Critical Role: The Legend of Vox Machina offers justice for Keyleth
The first season of The Legend of Vox Machina is nearly at its end, with its finale dropping on Friday. Longtime Critical Role fans have watched their favorite heroes from the actual play series fall into the familiar patterns of the Briarwood arc; new fans and fans of later campaigns have now spent at least nine episodes with Vox Machina, watching them build up relationships, fight epic battles, and, in some cases, fall in love. But they’ve also witnessed something else: redemption for Keyleth, one of Critical Role’s most powerful and, at times, controversial characters.
Oddly enough, that transformation has everything to do with a stolen kiss. Stolen, that is, from the original version of the story.
[Warning: What follows contains spoilers for season 1 of The Legend of Vox Machina]
In the first season, viewers have had front row seats to the lingering looks between Marisha Ray’s Keyleth and Vax’ildan, played by Liam O’Brien. And after several episodes of soft smiles, some close contact during fight sequences, and one very sweet moment with a finger trap in a magic shop, Vax makes the declaration fans of the original campaign have been waiting for in episode 9.
“You know I’m in love with you, right?” he blurts out.
To which Keyleth responds: “Wait, what? Now?!”
It’s a surprising moment for viewers, and perhaps a confusing one for longtime fans of Critical Role since things played out a little differently the first time around. In the original moment, during episode 33 of Critical Role’s first season, Vax turns to Keyleth and offers his declaration of love — and then lands a kiss. It’s a now-iconic turning point in the campaign, opening up the floor for inter-party romance, and a noticeable omission from the animated
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