Summary
Heavy metal scores this epic entry, as the gang descends further into the castle’s hidden depths.
This recap of Amazon’s The Legend Of Vox Machina season 1, episode 10, “Depth Of Deceit” contains spoilers.
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The Legend Of Vox Machina season 1, episode 10 recap
Episode 10 starts with an extreme close up of the prisoner’s eye. Soon it is revealed that this is Dr Ripley, a member of the Briarwood clan, who tortured poor Percy during the Whitestone insurrection. We last saw her in the Briarwood’s dungeon awaiting her undoing at the hand of evil Percy and his conveniently labelled pepper-box gun. Percy wastes no time in shooting the woman, but Cassandra parries his shot, stating that the prisoner could be a useful asset in their hunt for the Briarwood’s and this new buzzword: the Ziggurat.
Scanlan asks for a sidebar in which he questions his friend about the return of evil Percy and Pike tries to distinguish what is going on in the gunslinger’s mind. Pike is shocked to discover a fireball of rage and a clouded soul. Percy goes in for the kill once more and holds his revolver to the prisoner’s head. Dr. Ripley says how she was brought in as an engineer and thought that once she was done she could leave. The prisoner was very wrong and now spends her days in a dark dungeon cell. As atonement, she asks to guide them to this hallowed Ziggurat and the Briarwood’s themselves.
On their descent deeper into the castle’s lower levels, Scanlan finds time to flirt with Cassandra. Grog is reunited with his best pal Pike and the twins (Vax and Vex) discuss Vax’s new affections for Keyleth. It’s always nice to get a little downtime to explore the character dynamics in more detail. The secret passages and hidden domains are booby-trapped and a walk through a mausoleum ends in more drama. The gang must again reluctantly fight, this time against Percy’s dead relatives. The zombies are ripped apart by a psychotic Grog and the untrustworthy Ripley takes them to a bloody chamber.
The ending
Here, it’s revealed who is being referred to in the episode title, and (of course) plenty of spoilers follow – you were warned! The ‘deceit’ comes from no other than Cassandra De Rolo as she traps the Vox Machina in this eerie chamber. Vax manages to escape, however he is instantaneously possessed and thrown under the Briarwood’s spell. Cassandra explains her motives and leaves the gang in a room quickly filling with acid, you know, the kind that melts your face off. This betrayal is cleverly written and an actual God’s honest plot twist that no one surely saw coming. Percy is devastated by this and the other members of the Vox Machina struggle to think of an escape plan.
What follows is an epic final scene, with some serious edge-of-your-seat tension and Scanlan gets another chance to shine. Two major pluses of this show: genuine drama and a character that can summon a great, big purple hand whilst also playing heavy metal on a lute. What more could you ask for? This ending absolutely rules, taking a good episode and pushing it into first place for the season on the whole. Bring on the Ziggurat.
