UPDATE : Part 2 th-cam.com/video/NBEAMbuSMJs/w-d-xo.html PART 3 th-cam.com/video/jvsftoh-rC4/w-d-xo.html PART 4 th-cam.com/video/9665nMn1s8A/w-d-xo.html
For c1 The reveal of Anna Ripley in the dungeons was the first goosebumps I got from the show I think. Even as it’s out of character for Marisha to blert it out bc Keyleth wasn’t present for the moment, her shocked reaction makes it for me! It is also a moment that is hard to find a good YT-video off I’ve noticed!
@@TheJustinist @Justin D You mean INT? Because Cad's INT is 9, (the lowest of the group) but he's tied with Caleb as the character with the second highest CHA of the Nein at 16.
I feel like that's part of her vernacular, and my theory is that's part of the reason why The Gentleman picked that name in the first place. Originally it was supposed to be temporary, so he could return. A term of endearment from the one he loved the most in the world, who wouldn't want that name to represent them?
Reminds me of Rainer 's comment in TAZ Graduation. Ill get rid of my skeletal woodland critters when you pull them from my cold dead hands. And even then, I'm a necromancer so good luck.
I love how Taliesin's face immediate drops when he hears the name "Briarwood" again, you could really see him thinking "Oh Sh*t, I thought we were done!!!!"
The best part of Gilmore's late-night visit to Vax is when Vax nervously wipes off the oil from his earlier prank on Grog, the visual is non-stop hilarious
Seriously, I re-watched that scene when it first aired sooo many times over. I've always been hoping to pull this level of awesome over my players at some point, and I cannot get over the delay on Travis' realization! So good!
@@Maybonics nah, Matt said it was meant to be a reveal for later but when Jester started to describe him it made sense for it to be revealed in the moment
I know NOTHING about DND, nor this campaign, but the sheer energy of these vids had me gripping my seat with full chills like "NO WAAAY, NOT RAKSHASHA" like a local LOL this is incredible storytelling and seems like so much fun!
@@TimStamper89 I started my first DND campaign shortly after I made this comment and my god, it has consumed my life in the best way. Hope you get to play soon!
same for me i don't ever played dnd, i don't even understand it very well but picking things here and there i got attach to parts of the story and the battles
rakshasha are fiends whose hands are often bent the other way at the wrist than humans, they have different kinds of animal heads on humanoid bodies in their true form, they love the taste of sapient flesh, are a majorly patriarchal society, and there's something about being hit by a crossbow bolt or a silver crossbow bolt or a silver dagger or piercing damage or something that deals major damage to them cuz otherwise they are not to be trifled with; by the time you see a rakshasha's true form you are already up shit creek without a paddle cuz they love to lie and scheme and deceive and hardly ever show their true form cuz they know that if they get found out they'll get banished back to the nether realms
The best part about the Gilmore reveal was the beginning of the next episode when the cast (all ready to go fight) instead find assassins in their own rooms instead.
What absolutely kills me about the Gentleman situation... They have three different people who can change their (or others') appearance, at will... And instead, they choose to try to draw and describe the Gentleman. Like, I choose that to be 100% in-character panicking, more than any out-of-character decisions, on that front, because I've legitimately had that issue before: looking for a flashlight to use before remembering I had my phone on me at all times.
@@codyallen2838 Bruh it’s not low intelligence. He’s canonically ace. And yeah I know not all asexual people don’t understand innuendo but lots of us don’t anyway
It's all about player investment. I know it's much harder than it sounds, but Matt goes out of his way to personalize little bits of the story for each player's character. Once he has set his "hooks" in them (so to speak) he let the line slack a bit so they forget the connection even exists.... Then when least expected... He tugs on those "heart strings" and reels them in! Hook Line Sinker ... And it also helps to end session on those cliffhangers every once in a while too. (Not always tho, because it will loose it's luster)😉
It does depend on the players too. I've had players who don't roleplay much, keeping the game at an arm's length as a thing they do rather than experience, and even when the biggest twists happen, they're not expressive enough to show much of a reaction. And then I've had beautifully reactive players who soak up every piece of drama you give them and reward you with their emotional investment. Their reactions instantly make all the game prep worth it.
I think any DM would love to have players that invested. Most of my players get at least a little excited for their own personalized story beats I sprinkle into my game, but they’re nowhere near as jazzed for each other. One of my players though, even though it’s his first time ever playing, gets super invested in everyone’s stories and reacts like this to any twist or reveal and I love him for it.
Surprisingly no! The characters weren’t meant to find out until later, but Matt just rolled with it because it made sense for the character to use that phrasing.
