The Legend of Vox Machina 2x9 | A Test of Pride | REACTION/REVIEW | Come one Grog 👏🏾😭

[@SebastianWeinberg]

When Travis wrote the words "Titanstone Knuckles" into his backstory for Grog, that was just a bit of throwaway "flavour text" to him. He had no idea that Matt would bring them back, years later, and make them vital parts of the world's lore, and necessary for their campaign's success. The group had yet to learn that handing Matt your backstory is like handing him a cudgel with which to beat you on the head when you least expect it.

[@violent-backed-starling]

shoutout to grandpa wilhand and korrin (keyleth's dad) for being the best parental figures that vox machina have that are still alive.

[@E-Lykos]

Keyleth's dad loses points for being an assumptive parent who pushed expectations on Keyleth that made her inferiority complex and imposter syndrome worse, but he didn't do it deliberately and clearly still loved her so only a few points off.

[@caffeinedelusions]

@@E-Lykos Also Vex and Vax's step-mother De'vana for being FAR more kind and courteous to her step-children than their own goddamned father. Sure, she's not deeply connected to them, but she's never judgemental, and she gladly supports their connection to their little half-sister Velora.

[@OptionZero]

Long before the cast even imagined an animated show…the cast had to craft their characters backstories, and we are blessed with these gems as a result: Travis couldn’t think of a name for Grog’s dad, so he came up with…Stonejaw. Grog’s dad is officially named Stonejaw Strongjaw. Thanks, Travis At the table, Scanlan had a tracking troupe of musicians before Vox Machina, which consisted of Dr. Dranzel, who we met here. Dr. Dranzel … Dr. Dre. A musician who discovered a young wayward performer and helped him grow. Scanlan is Eminem. Scanlan Shorthalt, Marshal Mathers. Canon.

[@Acatia2]

If I were to bet, I'd say they adapted the end of Craven Edge as a strength sapping curse (since that's what it kept promoting to Grog), the giant sized suppository was likely intended as a consumable Remove Curse spell. You're almost there with Earthbreaker Grun's question, with the timeline being readjusted, Grog would probably know the answer by now as he visits the temple a few times. Also, I've had a feeling for a while, but at this point, I think it's pretty clear they made Grog much smarter than he used to be. Several times during this campaign, Travis (Grog's player) would come up with plans that were too smart for the character and had to back down...you could really see how he regretted playing that dumb later down the line (ex: "oh I know that language"... "if only you knew how to read"). It's nice to see Grog not as hindered by his Ape level intelligence score, still below average and nowhere as clever as some other characters he's played since then, but you know, likely much more narratively fulfilling I'd assume.

[@devildham]

"Baby Pike" was probably your age when she healed Grog (that was her) she's in her 40s as of the beginning of the show and gnomes live for 300 to 500 years

[@abi_corinne]

I didn’t realize gnomes aged like that! Guess it makes sense since dwarves also live longer lives 🤔

[@theunfamousone2818]

Yeah Scanlan is the oldest member of vox machina I think Percy is the youngest

[@livdolllover22445]

She’s actually in her 30’s but yes!

[@Xorrin]

It was Pike in the flashback, her hair became white after being resurrected long before the campain started airing

[@E-Lykos]

Yeah, we may see some of it if they do a kind of prequal series but if not you can actually see a bit of the fight where she was resurrected at the end of the Legend of Vox Machina Kickstarter trailer

[@elvin2514]

why did she say "thank you for saving my grandfather?" tho? isn't he great great granpa?

[@flaminyawn]

@@elvin2514 It wasn't a situation where she felt the need to add the greats.

[@elvin2514]

@@flaminyawn got it, that got me confused a little bit not gonna lie

[@buddhabatman]

Not sure if you have checked yet, but Pop-pop, Wilhand Trickfoot, is played by the one and only Henry Winkler.

[@InkyPetrel]

Kind of a running joke in TTRPGs as a whole is that no well adjusted person becomes an adventurer. This usually means we get Tragic Backstories (tm) for everyone! Woohoo! Keyleth and Pike having living, loving parental figures are kind of a rarity. In recent years folks have been veering away from this trope, but it's still pretty common. Not all tropes are bad, sometimes they're just useful storytelling shorthand. Plus, Family Drama makes an easy "hook" for a dungeon master to build some plot points on during the game (eg Percy and the Briarwoods). "Shorthalt" is Scanlan's last name, it's easy to mishear. I have to keep subtitles on for this show sometimes, between unusual place names and accents it just makes life easier. Zanror's design is *chef's kiss* He's hecking cute AF. That's it, no notes.

[@Konekodesune]

You’re one of the few reactors I’ve watched where I genuinely believe you’d love watching the whole campaign, or campaign 2- you seem like you’d appreciate the lore, the jokes, the slow build and the insane payoffs lol

[@carlotacosta9193]

I love watching Scanlan's powers, they're so original and creative

[@abi_corinne]

Agreed! He makes bards look so badass👏🏾

[@E-Lykos]

@@abi_corinne Which is funny because his request to Liam (who voices Vax and knew something about DnD) was to help him make the "Worst Character", which is where the amazing mess that is Scanlan Shorthalt came from. Also, they confirmed this in their recent watch party that Scanlan's backstory is just Eminem's backstory which Sam ripped off (hence his initials being SS, Like Eminem's MM).

