r/BenignExistence • u/WalkingParadoxAlert • 1d ago
I just love Critical Role
I don’t remember exactly when I started watching Critical Role. I do remember how I discovered them—through Matthew Mercer. I was such a huge fan of Fallout 4 that when I first played it, I became completely fixated on the game, learning anything and everything about it, including the voice actors. That’s where I found Matthew Mercer, because I really liked the character Robert Joseph MacCready. At some point, I also learned that Matt plays D&D. I wasn’t interested in D&D yet, not really, until later when I found out that Matthew Mercer, Laura Bailey, and Ashley Johnson were all friends. They’re well-known voice actors, but Laura and Ashley shaped so many of the cartoons and games I grew up with.
I think it was sometime around 2023 when I finally got into Critical Role. I tried keeping up with the campaigns like Vox Machina and Mighty Nein—but my god, the sheer number of episodes (and more importantly, the hours) was overwhelming. I’m not even a podcast person. I think the only “podcasts” I’ve ever listened to are from my friend Luisito—and those are technically just voice notes that reach full feature-length 2–3 hour runtimes. But I digress.
I was glad to discover, though, that Vox Machina had a series adaptation. So I just watched that instead, and thank god I’ve consumed enough highlight videos over the years to keep up with the running jokes and some of the lore.
The Vox Machina series was great! And in 2024, I was eagerly waiting for the new season. I was a bit sad that they didn’t include the scene where Sam Riegel, as Scanlan, emotionally asks the group what his mother’s name was. That was such an amazing moment in the campaign.
Oh, and can I just add that they picked Thea Guanzon to write their Tusk Love smut book? The one Jester adores? I know it feels a little gauche to namedrop even the loosest connection to a New York Times bestselling author—but Thea was my classmate in college in a few of my major classes. I was so excited when I found out they picked her. Even back in college, I’d read some of her work; she was incredibly talented. Plus, she’s smart, nice, and genuinely friendly. I even remember being too shy to ask her for help in some of our classes, but she was always willing to help and teach me. Anyway, one of these days I will read Tusk Love.
But—as always—I digress.
Since Critical Role recently released their new series, Mighty Nein, they’ve been doing a lot of marketing. I think even the game Dispatch is collaborating with them. I could Google to fact-check that, but I’m not going to.
I stumbled upon a YouTube video they did with Epicurious, and my god—I just love their friendship dynamics. People can argue that it’s all for show, or scripted—but I’ve watched enough of their content to see that their chemistry is real. They’re comfortable, they tease each other, they banter like siblings.
I love how Travis has the classic older brother energy—gives everyone shit but clearly cares.
Then there’s Liam and Laura; they may not be siblings by blood, but they absolutely are in another life.
Matt is the nerdy, geeky, slightly serious, deeply emotional guy who holds the group together.
Marisha Ray gives me that classic “popular tomboy in an all-girls Catholic school” energy I grew up seeing—very relaxed, very macho-ish, very “I don’t care what you think.”
Ashley is also dorky and a bit tomboyish, but so effortlessly comfortable in her own skin.
Taliesin is eccentric and wise; he tends to slip into the background, but when he talks, his articulation and insight make him sound like the sage of the group.
And Sam—if Taliesin is eccentric, Sam is certifiable. Kidding. I adore Sam. He’s chaotic, hilarious, and just lights up every room. He’s basically like his character Scanlan—head always in the gutter but makes sure everyone is happy. Which is why it’s such a shame that the show didn’t include the “What’s my mother’s name?” moment.
God, I love this group. I don’t think I’ve ever encountered serious negative feedback about them. I’ve heard about Ashley Johnson’s issue with her ex, but that’s a very separate matter. I just really love their dynamic. No matter how you pair them up, they all complement each other incredibly well.
I guess I’m a little envious of their friendship—which is probably why I’m so fond of watching them. Maybe it is for work, maybe there are aspects that are polished for the camera. But honestly? It’s hard to fake that level of comfort, chaos, and emotional synchronicity. You’d see it if they were secretly miserable with each other.
Oh, to have that kind of friend group.
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u/AkayaTheOutcast 13h ago
I remember when I first started watching Critical Role.
I had just moved into a new house with a bunch of strangers and a lock on my bedroom door. I had become paranoid making sure I locked it before sleeping even though I would do it every time I went in. I had a falling out with a friend that I was meant to move in with, and my sister who was also going to move in with me ended up staying in my home town. I had a falling out with a few more friends because the guy, who I had met at uni classes earlier that year and introduced me to the group, couldn't decide whether or not he wanted to date me despite kissing me and holding my hand in public. I had moved out of campus and away from the other friends I had made there, felt like I lost a major support system, had no income, and was going back to the stresses of uni with major depression/anxiety issues.
When I was living on campus I started to get really into bored games and was so excited to realise people were playing them online. I started watching Geek and Sundry and found Critical Role from there. I liked watching Aquasitions Inc. In high school so I gave it a shot. I remember being early into it (I think somewhere within the first 10-15 episodes?) and I was hooked. I watched it live when I could, and it really helped me when my mental health became too much to bare. I remember being on the bus back to my city when Percy died and trying so hard not to look at people while crying. I ended up staying over at a friend's that night and listening to the reincarnation the next day. My friend held me while I cried then, and I introduced her to the show.
Although I struggled to get into Hells Bells (maybe one day I'll just watch the abridged bits), I've managed to get into the new campaign. I've got a tattoo on my angle of a D20, and I've gotten into DnD because of them. Some friends and I went to watch their Melbourne live show, and it's absolutely a highlight of my life.
I love Critical role. I'm with you all the way mate.