Why I Love Critical Role and You Should Too
If you’re a fan of fantasy, adventure, comedy, drama, and role-playing games, then you should definitely check out Critical Role. It’s a web series that features a group of talented voice actors playing Dungeons & Dragons (D&D), a tabletop game where you create your own characters and stories. The show is hosted by Matthew Mercer, who acts as the Dungeon Master (DM) and guides the players through various quests and challenges in a rich and immersive world.
Critical Role has two main campaigns so far: Vox Machina and The Mighty Nein. Each campaign follows a different group of characters with their own backgrounds, personalities, goals, and relationships. The show is streamed live every Thursday on Twitch and YouTube, and each episode lasts for about three to four hours. You can also watch the episodes later on YouTube or listen to them as podcasts.
One of the best things about Critical Role is the amazing chemistry and friendship between the cast members. They are not only professional voice actors who have worked on many video games and animated shows, but also genuine fans of D&D who enjoy playing the game together. They improvise, joke, cry, laugh, and create memorable moments that make you feel like you’re part of their adventure. They also interact with their fans through social media, fan art, fan fiction, cosplay, etc.
Another great thing about Critical Role is the quality and diversity of the storytelling. The show features a mix of genres and themes, from epic battles and political intrigue to romance and comedy. The show also explores complex issues such as identity, morality, trauma, redemption, etc. The show is not scripted or planned in advance, so anything can happen and the stakes are real. The DM and the players collaborate to create a compelling and immersive narrative that keeps you hooked and invested.
Some of my favorite moments from Critical Role are:
The first time Vox Machina met Scanlan Shorthalt (Sam Riegel), a charismatic gnome bard who sang hilarious songs and flirted with everyone.
The battle against K’Varn (Matthew Mercer), an evil beholder who controlled an ancient city under a lake.
The confrontation between Vax’ildan (Liam O’Brien), a half-elf rogue who made a deal with the Raven Queen (Laura Bailey), a goddess of death.
The wedding of Percy (Taliesin Jaffe), a human gunslinger who sought revenge for his family’s murder, and Vex’ahlia (Laura Bailey), a half-elf ranger who loved nature and money.
The introduction of The Mighty Nein, a group of misfits and outcasts who met in a prison transport.
The encounter with Mollymauk Tealeaf (Taliesin Jaffe), a tiefling blood hunter who had a mysterious past and a colorful personality.
The rescue of Jester (Laura Bailey), a tiefling cleric who worshiped the Traveler (Matthew Mercer), a trickster god.
The infiltration of Nicodranas, a coastal city ruled by an oppressive lord.
The reunion of Caleb (Liam O’Brien), a human wizard who suffered from trauma and guilt, and Astrid (Matthew Mercer), his former friend and lover who became an agent of the Cerberus Assembly.
The showdown with Lucien (Matthew Mercer), a cult leader who sought to unleash an ancient evil.
These are just some examples of the many amazing moments that Critical Role has to offer. If you’re interested in watching or listening to the show, you can find all the episodes on their website or YouTube channel. You can also join their fan community on Tumblr, Twitter, Reddit, Discord, etc. You won’t regret it!