[@tylerdenny4682]

Love finding this channel! And cant wait to see your reaction to the finale!

[@abi_corinne]

Can’t wait to watch it! Grog’s not going down without a fight 👏🏾

[@kwagar101]

it was definitely pike that healed grog after his beat down, and pop-pop wilhand is played by Henry Winkler. Can't wait to see your reactions to the last 3.

[@cschwally]

Yes, Scanlan remembers the polymorph spell. In the game, as bards (and other magic users) level up, they get access to new spells. Scanlan learned the spell from the scroll and now has it available. Loved it when you raised your hand to challenge for leadership.

[@insidethefire12]

Bad parents for days, as Marisha said “Why are D&D character backgrounds always so tragic?” Because content happy people don’t feel the need to go out and HUNT DRAGONS.”

[@idgarobingoodfellow]

I love that tweet and used it to create my favorite D&D character. I gave myself 3 rules. #1: both parents still alive, and #2: no tragic backstory, #3: still give them a reason to go out adventuring So I ended up with a halfling rogue who was raised in the circus by a loving single mother and loved her life until her mom got really sick and told her to go find her dad who mom says could heal her. So now my girl's going adventuring to find her father (he gave her mother a clue to find him again one day, which she now has) and to earn enough money to send back and keep her mom alive

[@axisjack7]

I played an old man who was a former pit fighter. After his glory days, he retired and had a few kids. The kids all grew up and moved away. His wife passed naturally of old age and he just got bored with his farm life. So, he left someone in charge of the farm and went out for one last great adventure. Shep had no intention of dying on that farm in bed. Glory was the only way he wanted to go. Love D&D for that stuff.❤

[@transientanus]

You are not even prepared for the MAGIC of the last three episodes. I watched them last night and I can't wait to check out your reactions ^_^

[@Marzipanilla]

Mary Crowell is a music artist who does a lot of DnD/ttrpg music. She has a song called 'Good Man Gone Bad' and one called 'Bad Man Gone Good'. They're both hilarious, you should give them a listen if you love the tropes lol You are the only reviewer I've watched who noticed it was Grog before Kevdak said his name! His silhouette and Travis' grunts seemed enough to reveal it xD

[@djcowell91]

Yep, "family is family"... (he said foreshadowing the rest of the season! :-)

[@willmackinnon9397]

Abi needs to stay hydrated watching this show

[@terokai7880]

bad parents have kinda become a running gag in each season. and Matt has acknowledged that its really weird being the bad parent to almost all of his players

[@suntiger745]

It's partially because people from happy and well-adjusted families don't tend to become adventurers. :P Exceptions exist, like Jester, but the principle stands.

[@TenebrousFilms]

No, it was Pike. Her hair turned white after she was bisected by a glabrezu and resurrected. Scanlan was a part of Dr. Dransel's troupe before he joined Vox Machina, but it's nice to see them in the show... and Kaylie did join them later, so it makes sense. It's always the kids that change Scanlan's mind. The monster is an illusion, and I think it's the one Grod tore the tongue out of with his teeth?

[@Dannydarko27]

Gotta love the Scanlan and Pike flirty moments 😊💙

[@nedzed3663]

Exactly, he needs to show bravery to get that strengfthhhhh back, like that Street Fighter ass dude told him!!!!

[@Fairburne69]

Another great reaction!

[@billberndtson]

Oh..... S2E10!!!!!! Release your S2E10 vid! 😃 Might be the best 25 minutes I've ever seen of anything, ever! ❤🧡💛💚💙💜 Waiting with bated breath to comment there, also.

[@caffeinedelusions]

Well adjusted people with happy home lives and loving family backgrounds don't tend to wind up in adventuring as a career choice.

[@dwnkaomwn3953]

Doing the right thing isn't what it's cracked up to be. Personally, I'd rather be smart before being right, but if I'm doing right in the process of being smart, so be it.

[@AAAndrew]

Still enjoying your reactions. And, yes, there are many examples of horrible men, but the show also has some great examples of various kinds of masculinity. And Pop Pop is a wonderful parental figure, as was Keyleth's dad.

[@ch33les99]

Honestly if you actually wanna get into critical role I highly recommend starting with Campaign 3: the Mighty Nein. It takes place in a different continent, so it’s pretty much spoiler-free. The only downsides are the length, and the fact that there is also an adaptation of it currently in the works so you might get spoiled on that front

[@jonathan_marquis]

Actually, campaign 3 so far has a lot of spoilers. I suggest starting with campaign 2. By the time it comes out, she most likely will be done Mighty nein and so will the 5 seasons of TLOVM (they want to do 5 seasons for VM Sam said). Then she can start the 1st campaign.