THE LEGEND OF VOX MACHINA 2x8 Reaction! | "Echo Tree" | Critical Role

[@phoenixdzk]

There's so much of dialogue in this episode from Vex and Percy that was lifted verbatim from the stream, and for good reason, those lines are phenomenal

[@d.k.t.3380]

Yes, but that line about pulling her father's blood from her and giving it back to him was originally said to her father's face. Laura (Vex's player and voice on the show) was crying as she delivered it, and you felt every word. It wasn't quite the same saying it while enthralled by Saundor the Incel, IMO.

[@mr.stuffdoer8483]

@@d.k.t.3380 it makes more sense for her character to not say it to her father, though. That’s what Vax would say. Vex isn’t there yet.

[@d.k.t.3380]

@@mr.stuffdoer8483 Which is why I was hoping they would save that line for if they ever did return. Maybe showing father the bow, him inviting them with the "reception they think they deserve" them declining, and that coming out in the big blow-up exchange. It's that they HARD THREW that line and that moment away that bugs me so much.

[@PuffyCloud_aka_puffeclaude]

​​@@d.k.t.3380I think it has to do with the shifting and compression. Each character, major npcs included, have their own arcs, and they're a bit out of alignment at this point. I agree, the power of Laura's performance at the table was lost a bit here, but it does make more sense this way.

[@iceman10129]

The reaction from Laura and Liam when they spotted their half sister live on stream was pure adorable. You could see immediately that the only disdain was for their father, and they gave her brother and sister love immediately.

[@Geth-Who]

I love how hard they went on the Saundor's A Massive Incel angle. Genuinely love it. Also, Pop-Pop is voice-acted by Henry Winkler, The Fonz.

[@tlaragihai5953]

Percy/Vex blossoms here and I love it. Thank you for sharing your feelings about Vex`s story. I enjoy your reactions very much ♥

[@sandpiperr]

It actually shocked me because I'd been seeing signs in season 1 that made me feel like Vex was actually already in love with Percy, which I didn't expect. I figured it'd be more she'd start to feel differently about him later. So I thought maybe I was just seeing what I wanted to. However, that declaration with the immediate pan to him was like...whoa, I was right??? Holy shit! Because a declaration like that, with so little hesitation, only happens in someone who's very aware of what their feelings are.

[@Wanttowrite]

​@sandpiperr This was nicely foreshadowed in the previous episode during the drug trip. Hearts were emitting from Percy when Vex looked at him.

[@miranda4073]

I think this is the first time I've seen someone call out "hi pop pop, I f**ked up" in a reaction and THANK YOU, that is a line I quote constantly every day

[@israelrobles681]

Thank you girls, your analisis is warm and complex making me take another points of view. Keep the good work!

[@ck_idgaf1680]

15:22 everything ya'll just said is exactly what Vex said to Vax in S1, she told him to keep away from Keyleth, cause all they need is each other. It cool how the writers bought that back showing how dealing with their father ties in to their characters. Vax is showing similarities in how he treating Percy now. "You don't care for my sister like me". The father help build that build they have but it made them not trust others.

[@HowManyTimes234]

Don’t worry. Garmelie (or the being he actually is) will come up again later on, especially in the Mighty Nein campaign that’s coming up. For now, all you need to know is that Vox Machina just made a very… VERY powerful ally. 😉

[@bcn1gh7h4wk]

if Billy remains as the voice actor, that'd be awesome.

[@lucasbrito3562]

@@bcn1gh7h4wk It's Matt who will do his voice, billy does garmelie

[@davidbodor1762]

They will definitely see him, but it is a bit of a long con.

[@miafiolekova5817]

A few tid-bits of information from the campaign and show that are not spoilers: 1. When Scanlan is giving the pill to Grog he is humming "Beads of love" the song he sang at Uriels ball. 2. The green dude with red hair who was Garmilie is an archfey like Saundor the guy Vex killed was also an archfey. Archfeys are like nobility in the Fey Realm. 3. In the campaign Percy gave also a title to Vex, but there their father actualy changed the paper and was a bit impressed. In the show he is dismissive because he is a bigger jerk. 4. Elves in Exandria live somewhere around 600-900 years, even more. 5. In the campaign during the encounter with Saundor Vex had a choice to reject or accept his offer. As in the show she rejected. But if she accepted, she would have changed from a half-elf to a fey that would be part plant and she would get some new strengths and weaknesses and he would also give her the bow. 5. And just a side note, Velora their half-sister is sooo cute ❤

[@DrLipkin]

One of the weaknesses would have been vulnerability to fire. *Just* what you want when going up against a fire breathing dragon. She made the right choice, for multiple reasons.

