The Legend of Vox Machina is back on Prime Video with a highly anticipated new season that continues to bring the world first conceived in web series Critical Role to life in even bigger and better ways. Season 4 of the adult-animated fantasy series continues to deliver drama, laughs, action, and intrigue as the titular party of adventurers is now split up across the world of Exandria on their respective journeys of self-discovery, connection, and purpose. But when a long-dormant evil is awakened, the group must reunite to once again save the realm from a terrifying enemy.
Opening Shot: Through a fun little song, goliath barbarian Grog Strongjaw (Travis Willingham) quickly recaps some previous season’s heroics and shares that now the members of Vox Machina have gone their separate ways. His number culminates in a chorus that repeats the iconic Vox Machina battle cry, “We fuck shit up!”
The Gist: One year after a Season 3 finale that saw Vox Machina defeat the Chroma Conclave, the party has since split up to explore the realm and find themselves in the process. But while many celebrate Vox Machina as heroes, others resent them for the destruction and death that they were unable to prevent. Pike Trickfoot (Ashley Johnson) attempts to drink away her woes but still wallows in guilt, while Grog seems to revel in the group’s fame, though he misses fighting and wreaking havoc with Vox Machina.
While Pike and Grog are imbimbing in a tavern, Percy Fredrickstein (Taliesin Jaffe) and Vex Vessar (Laura Bailey) have built a life and a deeper romantic connection together in Whitestone, where they live luxuriously in a castle. Still, they miss their days of voyaging with Vox Machina, and hope to shake up their posh routine. They soon get their wish as Percy’s experiments with the mystical Orb beneath Whitestone reveal its ability to consume, rather than negate, magic. At the same time as this discovery, Vex’s investigation of a supposedly giant panther near Whitestone reveals the presence of an evil, destructive, and difficult-to-kill monstrosity called a Gloomstalker.
Pike and Grog similarly soon find their lives shaken up with the dramatic entrance of Taryon Darrington (Wayne Brady), a wealthy, narcissistic, and flamboyant artificer who seeks out the pair to aid his thirst for fame and adventure. Despite Pike’s reluctance, he eventually ropes them into a scheme to protect his father’s gem trade route from thieves. When they finally find and corner a thief, Pike is shocked to find that the woman is former Everlight priestess, Talia (Anjali Bhimani). But gone is the kind and pious woman she once knew, replaced with someone bitter, aggressive, and seemingly indestructible as she’s driven to steal the gems, disparage the gods, and destroy the current world order in service of some dark, unknown entity.
Vax (Liam O’Brien), Keyleth (Marisha Ray), and Scanlan (Sam Riegel) are still spread around the realm, but with a great darkness lurking on the horizon, it’s only a matter of time before all of Vox Machina reunites to do what they do best and (you guessed it) fuck shit up.
What Shows Will It Remind You Of? The most direct comparison is Prime Video’s adult animated fantasy series The Mighty Nein, which not only shares the same overarching source material as the web series Critical Role, but also takes place in the same world, just 20 years after the events of The Legend of Vox Machina.
You can also find bits and pieces of The Legend of Vox Machina in the impressively animated graphic violence of Blue Eye Samurai, the adventure, engaging group dynamics, and heart of Nickelodeon’s Avatar: The Last Airbender, as well as the adult-animated fantasy world and irreverent humor of Netflix’s Disenchantment.
Our Take: The Legend of Vox Machina: Season 4 is sure to delight and engross returning fans with its continued commitment to producing incredible animation, quippy humor, fast-paced action, strong voice acting, and engaging characters. The more time we spend with the Vox Machina party and their world, the more depth they all gain, creating an emotionally layered and unique series that continues to raise the bar for itself.
It’s clear that this show was made by people passionate about the project, and that’s reflected in the high-quality and genuine care that we see in the final product. Even without prior knowledge of Critical Role, viewers can’t help but be drawn into the story and quickly invested in what happens next. With creepy creatures and formidable foes already teased in Episode 1, there’s no doubt that this fourth season will be one to watch and likely to satisfy old and new viewers alike.
Performance Worth Watching: Beyond her gruff exterior, gnome cleric Pike Trickfoot is clearly a character with layers. I was fascinated by her inner turmoil about her faith toward the Everlight, guilt and rage about the innocent lives lost during Vox Machina’s battle with the Chroma Conclave, and the deep compassion for others at her core.
Sex And Skin: There are enough sexual innuendos, swear words, and moments of gory violence in the first episode alone to remind viewers that while the show is animated, it’s still geared towards adult eyes and ears.
Parting Shot: Talia somehow makes it back alive to a mysterious cult. They place one of the gems into a blade and use it to pierce a human sacrifice for a sinister ritual. As the man died then transforms into a larger, muscular, warrior-like vessel for some kind of demonic entity while hooded figures ominously chant, “We are his blood.”
Sleeper Star: Taryon Darrington (Wayne Brady) is such an airheaded diva who brings nice levity, whimsy, and silliness to balance out the tale’s more emotionally intense and violent side. I’m looking forward to seeing what kind of mischief this adventurer will get up to throughout the season.
Most Pilot-y Line: “Ah, yeah. Bet we’ll never see him again,” Grog says while he and Pike part with Taryon towards the end of the episode. That’s the kind of line you say about someone you’ll definitely be running into again down the line.
Our Call: Regardless of whether you’re a Critical Role fan, Dungeons & Dragons player, or a returning viewer of The Legend of Vox Machina, if you love strong animation, well-written characters, an intriguing plot, and a big adventure, then do yourself a favor and STREAM IT.
How To Watch The Legend of Vox Machina: Season 4
Maddy Casale is a Chicago-based writer and comedian who covers everything from animated series to Hallmark movies. Follow her on Duolingo @MCasale.