Critical Role: The King’s Cage
July 1, 2019 7:46 PM - Season 2, Episode 69 - Subscribe
The Mighty Nein pass through an ominous doorway to uncover the secrets of an evil locked away for centuries...
WELL. UM. That was... oof. We’ve been wanting more, right? The end to all this dungeon crawling? Some backstory reveal, some role playing, a meaningful fight?
Daaaaaaamn! I take it back, Matt!
I mean, I know something had to happen, Blindspot calls and Ashley must answer, but the TRUST. The absolute trust they all place in each other to pull off that level of play!
That whole conversation between them at almost-the-end and then Matt’s “Could everyone but Ashley please leave the table?” and the two cameras on the two of them! His blown kiss to her after his sign off.
This one was INTENSE.
posted by booksherpa at 7:55 PM on July 1, 2019 [2 favorites]
Daaaaaaamn! I take it back, Matt!
I mean, I know something had to happen, Blindspot calls and Ashley must answer, but the TRUST. The absolute trust they all place in each other to pull off that level of play!
That whole conversation between them at almost-the-end and then Matt’s “Could everyone but Ashley please leave the table?” and the two cameras on the two of them! His blown kiss to her after his sign off.
This one was INTENSE.
posted by booksherpa at 7:55 PM on July 1, 2019 [2 favorites]
I JUST FINISHED WATCHING THIS AND I'M NOT OK.
Ashley looked like she was going to cry at the end. And there were about 20 minutes where her face didn't change expression.
And Fjord being like 'maybe she was evil all along' aaaaahhh
Episode 69 was supposed to be lighthearted and nice. Why isn't 69 nice?
(Also, holy shit Marisha pulled off some stunts this episode, it could have been worse)
posted by dinty_moore at 8:01 PM on July 1, 2019 [1 favorite]
Ashley looked like she was going to cry at the end. And there were about 20 minutes where her face didn't change expression.
And Fjord being like 'maybe she was evil all along' aaaaahhh
Episode 69 was supposed to be lighthearted and nice. Why isn't 69 nice?
(Also, holy shit Marisha pulled off some stunts this episode, it could have been worse)
posted by dinty_moore at 8:01 PM on July 1, 2019 [1 favorite]
I JUST FINISHED WATCHING THIS AND I'M NOT OK.
I legit had to write a tiny bit of fanfic after this and I don’t write fanfic! It’s on my Twitter, same username, may make you cry, be warned...
I have to believe in the power of friendship with this one, and picture Ashley and Matt hugging after, and everyone getting drinks and trying to get Ashley to spill the beans.
And of all times for a week break!!! But it is deserved and makes sense. I hope to hell it’s Matt on Talks when they return.
I also wanted to hug Taliesin for like the whole last hour of this episode. He gets so fierce when it’s hot and heavy, and his Caduceus voice mostly disappears.
So many near deaths, and a lost companion. This will be a changed Mighty Nein.
posted by booksherpa at 8:19 PM on July 1, 2019 [1 favorite]
I legit had to write a tiny bit of fanfic after this and I don’t write fanfic! It’s on my Twitter, same username, may make you cry, be warned...
I have to believe in the power of friendship with this one, and picture Ashley and Matt hugging after, and everyone getting drinks and trying to get Ashley to spill the beans.
And of all times for a week break!!! But it is deserved and makes sense. I hope to hell it’s Matt on Talks when they return.
I also wanted to hug Taliesin for like the whole last hour of this episode. He gets so fierce when it’s hot and heavy, and his Caduceus voice mostly disappears.
So many near deaths, and a lost companion. This will be a changed Mighty Nein.
posted by booksherpa at 8:19 PM on July 1, 2019 [1 favorite]
Holy fuck, that was intense. It's been a long time since I've seen the cast that on edge; the tension of losing Ashley to Blindspot this way (I mean, I figured Matt had some way of writing her out for a bit, but not like this)...and I seriously thought for a moment or two that either Caduceus or Fjord weren't getting out of that room.
The absolute trust they all place in each other to pull off that level of play!
That was so incredibly apparent tonight; to trust each other so much that Matt can put together an encounter like that and know that no one at the table is going to lose their shit except over what the dice are doing. Amazing.
So much to unpack! I'm kind of glad they have two weeks off; I'm on vacation next week, with no internet, and I'd be going nuts next Thursday night wanting to watch.
posted by nubs at 9:28 PM on July 1, 2019
The absolute trust they all place in each other to pull off that level of play!
That was so incredibly apparent tonight; to trust each other so much that Matt can put together an encounter like that and know that no one at the table is going to lose their shit except over what the dice are doing. Amazing.
