taking refuge in a fallen structure. Raishan emerges, forming an uncertain truce. She lends a hand in their escape, guiding them towards Ank’Harel, a place believed to house the armor vestige.

As a devoted admirer, I help expedite our journey towards Marquet. However, an attack on the archive leaves me in a state of shock as the culprit escapes with valuable armor. In hot pursuit across city rooftops and thoroughfares, Vox Machina relentlessly chases her. Eventually, it’s Percy who catches up, facing off against a familiar adversary.

In March 2023, Lance Reddick, who lent his voice to the character Thordak, sadly passed away. This was one of his final roles. A touching tribute was paid to him prior to the ending credits, which felt fitting.

Episode 302: “Prisoners of Ank’Harel”

In a surprising turn of events, Dr. Anna Ripley unveils her identity to Percival. Her ambition involves widely dispersing the advanced weaponry that he had developed in the past. The potential consequences, ethically speaking, stir unease within him, yet despite his prior statements about flexing moral boundaries, these implications make him ponder.

The remaining members secretly venture into the archives, seeking hints and Percy. As they exit, they stumble upon a slain sorcerer merchant. Their pursuit of Percival continues, leading them to encounter guards who chase them. In this chase, they locate Percy, but Vex sustains injuries. Eventually, they are apprehended by the Ord’s Hand for being near the site of Mistress Asharru’s attack and murder.

Scanlan finds his daughter, who is unhappy to see him. Their meeting doesn’t go as expected.

In this rephrased version: The empress accuses Vox Machina of murder and condemns them to execution, using Percy’s weapon and the relics they possess as proof. However, extenuating circumstances result in their acquittal. She then orders them to a city in the netherworlds to retrieve a missing relic, believed to have been stolen.

Episode 303: “Vexations”

Episode 3 commences by delving into a meeting of dragons, where Raishan and Thordak engage in a heated dispute. Thordak sets a deadline for Raishan to secure the presence of Vox Machina.

The back and forth of relationships continues with emotions running deep. The group take magical travel to Draconia. There, Allura and Kima introduce them to Doula.

A doula leads them through a concealed portal into a desolate world reminiscent of hell, filled with tortured spirits and winged harbingers of death. Their quest for a relic persists amidst this infernal landscape. Meanwhile, those left behind struggle to open the gateway again, encountering perils from the fearsome horned ice dragon Vorugal. The thrilling escape I appreciated was by using a mystical barrier as a shield.

This episode reaffirmed friendships and dangers of relationships. I predict that love will prevail.

2024-10-03 22:41

Agatha’s coven gains another member as she walks down a darker, mysterious road in Episode 4