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The Mighty Nein part ways.

Which seems odd given the title and the fact that D&D is typically a ‘party’ or ‘group’ of people adventuring together. However, this proves to the members of the Mighty Nien that they should stick together.

They just aren’t cut out to be weird all alone. Much better to be a weirdo in a group.

And I have to admit, I think they’re right.

It’s really nice to find a group of people you can just be your weird self with all the time. They just don’t judge you. They accept you. And help you vandalize a holy church for no reason other than you can.

This is one of my favorite scenes from the campaign!

Laura and Marisha teased the boys so hard for messing up a simple recon for so hard, only to be followed up shortly after in the campaign by Laura nearly using every spell slot she has to escape with Nott in tow. To see that moment come to life was just downright epic for me.

I loved it.

I loved how they got in and the little nod to Molly’s puke recipe from the campaign that Nott used.

Nott pretending to be possessed to empty the church was hilarious.

Everyone just ran out screaming and then tried to come back to help only to find them tearing the temple apart and plastering signs about a mysterious traveler everywhere.

Sure, right. Makes sense.

In Jester’s world.

Despite being a totally different take on how the campaign fleshes out as the group deciding to stay together, I really enjoyed this episode. They just started getting comfortable together and understanding each other. Even maybe – perhaps – liking each other’s company, only to decide to separate and carry on with their lives as they were before.

Or even start a new path, like Caleb tried.

As he tried to leave Nott behind, leading to one of the most heart wrenching scenes. Seriously, the whimper I made when Nott threw the bottle of booze and then realized what she had done, only to attempt to recover it. Gah, that scene breaks my heart every time.

Sam Riegel – you are a cruel and wonderful man.

Caleb sets off to try and take down his enemy alone. Only to meet up with two utterly terrifying Volstruckers, who decided to be drama queens about the whole thing.

Because it felt like they wanted to hunt him down like the other Volstrucker. Bring him back or to their freaked out version of justice or what have you. Except they didn’t.

They went full blown crazy pants just to tell Bren/Caleb that if they ever see him again, they won’t be so kind.

Really?

You could have just sent him a message. A letter. A nice telegram.

This is one of those – this could have been an email moments.

They’re both a bit extra and clearly still hurt by whatever the hell happened with Bren when he lost his mind. And why they’re not on his side will forever baffle me.

Is it the power? Is it serving your country? Because let me tell you, you’re only serving your master. His interests. His goals. Not the Empire you claim loyalty to.

He is merely pulling the strings of the Empire.

As clearly demonstrated by the opening of the episode when Lady Vess says he’s the Empire now. He managed to convince the King that he’s to be trusted. More so than the Cobalt Soul who uncovered his utter treason and still that was not enough to pull him from power.

Honestly, since most of this happened in the background, it didn’t feel quite as terrifying in the campaign.

We followed the Mighty Nein accidentally stumbling into serious shit. We didn’t really get to see the serious shit happen. See exactly how powerful and dangerous these people really are.

And I thought the King was clueless and a puppet before, this only proves I was right in a far worse way. At least in the campaign it felt like the Cobalt Soul had a chance of keeping him in check. Now… I’m not so sure.

Because he just had a Curator murdered.

Murdered.

Because she was right about him and he needed to make an example of what happened to people when they went up against him.

Well, I’m suddenly understanding Caleb’s reluctance to have gone after him sooner given how difficult it would be. At least to unseat him politically. Murder might just be simpler. Honestly.

Although, that’s going to be a pain because he’s got two lap dogs that do whatever he asks.

Meanwhile, Caleb leaves Nott behind, giving us a gut-wrenching moment. Then Jester and Fjord depart together, only to end up separating in the end.

Feeling lonely and wanting the Traveler to appear to her, Jester goes off and discovers Nott. Who seems like she’s trying to get herself killed after losing Caleb.

Jester doesn’t allow that and they pair back up to have a little fun together.

I really love that no two dynamics in the group are the same. Every character is unique and so is their connection to the others.

It makes every moment interesting and unique as they move and flow together.

Like Beau dealing with her mentor who tells her to lay low, after what happened. They’re in more danger than ever and they need to regroup to figure out how to deal with this.

Beau takes this to mean – get laid.

Except that doesn’t work out, because she hasn’t had a bath in who knows how long.

Which I suppose was a nice reminder or addition for the audience that she’s more than likely not interested in Caleb like that. With that she goes off to take a bath and finds Fjord nearly drowning.

Because he got some advice from the temple priest before Jester and Nott wrecked the place. Find a place scared to your god and pray to them in order to try and communicate. Fjord opted for some water while his patron cryptically gave him one-word answers about the yellow orb he has. While also suggesting he basically shove it into his chest or eat it.

