Category: Critical Role

Fiction C2 Post-Campaign Essek’s Mobility Aid

I appreciate that Matt didn’t want to make Essek disabled and fall into the disabled villain trope, but as a disabled person I love the idea that Essek’s floating is a disability aid and that ableism played a role in isolating him and pushing him into over-achieving at all costs. Story After Essek goes on … Continue reading Fiction C2 Post-Campaign Essek’s Mobility Aid →

Analysis: Essek’s Accent As The Shadowhand Fades

I'm watching the Essek Supercut again, and I noticed Essek's accent and when it starts to settle. Watch the first few clips, until about about 0:4:40 https://youtu.be/Dlu9LTsP0dQ Mostly this is just Matt settling into Essek's voice, but when he was first introduced, Essek had a very stern authoritative court voice. But once they were in … Continue reading Analysis: Essek’s Accent As The Shadowhand Fades →

Fiction: CAT – Post CR C2 Ep141

Description: Critical Role PIG (2021) AU. After the events of Campaign 2, Caleb Widogast builds a legacy as a teacher and legal activist against the corruption within the Cerberus Assembly, Soltryce Academy, and other government corruption. And then literally the plot of PIG (2021) with Caleb instead of Nicolas Cage. Major spoilers for PIG + an explanation of the often very subtle plot.

Fiction: Widogast’s Transition Care, Post CR C2 Ep141

One of my favorite little headcanons that I think about a lot: Imagine Caleb becoming someone trans people come to for at-cost transition care and Essek as someone who goes to trans folks to help them since he moves around. That's part of how each of them works to atone and do good in the … Continue reading Fiction: Widogast’s Transition Care, Post CR C2 Ep141 →

Fiction: Essek Invents Atmospheric Ambient Music, Post CR C2 Ep141

Caleb encourages Essek to take up an artistic hobby for himself that he doesn't feel like he needs to be good at. He does a bit of basic drawing but it's mostly just for field notes. Caleb teaches him Programmed Illusion, but his visual imagination and memory are not very clear, especially compared to Caleb's. … Continue reading Fiction: Essek Invents Atmospheric Ambient Music, Post CR C2 Ep141 →

Fiction: Love Is A Multicourse Soup Dinner – CR C2 Ep141

Essek is coming to Caleb's home for his short annual stay. Beau and Yasha are coming to dinner, and also to calm Caleb down a bit because one of their big cases is in deliberation and Caleb's been a bundle of raw nerves. They're over early so that Yasha can bake fresh cookies. Caleb is fretting over the menu and finally settles on a curated and complimentary series of soups. Beau watches him meticulously planning this out like a big detailed world-alerting spell and says, "You know you're still in love with him, right Caleb?"

Analysis: Caleb’s Relationship to Essek – CR C2 Ep140

I want to give some possible perspective on Essek and Caleb's relationship as it stands in CR C2 Ep140 before the grand finale. Whatever happens with them romantically, it's going to come from a specific place that needs understanding. Essek said he hasn't really had friends before. While we have no confirmation, the makes me … Continue reading Analysis: Caleb’s Relationship to Essek – CR C2 Ep140 →

Image Description: Widowgast’s Super Clutch Counterspell – TM for CR C2 Ep98

Widowgast's Super Clutch Counterspell Level: 3rdCasting Time: 1 ReactionRange/Area: 60 ft.Duration: InstantaneousSchool: AbjurationAttack/Save: NoneDamage/Effect: Negation Caleb attempts to interrupt a creature in the process of casting a spell. If the creature is casting a spell of 3rd level or lower, its spell fails and has no effect. If the target is casting a spell of … Continue reading Image Description: Widowgast’s Super Clutch Counterspell – TM for CR C2 Ep98 →

Transcript Fjord talks politics with Pumat – Critical Role C2 Ep11 0:50:44

This scene says so much about politics in the Empire and the conflicting stories Matt wants to tell about people seeing different sides to groups and responding to their perspective. Matt makes characters who are messy, alive, sort of right, and sort of wrong, all existing in this beautiful, hypocritical mess. It's so easy to … Continue reading Transcript Fjord talks politics with Pumat – Critical Role C2 Ep11 0:50:44 →