@@hoki3697 Yes. Matt has talked about it. He didn't intend for them them to figure it out so quick. He left clues and they picked them up faster than he expected. In fact, they wouldn't have even met the Gentleman as quickly as they did, but Marisha rolled a good perception check on the halfling in the sewer and figured out he was a smuggler. And then Sam rolled a nat20 to persuade him to tell them who the Gentleman is. And so they got the location and code they needed to meet him.
more likely he was waiting for it to happen but they had a way to not be scryed or sensed. so he had to wait, and at that time... they removed such protection so it was more of an ideal place knowing it wouldn't come back.
@@Lucajuca012 honestly, no. i have watched every possible interview they had, all con panels and the now removed talks machina. i would suggest one of the campaign 1 recap videos, but that is just a guess.
I remember watching the episode where "Gilmore" stabbed Vax, and was like, "Wh-what...is he talking abo..! NO! NO WAY! IT'S THE DEVIL CAT FEOM VASSALHEIM!" Loved that reveal. I never saw that one coming and was loving what happened.
love how travis says "look at percy" during that last one bc i'm 100% sure that was tal's own reaction but they're all so in character that it goes either way
Talesin's reaction to Delilah perfectly sumarises the feeling when there's a plot twist directly involving you characters backstory. Just that feeling of "bitch you didn't..." and "i'm so glad you did" is euphoric and terrifying all at once
The Gilmore one is my favorite as well; Matt is SO good at lulling everyone into a false sense of security with his descriptions (just listen how he describes Gilmore's smile when he enters Vax's room, how he describes the robe he brought, the tranquil moon and beautiful view when they step onto the balcony...). Which makes for a really heavy contrast when he transitions to the violent part. Add to that that Gilmore is someone the party totally trusted up unto that point, and I can imagine the shock it must've been for the players. Wonderfully done, perfectly executed (having Vax change into a plain, non-magical robe was also genious)!
@@SturmSwiftaxe I don't know for sure if they mentioned it that episode, in Talks, through Twitter, or in the Wrap-up, but it's on the wiki for sure. I have yet to see the wrap-up as I'm still on C1-E102. I'm caught up otherwise.
@@V3x0r Yeah, all actors are liars in a sense, but there are levels, and boy oh boy is Matt at the top of the list in my book. Seriously, It's a good thing he's not evil, the dude is charismatic enough to start a cult and smart enough to keep it going lol.
(looks at the Critical Role fandom) "IT'S A CUUUUUUUULT!!!!!" "All a god really is, is a cult with a franchise." And I say this with the utmost affection.
He's quite the prolific voice actor. Matt never really plays "major" roles, but he's in basically every single popular video game and anime dub in some capacity or another.
Can you give me the coles notes on why it was such an emotional reveal? I know nothing of the campaign, but strong emotional crowd responses are like nectar to me. What's the background?
@@mikaelshaddock7452 Essek was meant to be a smaller villain character, and at the start he's super smug and all that. But the critrole gang does their ever so funny thing of changing the DM's plans without knowing it. So they invite Essek over for dinner, and he starts softening up to them. Essek mainly just wanted knowledge and power, and so decided to betray his own nation, but when they find him in the scene I'm talking about, he kind of regrets it cause he's actually made friends. And we as an audience collectively list our minds because we had no idea he had been acting as a spy.
@@deburrito6882 I don't really understand the surprise, though. Matt was pretty heavy-handed in implying that it was Essek, and the party themselves even talked about the possibility at pretty great length in earlier episodes. (edited for clarity)
@Matt Bailey I think the surprise of it really came from the length of time that they knew Essek, both as characters in game and even more so as players outside of it. Essek had done several favors for them, mostly teleporting, they'd had dinner, he joined them at the hot tub, they exchanged information (there was one episode not long before this that started with an hour and a half or so of lore through Essek). I honestly just think they stopped suspecting Essek and Matt took full advantage of it.
@@trashcandy. He really wasn't that heavy handed with it, at that point there were a LOT of suspicious people around and it wasn't clear at all who could be trusted and who couldn't. The negotiations could be sabotaged any minute and who knows who's watching who where and when? So when they first met him, being suspicious of Essek wasn't that surprising, They were in foreign territory and everything was sketchy lol, but as they got to know him, they slowly grew less and less suspicious as he opened up to them and became friends. So there was always a slight hint of suspicion but it was very much diminished and practically gone by the time the reveal happened because they had really started to trust him. So even when they heard faint hints that someone Essek-ish might be in town, I think they were willing to think he was spying for his country or something with maybe a slight pit in their stomachs until that came crashing down with the reveal.
3:38 just look at Laura and Travis miming their character's weapons together in unison. I couldn't think of a better sign of a healthy and loving marriage lmao😂
You know it's it's good twist (Essik) when not only can you hear someone the audience say "No it's not!" but even Taliesin is shocked and leans back. And he knows everything...