[@riolkin]

@@DrLipkin I love that Matt was able to gaslight Laura as Saundor so hard that she actually started apologizing when everyone had to roll initiative. I also love that while she was apologizing, the whole team was just like, "Don't apologize, screw this guy let's kill him. He's a jackass."

[@thehappyaipom]

It's not well explained, but Vax and Vex are half elves. Full elves in this world are very prejudice towards half breeds of their kind and sees them as a mark on a families name. Vex and Vaxs mother was a human woman from a different village. They half sister, is a full elf from an elven mother, so their father sees her as "The perfect child" by blood alone. This is also why their father addresses Percy so civilly after hearing his title. He is a full human noble, worthy of respect. It's less about getting over abusive men and seperating yourself from a toxic parent, or the need for parental recognition. While the archfey was manipulating her perceptions to gain her hearts love in one form or another, either fatherly or lovers. Which is where the bridge comes in with offering her heart to making her father proud comes in. Like so they can see this. It brings much more context to this amazing episode

[@laurahart1337]

"That means you've got a muscle to pull!" I love Wilhelm

[@TroubleSturm]

Did you notice that Scanlon was whistling his "Pull My Beads (of Love)" while administering Grog's medication?

[@bcn1gh7h4wk]

Percy: "That's Lady Vexahlia." Syldor: ".... Lady?" Percy: "Yes. Lady Vexahlia, Baroness of the Third House of Whitestone and Grand Mistress of the Grey Hunt." everyone: _"Oooooohhhhh!"_ Percy: 🎤🖐 _plop!_

[@ktntwireless]

Man, I love the choice of not fully resolving the issues with their dad. They purposefully kept him as someone who isn’t going to change, even for his children. It’s a very real thing to live in. It’s their growth despite the lack of acceptance from an important figure in their life that makes the character arc so much more compelling.

[@Dannydarko27]

Troy Baker killing it as the twins dad

[@cryofpaine]

I remember seeing that moment with Keyleth tree-striding through the trees as a fire elemental on the live stream. Such a clever move!

[@thedarkknight2221]

Literally as soon as I saw the “pill” and how big it was all I could hear was Professor Farnsworth from Futurama saying “good news, it’s a suppository”. 🤣🤣🤣 Also since we have had both Dominic Monaghan and Billy Boyd on this show I hope that somehow we get the rest of the Fellowship Of The Ring to guest star on this show.🤞🤞

[@miafiolekova5817]

Well they should hurry with Ian McKellen, he aint getting any younger.

[@cryofpaine]

Sean Astin has to be Yeza. Doubtful they can get him for such a major role, but he's perfect.

[@Geth-Who]

Oh god, Elijah Wood as Kynan...

[@ffreed]

Sean Astin already voice acts, so it’s not outside the realm of possibility.

[@devildham]

By the way...That title Percy gave Vex was real. The last "Grandmaster of the Grey Hunt" was the half-giant that got his ass kicked by Scanlan.

[@elbruces]

True, Percy basically gave her Duke Vedmire's previous position. Mind you, that means that the "Third House of Whitestone" is curently a smoldering ruin, but whatev.

[@stevenhurst4236]

Technically, that half giant was actually just the baron of the third house of Whitestone. In the live stream, they saw the last Grandmaster of the Grey Hunt, but only from afar and never interacted with her.

[@elbruces]

@@stevenhurst4236 Don't know what you're talking about, but his professed love of hunting fits in.

[@stevenhurst4236]

@@elbruces oh, absolutely. But Vedmire wasn't the Grandmaster of the Grey Hunt. The Grey Hunt is it's own specific thing. In Percy's own words (via the Livestream), it is a title which one earns, and one which no one can say Vex didn't earn. The Grandmaster of the Grey Hunt has very specific duties. And going into what those Duties are/were comes close to spoiler territory.

