Critical Role Review: Episodes 75 & 76
By: I.Am.No.Man.
Episode 75: Where the Cards Fall
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Summary: Vox Machina traverse their way through the City of Brass in the fire plane. They must use their cunning and experience to search for the Plate of the Dawnmartyr, lost somewhere in the vast expanse of the city. Things don’t go as planned when they unluckily become enslaved and indebted to the fire giantess that owns the Dawnmartyr.
Why to Watch: Scanlan bets his friends and himself into slavery while trying to attain the Dawnmartyr armor. Grog learns to read. And the group must think of a way to take down a demon pit fiend without drawing too much attention to themselves.
Highlights:
Senokir sees the funny side (1:17:00)
Scanlan, the world’s luckiest man (1:36:10)
The largest deck of cards (1:39:40)
Not going so well (1:51:26)
DM Deity (1:56:08)
Grog should make all the plans (2:29:40)
Sextuplet Slaves are cool! (2:41:55)
Flowers for Grogernon (2:56:00)
Scanlan sees young boys (3:13:27)
Vex’s moral compass is back (3:14:13)
Slave Master Francois Australia (Scanlan) (3:15:26)
The downside of being Sextuplet Slaves (3:21:55)
The Pit Fiend (3:33:00)
“Did she use…the magic?!” (3:39:10)
Fucking Jenga!! (3:42:00)
Episode 76: Brawl in the Arches
[arve url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4Sb53wvbKI&index=85&list=PL7atuZxmT954bCkC062rKwXTvJtcqFB8i" /]
Summary: Vox Machina take on the Pit Fiend Ghurrix and his hellish warrior protector. After a series of unfortunate and unlucky events, the group found themselves indebted to the giantess Juuraiel and must take down a pit fiend named Ghurrix. Scanlan leads the party, disguised as slaves, to the baazar in order to try and attract the attention of Ghurrix. While, at first able to entice Ghurrix with the promise of high quality slaves, Scanlan begins to anger the pit fiend when his lies and deceptions show through. Ultimately, Vox Machina fight a harrowing battle out in the open, with several close calls and dangerous gambles.
Why to Watch: There is one moment at the very end of the pit fiend battle that made it all worth it. Scanlan definitely deserves MVP this episode for saving his friends multiple times and in the most badass bard ways.
Highlights:
Basically all you need to know about the fight (2:34:00)
Scanlan’s finest moment (2:38:15)
Scanlan’s actual finest moment (2:48:35)
The Plate of the Dawnmartyr (3:25:35)
Return to Emon, Fall of Fort Daxio (3:41:48)
Lowlights:
Battle is long. Like, 3 hours long. The last hour of the episode is about all that’s worth watching if you don’t want to sit through all the initiative turns and expose. There were some intense moments when poisoned, unconscious members were failing important death saving throws, but for the most part, what happened before and after the battle was much more interesting.
Review:
These two episodes have been entertaining in the sense that it’s really funny to watch the epic heroes of Vox Machina fail. Hardcore fail. The whole Fire plane trip was a bit like a bad dream of poor decisions, gambling gone wrong, and Vox Machina sticking their noses where they don’t belong. There were some a few memorable moments. Scanlan selling himself and his companions into slavery over a lost bet. Senokir, in all his weird Genasi mysteriousness. And the moment Scanlan Shorthalt singlehandedly cut a pit fiend to pieces and memory erased the Efreeti guard to save his friends.
The classic ‘Mercer’ ending to this episode got me really excited for next week’s episode “Clash at Daxio”. Things are beginning to really heat up as Vox Machina prepares to take on Thordak. Only three more episodes until the epic showdown between the Cinder King and the heroes of Exandria!