15:30 the reaction to this reveal is priceless, from everyone. But look at Jon during it-I LOVE how his face perfectly encapsulates the confusion of “I don’t know what is happening” combined with “but it’s clearly a huge deal to my friends, so I am HERE for it..!” 😆 Love it, all the way around! 💕💕
I love how you can see the immediate relief on Liam’s face when it’s revealed that it wasn’t actually Gilmore who stabbed Vax. He was sad and super stressed before that
What I am learning from this: - Start off all twist villain monologues as if a mentor or good friend is talking to the players, then suddenly flip to monologuing to give them some good hearty trust issues :)
all through that scene with Essex, i was just gleeful that Matt is using Mage Cannons (which was something from my Spelljammer campaign) and the possibility that he was going to go Spelljammer at some point. Had to rewatch the scene to note the reactions later.
I loved the nearly full episode of Spelljammer they did in Acc Inq. Where they played as mycondria (sp, the mushroom guys) for some kind of flash back. They all got so into playing the "we" who was part of the "joy" and quickly picked up on the other cues of playing such odd creatures.
Timestamps for people that have just seen one of the Campaigns, but still want to relive some moments: 00:00 Clip from C2 E33 02:57 Clip from C1 E106 04:04 Clip from C2 E97 06:22 Clip from C1 E57 11:40 Clip from C2 E98 14:11 Clip from C1 E100
POV: Your scanning comments for Timestamps I have them Spoilers!!!! 0:03 Gentleman’s Identity 2:59 Vecna Waltzed in 4:05 Essek Essek Essek 6:22 GILMOR 11:40 THE DREAMS 14:12 Briarwood
SPOILERS That rakshasa reveal gave me the biggest whiplash ever omg I knew it wasn't Gilmore as soon as he started freaking speaking. Gilmore would never shame Vax for being in love with someone else, he's too good of a guy
think of D&D as playing an MMORPG game like Final Fantasy, where you start off choosing your race, class, specifics and background, and you interact with others with their own characters of similar or different make, led by the main narrator or Dungeon Master. For example, I'm part of a group now that's been a few months going, and we have a Human ranger/archer, a water 'elemental' of sorts as a healer, a dwarves wizard, and an elven paladin. We each have our own backgrounds that can either help or hinder the mission, as well as specific tasks depending on the mission at hand. It's actually really fun when you get a good group and a variety of people/characters. :) Critical Role just ups the geekdom to a new level by having voice actors play D&D, and the occasional guest start (like Joe Magliano among others).
i had a very similar reaction to travis when vecna showed up in 106. i was half asleep, because it was really late, and when matt said that i accidentally scared the living shit out of my roommate because i screamed "WHAT?!", jumped up from a lying down position, and fell off the couch 😂
I've probably rewatched that first clip (Gentleman's True Identity) a dozen and a half times, and it still brings me joy to watch them realize his relationship with the Lavorre's.
Ashley's face @ 16:07 is a face of disgust, anger and disappointment that it just ends there and she will need to wait another week ... the mastery of Matt at work!!!
This video made me start to watch from the very beginning of campaign 1, over 1.5 years ago. I fell in love with the show and the cast and the story, so thank you so much!
A good set of candidates for part 2: Scanlan the meat man, vilya/viridian, avantika returns, raishan reveal, and the traveller reveal. Maybe throw in the molly reveal too?
This first was the episode where I learned there was Phantom of the Paradise merch. And that anyone on the plant other than me had seen the movie. I immediately bought the Death Records shirt and a Beef shirt.
![Critical Role [Ep. 97] - Kiki vs The Cliff](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/lfbHKyk3p2Q/mqdefault.jpg)
UPDATE : Part 2 th-cam.com/video/NBEAMbuSMJs/w-d-xo.html
PART 3
th-cam.com/video/jvsftoh-rC4/w-d-xo.html
PART 4
th-cam.com/video/9665nMn1s8A/w-d-xo.html
thank you for these they’re prefect 😭
CAMPAIGN 2 SPOILERS!!!!
You gotta include Keyleth’s Mother reveal in Campaign 2. Easily one of my favorite moments!
For c1
The reveal of Anna Ripley in the dungeons was the first goosebumps I got from the show I think. Even as it’s out of character for Marisha to blert it out bc Keyleth wasn’t present for the moment, her shocked reaction makes it for me! It is also a moment that is hard to find a good YT-video off I’ve noticed!
I cannot wait to see part two.
SPOILERS
Episode 112-120 ish with Noneagon, specifically with The Vess room & Reveal
“Can I make an insight check?”
“You could if you had time”
Easily the most terrifying thing a DM can say to you in a moment like this
9:30 yuuuup
Followed up with.