So much to unpack! I'm kind of glad they have two weeks off; I'm on vacation next week, with no internet, and I'd be going nuts next Thursday night wanting to watch.
posted by nubs at 9:28 PM on July 1, 2019
Hell, I feel like I need a week break to recover, and I was just watching it.
Just imagine what's going to happen when the M9 discover that Yasha and company escaped and are killing folks across the countryside.
posted by dinty_moore at 7:21 AM on July 2, 2019
Just imagine what's going to happen when the M9 discover that Yasha and company escaped and are killing folks across the countryside.
posted by dinty_moore at 7:21 AM on July 2, 2019
What I found interesting was the reactions of both Caleb and Fjord to how this ended:
-Caleb noting that he had been trying to use the favour of the Bright Queen to advance his own plans, but that they had now unleashed serious trouble and needed to be completely honest about what was happening (also, he stepped up to pull Cad out of some serious shit, which is not the usual Caleb move);
-Fjord suggesting that (a) Yasha was maybe always an agent of the baddies and that (b) the thing to do now was to run away, hide, and not tell anyone.
Both are really neat character moments and show some development on the part of Caleb, and (from my perspective) a small step back for Fjord. I liked the fact that after a very intense episode, both Liam and Travis still had a sense of how their characters would react to this turn of events.
Anyways, they've essentially done what they nearly did with Uk'otoa Uk'otoa - one of the champions of the Betrayer Gods is loose upon the world, with no apparently easy way to deal with it. The M9 are fucking up both sides of this war but good.
posted by nubs at 8:20 AM on July 2, 2019 [1 favorite]
-Caleb noting that he had been trying to use the favour of the Bright Queen to advance his own plans, but that they had now unleashed serious trouble and needed to be completely honest about what was happening (also, he stepped up to pull Cad out of some serious shit, which is not the usual Caleb move);
-Fjord suggesting that (a) Yasha was maybe always an agent of the baddies and that (b) the thing to do now was to run away, hide, and not tell anyone.
Both are really neat character moments and show some development on the part of Caleb, and (from my perspective) a small step back for Fjord. I liked the fact that after a very intense episode, both Liam and Travis still had a sense of how their characters would react to this turn of events.
Anyways, they've essentially done what they nearly did with Uk'otoa Uk'otoa - one of the champions of the Betrayer Gods is loose upon the world, with no apparently easy way to deal with it. The M9 are fucking up both sides of this war but good.
posted by nubs at 8:20 AM on July 2, 2019 [1 favorite]
I seriously thought for a moment or two that either Caduceus or Fjord weren't getting out of that room.
I would say that both Tal and Travis were both ... resigned ... to not surviving the encounter, and I'm glad that the rest of the party had the creativity (and Ashley missing her roll to hit at a crucial moment) and Matt had the wiggle room to allow them to survive. Watching Talasin loose another character would have been just awful. Particularly as we're pretty close to one year to the day from Mollie's death.
There has been some discussion in other spaces that the "Avenge me" somehow restored her memories of her "true self" - that the Yasha we see in the game is actually amnesia!Yasha, but Oban actually restores her to who she normally is. The other option is that he used Fiendish Charm, but in theory that would only last 24 hours.
posted by anastasiav at 8:21 AM on July 2, 2019 [1 favorite]
I would say that both Tal and Travis were both ... resigned ... to not surviving the encounter, and I'm glad that the rest of the party had the creativity (and Ashley missing her roll to hit at a crucial moment) and Matt had the wiggle room to allow them to survive. Watching Talasin loose another character would have been just awful. Particularly as we're pretty close to one year to the day from Mollie's death.
There has been some discussion in other spaces that the "Avenge me" somehow restored her memories of her "true self" - that the Yasha we see in the game is actually amnesia!Yasha, but Oban actually restores her to who she normally is. The other option is that he used Fiendish Charm, but in theory that would only last 24 hours.
posted by anastasiav at 8:21 AM on July 2, 2019 [1 favorite]
Fjord suggesting that (a) Yasha was maybe always an agent of the baddies and that (b) the thing to do now was to run away, hide, and not tell anyone.
Also that Caduceus's reaction to that was to point out that any of them could have seemed to be evil in that moment* - I was texting another critter who had already watched the end from the bridge on, and all of us agreed that any of them could seem to turn, even if they'd all have different motives for doing so.
*which seemed more like a Taliesin comment than a Cad one, but that might have also been the lack of Caduceus voice.
It seemed like it was supposed to be ambiguous as to whether Oban restored Yasha, but I also think it's definitely possible that Oban is using a version of charm/geas/alter memories that isn't in the core books. My interpretation was that Oban put her under some sort of geas years ago, Yasha got free from it, and then Oban put her under again.
There were moments where I thought this was going to end in a TPK. It certainly seemed possible.
posted by dinty_moore at 8:38 AM on July 2, 2019 [1 favorite]
Also that Caduceus's reaction to that was to point out that any of them could have seemed to be evil in that moment* - I was texting another critter who had already watched the end from the bridge on, and all of us agreed that any of them could seem to turn, even if they'd all have different motives for doing so.
*which seemed more like a Taliesin comment than a Cad one, but that might have also been the lack of Caduceus voice.
It seemed like it was supposed to be ambiguous as to whether Oban restored Yasha, but I also think it's definitely possible that Oban is using a version of charm/geas/alter memories that isn't in the core books. My interpretation was that Oban put her under some sort of geas years ago, Yasha got free from it, and then Oban put her under again.
There were moments where I thought this was going to end in a TPK. It certainly seemed possible.
posted by dinty_moore at 8:38 AM on July 2, 2019 [1 favorite]
OH GOD DANI'S REACTION DURING THE CRITICAL RECAP (I mean, I assume it's not going up until next week but just imagining it)
posted by dinty_moore at 8:40 AM on July 2, 2019
posted by dinty_moore at 8:40 AM on July 2, 2019
The other option is that he used Fiendish Charm, but in theory that would only last 24 hours.
Well, Oban already has a few spells beyond what a normal Cambion would have, so it could be Geas...although it was said as he was "dying", which is not normally when you get an action to cast a spell. I'm leaning more towards some level of sinister magics that are Matt's own creations; Yasha got involved with the Angel of Irons sometime in the past, and there some's lingering hooks/charms/whatever present in her mind that the Storm King wasn't able to remove.
posted by nubs at 8:48 AM on July 2, 2019 [2 favorites]
Well, Oban already has a few spells beyond what a normal Cambion would have, so it could be Geas...although it was said as he was "dying", which is not normally when you get an action to cast a spell. I'm leaning more towards some level of sinister magics that are Matt's own creations; Yasha got involved with the Angel of Irons sometime in the past, and there some's lingering hooks/charms/whatever present in her mind that the Storm King wasn't able to remove.
posted by nubs at 8:48 AM on July 2, 2019 [2 favorites]
nubs: Anyways, they've essentially done what they nearly did with Uk'otoa Uk'otoa - one of the champions of the Betrayer Gods is loose upon the world, with no apparently easy way to deal with it. The M9 are fucking up both sides of this war but good.
I'm wondering if they did release the Laughing Hand... I mean, was it just Yasha's presence? Was it something they did in that final room? Did Oban do it and just want Yasha back?
It's entirely possible that Fjord (or whoever he is) released Uk'otoaUk'otoaUk'otoa - we simply don't know enough about his backstory. It's also interesting that Fjord, who has hidden his past, continues to hide it, and wishes that the M9 knew nothing of his past, went straight to assuming Yasha had always been evil and had been playing them. Takes one to know one?
posted by booksherpa at 4:03 PM on July 2, 2019
I'm wondering if they did release the Laughing Hand... I mean, was it just Yasha's presence? Was it something they did in that final room? Did Oban do it and just want Yasha back?
It's entirely possible that Fjord (or whoever he is) released Uk'otoaUk'otoaUk'otoa - we simply don't know enough about his backstory. It's also interesting that Fjord, who has hidden his past, continues to hide it, and wishes that the M9 knew nothing of his past, went straight to assuming Yasha had always been evil and had been playing them. Takes one to know one?
posted by booksherpa at 4:03 PM on July 2, 2019
I'm wondering if they did release the Laughing Hand... I mean, was it just Yasha's presence? Was it something they did in that final room? Did Oban do it and just want Yasha back?
I'd need to pick my way back through the dungeon crawl, but it seems to me that the presence of the M9 made Oban's job easier - in that they were able to open up the final doors at least - while Oban hid somewhere and waited. It may be that Oban could have done this by himself, eventually, but I certainly had a sense that the Nein made his job easier; maybe he knew he was going to need some extra bodies to get through the dungeon, and the group just happened to be convenient? I think Yasha being there was an unexpected bonus, because he certainly didn't seem to care about them otherwise.
It's entirely possible that Fjord (or whoever he is) released Uk'otoaUk'otoaUk'otoa - we simply don't know enough about his backstory. It's also interesting that Fjord, who has hidden his past, continues to hide it, and wishes that the M9 knew nothing of his past, went straight to assuming Yasha had always been evil and had been playing them.
