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I knew we shouldn’t have trusted those two.

I think.

It was weird. Alright?

The whole episode was weird. And maybe a little unsettling, because what did Vax do?!

At first, I thought he had really traded his life for his sister. Which would have been tragic and made sense, but the Raven didn’t exactly take his life. She claimed it..?

Like he works for her now is the sense that I’m getting since he’s got her champion’s armor on. That makes me think he works for her now. He traded himself. His person and life to her. Not in a deadly sense, but a literal one.

Her servant.

Or loyal follower.

I don’t know. I suppose that remains to be seen.

But we’ve got the vestige at what cost?

I mean, he’s got some kick ass speed now. But – you know – it comes with horrifying visions that don’t really make sense beyond scaring the shit out of him and me. Ups and downs I suppose.

I’m really curious to see how this all plays out now.

Because there’s a lot going on.

Vax and Vex can’t be separated but it appears that the Raven Queen has done just that by sniping the thread that binds them. What else could that mean?

At first, I thought it meant she was taking him instead. However, it appears she’s just separating them so she can have Vax to be her champion. Whether or not that’s a good thing remains to be seen.

Especially considering the visions occurred at a pretty awful moment. You know – like when everyone was in danger and being turned to stone because the latest companions are different kind of a*sholes.

Kash annoys me less.

He tried to revive Vex and he was against dropping a monster on them just to get the armor from Vax. I am – however – still annoyed that he didn’t just knock her out or actually try to stop her. Sure, he tried to help and talk her out of it. But dude? Seriously? Like a crack on the head might have helped more before she unleashed whatever the effing h*ll that was on everyone.

Including herself when she has a change of heart.

That this might have been a step too far.

Gee, you think?

If your patron wanted you to get the armor, she would have sent you. And considering how you two are behaving, I can see why she did not.

I wouldn’t send you to the supermarket unsupervised at this rate.

I do appreciate that they had made up with Vox Machina by the end of the episode. These writers and Critical Role are amazing at making complex layered characters. Even with me not liking them very much, I still understand their motivations.

And they come to the conclusion that their patron had – it’s in the right hands.

Which scares me a bit. Have you seen these a*sholes?

Oh my. The fate of the world rests in their hands and I’m a little scared for the world, despite knowing in roughly 20 years it’s still around for the Mighty Nein to muck around in. Oh, and no, I cannot go one review without talking about the Mighty Nein. I love them.

The wonderfully unhelpful companions leave Vox Machina to it after realizing their all-powerful patron might have a freaking clue as to what she’s doing. I do think a healthy bit of skepticism is helpful when it comes to dealing with patrons is always a good idea.

Especially for people like Fjord or Laudna who have patrons who are not interested in helping them in any way beyond how it benefits their power.

That’s not the vibe I got from their patron. Maybe that’s just me though.

However, thankfully they slipped back off to whenever they came from. While I enjoy other characters from time to time, the chemistry amongst the main cast is just too good to mess with. They play off each other so well and anticipate each other, so even though they didn’t record together – it still comes out really well.

Other things I loved about this episode – Vax punching Percy in the face.

Kash and Pike desperately trying to save Vex. Wondering if it was somehow because they’re in death’s chambers that it’s preventing them from healing.

Kash getting excited when Vex comes back to life because he thought he was more powerful than he thought.

Vax practically single-handedly taking down that thing that came out of the amulet.

Zahra getting felled by her own monster.

Those two admitting they were wrong.

The fact that the world’s fate rests in Vox Machina’s hands. I’m really concerned, so I’m mentioning it again. Because if I existed in this world, I’d start planning for the end.

They can’t even check for basic traps or listen to instructions without a team member dying. I’d be freaking terrified.

Scanlan confronting the other two for running off on them.

Everyone being done when they notice Kash and Zahra ran off. Again.

The entire fight sequence as they battled Zahra’s monster. It was just fun to watch them battle a big monster and be reminded again, that they still struggle with regular monsters. Never mind super mega powered dragons.

It didn’t really help that they were already tired from the fight going in and then trying to resurrect Vex. Okay, I know they were down a bit. But also, I don’t think the dice were on their side.

Lastly, thing I love was the flashback to baby Trinket and the locket that Zahra gives to Vex.

While we were watching this series together, I actually asked my girlfriend if she thought that Laura Bailey had made an active choice to make Jester a terrible pet owner when Vex is such a dedicated one. Jester constantly forgets that Sprinkle exists and yet here – we have Vex excited to have a place to keep him safe while they travel.

We both agreed that Jester just full on possessed Laura and it’s just her, the character being a terrible pet owner.

Honestly, either way is amazing.

A really good representation of how a character just does what they want. You may have helped create them, but eventually they take on a life of their own and you’re just along for the ride. Good luck.

That’s basically Jester.

Meanwhile, Vex loves Trinket to bits.

I loved the flashback giving us some insight into not only Vex and Vax, but also how Trinket came into their lives, and why she is so, so precious to Vex.

It’s her baby.

They did the right thing by putting the mother out of her injuries. She couldn’t be saved. There was only the kindness death could bring to her. However, she left behind a small cub.

While Vax might have thought her to be a little crazy for taking the bear cub to raise it, he also couldn’t argue with her reasoning. Leaving him there would leave him to the same fate as his mother and that was no life. While she may not be a perfect mother to the young bear, she’ll be a whole lot better than those a*sholes.

At the heart of all their BS, Vex and Vax are just good people. Honorable people.

Who cannot in good conscience allow an animal to suffer when they could do the hard thing and end the suffering. It may be awful to them.

A painful moment they endure, but it’s worth it to them. To provide comfort and a good end of kindness the poor animal.

To see someone in danger and unable to care for themselves and taking them into their care. They may not be perfect, but they’re not out to hurt people. They’re not cruel or unkind.

Maybe harsh and blunt, but never unkind.

Even when Vax punches Percy in the face.

Percy knew he had it coming. Because he didn’t bother to wait, convincing Vex to follow him, and touching the item that killed her. I can’t blame Vax for hitting him. I don’t think Percy can either.

Overall, I love this episode.

My favorite moment might have been with the twins doing the hard thing and then adopting a literal bear because of it. Sure, it’s crazy and insane, but look how much Vex loves Trinket.

She’d throw herself into danger to protect her and vice versa.

There’s a bond there that can never be broken. And I think Vax of all people understands her attachment to Trinket better than anyone.

Also, it was really nice for me as an audience member as well. I have very limited knowledge of the first campaign. I’ve watched campaign two thoroughly and I’ve read the comics that go with their origins. So I never really saw Laura as a pet parent to anyone other than Sprinkle and Nugget – and oh my goodness is she bad at it.

To me, I was almost terrified for Trinket.

Like, she’s going to get this bear killed.

Yet, Laura treated him so differently than Sprinkle. When she referenced him or showed off his merch. There was something different to her tone than Sprinkle or Nugget ever got.

Seeing this, I see the backstory she created. The love she possesses for this bear that her character rescued and loved and lived with as part of her. I love it.

I love how good Laura is at storytelling. At character creating. Making two characters so different from each other, that there’s a palpable difference even when she’s not in character. Like Laura speaking lovingly about Trinket outside of character, yet almost always forgetting Sprinkle because he doesn’t hold the same place in her character’s heart that Trinket does.

I love this little detail.

It speaks volumes.

Overall, I enjoyed this episode, and I can’t help but wonder what in Exandria is going to happen now.

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