Prime Video’s The Legend of Vox Machina – Review

THE LEGEND OF VOX MACHINA is an animated fantasy adventure for adult viewers – especially those who groove on Dungeons and Dragons and similar forays into the realms of magical creatures with special powers clashing over their various kingdoms, planets, etc. I am not one of them, but still enjoyed the heck out the first six episodes of this new series on Amazon Prime.

A diverse little band of mercenaries who really can’t fully get along with each other, undertake quests for profit. Some of them are too bawdy for prime-time; the language is salty, and the action sequences can be pretty elaborate. There’s even a bit of nudity on the menu.  If they have backstories from other media, I don’t know what it is, and fellow newbies won’t need it to dive right in. The first episode establishes the tone and defines the players quite nicely, including the light-hearted aspects of the stories to come.  Dragons, vampires and other nasties be damned. Despite their limitations and squabbling, this crew will rise to the challenge. Eventually. One way or another.

The artwork is first-rate in both design and motion. The dialog even better, through this first half of its 12-episode season. The voice cast is a testimonial to the merit one can expect. The stars may not be household names, but among the guests are a batch of well-known TV actors like Tony Hale, Indira Varma, David Tennant and Stephanie Beatriz (BROOKLYN 99’sRosa). For a truly meaningful stamp of approval, one episode includes Felicia Day – arguably the Parker Posey of sci-fi and fantasy.

I normally don’t review partial products, but this one deserves an early heads-up for fans of such entertainment, who will likely enjoy this beginning, and eagerly await the rest. If an outsider to the genre can be drawn in this readily, those in its target demographic should savor it more fully, since they’ll probably get more of the visual and verbal jokes than I could. Just don’t share it with the youngest (e.g. – not ready for RICK AND MORTY) members of the family. This ain’t kiddie fare, folks. 

(Episodes 1-6 streaming on Prime Video as of February 4, 2022; three further episodes coming on February 11; three more on February 18, 2022). https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09PZG6ZGP

2 1/2 stars Out Of 4

The Legend of Vox Machina is a production of Amazon Studios, Critical Role, and Titmouse for Prime Video. The series stars Critical Role founders and cast members Laura Bailey (The Last of Us: Part II), Taliesin Jaffe (Final Fantasy XIV), Ashley Johnson (The Last of Us), Liam O’Brien (Star Wars: The Bad Batch), Matthew Mercer (Overwatch), Marisha Ray (Final Fantasy XV), Sam Riegel (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), and Travis Willingham (Marvel’s Avengers). The Critical Role cast also serves as executive producers, alongside Brandon Auman (Star Wars: Resistance), Chris Prynoski (Metalocalypse), Shannon Prynoski (Fairfax) and Ben Kalina (Big Mouth).