Critical Role: Exandria Unlimited: Calamity - Excelsior

June 6, 2022 3:09 PM - Season 3 (Specials)

The flying city of Avalir begins its triumphant return to the continent of Domunas while the Ring of Brass, a group of eminent city dignitaries, begin to uncover hints of something rotten within their gilded home.

The first part in a four-part Critical Role miniseries helmed by Dimension 20 mainstay Brennan Lee Mulligan.

posted by Parasite Unseen (9 comments total)

I'm not exactly unfamiliar with Critical Role but I'm also not what you'd call a regular. Having said that, Brennan is my favorite streaming Dungeon Master (and it's not even close) and it didn't look like anyone else was posting this so I thought I'd go ahead and do it (nubs, I hope I'm not stepping on your toes).

I really enjoyed the first episode. This is probably my favorite assembled cast Critical Role has done so far.

Since I watch this on my phone I really need Luis and Travis to start wearing different-colored shirts.
posted by Parasite Unseen at 3:14 PM on June 6, 2022 [1 favorite]

I started watching this because it showed up in my recommendations. I have a weird mental block about the 4-hour episode lengths of pretty much all the Critical Role shows, even though I've watched all the episodes of D20, which average 3-plus hours. I haven't even watched a whole Exandria Unlimited, and I love Aabria as a DM. I think having Lou and Aabria as players will get me to watch as much as having Brennan as DM. I think Lou is really incredible at embodying his characters, and it makes him really compelling to watch.
posted by Mister Moofoo at 7:03 PM on June 6, 2022

I think Lou is really incredible at embodying his characters, and it makes him really compelling to watch.

Lou on his own is incredible and Brennan on his own is incredible but Lou and Brennan together are much more than the sum of their parts. The two of them have remarkable chemistry and trust in one another.
posted by Parasite Unseen at 8:29 PM on June 6, 2022

The joy I feel watching Sam "Gonna push this as far as I can" Reigel running smack into Brennan Lee "Fuck 'yes and', I believe in FUCK-YES AND" Mulligan and shit getting REALLY weird cannot be described
posted by coriolisdave at 9:23 PM on June 6, 2022 [2 favorites]

"I am Bolo" is Sam's unstoppable force running into Brennan's immovable object. Playing improv chicken in this crowd is a risky & hilarious proposition.

I've had a tough time keeping up with season 3 (which I do enjoy but once you fall behind catching up is a real challenge) so this is great for me. Only 4 episodes, new characters and set millennia before any of the other campaigns.

This format is also Brennan's bread and butter from D20: a contained story delivered in a set amount of sessions.
posted by slimepuppy at 7:55 AM on June 7, 2022 [1 favorite]

(nubs, I hope I'm not stepping on your toes)

Not at all! I'm woefully behind the main CR season itself and I'm just a little swamped with other life things. And anyone can post about CR.
posted by nubs at 9:36 AM on June 7, 2022

This format is also Brennan's bread and butter from D20: a contained story delivered in a set amount of sessions.

Also taking aim at the rich in a very Brennan Lee Mulligan way.

I love Aabria and Sam's divorced characters vibe, and exactly how dense and trippy and intense that opening dream/scene was.

Speaking of which, one of the reasons why I like that Lou is here is that he is 100% willing to give Brennan shit and sometimes that's what's needed.
posted by dinty_moore at 8:35 PM on June 7, 2022 [2 favorites]

"Guildmaster, the sphinx is pitching alts on his roar."
posted by Mister Moofoo at 7:24 PM on June 9, 2022 [2 favorites]

The ongoing riff on that sphinx has brought me so much joy
posted by coriolisdave at 9:20 PM on June 9, 2022