Kaiju Battles! WOMEN!!! RIPLEY RUINING MY DAY! : Vox Machina s3ep5 Blind Reaction

[@mollymawkery]

They did in fact throw a demon at the dragon in the campaign and everyone sat around while Matt essentially played with his action figures for a little while. It was great! Also, probably the most successful plan that Vox Machina ever came up with, no one was more surprised then they were that it worked.

[@Ironoclasty]

Kima's first appearance in the game was when they found her strapped to a rack in a torture chamber and her first interaction was, "It's about time. You wanna help me out here?"

[@Charlie-tw3lj]

"Perhaps playing DnD gives you a really good grasp of characterization?" It really does! The characters feel so real in their relationships because those roles have been extensively lived in. (It also helps that the CR cast are like best in class actors in their own rights, and this is their passion project)

[@xseedingme]

I would venture that they are the best actors of anyone doing voice work, including all of the modern TV and screen actors that get all the biggest VO roles. IMO

[@operative2136]

There's quite a number of successful folks that work in entertainment who have a background in playing D&D. Probably the best known to Critters are Joe Manganiello and Deborah Ann Woll from True Blood. But there are some others including Jon Favreau (Iron Man/The Mandalorian), the Russo Brothers (Community, several Avengers movies), D.B. Weiss (Game of Thrones), David Benioff (Game of Thrones), Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine), the Big Show (WWE), Dan Harmon (Rick and Morty/Community), Stephen Colbert (the Colbert Report).

[@nigelhyde279]

He hasn’t had the key the whole time, remember he and Vex argued about a key in Umbrasyls treasure horde. What it does you’ll see next time, but it’s an old D&D spell as a magic item.

[@easterslice]

Scanlan also mentioned it when he ran away from Pike in episode 3.

[@Bigsteelguy4]

The next 7 episodes will be very rough for you, but hang in there, and keep going. The payoff is so much better. Trust the writers, they know what they are doing.

[@xseedingme]

Indeed!

[@555smo]

Dont worry. We will be with you in spirit and emotion for these next episodes

[@thomashall1262]

the opening :) "Percey does everything 100% whether it's revenge or..." 5 second pause while thinking of something other than revenge that Percy does.

[@jonathanhibberd9983]

Things that Percy does other than revenge: inventing Vex

[@jonathanhibberd9983]

I'm really sad that they don't have Keyleth interact more with Percy. They had such a great relationship in the campaign. They were both nobles, leaders of their people. They had a great big brother/little sister relationship. And Marisha and Taliesin are close friends from even before their home game. There's a great scene that I hope we see next season (but I'm not sure we will since it took place in Ank'Harel which they've already been to) of the two of them drinking a local alcohol with unique effects. The two of them play off each other so well. I really recommend checking it out. There's no spoilers for anything else, just this one scene if they actually decide to put it in next season. "Critical Role - Forgotten Gem - Drinking Sandkheg's Hide"

[@Exvaris]

Seriously, your ability to pick up on storytelling cues is incredible. Several of the things you're catching on a first watch took me several watches to notice. I won't spoil what things you got right or wrong but please continue to watch this season, it is excellent.

[@jonathanhibberd9983]

Having watched several other reacters, she's the one that consistently picks up on the threads and predicts things that are coming more than anyone.

[@jonathanhibberd9983]

Dang, even nailed the number of episodes!

[@SomeoneTookMyOldName]

While I haven’t watched the full campaign, Matt has said is a few interviews that Allura was pretty much his player character in the campaign

[@Bigsteelguy4]

Remember the end of Season 2? He got the key in that pile of treasure. Remember it was floating?

[@warriorwitchwillow]

“I killed the dragon, didn’t I? I should get ALL the mfing magic keys!”

[@Black-Cat072]

I missed you!! Once again, your thoughts are always on point and the depth of your analysis makes your reactions to this show the best I've seen by far. You have the best understanding of these characters I've seen and I even learn things from you that I didn't catch!

[@Heavensrun]

"Mythcarver's really puttin in the work!" It's gotta make up for all the *non-use* it got during the campaign. ;p

[@magp1001]

Scanlan found the key in Umbrassyl's horde; he's only had it for a little bit. Get the ox for the rest of the season.

[@caffeinedelusions]

Also, trust the process. These storytellers wouldn’t put viewers through hard things without good cause. They want you to feel the bitter and sour explicitly so that the savory and sweet stand out clearly.

[@warriorwitchwillow]

4:27 Kima was the first mission Vox Machina went on when the stream started. She was off on a quest and had gone missing, so Allura sent VM to find her in the Underdark. They were both regular NPCs in the campaign. We got hints of their past in dialogue from Matt, but getting to see it is awesome!!

[@hhylobates4098]

30:33 Funny that Allura references that adventure here, proudly declaring Kima a "Survivor of Emberhold" when she actually had to be rescued haha

[@caffeinedelusions]

Princess Bride’s version was ‘as you wish’. Percy’s was ‘as you like’. One could split some hairs about the differences and subtleties of word choice, but I think you’re right that at heart it’s the same sentiment.

