the mighty nein changing essek for the better | critical role campaign 2 compilation

[@DnDAddictUK]

If not before, that Jester hug was the moment Matt realised the party had adopted Essek

[@MatthewStMarie]

Few words hit the cr fandom harder than "gently floating male drow"

[@sammiehopkins9408]

Similar to "older human woman with graying hair done into braids"

[@apolimeow]

“I am what you would refer to as an introvert” in that particular slightly wobbly voice is so relatable lmfao

[@Coleth.3]

To think Bells Hells would be fighting one Essek Thelyss if it wasn't for the Mighty Nein :')

[@deranged_dragon9471]

Well, probably not. Because if Essek didn't change Mighty Nein probably would have killed him but that is a heart wrenching thought that if somehow the Mighty Nein didn't find out or never got involved or something, he'd totally still be down the Ludinus route which is horrifying.

[@apolimeow]

@@deranged_dragon9471 I mean, Matt did say that Essek wasn't going to be a full-on villain, just an antagonistic force, so there probably wouldn't be a fight with him. He could've survived until Bells Hells and could've fought them 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️

[@MsSarahJosephine]

11:53 "Watch this Lisa - you can pinpoint the SECOND Mathew Mercer decides between episodes that he's not just going to backstab them with a surprise villain but shatter their hearts instead."

[@djsndifn]

I’d love to read a book about Essek in a similar vein to Kith & Kin, the Nine Eyes of Lucien, and What Doesn’t Break. He had however many centuries before the Nein, and it’d be cool to read how/why Matt intended for him to be a villain.

[@CuppaTeeh]

Essek chronicles 👀

[@Soviniy]

Very much appreciate the inclusions of the pauses in their dialogues too. Silence speaks volumes, especially with this poor, broken nerds trying to navigate their emotions like toddlers in a playplace.

[@jamoor5142]

I hadn't noticed just how hard Laura was shipping Essek and Caleb from the very beginning. Laura, Marisha, and Sam are all very invested in Shadowgast and I love to see it.

[@jessiecragg395]

To be loved is to be changed. 💜

[@almandite]

ahhh, our favorite hot boi! and this compilation also happens to feature a lot of my favorite ship; shadowgast. truly cannot think of any other PC/NPC romance where all the other players are so heavily invested in what's going on during their conversations. in the tower, everybody is messing around with their character sheet and dice when caleb is showing essek around but ashley is fully committed to seeing these idiot wizards having a full blown slow-burn romance happening in real time. also a special shout-out to beau, jester and nott noticing caleb's and essek's chemistry early on and definitely egging them on throughout the entire campaign. because truly, what's sexier than (two) wizards? nothing! thank you for this wonderful compilation!

[@ShyyGaladriel]

The Mighty Nein mean so much to me.

[@draconiarose]

Thank you for taking the time to compile this

[@britnicox3929]

The extroverts adopted an introvert and then made him a better person (and got him a bf)

[@paietynb.2690]

If they add anything to the series, they must add that hug. That’s when it all began!!!

[@DirtyWeeb]

I just realized, imagine if Essek was in the Ruby Vanguard 😮. If he continued to ruthlessly and relentlessly develop his magic for war. He may not be the strongest mage in the dynasty but he’s far from weak.

[@rhaenatargaryen8061]

i love youuu essek i love you mighty nein, i miss you.

[@webuiltthissmitty]

Fjord's speech in ep140 made Cad so happy :,-)

[@Zenju__]

definitely my favorite part of the campaign. thanks for putting this together.

[@rachelso6013]

THANK YOU SO MUCH! I appreciate that i can rewatch c2 without really rewatching it entirely haha

[@CopperWaspp]

did laura or matt ever reveal what the whisper was for her insight check in episode 91?

[@purpletygertube]

I keep rewatching cr2 for Essek

[@Bels_N_Whistles]

This comp improved my morning significantly. Thank you very much

[@Lukegunter19]

18:40 I could be misremembering but didn’t in an interview/wrap-up Matt say that he and Essek started internally panicking with this Zone of Truth?

[@hellamarama]

THIS IS MAGICAL

[@nickioleary8577]

I’ve been looking for a compilation like this, thank you!

[@forbiddenfictions]

Just wanted to thank you for this!

[@sunflowerhandler]

this is a compilation i have always wanted to see, thank you so much for taking the time to make this!!

[@ct_sra]

Hot boi! Thank you for this compilation 🙏

[@moiram8943]

HOT BOI

[@WhoopsieDaisee]

This is great! I would love to see an exension of this with the content we get in C3 👀

[@GeekyTenikiDnDFan-l1j]

I love the way Sam trolls everyone and then trolls himself lol 10:49 time stamp 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@vincentgeiszler3749]

Bless you for this

[@starryskeyed6444]

Ugh this is so great!!

[@CuppaTeeh]

1:08:22 - a proud Cad 🫶🏼

[@zoltanvarga-k3g]

MAGICAL

[@tayyest]

1:00:33 Matt is dressed like Nien Nunb from Star Wars

[@CuppaTeeh]

5:45 jester's important message?

[@meteorjuice4088]

Matt: okay so the plot twist is that this NPC is a cold, homocidal war criminal who intends to- Nein: aww you poor thing you’re a good guy okay, you’re a good guy, it’s okay shhhhhh Matt: uhhh. Okay I guess he’s a good guy now

[@coldheartedreaper]

Why does Travis always look pissed when he's just sitting there while others are talking

[@chrism6315]

Cool motive, still a war criminal. Essex facing no repercussions for starting a war because he was bored still rubs me the wrong way, you don't get to just say sorry for that, wish vox machina had met him instead.

[@nonuvurbeeznus795]

womp womp

[@SamuBrownYT]

There is no consequence thats going to really matter. They talk about this. He already feels awful and guilty. He punishes himself everyday. He does more good being "free" than anything else they could do to him.

[@hazell1304]

First off, hes not actually a war criminal. Its a running joke but he never does anything to make him a legit war criminal. He also didnt cause the war. Its referenced a lot throughout the campaign that the tensions had been brewing for years. He may have been the catalyst that kicked it off but its sorta a straw that breaks the camels back scenario. So like, he very much knew what he was doing, but what he was doing was not intentionally starting a war out of nowhere for the sake of it. Also as a side note, nott literally offered the witch to rekindle the war as a way to remove her curse and no one gets cranky about that. Its a bit of a double standard

[@hazell1304]

He also didnt "start" it because he was bored. He was wanting to understand the beacons in a way that the dynasty wouldn't let him due to their obsession about them being holy

[@icyhotwolf1767]

This comment has the same energy as the "If you like Roy Mustang you support war crimes" crowd back in 2010.

[@leighgasp]

me the entire time: “this is going to be animated!!😫😭🫠”

[@djsndifn]

Except we might also get to see Essek as a villain, I believe Matt or Travis said that we’d get to see iconic characters earlier on than we’re expecting 👀

[@mariamelnitskaya4493]

@@djsndifnthen there’d be no awesome plot twist, if we know he’s a villain from the beginning