As Laura or Jester would point out that he would be a ball-eater.

With that, these two get to talking and realize that they’re both a little full of bluster from time to time. They want so badly to be something and they’re never quite sure they’ll reach it.

However, they come to the conclusion that they must keep trying – regardless.

Caleb discovers a wonderful place that means he doesn’t actually have to take a bath because Pumat 1-3 and Prime happily magic it away because they have standards.

Of course, Caleb swipes something from them and I’m aghast. This is Pumat, Caleb! He’s going to supply your addiction for magic ink and paper. Do not mess that up for yourself. It was rather hard to come by outside of his shop otherwise. Be very careful.

However, I’m super happy that we have Frumpkin all the time now. He is not allowed to poof away again. Thank you.

Especially when we get scenes of him just floating around on the lights and getting into things like any self-respecting cat would. I need more of those moments in my life on this show, thank you. Especially, after the trauma when… You know.

Let me and Caleb live in denial in peace, will you?

Elsewhere Molly decides to look into the past he said better stay there. Except, he can’t seem to let it stay buried in the past, and I doubt that any good will ever come of that. Even without having watched the campaign, did anything he found look like it was a good thing?

Especially since he and Vess are matching.

She wants the Beacon and aside from the Bright Queen, I don’t think anyone has good intentions for the Beacon.

Nothing is good. There’s a lot of bad people working behind the scenes to do the world harm.

Including Essek.

Who saved his friend in the other episode only to betray him this episode. After Verrat gives him a chance to do the right thing. Even after his mother gives him a chance to do the right thing without her weighing him down anymore.

All of his scenes were devastating to watch for so many reasons.

His betrayal. Of his mother. His friend. His dynasty.

The lies he told.

How he so wanted to make things right to keep his mother. His love for her. Burned away with her death.

I’m not entirely sure he believes in the Beacon, but he does believe in saving himself. In doing right by his people after having wronged them so terribly.

Honestly, if he planned that out, that was amazing.

I wondered what he was going to do now that Varret knew the truth about him. But honestly, saving his life made his story to the Bright Queen appear all the more damning. He was the only one to survive the attack. Making it appear that he was in league with the Empire even more with everyone else dead.

Regardless of whether or not Essek planned that or it fell into his lap conveniently, it was a slick maneuver to keep himself alive.

And while, I think he still has his own agenda for the Beacon and probably a lot of other things, I do believe he intends to retrieve the Beacon. I think he wants it back in the Dynasty after seeing what Trent was willing to do with it. That’s more than he intended. He didn’t really want it to be a weapon.

He just wanted to save his mother.

And anyone else from the same disease.

Like – maybe – the Bright Queen.

While he may not know this, it appears that she is sick as well. Which should mean she should also be killed right away like Essek’s mother, though I’m not sure how that works with the Queen. After all, she’s been queen all of her lives if I’m not mistaken.

Not sure how that shakes out.

Guess we’ll find out. They didn’t tell us that for nothing.

I do love how soft she is with people she loves and cares for. Like Essek’s mother. I even loved that she offered some kindness to Essek as she realized how much he was struggling with his first life. While I think it’s probably a bit misguided given what we know, I love that she’s kind underneath it all.

She trusts Essek.

She is cold and harsh when she believes she’s been betrayed, but she is kind to those in care. She honors them.

In the campaign, I truly enjoyed her as a leader and thought she was a good one. I really like seeing those pieces reflected in the show as well. Just like how I feel the King of the Empire is useless, I feel she’s actually a good person just trying to do right by her people. Which forces her to make choices. Hard ones.

Unlike the King who reveled in the carnage at the border.

I really like the Bright Queen.

Finally, The Mighty Nein return together to be something greater together than they are apart. Maybe even heroes. And they’re going to start by taking the Gentleman up on his offer to get the Beacon from the Empire.

Which I’m sure will go so well, because their plans never go horribly wrong. Never.

I really love how they all choose to come together again. They missed feeling like they belong. That they’re not that weird when they’re together.

It’s a nice moment.

Overall, this episode is amazing and I’m sad there’s only one left before I have to wait who knows how long until season two drops.

I love Essek’s arc. I love Beau and Fjord wanting to be more. Jester’s meltdown is amazing. Such a lovely take from the campaign where she appears like the happiest person in the world, but she hides a lot. Love it. Well done.

Caleb apologizing and returning to be there for Nott. His uncertainty about how to move forward while Nott has already decided how they can.

Molly believing his cards.

I simply love all of it and I can’t wait to see the final episode! Are you ready? Because I’m not.

Thanks for reading! Spread the love and read on!