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I think I spent this episode wondering what in the hell was happening.

Which is fine. I think the characters were also wondering what was happening. So. At least, I’m not alone. That makes me feel better.

Because as per usual, despite their best intentions of getting things right, Vox Machina just cannot. I think the main difference between Vox Machina planning and The Mighty Nein planning is that Vox Machina actually believes they’re going to stick to the plan, and everything will work out.

Whereas The Mighty Nein are certain they’re going to throw it out two seconds after contact with the enemy. Or be completely shocked they actually followed their plan. Which happens so rarely.

Anyway, back to the crazy that occurred.

We went after Percy. He was kidnapped by Anna Ripley.

She’s trying to suck all the power out of the vestiges to become a capitalist by selling weapons or something like that. I don’t know. I wasn’t listening too closely to her. I was just thinking about how we could have avoided this if we shot her when we had the chance in season one.

Because not shooting her did no good.

They were trying to keep quiet and six seconds after they don’t shoot Ripley they make noise, anyway, getting caught. Should have made it a worthwhile noise then!

Am I alone in this thought?

Regardless, Ripley is here and blathering on and on about her plans. Wanting Percy to join her and the smoke demon thing, I had hoped we’d never meet again.

Could someone please explain to me how it survived a pool of acid?

Didn’t we see it die? Why are you here? Go away.

Did Ripley rescue it on the way out?

And I’ll admit, I was mildly confused as to why the pepperbox shocked everyone until I remembered long ago in season one, it was the smoke demon that gave Percy the idea. Or at least fueled him into figuring it out in his revenge filled brain.

Which is why Anna needed Percy’s help. Apparently, the idea wasn’t entirely the smoke demon’s. Perhaps, he just gave Percy the right nudges to make the gun. However, the idea for it is still all his own.

I don’t know.

My other question from all this, is does each vestige only have a certain amount of power? Could you drain it entirely? Or is it a never-ending supply?

What about this particular vestige will turn the tide against Thordak?

I have so many questions and so little answers.

On the other hand, I got to see Grog interact with children. Which is all kinds of sweet and wonderful. He’s doing remarkably better than Scanlan is with his own daughter.

He gets absolutely nowhere with her. To only his surprise.

Because who else saw this going well? Not me.

Honestly, I’m not sure how I feel about this attempt from Scanlan. Nothing has changed. You have nothing to bring to the table right now and pressing matters are creeping in on you with dragons destroying parts of the world.

You can’t devote time to her. You can’t be anything she needs you to be. And you can’t promise to be around. What did you expect to happen?

I think, I would feel differently, if Scanlan wasn’t just going to be banging his head against a wall. Because as demonstrated, he’s torn between his friends needing him and trying to bond with his daughter. While he still hasn’t learned how not to put his foot in his mouth.

He wants to change. But has no idea where to start. Or what to do.

Yet somehow, he wants his daughter to give him a chance when he’s still got a long way to go. Slaying one dragon and not leaving your friends to die, isn’t enough.

No matter how much it feels like it should be.

Then we rescue Percy is time for everyone to be arrested. Percy nearly gets turned into a something or other to serve the Emperex.

However, Scanlan manages to pull himself together long enough to save his friend’s ass with Mythcarver.

Is anyone else tired of Percy? Like just a little bit?

He’s not a bad character. He’s not even a bad guy. But I’ve had my fill of brooding idiots who think everything in the world is their fault and they should take the blame for everything. All the time. No matter what anyone else says.

I lived through enough of these on the CW to never have anymore.

Which is really unfair to Percy, because there’s more layers to him. And a lot that goes with the baggage and trauma he’s endured. He isn’t like this simply because we need a brooding member of the cast. It has purpose.

On the other hand, I’m so sick of this character type that I have a short fuse when it comes to Percy.

I think I actually shouted at the TV when he decided to take all the blame and sacrifice himself. Forgetting that his friends care about him, here and now. Like somehow, they would be better off without him. When they don’t feel that way and he refuses to believe them.

Or apparently, see that Vex is crushing on him. Hard.

He’s literally the only thing she worries for in the entire episode. Got to find Percy. Got to rescue Percy. Have to rescue him, again. But this time from himself.

Dude! This woman cares for you more than you will ever know. Stop being a moron. Make a move and stop brooding. It’s not a good look anymore. It went out of style with Twilight.

Meanwhile, Keyleth found a backbone between last season and this season is no longer letting her friends just sort of walk over her. Not to say that they’re doing it on purpose or even to be mean to Keyleth. However, she’s had enough and has found the voice deep within her.

Which I freaking love.

She’s going to be the leader of her people. She needs to be able to handle conflict and handling conflict with friends is way harder than strangers. If she can hold her own with the strong personalities in Vox Machina, she’s going to be fine. She’s standing firm in her own convictions.

And I’m not certain she’s wrong. Which I kind of hope she’s not wrong.

It’ll be a huge boost to her confidence and to how the group perceives her – should she catch something none of them did.

It would go a long way to helping her arc and overall character growth. I’m really looking forward to how it plays out.

On the flip side, her being wrong is also a good lesson for a leader. No matter what, no one person is completely infallible. Listening and being able to take counsel from those you trust is an important skill as well. While I am hoping she’s right – either way, I’m excited to see this unfold for Keyleth.

Lastly, we’ve got good news! The rest of the world is aware that the dragons have suddenly taken over part of the world. At least one person thought ahead and had a replica of the vestige made. Tossing the real one into… Hell?

I mean, that’s a pretty good place to hide it. I wouldn’t think to look there. Nor do I want to go there in order to get it. Nope. No thank you. Good luck Vox Machina. I’ll wait out here.

Definitely a sound plan. Also, perhaps the most forward-thinking person in this entire series outside of the evil dragons. Dragons are taking over, I should hide this very important item so that we don’t need to worry about it being stolen. And if anyone does try to steal it, they get a fake or are executated. Lovely. Excellent plan.

You know, except for the part where you tried to kill the good guys.

Thankfully, you’re pretty reasonable and did not.

Although, your punishment is pretty effed up.

We turn you into a servant thingy. Is there like a time served thing where you get to return to yourself afterward or is this forever? Did they say it? I can’t remember. Someone tell me! Please.

Well, onto the next. What could possibly go wrong in the depths of Hell? I’m sure it’ll be great. Wonderful. A vacation. Maybe we’ll meet another imp like the Traveler here.

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