Critical Role Review: Episodes 73 & 74
By: I.Am.No.Man
Episode 73: The Coming Storm
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Summary: Vox Machina return to Whitestone with their spoils hoping to meet up with their various allies.
Why to Watch: The events in this episode build and build to an insane climax that are definitely worth the watch. The battle against Thordak is getting closer and Vox Machina must face the uncertainty of who will battle this foe with them. Also, watching these serious conversations and interactions while the cast is in Halloween Costumes is kind of amazing.
Highlights:
The Best Costumes Ever (0:01)
Vex’s TMI (17:00)
Vox Machina just can’t (18:34)
Return to Whitestone (20:04)
Seeker Asum’s greeting (23:00)
Kashaw’s encounter (44:35)
Scanlan and Jarret (56:15-1:00:00)
Basically the Council of Elrond (1:18:00-1:48:25)
One does not simply walk into Emon (1:34:22)
“Percy, NO!!” “Percy, yes” (1:46:44)
Lowlights:
There were some interesting character choices this episode. Keyleth and Percy made some rash and extremely dangerous decisions without letting their companions in on their plans. Backstabbing a disguised green dragon in a room with the only people standing between Thordak and the destruction of Exandria…. Yikes… And then, threatening said green dragon and breaking the tenuous contract they made. Vox Machina ended up being so, so lucky that nothing bad happened. Also, I was slightly horrified when nature-loving, protect-all-living-things Keyleth conjures a Pixie specifically to watch it be torn apart by the black orb of death (2:57:00). It seems like a couple of characters are spiraling out of control.
Episode 74: The Path of Brass
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Summary: Vox Machina take the fight to Fort Daxio, a stronghold of sorts just outside of Thordak’s throne in Emon. After filtering through several different plans of action they decide to travel to the Fire Plane to quest for the last Vestige of Divergeance, the Dawnmartyr’s plate. They also search for any knowledge of Thordak’s source of power and connection to the Fire Plane. The adventurers encounter strange new beings, make some interesting new allies and somehow end the episode in chains.
Why to Watch: We get to see more of the entrancing Fire Plane and its people in the City of Brass. Mercer plays some amazing new characters, adding a new fan favorite Genasi named Senokir .
Highlights:
(pre-show) You put your loot in a CRATE, Ashley (1:12)
The sound of horns, Arrival in Daxio (27:34)
The Montage (46:31)
Sam’s Mission of Shirts (51:12)
Entering the City of Brass (2:26:24)
The worst shirt ever worn (2:51:26)
I’m just a humble slave (3:17:20)
Run! (3:18:14)
Who is this guy? (3:41:45)
Lowlights:
The entire episode is riddled with video stalling and freezing. The audio is completely fine so you don’t miss a thing, especially with subtitles on.
Review
What an intense couple of episodes! The stress and anxiety of facing Thordak the Cinder King is definitely affecting the group in different ways. Keyleth and Percy seem to have jumped off the deep end and are ready to fight Thordak ‘here and now’ without thought for the people around them. The second half of the Path of Brass episode was really cool. Getting a vivid description of the great city in the fire plane and meeting creatures I’ve never heard of before was super interesting. The uneasiness that builds throughout the last hour of Vox Machina’s interactions with the Efreeti and the Tiefling led to such a satisfying set up for the next episode!