"And that's where we will pick up next time" 😅or in Matt's case Next week
That was legendary holy shit
“Oh my god your mom knows the gentleman that’s so cool” fucking cad 😂
Tal really knows how to play the low CHA characters
@@TheJustinist @Justin D You mean INT? Because Cad's INT is 9, (the lowest of the group) but he's tied with Caleb as the character with the second highest CHA of the Nein at 16.
"It goes a little deeper than that Deucy"
I don't think it's his INT score. I think it's the fact that he's asexual, so he just doesn't think in those terms.
@@cryofpaine like a foreign language. Fella needs an interpreter
i love how whenever marisha is sufficiently distressed by a plot revelation she puts her notebook on her head like a hat
Right? It is hilarious.
Protect me book!
When startled, the red panda puts its paws above its head to appear larger. This, however, makes it look adorable.
Haha indeed. That and Taliesin raising his arms into the air!
Or climbs all over her chair
Matt saying "You're quite the gentleman" was almost definitely a plant. So damn smart.
I feel like that's part of her vernacular, and my theory is that's part of the reason why The Gentleman picked that name in the first place. Originally it was supposed to be temporary, so he could return. A term of endearment from the one he loved the most in the world, who wouldn't want that name to represent them?
yeah he actually talked about it at one point, he wasn't planning for them to find out for a long time but they accidentally put it together
Nah, he said it was supposed to he revealed later
15:35 the moment VM should've known that if you "killed" a high level necromancer, you probably didn't kill a high level necromancer
Reminds me of Rainer
's comment in TAZ Graduation. Ill get rid of my skeletal woodland critters when you pull them from my cold dead hands. And even then, I'm a necromancer so good luck.
_"A necromancer is never truly dead."_
-Celebrimbor, Middle Earth: Shadow of War
*ZEE BASHEW*
I love how Taliesin's face immediate drops when he hears the name "Briarwood" again, you could really see him thinking "Oh Sh*t, I thought we were done!!!!"
I want to give this comment a like but it’s currently at 666 and it just seems too damn fitting to mess it up.
When Laura asked if she can see who it was without pause a mint mobile ad came on saying "Hey, it's Ryan Reynolds"
I'd have died laughing.
The best part of Gilmore's late-night visit to Vax is when Vax nervously wipes off the oil from his earlier prank on Grog, the visual is non-stop hilarious
Matt Mercer is the king of tension. His delight in it is so subtle that it’s hard to see coming even in hindsight
Favourite line: Liam going "That fucked with my head Matt...what are you doing???" 11:22
Seriously, I re-watched that scene when it first aired sooo many times over. I've always been hoping to pull this level of awesome over my players at some point, and I cannot get over the delay on Travis' realization! So good!
What Matt *should^ have said is, "That's what DMs do"
I will never get over how Beau’s dumb joke led to one of the biggest reveals in Campaign 2
I’m sure Matt set it up that way. Marion referred to Fjord as a gentleman twice before she picked up on it, which makes me think it was intentional.
@@Maybonics nah, Matt said it was meant to be a reveal for later but when Jester started to describe him it made sense for it to be revealed in the moment
I can never get deep in CR as much as I'd like. I thought the reveal was the gentleman was Jester's father?
@@ourkeving It was
@@davidschutte2767 thank you 👍🏼
Travis and Laura are the king and queen of reactions
I totally agree
that's probably why they married
*The Vecna Reveal*
Everyone else: "Oh shit!"
Travis and Laura: "AAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!" *draws completely imaginary weapons*
You could've just ended that sentence at queen and it still would've been correct
Don't exclude Marisha, she is a queen of hype. 😂
I love Jon Heder just sitting there in amused confusion as everyone else is screaming, "BUT SHE'S DEAD!"
Just happy to be here
I know NOTHING about DND, nor this campaign, but the sheer energy of these vids had me gripping my seat with full chills like "NO WAAAY, NOT RAKSHASHA" like a local LOL this is incredible storytelling and seems like so much fun!
if you’re interested, critical role just started recording a new campaign!
Same
Overall its not my jam as a watching experience (though I want to play at least once) but these shirts you see for CR are great
@@TimStamper89 I started my first DND campaign shortly after I made this comment and my god, it has consumed my life in the best way. Hope you get to play soon!
same for me i don't ever played dnd, i don't even understand it very well but picking things here and there i got attach to parts of the story and the battles
rakshasha are fiends whose hands are often bent the other way at the wrist than humans, they have different kinds of animal heads on humanoid bodies in their true form, they love the taste of sapient flesh, are a majorly patriarchal society, and there's something about being hit by a crossbow bolt or a silver crossbow bolt or a silver dagger or piercing damage or something that deals major damage to them cuz otherwise they are not to be trifled with; by the time you see a rakshasha's true form you are already up shit creek without a paddle cuz they love to lie and scheme and deceive and hardly ever show their true form cuz they know that if they get found out they'll get banished back to the nether realms
The best part about the Gilmore reveal was the beginning of the next episode when the cast (all ready to go fight) instead find assassins in their own rooms instead.