[@blueroninstudios]

Shakespeare as well. He did write a play called "As You Like It" if I'm not mistaken.

[@jennynorton9218]

"Friends with benefits... and one of those benefits is cuddling!" I love it!

[@gromalokgeron5100]

1) Diplomaticy will be used later 🤝 2) Vex is more strategist, while Percy is more tactician

[@crazymauler]

fun episode for sure. i find it funny vex face when percy says we are not together that girl almost had whip lash lol and percy throwing her own words at her stings yea but it got her thinking though.

[@andresfelipemanjarres7061]

I really miss your LVM videos, your insigth on this character is amazing. i let you with a littel fun fact: the Percy line "Fuck it, let get weird" is a famous Taliesin Jaffe frase that he use everytime he make a crazy but dangerous move, usally in battle. Also, side note, the "she Fullmetall Alquemist herlself" is a god tier references, i love it.

[@RuslanIvanyuk-ub8fj]

24:03 In Matt Mercer's universe, nearly every *entity* had a toothy maw 😅

[@xseedingme]

I am thrilled you are back with another episode of LoVM. I was starting to be a bit concerned. Almost all of these actors make their living from voice over work (animation, games, Anime) and there are SO many well acted moments during all 3 seasons but this season is amazing! Kima (Stephanie Beatriz) and Ripley (Kelly Hu) are standouts for me. But after watching the entirety of all 3 seasons, Laura F*cking Bailey is THE MOST amazing actor in the show thus far! If she does not get at least an Emmy nomination for this season, these awards have no meaning. Also, your analysis is spot on, as usual. Your emotional intelligence is always appreciated. Keep up the great work, Kyra!

[@neonom1024]

re: the name of Bad News, "Nothing travels faster." - Taliesin Jaffe

[@xenonuke1194]

Kima *covered in gore and monster bits* Allura 🥵🥵

[@AdamEspersona]

"In Love with your Carnage" is such a good trope 😊

[@warriorwitchwillow]

1:00 To paraphrase Ron Swanson: Percy doesn’t half-ass multiple things. He whole-asses one thing.

[@caffeinedelusions]

As far as combat compatibility goes, I feel like it’s worth noting that Grog, Pike, and Vax form the classic MMORPG trinity of Tank/Heals/DPS… and as Designated Frontliners, part of the job Vax and Pike have is to be Designated Flankers trapping enemies between a rock (Grog) and a hard place (themselves) so that whomever they’re turned to engage with, they’ve got someone else at their backs.

[@christopherkowalczyk4405]

I'm convinced that,guitar riff when the demon and dragon square off was a Pacific Rim nod.

[@purpletygertube]

Glad to see you picking up LoVM again! Your insight/foresight is incredible.

[@Iamtheultra-nerd]

I learnt something from this episode. Violence makes for a really good aphrodisiac

[@ManuelAngelMartin-om4xy]

You are not ready for this... watch them soon so you dont think twice!

[@warriorwitchwillow]

41:56 Fun fact: Liam O’Brien (Vax) was the voice of Nightcrawler in Wolverine and the X-Men. *BAMF*

[@Graelcase]

36:45 Really, they just got married for the tax benefits y'all, they're not together.

[@andyenglish4303]

"Percy you're a lord of Whitestone--we all pay YOU taxes."

[@kingofheavymetal]

So fun fact, in lore everything you kill with Fenthras (Vex bow) a tree grows from it's corpse, but it's nice that they made it a Kiki/Vex thing here.

[@shannonsavino4068]

ALLURA AND KIMA!!!! KIMA AND ALLURA!!!!! LET'S GO LESBIANS!!!!!! You are correct that the streamed games didn't go into their backstory much, and instead the vast majority of focus was on our main characters. While the broad strokes of Kima and Allura's backstory were there (they adventured together, battled Thordak, & fell in love) there was never as much emphasis on it as there was here. One of the things Matt and the writers have said they appreciate about the animated series is having the ability to flesh out the backstories of some of the NPCs like Kima and Allura, or some of the things going on with the villains like the check-ins we've had with Thordak throughout season 3. I do think this episode was really needed to endear to us to Kima and Allura though. While they've been there from the beginning, they really haven't had a moment to shine. In the campaigns there is a whole arc prior to the Briarwoods, where Vox Machina goes down underground and rescues Kima after Allura asks them to. The constraints of the kickstarter promising the animate the Briarwoods arc (a fan favorite for obvious reasons) meant that that entire arc got cut in favor of the dragon fight with Brimscythe. A stronger choice overall because it ties into the overarching plot of the Conclave, but it means that we get less of an intimate introduction to Kima and Allura and their dynamic. So it's nice to see it brought back around here. You get to see how they fell in love, their struggles as a couple, and their trust and faith in one another. NOW onto the Percy and Vex of it all. I LOVE Vex's little surprised Pikachu face when Percy says "we're not together". Sure, they just had their little talk about keeping things casual and noncommittal and he just agreed to it, but she was absolutely NOT expecting that. Girl, what were you expecting? And why does it hurt so much when he tosses your words right back at you, like this whole thing wasn't your idea in the first place? Oh sure, SHE can say that it's no strings attached and relationships are a bad idea and be the one to reject him, but the moment he throws it back and he rejects her in even the tiniest way it stings. Also, it's a small moment but I really love when Percy comes to Allura's rescue and then says "Let's go find our ladies". OUR LADIES, HM, PERCIVAL?? Oh sure, he is willing to match Vex's energy and say they're not together when standing next to her and be all cool and casual like she (says she) wants, because she's Vex and honestly he would do anything for her even pretend to not be in this all the way... until the second she's out of earshot. Then he's right back to 200% smitten. Anyways they're planning a spring wedding but they're not like, TOGETHER together, why would you ever think that???