[@PuffyCloud_aka_puffeclaude]

​​@@stevenhurst4236but he did have the house, that technically belongs to Vex now, and Scanlan already burned down.

[@BeAuTyLoVe17]

The scenes with Pop Pop are so sweet 😭❤️ and then the other part of the group has the complete contrast with the Daddy issues

[@AlmostOtaku7]

The "Garmelie" form was a faun or satyr, depending on which etymology and/or D&D lore you use. His other form is a special surprise we'll (hopefully) see later. ;)

[@IceMetalPunk]

Elves have distant fey ancestry but aren't really considered fey. Saundor (the villain) and the guy you saw at the end (who Garmelie turned into) are archfey, which are basically super powerful, almost godlike fey. And I won't say more because certain things, I'm sure, will be explained later in the series, and I won't sprinkle in any spoilers.

[@cryofpaine]

The thing with their father is that he didn't know they existed, until someone from Singorn was traveling through Stilben (I think is where the twins were living). When they saw the twins, they somehow knew or found out who they were, and then their father sent for them to live with him. Because having two "illegitimate" children would have been bad enough, but children of his that weren't educated in the ways of the elves, just living in a backwater town somewhere, that would have been scandalous. It was always about his reputation, his appearance. Never about them.

[@johna6352]

And when they finally had enough and left their father, they returned to their mother's home only to find that she had been killed and their childhood home destroyed by a dragon (as Vex mentioned during season 1).

[@cryofpaine]

@@johna6352 Which is the moment we see in the opening credits, with the twins standing in front of the burning house.

[@Crazyivan777]

The... Being... That Garmelie turned into once he sent the group back to Tal'dorei is an Easter egg for those that watch Critical Role. He shows up again in the second campaign.

[@d.k.t.3380]

There's also a scene later (if the show sticks to the campaign) that goes HARD! Like (Without spoilers), Matt going so hard into how f**ked up fey creatures can be with this character, Marisha turning to Matt with a worried look on her face as she says "I have to go home with you..." at the end of the session kind of hard. IYKYK

[@AceOvrZero]

what??@@d.k.t.3380

[@Liesmith424]

Saundor definitely has a pickup artist podcast where he refers to women as "females".

[@placebo5466]

what a cruel thing to do.

[@d.k.t.3380]

Not seeing it: He definitely refers to women as "prey" *shudders*

[@pinkrole2210]

Feeeemales!!

[@pauloskinner]

I’m a Brazilian guy and if you use the equivalent of “female” (fêmea) in Portuguese to call a woman you’d be hit in the face immediately. It’s only used for animals. It always bothered me how it’s used in English all the time to the point it seemed to me it was just normal for the language. I’m glad people are starting to point out that it isn’t.

[@cryofpaine]

Stunt casting : Andrew Tate

[@pinkrole2210]

Artie! Lovely to see a sprinkle of his real form!

[@Geth-Who]

I see what you weaseled in there.

[@Kasino80]

Spoilers

[@nonechuks6683]

Percy and Syldor are very similar in how they present themselves as nobles -- even their speech cadences. But, while Syldor is just utter snob x1000, Percy actually has compassion and had a fall from grace that taught him humility and self-examination. But Percy and Syldor being so similar is probably why Vex initially fell for Percy or was at least interested in him.

[@jatinagrawal8473]

So, you mean Percy and Vex aren't gonna be together?? Man, I was really shipping them😔

[@sandpiperr]

@@jatinagrawal8473 I think you're assuming a lot based on someone's personal analysis. This comment has nothing do with canon. That's all I'll say so as not to spoil.

[@alfredweaver4638]

Achara please continue to be your authentic self, it's why we watch ya'll.

[@SebastianWeinberg]

3:49 - _"It's fine!"_ - *“Daddy issues…”* "Daddy Issues" is Vex'ahlia's legal middle name. The fact that Syldor rejected Vex's title out of hand is very telling; it shows that all his blathering about "nobility" and "worthiness" is nothing but hot air. If he actually _believed_ that, he would have had to respect Vex's title (and Vex herself) - but he didn't, thus revealing that he's just a shit person and even shittier father, who only uses the trappings of nobility as an excuse to be an utter asshole to his "embarrassing" children.

