As a dedicated fan of Critical Role, I must say that the depth and complexity of the characters, particularly Pike, is truly captivating. Pike’s struggle with faith and her connection to the Everlight mirrors the internal battles many of us face when confronted with beliefs that challenge our core values. The relationship between Pike and Grog, reminiscent of a sibling bond, offers a comforting sense of familiarity amidst the chaos of the ever-unpredictable world they inhabit.
In the third season of animated series “The Legend of Vox Machina,” the main group of heroes, Vox Machina, persist in their battle against the lethal Chroma Conclave, an alliance of formidable chromatic dragons. Throughout their journey, they encounter complex family ties, romantic entanglements, personal battles, and even a detour to the very depths of hell. “The Legend of Vox Machina” is based on the initial campaign of “Critical Role,” a lengthy “Dungeons & Dragons” campaign led by Matthew Mercer and featuring a talented ensemble of actors.
In this article, Game Rant had a chat with the main cast members of the upcoming season of “The Legend of Vox Machina”. Those present included Ashley Johnson (Pike Trickfoot), Laura Bailey (Vex’ahlia Vessar), Liam O’Brien (Vax’ildan Vessar/Vorugal), Marisha Ray (Keyleth), Matthew Mercer (Trinket/multiple voices), Sam Riegel (Scanlan Shorthalt), Taliesin Jaffe (Percival de Rolo), and Travis Willingham (Grog Strongjaw). They talked about the main conflicts of Season 3, the evolution of their characters’ romantic relationships, their experiences rejoining Vox Machina after the completion of the campaign, and other topics. For easier reading, some parts of this conversation have been condensed and simplified.
Matthew Mercer Plays Many Roles In Season 3
As a huge fan myself, I must admit that I’ve been delighted by the cameos of characters resembling me throughout Season 3. Are there any specific ones that fellow fans find particularly fascinating or memorable? Personally, I can’t help but notice and appreciate each one!
MERCER: There’s definitely one. I think we saw a clip of it on social media, but the spice merchant in Ank’Harel was definitely my favorite for a number of reasons. One, it’s such an iconic little nod to the original campaign that I got to voice for it, to make it silly, but I didn’t know at the time that it was going to look like me. The art team, once again, just likes to throw that in there to mess with me. And I couldn’t say no, at that point. So that was definitely my favorite cameo – though Sam has a preference for the one of watching me getting horribly mauled by demons in Hell. Which, you know, I think there’s some subtext there I can read. [Laughs]
RIEGEL: [Laughs] Yeah!
Inquiry: What are some entertaining and memorable musical scenes related to Scanlan’s role as the bard in The Legend of Vox Machina during Season 3? Do you have any personal preferences among these instances?
Scanlan, along with the entire group, perform a lively song together in the opening of an episode, which is both memorable and addictive. Watching this animation was a joyful experience.
But my favorite music of the season, I have to say, are the songs that Matthew Mercer sings. He delivers a song in character that’s really fun, and it’s a nod to our second campaign. Then, he delivers a really sad song at a pivotal moment in the show that I think is just so cool, and unlike anything I’ve ever heard him do. Unlike anything we’ve ever done on the show. So I was thrilled that we could afford him.
MERCER: [Facetious] Making me do it.
RIEGEL: His rate is steep. Like $100 or so.
MERCER: He gets the friends discount. I give him $90.
The Season Is About Personal Conflicts For The Group
In terms of significant changes, the current season has brought about some intriguing evolution in the relationships between Percy and Vex’ahlia. Could you summarize this development for us?
BAILEY: They’re my favorite couple.
JAFFE: It’s hot. It’s steamy. That makes me happy.
BAILEY: Yeah, you know. Let the other couple be sensitive. We’ll just be sexy times over here.
JAFFE: As it should be.
It’s satisfying to witness Percy finally having a respite, as he’s had a tough time for the past two seasons. In Seasons 1 and 2, Percy grappled with his inner struggles and tackled deeply personal issues.
JAFFE: Let’s revisit that later. It’s heartening to see Percy find something good, but the next three decades of his life will be marked by his inner struggles. [Laughs] He’s not a character who usually experiences happiness or indulges in it. It’s refreshing to portray and express what I believe is a genuine relationship, one that isn’t as stereotypically broad as what is often depicted in media.
BAILEY:I find that appealing. They both have strong barriers, but those barriers soften somewhat around each other. What makes this season special is that the conflicts are deeply personal in various aspects. I won’t delve too deeply into it, but Vex’ahlia is grappling with a significant amount of past and present sorrow while battling these antagonists.
This season, another character grapples with a deeply personal issue: Scanlan discovered in Season 2 that he has a daughter, Kaylie, whom he didn’t know existed. So, what impact will this revelation have on him as we move into Season 3?
RIEGEL: Despite Kaylie telling him she doesn’t want to see him again, Scanlan finds himself unable to resist her. He’s attracted to her because he’s never experienced a genuine relationship before. This season, he’ll definitely chase after Kaylie, hoping to learn more about himself – like the difference between trying hard and actually putting in effort, understanding what it means to truly matter to someone, and realizing how terrifying that can be. By the end of this season, Scanlan will have changed significantly from his initial self. Absolutely.
Returning To Vox Machina Years After The Campaign
A: Hey there! I’ve been quite busy with numerous projects recently, and at times it seems my voice is omnipresent. Can you tell me about your experience managing the production of Season 3 of The Legend of Vox Machina while juggling multiple assignments?
MERCER: Perhaps my voice isn’t omnipresent, though it might be. At some stage, I ought to rest in the future.
In your games, you have appeared in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Baldur’s Gate 3, and Final Fantasy 7 Remake.