[@shannonsavino4068]

OH! I also forgot to add-- I love Vex relying on Keyleth, and thinking on her feet for the final shot on Vorugal. They've come such a long way in the time since Season 1, and even if Keyleth is unsure Vex has total and 100% faith in her ability. It's a small moment but such a good one!!

[@InkyPetrel]

Delighted to see a new VM reaction, as always! It's been a little bit

[@Ali-fx2wo]

“I hope we see Diplomacy in action this season” Me thinking about the episode Diplomacy is used this season: 😬😬😬😰😰😰😫😫😫

[@wildbronco038]

"WHO'S ON THE COUNCIL???"

[@johnwoodworth9127]

I swear Matt was nearly at the point of killing one of the council members each time he was asked.

[@jonathanhibberd9983]

@@johnwoodworth9127 I mean, since we don't actually know who was on the council, he might have. 🤣

[@maskcreationsltd4142]

I'm just giving you a heads up, the next couple of episodes will be difficult for you I think. The support Ox will definitely need to be at hand... I love the series though, and love listening to your thoughts. Please keep going.

[@easterslice]

And remember that we are here for you... even if we are watching a few days later.

[@jcbass2u]

The tree was there as the result of Fenthriss's ability, not Keyleth's spell, although it did help the attack get through. Looked awesome either way.

[@zenmastermtl]

I think it was a combination of the Fenthiss vine attack augmented by Plant Growth.

[@caffeinedelusions]

@@zenmastermtlThat’s likely. The sense I get is that Brambleshot is not normally that BIG or that CONTROLLED, but that Fenthras gave Keyleth a foundation to build on to squeeze the dragon’s heart, and that the power she poured into it also ended up growing a tree… a wyrmwood, if you will.

[@xseedingme]

plus they simply can't stick too closely to D&D. Can't have Hasbro suing for a piece of the action.

[@hhylobates4098]

​@@xseedingmeFenthras and the other vestiges are all criticla role brand/ homebrew items though. O assume it was cut for the logistical animation issue of putting trees everywhere, but imo they should have kept the unique feature.

[@candygirl77777]

Been waiting for this! Also note taken that you have called 2 episodes to I love you. We shall see about that 😂

[@AdamEspersona]

By the way, be sure to note who wrote episodes 6 and 7. You might be surprised.

[@happyslapsgiving5421]

17:53 I'm not sure what you're trying to say, but... 1) Those two episodes were *NOT* the only ones that were meant to be. *ALL* the episodes were meant to be. 2) *MOST* episodes (and specifically *ALL* season 1 episodes) were also taken directly from the D&D campaign. 3) The first two episodes of season 1 were different only because that adventure was narrated to us and not directly streamed like the rest of them.

[@caffeinedelusions]

I seem to recall that the first two episodes were what the kickstarter had originally intended to fund, and as the kickstarter over performed they started revising the plan because they realized they had the resources to do a LOT more than their initial modest goal.

[@noahspadgenske9875]

This episode is full of tiny references to the campaign. For example: Percy says "F--k it, let's get weird," which was Taliesin's catchphrase whenever he made Percy do some crazy idea (usually involving something blowing up).

[@elbruces]

I feel like Allura & Kima working out their issues sort of taught Vex and Percy how it could be made to work, and how trusting and having confidence in each others' abilities can overcome worry and concern about each others' safety. That seems to be the "episode theme." As in, if this were an 80's cartoon, there'd be a "what important lesson did we learn today?" bit at the end. Vax & Percy aren't entirely there yet, but I think they're making progress. Bad News seems to be usable only once per episode. I think there was a passing mention regarding that back in season one. Scanlan found the magic key floating in Umbrasyl's horde in season 2, episode 12. Vex saw it, but Scanlan got to it first. But it's nice to see they can still surprise you while you're out here trying to predicting enemy strategies and relationship steps 2 steps ahead.

[@vladgdc]

Um, Actually, we see Bad News used twice this episode (from the broom and the ice break). It wasn't finished in Season 1.😈 And we're gonna see just how much progress Vax and Percy have made later. Maybe even Vex and Percy. 😈

[@BrassMountainLion]

I was a little worried we weren't getting the rest of the season, but by all means make these at your own pace! 🫶

[@vladgdc]

I too was afraid she watched more episodes and stoped, for, ahh, reasons...