[@CsongorCsatlós]

Well they made it like that intentionally for the show. God forbid a patent be redemable.

[@stevencavanagh7990]

the sad thing is the Archfey in the tree, really does have a tragic backstory, he was betrayed by his one true love, she actually was his partner, which made him bitter. and turned him into what he was in that fight. short of, while we don't agree with his actions we know why he's like he is.

[@sandpiperr]

One person breaking your heart isn't an excuse to go incel "you females are all the same!" So eff him.

[@petercolson2990]

Pike's Pop Pop was a whole lot more warm and wholesome than the Larry David appearance had me expecting ;)

[@seansilence2697]

I think it would be really fun to see you guys react to some of the original campaign moments. There are some videos on KZbin that compare them next to the TV show version.

[@corporealghoul]

I absolutely love how keyleth took those trees down. I believe she did it in the live game too. Keyleth can Tree Stride. Its an ability to pass through one tree and exit through another like a portal. We saw her do it 2 or 3 times now. Druids dont use this in battle normally. Its a way to travel great distances. But keyleth is brilliant. She realized she could tree stride in her fire elemental form and it would destroy both trees. So she steps into the tree and just ignites herself before leaping out of the second tree. Marisha Ray, the creator and voice of keyleth is absolutely brilliant. And she thought of that on the spot. There are times when the players think of something that is so absurdly cool that their DM just goes "okay that does it." Just wait until we get The Mighty Nein show and you both meet Beauregard Lionett. Thats Marisha's character in Mighty Nein. I wont spoil beau for you guys... but beau allowed marisha to be the brilliant person she is as part of her character. Shes becomes almost a detective at times in ways keyleth couldnt because it would hurt keyleths image. Marisha totally had to act like an awkward valley girl to embody keyleth. All the cast totally played themselves as characters but marisha didnt play herself until she made Beauregard.

[@jgrado3]

With regards to Syldor, his voice actor Troy recently brought up something pretty interesting: he is very much a prisoner of his own worldview and, when he sees the twins striving to be better than they started, he baulks against it. Remember in season one, when Vex had her own worldview challenged with Keyleth and she angrily rejected her at every turn (“Inside? Why not just announce where our hideout is while you’re at it?”) After meeting Syldor, you can absolutely tell where that obduracy came from. Even Vax has started to show some Syldor tendencies towards Percy this season. Why did Syldor take them in at all? Because his protocol demanded it. He’s bound to his customs and traditions. Vex could no more break it than she could lift a mountain with her bare hands. Never thought about it until Troy mentioned it.

[@stevencavanagh7990]

if he hadn't taken them in they would be dead.

[@acrefray]

@@stevencavanagh7990 But that wasn't any kind of reason. No one knew what was going to happen. Syldor took them for (what he thought) was good reason. He tried to raise them to be better than he thought they could possibly achieve. Despite disdaining them, he genuinely reads as someone who wants what's best for them, whilst hating them for what they are, and the driving factor for him even attempting to "raise" them being protocols bound upon him by Syngorn. It's an interesting complex mess.

[@carlotacosta9193]

"Evil Tarzan" so good lmao

[@robertgillis2345]

Thats Henry Winkler (Fonzie) Playing Pike's great great grandfather

[@AngelusNZ]

The voice actor of Garmili is Billy Boyd (pippin from Lord of the Rings)

[@ap4558]

Trivia: The voice of Garmelie is none other than Pippin, aka, Billy Boyd!

[@davidbodor1762]

Fun fact - There is an Exandria musical on youtube made by fans, it's bloody brilliant, but because it covers most of this arc of the campaign it is full of spoilers. HOWEVER - There is a Saunder song called You'll be mine and it's amazing. There's a twisted happiness this sleazbag of an archfey feels when he wants to control someone else and the song is just perfect for it.

[@EThomasVerum]

Great reaction- I like both of your thoughts on the characters, especially Vex and the toxic men arc that she deals with here but noting she does have counterexamples.

