Summary
The vulgar, violent Vox Machina returns for more fun and games. This season is just as debauched and addictive as the previous one, with many fine examples of stunning animation and entertaining action sequences. Fans will not be disappointed.
We review the Prime Video series The Legend of Vox Machina Season 2, which does not contain spoilers.
A dysfunctional gang of misfits gleefully dismembering foes as a close-knit team, with quick-witted remarks and plenty of profanity, it’s a stereotype that has been done many times before, especially in the sci-fi fantasy realm. Yet it still manages to hit the sweet spot in The Legend of Vox Machina, which returns to Prime Video for an entertaining second outing in 2023.
Our second trip to the gory and gruesome world of Tal’Dorei reunites audiences with the murderous mercenaries known as the Vox Machina, who are now tasked with defeating an assembly of deadly dragons in this latest batch of episodes.
The Legend of Vox Machina season 2 review and plot summary
The Vox Machina are made up of magical beings and mythical characters, varying from twin half-elf assassins (Vex and Vax) to singing, lute-playing gnomes (Scanlan). There’s also Percy the anxious gun-slinging human; Pike, a gnome with healing abilities; and Keyleth, a powerful half-elf druid, who can summon nature and the elements, as well as transforming into any animal of her choosing. The gang is rounded off by Grog, a fearless Goliath barbarian, who is scarily similar to Drax of the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise, and of course, their trusty pet grizzly bear, Trinket.
These fearless anti-heroes roam the fantastical landscape, slaying beasts and claiming their rewards, but over time they have learnt to respect the communities they aid and now work alongside these comrades to keep peace in the realm, whilst still defeating the bad guys. Their latest rivals appear to be unstoppable though and may need extra assistance. Pike even comments that they’ll need an army of soldiers to successfully destroy these four dragons, who yearn to rule their land. Although, in actuality they just need some fancy, magical weapons instead.
The second season follows the Vox Machina as they journey far and wide, acquiring these magical tools (vestiges) to help them to defeat the ruthless, relentless dragons. The show is just as brutal and bonkers as ever, with some exceptional animation along the way. Some of the new characters help to demonstrate the series’ keen eye for visuals too, immersing viewers fully into this unique world.
Is The Legend of Vox Machina Season 2 any good?
While the first season got off to a rip-roaring start and somehow kept that same stellar consistency throughout its entire run, the second season takes a little more warming up. There’s a little bit of introductory plotting to get out of the way first, and the early episodes mechanically move from one dilemma to the next. However, once these discrepancies are out of the way, the gang starts to gel better as a unit, and the show returns to its renowned humor and heart.
The action sequences are especially dazzling this year too. The gang take on a whole host of villains and battle these enemies with the usual vigor and accompanying banter you’ve come to expect. Scanlan, again, takes center stage. The sprightly gnome bard gets all of the best scenes and one-liners, either stumbling upon magical objects, commenting on the absurdity of the situation or performing a power ballad from time to time.
All in all, the second season of The Legend of Vox Machina is just as action-packed as the first. The animation is exquisite and the gang continue to shine. Each individual member of the team is given time to develop and well-placed flashbacks help build a better understanding of this bizarre bunch overall. Things get off to a rocky start, but quickly the writers and the mercenaries themselves find their feet and deliver on an entertaining, hilarious joyride.
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