![]() ![]() In that way, The Legend of Vox Machina’s portrayal of faith and religious duty is as an extension of love, in all its shapes and forms. In the season’s final episode, faith and hope is not a contract signed in blood with a deity bound to you, but rather a shared connection and belief between two people-as Scanlan says to Vax after the battle is done: “Even if I don’t believe in that Matron stuff, you do, and I believe in you.” It’s Vax’s inspiration, as well as his daughter’s echoing words, that spur Scanlan into action, ultimately delivering the final blow to Umbrasyl after a hard-fought battle he nearly sprinted away from. Vax tells Scanlan (Sam Riegel) that destiny is something you can either “run from” or “rise to meet,” as this final episode establishes that destiny is not a predetermined outcome that you cannot escape, but rather a fulfillment of promises made to both yourself and those around you. For Vax, Vex has been and always will be his top priority, but the Matron allows him the power and ability to extend his duty to all of Vox Machina, in the same way that his family, which was once just his sister Vex, now encompasses every member of his adventuring party.Įpisode 12 sees Vax embracing his new fate-touched attitude, and encouraging Vox Machina to take one last stand against Chroma Conclave member Umbrasyl (the episode’s namesake, “The Hope Devourer”). Then, once he is firmly within the clutches of the Matron after trading his servitude for Vex’s life, his purpose evolves from being Vex’s great protector to being the protector of the sanctity of life and death-gaining a power he then uses to aid his friends first and foremost. For his entire life, Vax’s sole purpose was protecting his sister, as Episode 3’s flashback showcases when Vex pushes him away, Vax is utterly hopeless, but falls back into step next to his sister once they reconcile. For Vax, in contrast to his sister, he never cared to grovel for the approval of the father who regards them as nothing more than “half-breeds,” so he does not hesitate when presented with the opportunity to run far away from their father’s home in Syngorn. Throughout the season, flashbacks to Vex and Vax’s childhood illuminate the stark difference between the twins when it comes to their relationship with their father, and what each character believes belonging to mean to them. Vax’s newfound embrace of the Matron and his status is a reevaluation of his own perception of his purpose. In stark contrast to his attitude during his conversation with Percy from Episode 8, Vax reassures both Vex and Keyleth that the path he’s on is the right one. ![]() His hesitation and fear, and especially the idea that he is just a pawn in some deity’s game, fades quickly, as he realizes that he is stepping into a role that is bigger than himself-but with his friends and the Matron by his side on this new journey. She asks if he will be her champion, and he replies: “What choice do I have?” The Matron informs Vax that he is not her puppet, but rather a champion of destiny, able to see and manipulate the strings of fate. Once within, Vax takes a plunge into a pool of blood, which brings him face to face with his would-be master. In Episode 11 of Season 2, titled “The Belly of the Beast,” Vax seeks answers from the Matron, so he enters a decaying temple with Vex and Keyleth (Marisha Ray) waiting for him outside. However, it’s the final two episodes of the season that allow Vax to embrace his new role, and more clearly understand his relationship with faith, belief, and destiny. He sees visions of the dead, finds himself with a target on his back in the Feywild, and tells Percy (Taliesin Jaffe) that he believes he’s headed somewhere that his friends cannot follow. After his sister is revived, his journey throughout the second season is a solitary one, one that finds Vax pulling away from both his sister and Vox Machina at large as he tries to figure out his new place under the watchful eye of the Raven Queen. In the first batch of episodes released from The Legend of Vox Machina’s second season, Vax’ildan (Liam O’Brian’s roguish half-elf) makes a trade with one of Exandria’s Prime Deities: he becomes the Matron of Ravens’ champion in exchange for the life of his twin sister, Vex’ahlia (Laura Bailey). ![]() In going from calling his newfound deity a “raven bitch” to becoming the champion of the Matron of Ravens, Vax’s journey of discovering and accepting his destiny is a beautiful and heartfelt examination of faith for Vax alone, as well as emblematic of how The Legend of Vox Machina poignantly engages with religion in its sprawling world of Exandria. Throughout the second season of Prime Video’s The Legend of Vox Machina, Vax’ildan’s relationship with faith is a tentative one, to say the least. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |