Reviews: The Legend of Vox Machina brings heartbreak and death in Episodes 7-9 of season 3

Season 3 of The Legend of Vox Machina continues to fulfill its promise to deliver intrigue and action with emotional turmoil and epic battles in episodes 7, 8 and 9. This is the reason so many gamers fall in love with Dungeons & Dragons. The creators of Critical Role and The Legend of Vox Machina are definitely getting new people to take a look at the game, which is thrilling for long-time gamers like me.

Nicknames give these characters depth. Vax sometimes calls Vex ‘Stubby.' Keyleth is often referred to as 'Kiki.' I will write out their full names to prevent any confusion, though I find the nicknames charming.

Let’s get into these next three episodes.

The Legend of Vox Machina Episode 307: “Cloak and Dagger”

This episode begins with Anna Ripley as a youth and shows how she became the villain she is today. Her penchant for making things work and tinkering began when she was young. Her family mined residuum, an ore which can be used to imbue machinery with magical properties or enhance arcane magics. This explains how she knows so much about incorporating it into her machines. The Cerberus Assembly attacks Anna's village and changes her future.

In the aftermath of the youngling dragons’ attack on Whitestone, city leaders figure out how to recover from the devastation and Vox Machina decide what to do next. Percy decides Ripley told Thordak Whitestone’s location and discovers she stole the residuum reserves during the attack. She leaves a clue to her whereabouts and Percy insists on following it.

Scanlan arrives in Nicodranas, where he believes his daughter is performing, and realizes he’s too late. She left already.

In the romance portion of the show, Percy wants to tell the rest of Vox Machina about his love affair with Vex. She’s hesitant, still believing it will create difficulties…something she regrets later.

Vox Machina fly to the Isle of Glintshore where Percy believes Ripley is. Vex has her broom; Keyleth takes a giant eagle form others can ride on, and Vax uses the wings given to him by the Raven Queen, his deity.

Once there, they take a trap-infested path onward to confront Ripley in her cave. One of the traps goes off, releasing delirium gas; Percy is dragged off. The rest of the gang are tormented with their innermost fears. However, some of these visions reveal truths not realized before.

Ripley shows Percy her workshop, which is full of steam-powered machines based on his designs, now enhanced with the residuum. It’s interesting that she tells him it’s his workshop. It also turns out there’s an hourly power surge created by the fake artifact armor she stole believing it was the vestige Pike now wears. Ripley’s creations will give Orthax power from the souls of anyone her weapons kill. She gives herself over to Orthax, leading to an exciting battle with Percy. He shows her undeserved mercy after defeating her.

Meanwhile Pike frees everyone from the gas effects, but without the assistance of The Everlight.

The Legend of Vox Machina Episode 308: “Seige & Silence”

A flashback scene reveals how Percy joined up with Vox Machina when they rescued him from prison.

Scanlan returns to a somber and grieving Whitestone. Vex believes she is a "bad luck charm" and that she’s responsible for the deaths of people she loved, including her mother.

My favorite quote from this episode is when Keyleth tells a dejected Scanlan, “When all options are terrible, you go with your heart.” As he walks away, she notices a parchment with a song he wrote for his daughter and keeps it.

Keyleth and Vax give into their passions in light of all the death around them. The Raven Queen visits him in a vision during the night.

Raishan appears to Vax with ideas on how to confront Thordak next. During the conversation, she reveals important information about his family’s past. He runs to his sister and relays what he’s learned. Pike learns the song Scanlan wrote and he discovers her practicing it.

A council at Whitestone convenes with plans to face Thordak. Each member of Vox Machina reach out to others from their past to recruit them into a rag-tag army. Vex even confronts her estranged father and convinces him to send his own army.

A two-pronged approach is agreed upon. Vox Machina will head to Thordak’s lair to destroy any unhatched eggs while the army engages him and his children. Raishan, in human form, shows up at the council. She reveals a back way for Vox Machina to enter the lair via a small tunnel. Even though Pike is still struggling to activate the vestige armor, she pledges to use it against Thordak.

With a battle cry of “For Exandria,” both prongs of the attack get underway. While the armies face Thordak and his children, Vox Machina get to the tunnel to find it sealed up. They realize Thordak has left his lair and is attacking the armies. A dire battle indeed.

The Legend of Vox Machina Episode 309: “Thordak’s Throne"

Thordak and his children decimate the armies in Whitestone. Vox Machina decide to go through the more dangerous entryway to Thordak's lair so they can destroy the unhatched dragon eggs, but Keyleth and Pike split off to go back and join the army. Their goal is to destroy the crystal in Thordak’s chest which gives him power.

Back at the lair, Vex and Vax lure the younglings guarding the main entrance away, allowing Grog and Scanlan entry inside. They then head to Whitestone.

When Kash and Zahra burst onto the battle, he faces off with Thordak and pays the ultimate price. There’s a poignant scene where his spirit stands up and sees his broken body before him. When the Queen of Ravens came for him, I couldn’t help but shiver.

Inside Thordak’s lair, Grog and Scanlan set about destroying the remaining dragon eggs. Grog hesitates, realizing they are infants but Scanlan convinces him to “make some omelets.” Grog rages and wades in. He and Scanlan fight off baby dragons as they hatch and smash those who haven’t yet. At one point, all the hatchlings screech skyward, crying for their father. He races back to the lair. Scanlan distracts him with conversation as Grog brings the lair's roof down upon the dragon. The two of them escape, narrowly avoiding the dragon’s fire breath but not without being badly hurt.

Vox Machina come together for a last stand against Thordak in his lair. I’m unsure of why his breath weapon suddenly changed. It was red/yellow fire and now is a blue/white breath weapon. White hot perhaps?

Pike’s armor kicks in for an awesome display of power and she destroys Thordak’s chest crystal. However, the Cinder King meets his demise from another.

The episode ends with a strong message of hope and love, although there are uncertain futures ahead for some.

Further Vox Machina reviews

• Reviews: Danger, betrayal and fire in the first 3 episodes of The Legend of Vox Machina season 3
• Reviews: The Legend of Vox Machina delivers big, action-packed battles and escapes in Episodes 4-6

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