The Legend of Vox Machina: The Killbox (2x10)

Goddamn, this show is something special.

Cons:

I'm not sure the utility of Kaylie coming back to witness the Kill Box fight. It feels like the exact same effect could have been achieved if Kaylie and the rest of the band had turned up after Kevdak's defeat, saying they'd gotten word that the herd was no longer going to be a problem. Having her around doesn't add anything, other than just a hint that she's trying to stay close to Scanlan for some reason, but I think that could have been achieved after the Kevdak battle.

The only complaint I have about the Kill Box fight sequence is that I wanted even more of it, which seems selfish because it was pretty incredible! I think the one thing that would have elevated it even just slightly, would be a bit more combo action. We saw each individual of Vox Machina fucking shit up, per Grog's instructions, and then obviously the awesome Vex and Grog combo there at the end, but my favorite part of the fight sequences is watching how all the different fighting styles and magics support and enhance one another. This fight had a lot of impressive single character actions, and then a lot of characters shooting a bad guy to protect each other, like Vex shooting bad guys near Percy and vice versa, which I obviously love, but I could have used some more combo creativity. This is such a nitpick though, it's only remembering the stream, how the Kill Box episode was one long combat from start to finish, and how fucking insane it was... when it ended here I was still eagerly wanting more.

The "I'm daddy" cliffhanger joke with Scanlan doesn't quite work because earlier he says he's not opposed to being called daddy, and then he says "I'm daddy?!" all incredulously at the end. I feel like it should have been him saying that he'd call her daddy, and then at the end he'd be like "I'm daddy?!" I don't know, for some reason the joke didn't land, even though the leadup to it was incredible.

Pros:

What to even say? This was so fucking good.

It was smart to check in at Whitestone at the start of the episode, see Kima, Allura, Gilmore, Cass, and Yennen all together. To remind us that Vox Machina has allies, and a place to fall back on, something they're looking to protect. This scene was so great, seeing everyone's relief, learning about Whitestone's magical defenses, seeing Cass in her leadership role. And Gilmore and Vax were pretty adorable too! Allura helps them to check in on Pike, Scanlan, and Grog, and we see that things aren't going so great for them...

I want to start by saying that I really felt the weight and gravitas of Kevdak as an adversary in this episode. His sheer physical size and strength, during the initial one-on-one combat with Grog, was so intimidating and legitimately distressing to watch. Seeing Grog stabbed with the wooden spike had me gasping. It was just such a smart narrative move to have Grog weakened in all sorts of ways, then at the mercy of watching tiny little Pike under Kevdak's boot, for him to have his big cathartic "where does your strength come from" moment. Just a brilliant restructuring of the way Grog's development happens in the stream. He realizes that his friends make him strong, and he's able to rage his way back into his full physical prowess, free himself of his impaled state, and rush back into the fight with Kevdak.

I was just really getting the feels about Grog and all his friends, especially the way he yells "No! Leave 'em!" when he realizes the herd is going after Pike and Scanlan, and then he says "they're more than just friends." Buddy! This is a smart change from the stream, because instead of Vox Machina lying in wait ready to ambush, Grog did fully intend to take this fight on alone, and it's only when the herd makes the first dishonorable move by getting Pike, Scanlan, and Kaylie involved, that all bets are off and Grog calls in his friends. Soooo glad they kept "Vox Machina, fuck shit up!!!" in there, because what a fucking line from Travis, holy shit. All the praise for his improv in the stream, and his performance here.

And the combat... so many individual shots I could call out about the group combat, but I think I just wanna say that the shot of Percy with his glasses flashing white as an explosion goes off behind him due to one of Vex's arrows is... the coolest fucking shit I've ever seen. The song was amazing, everyone was a total bad-ass, Grog was really getting to show off his more strategic mindset, focusing in on the gauntlets as he allowed his friends to clear the periphery for him.

Seeing the Titan Stone Knuckles in action, Kevdak pulling his arm off, really reinforced how bad-ass he is as a villain, but also was an excellent way to show that our good guys are having a real impact, here. Things aren't going great for them, but things are also not going so great for the herd. And then we get the poke-ball moment, one of Grog's most epic natural 20s brought to stunning life as he falls through the sky and slams down into Kevdak, cutting his evil uncle in half. I was so hyped for this episode, and that moment really, really did not disappoint.

And while I said above I would have loved even more combo action during the combat, there were a couple moments we did get that I enjoyed. Keyleth growing the wall of vines and Vex setting it on fire, Pike in peril and Keyleth as Minxie jumping out of nowhere to protect her... I particularly loved the moment at the end where Vax catches Vex when she tumbles off the broom.

Grog, as rightful Thunderlord of the Herd of Storms, immediately passes the mantle to Zanror, which is a nice moment. This season really does allow us to check in with most of our characters' families, between Vex and Vax's father and meeting their half-sister, Keyleth seeing her dad in Pyrah, Pike and Wilhand, Grog and the herd, even Percy gets to check in on Cass a few times. Funny how Scanlan is the only one who doesn't check in with family.

Oh, wait.

As if all that amazing combat wasn't enough, we immediately follow it up with an incredible tavern scene, full of so much fun, giving us a chance to decompress without ever fully taking our foot off the gas. I loved that they got "at dawn we plan" in there, as that's such a funny joke from the stream, and exemplifies so much of what Critical Role (and D&D in general, I suppose) can be. Lots and lots of discussion, and then total chaos once it comes time to actually implement the idea.

Keyleth and Vex fill Pike in on their adventure in the Fey Realm, while Percy talks with Grog and Zanror about how to kill Umbrasyl. Scanlan is up on stage singing a truly filthy song about masturbation, and Kaylie joins in... Vax seems to be enjoying the performance, when yet another vision from the Matron of Ravens unsettles him. The moment when Keyleth tries to ask Vax to dance and gets rejected is so quietly tragic! Kiki, he loves you, just hang in there, girl! I just loved all the vibes of this scene, the joy, the catharsis of everyone being together and safe and with new hope of defeating their foe.

And then...

Listen, the scene with Kaylie at the end filled me with so much dread, but in the best way. When you know what's coming, every compliment from Scanlan, every lascivious glance, it just makes you cringe. What a cliffhanger for people who didn't know what was coming!

As a last note, I loved the little detail of Scanlan telling Kaylie a story as they enter the bedroom: "and then, I disguised us all as cows!" This is obviously referencing an event from the stream that didn't make it into the animated show, but I also like that Scanlan is telling the tale of Vox Machina here. I've been so impressed with the adaptation in this show of Scanlan as bard, as storyteller, as the one who will pass the legend on through the ages. That's a common theme with this show, where not only are the big important plot moments adapted so well, often in surprising and fresh ways, but I feel that thematically, the characters are getting a chance to grow and develop much like we saw in the stream, albeit with the pacing drastically tightened up, and certain meandering paths shortened or cut.

And now, onward to episode eleven! I'm so mad the season is already over, I want more!!!

9/10