Critical Role Review: Campaign 4 Episode 7

Campaign synopsis: โ€œHero to many. Enemy to some. When Thjazi Fang is marked for execution, various figures from across his remarkable life unite to uncover the truth behind his grim fate. In a land still suffering from the fallout of dead gods and living in the shadow of a tumultuous rebellion, these disparate people will come together across the fractured world of Aramรกn and connect in ways they never imagined.

As hope and victory fade, a question hangs over Aramรกn. Without the Gods, what great deeds now fall to us? And who, or what, shall grab their crown from themselves?โ€

Episode synopsis: โ€œThe Soldiers arrive in the Kingdom of Timmony, where local customs are bending against the religious influence of the Candescent Creedโ€ฆโ€

The opening/ad read

Unfortunately, that was the most boring cold opening so far. Sorry guys. I think because weโ€™ve spent very little time with Murray and Bolaire for the past few weeks, Iโ€™m just not that interested right now. I do think starting out with the soldiers table for a few weeks was the right choice though. There wasnโ€™t much action or movement in the overture, so going on an actual adventure for a while is nice.

I was not prepared for how Taliesin is dressed in the ad read. I donโ€™t think Iโ€™ve ever seen his arms before, I was also not prepared for the tail and the dancing. This is a new side to Taliesin and I think he should do the ad reads every week going forward. Marisha and Laura eating the candy necklace while heโ€™s trying to finish the read is too much. These guys are so lame, I love them.

The fact that Ashley still struggles to read off the teleprompter will never not be funny. I canโ€™t believe sheโ€™s thinking about auctioning off her dice tray from campaign three. Itโ€™s for a good cause so why wouldnโ€™t she, but itโ€™s so iconic. Doesnโ€™t suit Vaelus though so it makes sense that she wouldnโ€™t need it anymore.

Characters

Travis is genuinely the funniest member of the cast. Heโ€™s always willing to go with jokes about his character. The bit about being stuck in a tree was so quick from him. Sam tried to make fun of his character, but nope, Travis will take that and run with it. You canโ€™t embarrass him. Well, unless you flirt with his character and then heโ€™s done for.

I am so here for the Tyranny Thimble friendship. Even though Thimble was disgusted that Tyranny eats people. But donโ€™t worry, sheโ€™ll only eat dead people. That makes it fine apparently.

I have a feeling Thimble throwing rocks at Wicander was more Laura wanting to throw them at Sam. Heโ€™s trying his hardest to wind up Laura in this campaign and heโ€™s doing it well. I should hate Wic, but I really donโ€™t.

I canโ€™t decide if I like Kattigan or if I think I like him because I love Robbie. Itโ€™s hard to enjoy new characters when you loved the previous one so much. Thatโ€™s probably why Iโ€™m struggling (just a little bit) to connect to this campaign so far. This has nothing to do with the actual characters, but Iโ€™ve really struggled to pay attention to the episode this week. There have been some pretty interesting reveals that I just canโ€™t bring myself to be excited for. Donโ€™t get me wrong, the campaign has been fun so far, I really like the soldiers group, but learning about an entire new world is more taxing than I thought it would be.

Final thoughts

The fact that weโ€™re now seven episodes in and we havenโ€™t had full episodes of the other tables makes me think this campaign is going to be LONG. Like, longer than The Mighty Nein, which I think is their longest campaign? Technically Vox Machina is longer as the first streamed episode wasnโ€™t their first game. I wonder if weโ€™ll get any โ€˜shoppingโ€™ episodes or whether this entire campaign will be story driven. Iโ€™m not against no shopping episodes, but it is nice to see the characters interact in a low stakes environment. Well unless itโ€™s the one shopping episode of The Mighty Nein when Caduceus got attacked in the Invulnerable Vagrant.

I love that the soldiers’ table will take time to joke around with each other, that has been missing from the rest of the campaign so far. Itโ€™s nice when it actually feels like a bunch of friends playing D&D together. I hope the other tables will be the same. Well, I know Aabria will be like it, but probably at the wrong moments. Hopefully sheโ€™s much more chill than the few episodes she was in for campaign three, those were a slog to get through. No hate to her though, I actually quite like her.


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Like this post? Why not read this one too:ย Critical Role Review: Campaign 4 Episode 6

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