The Legend of Vox Machina had its second season lined up before its first episode drops, and that well-earned confidence is on display here. This perfect season finale balances high-tension emotional quarrel with some of the best-animated fantasy action ever put to screen.

The final trio of episodes is directed by Young Heller, Alicia Chan, and Stanley von Medvey, in that order. Episode 10 is written by Jennifer Muro, who previously penned episode 5. Episode 11 was written by Eugene Son, of episode 3, and Travis Willingham. The season finale was a joint effort by Brandon Auman and Sam Riegel.

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The three episodes per week format of Legend of Vox Machina has been an interesting way to experience the story. This trilogy is dedicated mainly to wrapping up Percy and the gang's desperate struggle against the seemingly all-powerful Briarwood family. Cassandra de Rolo finally gets her chance in the spotlight and Esme Creed-Miles acquits herself excellently. The other big new addition to the cast is Kelly Hu, perhaps best known as Lady Deathstrike in X2, Dr. Anna Ripley. Ripley is a very engaging character, constantly on the knife's edge and offering taunts at every turn.

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The nature of Critical Role's approach to storytelling sees the Vox Machina crew crossing the kingdom and tackling threats of all kinds. This season has been heavily focused on Percival de Rolo's vengeance quest, but the series does an excellent job of centering other characters' growth simultaneously. It's truly amazing what the show manages to pack into twenty-four minutes, no main character is left in the margins. Percy's struggle with revenge and his own personal demons is surrounded by Vax and Grog's playful rivalry, Pike's elegant new glowing form, Keyleth's moral quandary, and much more.

Episode 10: "Depths of Deceit" sees Percy free Dr. Ripley against his better judgment and attempt to make their way through the Briarwoods territory. They discover deadly traps and dark secrets in the dungeons of their enemies. The focus is often on Percy, his sister Cassandra, and Dr. Ripley's battle of wills as danger swiftly mounts. Percy's peculiar darkness is given a more ominous weight as vengeance draws near. Pike's desperate attempts to keep her friends both together and alive are only amplified by her bizarre new scenario. The episode closes on an extremely grim note, along with a brutal action set-piece that tests the entire Vox Machina party to their core. It's stellar all around, and the high-tension dialogue hardly wastes a line.

Episode 11: "Whispers at the Ziggurat" pits Vox Machina against the Briarwoods in a climactic final battle. There is so much going on in this one twenty-minute fight scene. Multiple conflicting motivations, complex sets of powers clashing, heroic sacrifices, and tragic turnarounds. It's one of the best-executed fight scenes in an animated series to date and the fact that the episode still has more fuel in the tank once it's over is staggering. Every character on display gets a chance to show off their character in a thousand tiny moments. A viewer who had never heard of Critical Role could come away from this episode with a solid understanding of the Vox Machina crew and their relationships. It somehow perfectly grasps the new medium, while finally committing to screen exactly what a beautifully executed RPG can feel like to play.

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Episode 12: "The Darkness Within" is a more personal exchange. Devoting much of its length to an internal struggle that spills over onto the rest of Vox Machina. This episode wraps the story in a satisfying bow while leaving a healthy mystique over future events. After all the excitement, the final episode tails into a comforting sense of success over what Vox Machina has helped to achieve. This is quickly supplanted by an electric sense of what's to come and a dynamic cliffhanger that will keep new fans and old on tenterhooks for the next season. There's a lot to be gained from binging the show as a full season. And, given how season one wraps up, there will be a lot to be gained from watching them back to back. It cannot be said often enough how impressive it is that this show tells the story it tells, with all the emotional depth and moving moments, with a runtime right around the average episode of Critical Role.

Something like The Legend of Vox Machina simply does not come around very often. It's a labor of love, from the creators that embodied its characters to the animators who brought it to life, to the fans who kicked down doors to ensure it was made. Self-respecting Critters have already seen it, reviewing this show only serves to join their celebration over its spectacular outcome. Anyone with any love of animation, action, fantasy, comedy, Dungeons & Dragons, or any combination of the same will find no better encapsulation and tribute than The Legend of Vox Machina. Watch it immediately, fall in love with it, and stand by waiting for season 2 with bated breath like the rest of us. The Legend of Vox Machina is available to stream now on Amazon Prime Video.

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