14:50
Matt: The voice sounds familiar.
Most of the cast: Familiar?
Talesin: Oh No.
What absolutely kills me about the Gentleman situation... They have three different people who can change their (or others') appearance, at will... And instead, they choose to try to draw and describe the Gentleman.
Like, I choose that to be 100% in-character panicking, more than any out-of-character decisions, on that front, because I've legitimately had that issue before: looking for a flashlight to use before remembering I had my phone on me at all times.
As someone who has used his phone to call his phone, while looking for his phone. I completely agree with this idea.
Oh man, that has layers! :D
Thats just how human brains are lmao
Dude, Tal as Caduceus "heheheh.....how weird, your mom knows the Gentleman!!!"
I love how he plays that low intelligence score. I feel like it's lost on some of the other players sometimes when it's more subtle.
@@codyallen2838 Bruh it’s not low intelligence. He’s canonically ace. And yeah I know not all asexual people don’t understand innuendo but lots of us don’t anyway
@@DeathnoteBB 🙄
I would kill to have players react to stuff like they do.
It's all about player investment. I know it's much harder than it sounds, but Matt goes out of his way to personalize little bits of the story for each player's character.
Once he has set his "hooks" in them (so to speak) he let the line slack a bit so they forget the connection even exists.... Then when least expected... He tugs on those "heart strings" and reels them in!
Hook
Line
Sinker
...
And it also helps to end session on those cliffhangers every once in a while too.
(Not always tho, because it will loose it's luster)😉
It does depend on the players too. I've had players who don't roleplay much, keeping the game at an arm's length as a thing they do rather than experience, and even when the biggest twists happen, they're not expressive enough to show much of a reaction. And then I've had beautifully reactive players who soak up every piece of drama you give them and reward you with their emotional investment. Their reactions instantly make all the game prep worth it.
My friends and I all react like that in our games. Were all emotionally invested in our characters so when something big happens we all freak out
I think any DM would love to have players that invested. Most of my players get at least a little excited for their own personalized story beats I sprinkle into my game, but they’re nowhere near as jazzed for each other. One of my players though, even though it’s his first time ever playing, gets super invested in everyone’s stories and reacts like this to any twist or reveal and I love him for it.
@@kevinwheeler7427 I love when I get one of those lol
I have an all green newbie party of first time players starting next month
🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🙈💯
I'm convinced Mercer intentionally uttered "you're quite the gentlemen", knowing they would go there. What a mastermind.
Surprisingly no! The characters weren’t meant to find out until later, but Matt just rolled with it because it made sense for the character to use that phrasing.
@@stormcloudsabound Did they talk about it in Talks Machina?
@@hoki3697 Yes. Matt has talked about it. He didn't intend for them them to figure it out so quick. He left clues and they picked them up faster than he expected.
In fact, they wouldn't have even met the Gentleman as quickly as they did, but Marisha rolled a good perception check on the halfling in the sewer and figured out he was a smuggler. And then Sam rolled a nat20 to persuade him to tell them who the Gentleman is. And so they got the location and code they needed to meet him.
@@sybariticcupboardrat3763
And before that Beau just on a whim decided to commit Mail Fraud on their way out of Trostenwald.
Talisan: I feel like we’re being watched
Matt internally: hmm I could mess with them so bad, yeah let’s do it Vecnas here baby
more likely he was waiting for it to happen but they had a way to not be scryed or sensed. so he had to wait, and at that time... they removed such protection so it was more of an ideal place knowing it wouldn't come back.
@@dndbasement2370 i think Matt said in an interview that it was a spur of the moment idea after Taliesin said that he feels watched.
@@LednacekZ do you know which interview?
@@Lucajuca012 honestly, no. i have watched every possible interview they had, all con panels and the now removed talks machina. i would suggest one of the campaign 1 recap videos, but that is just a guess.
The Gilmore reveal fucks me up, and I haven’t even watched CR1 😂
SAMEEEE
SAME
Same
Liam says this moment scarred him.
I can guess why! If it wasn't for Keyleth, they would've ended up in a relationship by the end of the campaign.
I remember watching the episode where "Gilmore" stabbed Vax, and was like, "Wh-what...is he talking abo..! NO! NO WAY! IT'S THE DEVIL CAT FEOM VASSALHEIM!"
Loved that reveal. I never saw that one coming and was loving what happened.
