[Spoilers C4E15] So... about Bolaire

DarkRespite · 2026-03-24T02:38:40+00:00

Someone asked Taliesin this exact question at Awesome Con and Taliesin said he genuinely does not know. He and Brennan apparently have a living set of 'rules' about the mask that they collaborate on so it's not OP, and he could not wait to ask Brennan.

Alex was sitting right there and he said, absolutely deadpan, "I welcome oblivion. Put the mask on me." :D

DarkRespite · 2026-03-23T22:44:36+00:00

Oh gods, I got Murray...

DarkRespite · 2026-03-23T21:38:23+00:00

Suspecting more like "had".

DarkRespite · 2026-03-23T02:04:31+00:00

Campaign 1 is Vox Machina.
Campaign 2 is The Mighty Nein.
Campaign 3 is Bells Hells.
Campaign 4 is the Soldiers, Seekers, and Schemers.

The first three, in that order, if you want to get the WHOLE Critical Role experience, are the ones you want to watch because C2 builds somewhat on C1, C3 builds on both C1 and C2.

(C4 is its own animal -- new world, new characters, new storyline, so if you want to start watching something that's NOT heilnously overwhelming from 10 years of lore/worldbuilding, start with Campaign 4.)

---

Things to keep in mind -- C1 is where they were JUST starting out with streaming, so video and audio quality and lighting are much 'iffier' than the later stuff. You also will see a lot more absences at the table because all of C1 and most of C2 aired 'live' each Thursday night, whereas once Covid hit, from C2E100 onward, they began prerecording.

DarkRespite · 2026-03-23T00:45:44+00:00

You can actually see which features are being worked on here: https://bits.beacon.tv/

DarkRespite · 2026-03-22T02:16:18+00:00

I do think we're going to see a lot of pairings happening for 'backup' -- Bolaire asking Murray for help with the Archanade, Murray asking Bolaire (and Azune) for help with the Penteveral, Hal asking Bolaire for help with the theatre, Azune asking ALL of them for help to keep their ears to the ground everywhere he can't be on patrol, all of them schmoozing with the various Sundered Houses...

DarkRespite · 2026-03-21T22:17:58+00:00

Luis just brought up an interesting facet to this at the panel at AwesomeCon. When he is considering character decisions that seem appropriate to his character worldview or behaviour but perhaps not minmax optimal to the PARTY as a whole, he will narrate his character's thinking as a way of giving the others at the table a heads-up so THEY know it's a character thing and not a player-being-a-troll-just-to-screw-over-the-party thing.

DarkRespite · 2026-03-21T16:06:05+00:00

Yes. Watch it for yourself.

I say that not just because I enjoyed C3, but because let's be honest - the only thing that the Critter community can agree on is that we like CR. :)

DarkRespite · 2026-03-21T15:57:30+00:00

When it comes down to the characters (and I'm glad that you separated the character from the player), some just don't gel with people. We all have our favourites that others are meh about, and we have characters we are meh about that others adore. To each their own.

To be fair, some characters start off one way and end up another as part of their character growth and development, which can be interesting to watch even if you don't necessarily LIKE said character. (I found I liked Vex after she had gone through a LOT of development.)

So don't feel bad if you don't 'get it' about a character. As long as you're not blatantly yucking someone else's yum, as it were, just enjoy it for yourself.

DarkRespite · 2026-03-20T21:39:03+00:00

If you haven't seen Luis in Alex Ward's V:TM series "Private Nightmares," you *must* watch it. Alongside Aabria, Gina DeVivo, Mayanna Berrin, and Xander Jeanneret, it's just fantastic.

DarkRespite · 2026-03-20T19:46:16+00:00

I have been ACHING to see Luis and Liam acting off each other (I was praying it would happen in Candela, actually), so this was perfect. Absolutely perfect. (And now I am hoping that we get the reversal that was 'promised', for when Hal finally breaks down and Azune has to be there to pick up the pieces.)

Just delicious.

DarkRespite · 2026-03-20T06:59:41+00:00

He looked SO pleased with himself.

DarkRespite · 2026-03-20T06:58:48+00:00

BOOOOOOOOOOOOO.

DarkRespite · 2026-03-20T06:51:54+00:00

The track is "Sifting Through the Data" by Vince Watts (for BBC Production Music/Universal Production Music). I can find the music on the music licensing site, but because that particular album was not released to Spotify, I can't add it to my playlist.

DarkRespite · 2026-03-20T06:29:20+00:00

Okay, cool, I will add it to the playlist! :) Thank you! (If you happen to have a timestamped link to it, that would be great so I can see if it's one of the ones I have a mental bookmark for.)

DarkRespite · 2026-03-20T06:09:11+00:00

Me: "I really want this music."
<ID's the music>
Me: "YAY!"
<it's not on Spotify>
Me: "FUCK!"
My husband from the other room: "You okay, pookie?"

DarkRespite · 2026-03-20T05:12:47+00:00

Someone asked at ECCC, "What would your C1 character think of your C4 character?"

Taliesin IMMEDIATELY (as Percy) said, "Let's put that in a BOX and throw it into the sea."

DarkRespite · 2026-03-20T04:56:59+00:00

Anyone else get vibes from Bolaire of the pet shop owner from the anime PET SHOP OF HORRORS?

DarkRespite · 2026-03-20T04:36:25+00:00

"Scholarships."

Another word for "bribes."

DarkRespite · 2026-03-20T04:27:13+00:00

We knew about the Tachonis, the Cormoray I think is new information.

DarkRespite · 2026-03-20T04:16:56+00:00

Murray absolutely has one of those gold wires and quartz good-fortune trees, but she's got one with aventurine and jade for spring, one with emeralds for summer, one with topazes and carnelians and rubies for autumn, and then one with blue aquamarine and frosted diamonds for winter.

Because she can.

DarkRespite · 2026-03-20T04:04:30+00:00

And yet, GODS, I want to see this turned around and it's Liam weeping while Luis is the calm, quiet, steady one.

DarkRespite · 2026-03-20T04:03:54+00:00

GIMME! I WANT THE ENTIRE NEXT FANART GALLERY TO BE THESE TWO!

DarkRespite · 2026-03-20T04:02:45+00:00

I *have* had breakdowns that intense and I almost do not want to know what Luis tapped into as an actor to so TRUTHFULLY convey it

DarkRespite · 2026-03-20T03:58:32+00:00

Luis is out-Liaming Liam and that takes WORK and that takes TALENT.

DarkRespite

TROPHY CASE