[@seansilence2697]

You are correct that the guy in green is a Fey. An Archfey, to be specific. Basically one of the most powerful beings in the Fey Realm

[@Thurrak]

Love your reactions! You have such good insights to share about what you liked about the episode. Keep it up and I hope more people find your reactions! Might I suggest you also change the titles to "Reaction and Review" since you do such a good job of providing a good review of the show!

[@cspaikido]

Pike's GGGrandfather is voiced by Henry Winkler.

[@spiritkit]

You two are awesome!! Love your reacts!!

[@leonardocruz6715]

That fey is major player in the next campaign

[@michaelmartin5623]

The entity that Garmelie transforms in at the end is an archfey known as Artagan. Gamelie was just one of the disguises that Artagan can become. Artagan (I think) shows up again in the live stream game, but who knows if we’ll see him again in TLoVM. However, he does play an important part of the Mighty Nein game (Campaign 2), so when the recently announced Mighty Nien animated show start’s we will definitely see Artagan again! But it may be a few years before the Mighty Nein show aires.

[@AlmostOtaku7]

Spoilers.

[@michaelmartin5623]

Not really. I left out specific details.

[@TenebrousFilms]

The 'high' elves of Syngorn have a poor opinion of hybrids like the twins. The only reason Syldor removed them from their mother's village before it was destroyed was due to them having his blood. Originally, Syldor did amend the name; I'm hoping for a bigger payoff down the road. Meanwhile, the stayr turns out to be an archfey. You'll see him again. And then again, and again...

[@enchantedrose4552]

there a book about Vex and Vax and it dives in into there childhood

[@dustinmiron4298]

You girls should 100% go and watch the actual Critical Role* campaign 1 to get all the feels! It's 144 episodes and ABSOLUTELY worth watching!!

[@Ragdefender]

4-5 hours each too!

[@sandpiperr]

Ugh, no. Reactions from people who know all the spoilers are never fun.

[@phoenix_00111]

I think I khow what's the twins dad's problem They mother was a human and they born half elf so they are not pure elf and he care so much about ritual and protocols and he that half elves against them and not actually tell them think if you watch it again you see they new sisters they have a elf mother that's why she's happier in childhood then twins

[@InquisitorCyTh]

For some reason i've got and urge to disagree with Percy on his concept of 'Acting noble'. Things he described is more of 'Acting wealthy' or 'Acting entitled' Actual noble acts don't have to be introduced cuz those acts speak louder than any words. Helping weak and people in need, being respectful to people despite their wealth or social status, taking responsibilities for ones actions, placing honor above material goods, and so on. It was passed down generations in my family, that ''even the last peasant can be noble by his heart, and kings can be rotten inside''.

[@kenle2]

I'm pretty sure Percy would agree with you that your description is how nobles SHOULD be. Here he is just trying to sympathize with Vex about how jerkish her father is being.

[@sandpiperr]

Ugh wtf? He was clearly talking about the hereditary class/caste system that was automatically granted power because they were assumed, by virtue of birth, to be inherently better in every way than those who were "lower" born, even when they frequently didn't live up to that idea! Not to concept of acting noble, as in actually acting in a moral and principled way.

[@corporealghoul]

Im fairly certain Singor or however you pell it, the corrupt elf thing in the tree, im pretty sure the cast wanted him to be those internet guys that tell everyone they are a super nice guy while calling women "females" then when a women shoots them down they freak out and legit say things like "youre just like all the test of the sluts!" Legit 100% i think thats what they were going for. Matt and the rest of the cast are very connected with toxic fandoms and in general toxic men. Marisha, voice of keyleth and married to matt the DM amd creator of this world, got a ton of hate from toxic men for keyleth and still her character in campaign 2. So i definitely think this singor guy was a targeted attack to all the internet toxic men.

[@tylertravis5273]

Abusive people are the worst but there not always men i was punched even raped by woman while I was sick n couldn't move saying no. Dont like you specifically put men in that category tbh.

[@maxvickrey4357]

So I'm pretty certain the creature that turned into that elf guy at the end is "the Traveler" who happens to be god that the cleric for the mighty nien follows in their 2 campaign they did ....

[@Ragdefender]

You just spoiled two campaigns! Nice!

[@sandpiperr]

What is wrong with you? You know that these reactors haven't watched the campaign, why do you have to spoil the show???