For a lot of people, balcony scenes are romantic. Romeo and Juliet, Cyrano de Bergerac...
Matt ruined balconies for every Vaxmore shipper out there XD
Vecna just strolling in made me choke X'D
Where does a fourty tonne tiger stroll? Wherever the hell he wants and Vecna LIVES that statement.
Oh hey fancy seeing you here!
*DBZ Abridged Vegeta voice: "HI! What's up, guys!?! - What're ya doin'? Thwartin' mah plans?"
"Thwartin' your plans?"
"Are you?!"
"oh hi guys...uh...oh you shot an arr- oh okay bye-"
Taliesin: I feel like we’re being watched.
*10 seconds later*
Taliesin: ..... Called it!
I guess I'll have to wait for Part 2 to see if "Caduceus, what's your armor class?" might make it. Because that certainly surprised ME!
love how travis says "look at percy" during that last one bc i'm 100% sure that was tal's own reaction but they're all so in character that it goes either way
"It goes a little deeper than that 'Ducey!" I love that delivery!
Therapist: "Why do you have trust issues?"
Me:
Talesin's reaction to Delilah perfectly sumarises the feeling when there's a plot twist directly involving you characters backstory.
Just that feeling of "bitch you didn't..." and "i'm so glad you did" is euphoric and terrifying all at once
Delilah: "You have a lot of nerve showing your faces around here."
Vox Machina: "You have a lot of nerve being alive!"
The synchronized head turns from Sam and Tal realizing the Gentleman is Jester's father had me hypnotized.
The Gilmore one is my favorite as well; Matt is SO good at lulling everyone into a false sense of security with his descriptions (just listen how he describes Gilmore's smile when he enters Vax's room, how he describes the robe he brought, the tranquil moon and beautiful view when they step onto the balcony...). Which makes for a really heavy contrast when he transitions to the violent part. Add to that that Gilmore is someone the party totally trusted up unto that point, and I can imagine the shock it must've been for the players. Wonderfully done, perfectly executed (having Vax change into a plain, non-magical robe was also genious)!
Actually the robe was magical. It was a robe of flaying. A cursed robe that deals damage if you attempt to remove it.
@@krorvous7501 Ah cool, I guess I didn't remember that from when I first viewed the original episode, it's been a while ;-)
@@SturmSwiftaxe I don't know for sure if they mentioned it that episode, in Talks, through Twitter, or in the Wrap-up, but it's on the wiki for sure. I have yet to see the wrap-up as I'm still on C1-E102. I'm caught up otherwise.
@@krorvous7501 no worries, I'll take your word for it :) Enjoy the last couple of episodes, you have some amazing content still ahead of you!
@@krorvous7501 It's mentioned in-episode; they try to remove it and it causes immediate pain/damage; it's the Robe of Flaying, from memory.
You should have put the “I don’t know how to describe this one” as “jazz hands”
3:21 Matt's Vecna voice is so subtly evil sounding, it's amazing.
This just cements in my mind that Matt is a terrifyingly amazing liar/actor
All actors are liars. The good ones just make you believe the lie and Matt is without equal.
@@V3x0r Yeah, all actors are liars in a sense, but there are levels, and boy oh boy is Matt at the top of the list in my book. Seriously, It's a good thing he's not evil, the dude is charismatic enough to start a cult and smart enough to keep it going lol.
(looks at the Critical Role fandom) "IT'S A CUUUUUUUULT!!!!!"
"All a god really is, is a cult with a franchise."
And I say this with the utmost affection.
CR Cast: In costume
Travis: Nah, im comfy
"Let's not go to Whitestone..." Was totally expecting him to finish that with "' 'tis a silly place" lol.
Wtf how is Matt such a great actor? He's literally directing himself & can play any convincing character.
I mean... Mercer is a voice actor for McRee (Overwatch) Jotaro Kujo (JJBA Part 3 English Dub), and I'm sure many others.
He's quite the prolific voice actor. Matt never really plays "major" roles, but he's in basically every single popular video game and anime dub in some capacity or another.
@@rokeYouuerthis didn't age exactly the best considering he voiced ganon in tears of the kingdom
@@ghostrid3r693and commander Shepard from mass effect
@@JazzyJazJazzyand gangplank/wolf (kindred) from leauge of legends
I swear, I lost it over Essek's reveal. I audibly gasped and jumped out of my chair at 1 am, it was amazing
Can you give me the coles notes on why it was such an emotional reveal? I know nothing of the campaign, but strong emotional crowd responses are like nectar to me. What's the background?