MERCER: Oops! I seem to have rushed through your Mercer journey over the last couple of years. [Laughs] Let me correct that.
In essence, every one of us faces a multitude of responsibilities, managing around 700 things. However, being a group of friends offers an advantage; we can help each other out when someone is struggling by picking up the slack and providing support whenever it’s needed.
As a gamer, let me tell you honestly, these last few years have been tough with so many things happening. But I recall periods in my life where I went months on end with little to no progress and living each day with constant worry about paying rent. So, I’m grateful for the opportunities that have come my way, even though I know they could vanish tomorrow. That’s why I’m cherishing the present and making the most of it while I can. After all, I’ll catch up on sleep when it’s time to rest, not a moment sooner!
Q: Speaking to that, what has it been like for all of you working on this TV show together as friends, and coming back to a story you told many years ago as your first DND campaign?
Instead of saying “comforting,” perhaps a more fitting term would be “warm.” It’s as if there’s a sense of warmth, much like running into old friends from high school. [Laughs] They haven’t changed much, still a bit of a mess.
BAILEY: It’s as if I’m returning home once more, given all the current happenings. Engrossed in Campaign Three and immersed in the animated series of Mighty Nein, every time we revisit Vox Machina, it’s like wrapping myself up in a comforting blanket.
Battling Chromatic Dragons & Traveling To The Depths Of Hell
Question: Despite Season 3 being quite a challenging period for Vox Machina, Grog manages to keep his wit and optimistic spirit. What’s the secret behind him maintaining such a light-hearted approach during tough times?
WILLINGHAM: I believe we’ve mentioned this before, but in places like the Hells, when you’re simply seeking a sandwich, innocence can be comforting because it’s easy to remain optimistic. Additionally, it seems that it also serves to anchor the rest of the group as they contemplate various scenarios and employ their intellectual prowess for strategy-making.
It’s also refreshing to maintain such a straightforward perspective, one that reminds us if you lift something heavy and roll it down the slope, it could damage what you’re trying to quietly approach. In other words, it’s a harmonious blend of wisdom and simplicity, encompassing cunning, intelligent, and powerful individuals versus the clumsy or unaware.
A: As we move to the opposite end, Season 3 proves to be a challenging phase for Keyleth. The group encounters Raishan, an adversary with deep personal significance to Keyleth. So, how does she cope with this situation?
RAY: Indeed, you seem to grasp the root of Raishan and Keyleth’s feud. It’s quite intense – I don’t want to give too much away, but their conflict will unfold as we progress. There’s a definite battle of intellect between these two characters.
Q: Speaking of dragons, Liam, you have the cool opportunity this season to both voice your heroic character Vax’ildan and the white dragon Vorugal. What is it like having to switch between hero and villain roles?
O’BRIEN: I couldn’t contain my enthusiasm at transforming into a massive dragon. Vax carries such a heavy burden of weight, strife, and anguish, while Vorugal simply gets to hunt and lay waste. There’s something liberating about tapping into our primal instincts – isn’t that so, Travis?
WILLINGHAM: One hundred percent!
A: Despite dragons dominating the storyline this season, we also witness some characters from Vox Machina undertaking a trip to Hell. Ashley, could you describe Pike’s experience on this journey given her strong religious beliefs as a cleric?
JOHNSON: It’s a dreadful place, one that contradicts everything Pike stands for. She doesn’t feel good when she’s there – body, mind, and soul. It’s not a secure environment for her. In fact, it’s as if hell isn’t safe for Pike. We witness this struggle as she grapples with the bond she has with the Everlight while she’s there, and the tough decisions she must make for the group and the world. At times, one needs to venture into these dark places. Yet, I adore it. I appreciate the internal turmoil we get to delve into with Pike this year.
Relationships Are At The Center Of Season 3
Q: Does Pike rely on her friendship with Grog as she’s going through these struggles?
Absolutely. She seems to lean on everyone, but particularly Grog. They are family, with Grog being her older brother. I believe it’s because he can sense her state of mind – I don’t think she would have made that journey without him there too. Their bond is something beautiful.
WILLINGHAM: I think that’s one of the most beautiful things about the character relationships. As we encounter gods and chromatic dragons and other realms, you’ve got the twins who are siblings, and that’s grounding. There’s Pike and Grog, who grew up together, and that’s grounding. You’ve got Percy and Keyleth, who are both white collar, like royalty. And that’s grounding as well. And so, you can always come back to that omphalos of – boy, it’s just us. It’s us against the world. How are we going to do this? And that’s relatable.
Is there any progress or clarification about the relationship between Vax and Keyleth in this new season since it was left unclear at the end of Season 2?
RAY: Oh, you see some developments. You see some un-developments. They’re definitely caught up in the roller coaster that is their duties. It’s always been a rubber band, I feel like.
O’BRIEN: They will try to squeeze in a little time for each other as the world burns. Star-crossed lovers. Vax has a lot on his plate this season – but don’t they all? Shout out to Grog for not noticing 80% of what’s going on. That’s the way to be.
A: How does it feel to revisit the bond between Vax and Keyleth – a connection you established during the campaign, now portraying it on-screen. Does the experience differ?
RAY: Revisiting it brings a sense of melancholy, as we were simply going along during the campaign, letting it take us where it may. However, we are aware of their relationship’s eventual outcome. Therefore, revisiting these steps carries an undercurrent of tragedy, especially for those who are following Bells Hells, Campaign 3, as it’s quite challenging for the two characters.
In our meetings, which were extensive, there would be rare moments for relaxation or humor. However, due to the hectic pace and impending deadlines of the animated show, there wasn’t much room for leisurely conversations. There was no time to relax – not even like streaming on Netflix.
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2024-10-03 17:24