I think Uk'otoa Uk'otoa is still held; hence the more menacing dreams Fjord has had, along with the brief period of having no powers. But yeah, the group is still largely an enigma to each other; Travis could be playing a long con with Fjord, but for the moment I'm chalking his reaction up to the fact that someone he was thinking of as a friend tried to kill him with a smile on her face and that Fjord's history has largely been one of running away from problems, not necessarily trying to solve them.
posted by nubs at 7:40 PM on July 2, 2019
It's also entirely possible that Fjord is projecting his fears onto Yasha - he doesn't really know himself, either.
I don't think that Uk'otoa Uk'otoa Uk'otoa has been freed - otherwise that dream Fjord had with the Wildmother doesn't make much sense.
posted by dinty_moore at 7:47 PM on July 2, 2019
I don't think that Uk'otoa Uk'otoa Uk'otoa has been freed - otherwise that dream Fjord had with the Wildmother doesn't make much sense.
posted by dinty_moore at 7:47 PM on July 2, 2019
Oh man, that was intense. I don't get to watch the episodes until they go up on youtube on Mondays, and it usually always takes me a few days to get into. But I watched the whole thing on Monday and then again today.
Most of the chatter I've read had pegged Fjord as the one who who would do the heel turn, so it stung extra that he tried twice to do the heroic thing and then suffered the brunt of Yasha's betrayal. I genuinely thought that was it for him. Between that surprise and Taliesin's shaky hands I was a mess watching this. I just want to hug everyone.
It seemed like a big moment for Caleb to step in between Cad and the Laughing Hand to absorb some of that damage. I'll admit I don't pay attention to combat as much as the dialogue and RPing so perhaps he's made similar moves before -- but it's a far cry from the early days of campaign 2.
posted by lilac girl at 8:32 PM on July 2, 2019 [1 favorite]
Most of the chatter I've read had pegged Fjord as the one who who would do the heel turn, so it stung extra that he tried twice to do the heroic thing and then suffered the brunt of Yasha's betrayal. I genuinely thought that was it for him. Between that surprise and Taliesin's shaky hands I was a mess watching this. I just want to hug everyone.
It seemed like a big moment for Caleb to step in between Cad and the Laughing Hand to absorb some of that damage. I'll admit I don't pay attention to combat as much as the dialogue and RPing so perhaps he's made similar moves before -- but it's a far cry from the early days of campaign 2.
posted by lilac girl at 8:32 PM on July 2, 2019 [1 favorite]
It seemed like a big moment for Caleb to step in between Cad and the Laughing Hand to absorb some of that damage. I'll admit I don't pay attention to combat as much as the dialogue and RPing so perhaps he's made similar moves before -- but it's a far cry from the early days of campaign 2.
It was a big moment; Caleb has slowly been coming more and more attached to the rest of the group. I have my moments where I wonder if it is genuine or if he has been viewing the group as a means to help attain his own ends (I sometimes think Caleb may be the final "big bad"), but him stepping into to soak some damage and protect Cad was a bit surprising for me.
posted by nubs at 7:33 AM on July 3, 2019 [1 favorite]
It was a big moment; Caleb has slowly been coming more and more attached to the rest of the group. I have my moments where I wonder if it is genuine or if he has been viewing the group as a means to help attain his own ends (I sometimes think Caleb may be the final "big bad"), but him stepping into to soak some damage and protect Cad was a bit surprising for me.
posted by nubs at 7:33 AM on July 3, 2019 [1 favorite]
I mean, I know something had to happen, Blindspot calls and Ashley must answer, but the TRUST. The absolute trust they all place in each other to pull off that level of play!
I missed it live but someone caught this little interaction (link goes to twitter) and man if it's not a perfect example of the trust you're talking about. Right before they run back over the bridge - Matt knows it's intense and while the others are chatting takes a second to check in with Ashley. Here's the clip from twitch
posted by bowmaniac at 9:27 AM on July 3, 2019
I missed it live but someone caught this little interaction (link goes to twitter) and man if it's not a perfect example of the trust you're talking about. Right before they run back over the bridge - Matt knows it's intense and while the others are chatting takes a second to check in with Ashley. Here's the clip from twitch
posted by bowmaniac at 9:27 AM on July 3, 2019
It was a big moment; Caleb has slowly been coming more and more attached to the rest of the group. I have my moments where I wonder if it is genuine or if he has been viewing the group as a means to help attain his own ends (I sometimes think Caleb may be the final "big bad"), but him stepping into to soak some damage and protect Cad was a bit surprising for me.