@@mikaelshaddock7452 Essek was meant to be a smaller villain character, and at the start he's super smug and all that. But the critrole gang does their ever so funny thing of changing the DM's plans without knowing it. So they invite Essek over for dinner, and he starts softening up to them. Essek mainly just wanted knowledge and power, and so decided to betray his own nation, but when they find him in the scene I'm talking about, he kind of regrets it cause he's actually made friends. And we as an audience collectively list our minds because we had no idea he had been acting as a spy.
@@deburrito6882 I don't really understand the surprise, though. Matt was pretty heavy-handed in implying that it was Essek, and the party themselves even talked about the possibility at pretty great length in earlier episodes. (edited for clarity)
@Matt Bailey I think the surprise of it really came from the length of time that they knew Essek, both as characters in game and even more so as players outside of it. Essek had done several favors for them, mostly teleporting, they'd had dinner, he joined them at the hot tub, they exchanged information (there was one episode not long before this that started with an hour and a half or so of lore through Essek). I honestly just think they stopped suspecting Essek and Matt took full advantage of it.
@@trashcandy. He really wasn't that heavy handed with it, at that point there were a LOT of suspicious people around and it wasn't clear at all who could be trusted and who couldn't. The negotiations could be sabotaged any minute and who knows who's watching who where and when?
So when they first met him, being suspicious of Essek wasn't that surprising, They were in foreign territory and everything was sketchy lol, but as they got to know him, they slowly grew less and less suspicious as he opened up to them and became friends. So there was always a slight hint of suspicion but it was very much diminished and practically gone by the time the reveal happened because they had really started to trust him. So even when they heard faint hints that someone Essek-ish might be in town, I think they were willing to think he was spying for his country or something with maybe a slight pit in their stomachs until that came crashing down with the reveal.
3:38 just look at Laura and Travis miming their character's weapons together in unison. I couldn't think of a better sign of a healthy and loving marriage lmao😂
The Priest attack is so perfect because the background thunder is timed so fuckin amazingly
You know it's it's good twist (Essik) when not only can you hear someone the audience say "No it's not!" but even Taliesin is shocked and leans back. And he knows everything...
15:30 the reaction to this reveal is priceless, from everyone. But look at Jon during it-I LOVE how his face perfectly encapsulates the confusion of “I don’t know what is happening” combined with “but it’s clearly a huge deal to my friends, so I am HERE for it..!” 😆 Love it, all the way around! 💕💕
Sam: “this unexpected combat is sponsored by-“
"at which point the now revealed Essek responds..." *Camera pans to Liam, who looks like he's silently vowing personal vengence against matt!
Laura’s reactions alone are worth the price of admission! It’s the cutest when she stands up! When she stand’s up you know Matt’s got her!
I love how you can see the immediate relief on Liam’s face when it’s revealed that it wasn’t actually Gilmore who stabbed Vax. He was sad and super stressed before that
What I am learning from this:
- Start off all twist villain monologues as if a mentor or good friend is talking to the players, then suddenly flip to monologuing to give them some good hearty trust issues :)
The jazz hands for the rakshasa are one of my favorite inside jokes of the show. Makes me laugh every time
Marisha when Marion asks about more about The Gentleman. She has such fun reactions.
2:45 - I know that grin. That's a DM who sees how excited his players are getting and know he has fucking NAILED it.
Taliesin's face during the Gentleman reveal was like a kid got to celebrate Halloween, Christmas, & their birthday all at once!
Rakshasa happens.
Everyone: Panicked jazz hands
I'm still not over how Vecna pulled up like he was in an edit
all through that scene with Essex, i was just gleeful that Matt is using Mage Cannons (which was something from my Spelljammer campaign) and the possibility that he was going to go Spelljammer at some point. Had to rewatch the scene to note the reactions later.
there's been so many hints of this lately, would love a spelljammer arc
I loved the nearly full episode of Spelljammer they did in Acc Inq. Where they played as mycondria (sp, the mushroom guys) for some kind of flash back. They all got so into playing the "we" who was part of the "joy" and quickly picked up on the other cues of playing such odd creatures.
I mean.. Aeor sounds low-key spelljammer-ish, so you might get your wish.
If Grog had broken that skull he would have been possessed by a Githyanki pirate. Gith don't sail on water....
The Essek reveal still breaks my heart
I teared up. for people who trust no one to trust him as him to betray them. Ouch.
But now...
Timestamps for people that have just seen one of the Campaigns, but still want to relive some moments:
00:00 Clip from C2 E33
02:57 Clip from C1 E106
04:04 Clip from C2 E97
06:22 Clip from C1 E57
11:40 Clip from C2 E98
14:11 Clip from C1 E100
I like this. Thank you
*Relive
@@karlwilker579 Thanks for pointing that out!
POV: Your scanning comments for Timestamps
I have them
Spoilers!!!!