Right?? I was thinking especially because it wasn't someone to whom Caleb's especially close like Nott or Beau. This episode has the makings of a big turning point for sure.
I'm generally not hugely invested in Talks Machina, but I can't wait to hear the cast's reactions to these events.
posted by lilac girl at 12:50 PM on July 3, 2019
Right?? I was thinking especially because it wasn't someone to whom Caleb's especially close like Nott or Beau. This episode has the makings of a big turning point for sure.
I'm generally not hugely invested in Talks Machina, but I can't wait to hear the cast's reactions to these events.
posted by lilac girl at 12:50 PM on July 3, 2019
I find Talks is really only good viewing when Matt is on (otherwise it's a lot of "tell us what your character was thinking/feeling", which kinda gets repetitive), but after a bombshell episode like this one, I am looking forward to it. Though I guess I figured the calendar wrong - they will be doing Talks and playing again the week I'm away, so I'm going to be behind when I get home.
posted by nubs at 3:49 PM on July 3, 2019
posted by nubs at 3:49 PM on July 3, 2019
I saw on Twitter that this Tuesday’s Talks guests are Matt and Travis, which is pretty perfect.
posted by booksherpa at 8:13 AM on July 6, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by booksherpa at 8:13 AM on July 6, 2019 [1 favorite]
I... Hmmm...
I'm sure that if I were to go back and re-watch all of the episodes my impression would prove mistaken, but it certainly felt to me like Ashley came back exactly long enough to tell a story about why Ashley wasn't going to be around. Matt's a talented storyteller and I'm sure that he has a plan for weaving this seamlessly into his larger narrative, but I'm in the apparent minority who was satisfied with the explanation "Yasha sometimes fucks off for a while" and didn't feel that we needed to dedicate an IRL month-plus of game time to explaining it.
I'm probably being harder on this than I should because it played so heavily into my biggest complaint about the campaign: That it relies too heavily on dramatic reveals regarding the M9's mysterious pasts. That the group started with two amnesiacs should have been a sign that they needed to dial it back a little.
Having said that, I'm still enjoying spending time with the characters, the voice work remains top-notch, and Matt clearly has a direction in mind that I'm excited to see the group reach. This particular stretch of the story just wasn't exactly what I would have chosen, and that's ok.
posted by Parasite Unseen at 8:38 AM on July 9, 2019
I'm sure that if I were to go back and re-watch all of the episodes my impression would prove mistaken, but it certainly felt to me like Ashley came back exactly long enough to tell a story about why Ashley wasn't going to be around. Matt's a talented storyteller and I'm sure that he has a plan for weaving this seamlessly into his larger narrative, but I'm in the apparent minority who was satisfied with the explanation "Yasha sometimes fucks off for a while" and didn't feel that we needed to dedicate an IRL month-plus of game time to explaining it.
I'm probably being harder on this than I should because it played so heavily into my biggest complaint about the campaign: That it relies too heavily on dramatic reveals regarding the M9's mysterious pasts. That the group started with two amnesiacs should have been a sign that they needed to dial it back a little.
Having said that, I'm still enjoying spending time with the characters, the voice work remains top-notch, and Matt clearly has a direction in mind that I'm excited to see the group reach. This particular stretch of the story just wasn't exactly what I would have chosen, and that's ok.
posted by Parasite Unseen at 8:38 AM on July 9, 2019
Eh. I mean, I don't think this ending was inevitable at all - Yasha could have made her save, they could have figured out a way to get a thrashing Yasha out of there, one of the polymorph attempts could have worked, they could have all died, they could have decided to not go up and chase down that last dude weeks ago. I do think that Matt was taking the opportunity of Ashley being there to give some focus on Yasha, but I don't think it was any more disruptive to the overarching story than focusing on Fjord or Nott. (Plus, the overarching story is always kind of a variable thing in D&D)
It definitely changes the world state in the end - they unleashed a murder demon, after all - so it doesn't even feel like that much of a sidequest.
posted by dinty_moore at 8:56 AM on July 9, 2019
It definitely changes the world state in the end - they unleashed a murder demon, after all - so it doesn't even feel like that much of a sidequest.
posted by dinty_moore at 8:56 AM on July 9, 2019
The talks machina episode is now on youtube.
You and me both, Dani. You and me both.
posted by dinty_moore at 12:54 PM on July 11, 2019
You and me both, Dani. You and me both.
posted by dinty_moore at 12:54 PM on July 11, 2019
Gigglefist.
posted by nubs at 3:11 PM on July 15, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by nubs at 3:11 PM on July 15, 2019 [2 favorites]
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posted by booksherpa at 7:49 PM on July 1, 2019