0:03 Gentleman’s Identity
2:59 Vecna Waltzed in
4:05 Essek Essek Essek
6:22 GILMOR
11:40 THE DREAMS
14:12 Briarwood
+
Briarwood
Thank you
Curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal.
@@scouttyra Fixed
"WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?!?"
-Favorite Travis reaction
13:37 you know it's serious when the book hat comes out
Few things are as entertaining to watch as the cast bumbling in a mad dash for their notes when they are trying to recall something. 😂😂❤❤😂😂❤❤
13:57 the timing of the thunder crash is impeccable
SPOILERS
That rakshasa reveal gave me the biggest whiplash ever omg
I knew it wasn't Gilmore as soon as he started freaking speaking.
Gilmore would never shame Vax for being in love with someone else, he's too good of a guy
I don't understand DnD and I've never watched Critical Role.... yet here I am.
I'm a little late but welcome to the community
think of D&D as playing an MMORPG game like Final Fantasy, where you start off choosing your race, class, specifics and background, and you interact with others with their own characters of similar or different make, led by the main narrator or Dungeon Master. For example, I'm part of a group now that's been a few months going, and we have a Human ranger/archer, a water 'elemental' of sorts as a healer, a dwarves wizard, and an elven paladin. We each have our own backgrounds that can either help or hinder the mission, as well as specific tasks depending on the mission at hand.
It's actually really fun when you get a good group and a variety of people/characters. :)
Critical Role just ups the geekdom to a new level by having voice actors play D&D, and the occasional guest start (like Joe Magliano among others).
i had a very similar reaction to travis when vecna showed up in 106. i was half asleep, because it was really late, and when matt said that i accidentally scared the living shit out of my roommate because i screamed "WHAT?!", jumped up from a lying down position, and fell off the couch 😂
13:58
The timing on that thunder strike sound
I just love how excited Matt seemed to get the map out on the one with Fjord getting woken up with a blade.
I love that Matt knows how to bring back enemies without making it feel obnoxious
Beau's "AndBLUEskin" followed by Jester's head whipping around KILLED me lol
God I really hope we get the Gilmore fake-out in the show. It’s such a great moment and one of my favorites from the campaign
2:10
Ruby: "tell me more of this... gentlemen"
Beau: *the rest of the world doesn't exist right now*
I've probably rewatched that first clip (Gentleman's True Identity) a dozen and a half times, and it still brings me joy to watch them realize his relationship with the Lavorre's.
Gilmore night visit is such a choice moment, it was multilayered af!!!!
If you are taking suggestions for a part 2 can I suggest when Caleb hears Trent's name for the first time & his "blue-screen" reaction.
The cupcake.. master class
Matt Mercer is the pinnacle of DM'ing. The stories he weaves, the tension hes able to build and the emotion he creates are unrivaled.
Ashley's face @ 16:07 is a face of disgust, anger and disappointment that it just ends there and she will need to wait another week ... the mastery of Matt at work!!!
"why are you doing that voice...?" lol good stuff
7:04 Matts inner Edér came out for a second there, gave me chills actually lol
This video made me start to watch from the very beginning of campaign 1, over 1.5 years ago. I fell in love with the show and the cast and the story, so thank you so much!
such good moments!!
The way Travis screams WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT when told it’s time for initiative brings me life
Matt is a genius. No matter how often it is said, it is not enough.
The fight on the boat against the servants of Uk’atoa is tied for my favorite episode of CR. Dark Waters and the Kevdak fight from campaign 1.
i love how in sync laura and travis are in their reaction to vecna 3:37
I love watching Taliesin. He is usually so cool and collected, but sometimes Matt manages to break him.
How great it is to rewatch those moment. Thanks!!!
I still think when joe manganiello steals the hand of Vecna is THE BEST plot twist.
A good set of candidates for part 2: Scanlan the meat man, vilya/viridian, avantika returns, raishan reveal, and the traveller reveal. Maybe throw in the molly reveal too?
thank you now I want to rewatch cr1 and 2 all over again
Matthew Mercer for Vincent Valentine in FF7 Remake.
6:21 "Keep your friends close, but enemies closer"
As much as I love dnd, and playing it. My second d favourite thing is reacting like this to my DMs or fellow players reveals. It's so fun.
oh man, I'm waiting for part 2 now. you have to include the 3 "death knights" from near the end of C1
You know that it’s the good stuff every time Marisha squats!
1:37
God Bless Taliesin and his wholesome humor
This first was the episode where I learned there was Phantom of the Paradise merch. And that anyone on the plant other than me had seen the movie. I immediately bought the Death Records shirt and a Beef shirt.
Matts epic plot twists are always amazing. Sitting on the edge of your seat type stuff!
I love how Sam is wearing the same shirt in 2 of these clips.