Passed Through Fire | Critical Role: VOX MACHINA | Episode 69 

Jesus, imagine poor Orthax having to fit Percy's whole name on the barrel of the gun.

The intro credits with Pike helping Percy has more meaning now then ever.

From the Wiki : During Percy's resurrection ritual in "Passed Through Fire", Taliesin was watching from another room. After the ritual succeeded, Matt revealed that Taliesin was the one who ultimately decided if Percy would want to come back, depending on the actions of Vox Machina and their players during the ritual. Taliesin stated later that if the group's offerings during the ritual had been religion-based, Percy probably would have declined to return from death.

I really like how Percy signed off 'Percy of Vox Machina' in the letter instead of his usual long title - he wanted to them to know that at the end he considers being part of that group his greatest heritage.

I accidentally burst out laughing around the 23 minute mark because I imagined a barrel with in tiiiiiny letters "Percival Fredrickstein Von Musel Klossowski de Rolo III" written on it. I'm so sorry Percy but that is a great visual.

Fitting that Scanlan finds out he has a kamasutra book in episode 69.

Hearing Pike in her usual very innocent adorable tone say “well… we could save a little money” in regards to saving her dead friend is so funny

Percy died with a look of peace on his face because, while he has failed to deliver the final blow himself, he was happy that he'd found a family that would finish it for him.

Poor Matt going into silent Panic mode when Keyleth started to read too deeply into the letter. Watch his eyes dart around, it's hysterical.

You know what really broke me during Vex's attempt at the ritual? It was Sam breaking down and crying. My heart broke upon seeing him like that.

Can we all just marvel at Matt's ability to speak not just with Jarett's accent, but his accent *slurred*?

1:12:40 is a great moment because Laura is an amazing ACTOR! She is well aware of her performance. "It's yours." is simple but lovely. It's a callback to when she refused to give her heart to the tree elf in the feywild who asked for her heart where she responded "It's someone elses." Laura trusts the Critters enough to piece those two lines together without explaining anything and it really comes across. It's her ability to immerse herself in her character and her faith in the audience to understand her feelings with a simple phrase that really shines through.

"We're not going to let him sleep alone" Dammit Scanlan you made me cry.

The natural 20 on Laura's ritual role... I started CRYING

Lord Percival Fredrickstein Von Musel Klossowski De Rolo III of the first house of Whitestone signing his farewell letter simply as "Percival of Vox Machina" is such a beautiful moment that doesn't get the attention it deserves.

I think it goes to show how impactful this death was because I have not seen a single mention of the fact that this is Episode 69.

Another thing I noticed: Vex using residuum to aid in bringing back Percy was a call back to him doing the same for her when _she_ died.

"It'll be a hard night, but you both have to sleep. Drink this, and we will attempt to remedy this when we wake. The best thing you can do for your friend now is sleep, so do that. Save your tears for later." That may be my favorite Grog quote.

I love that Matt let Taliesin decide if Percy will live or die.

If this, Percy's death and resurrection, ever gets animated, I will be a crying wreck and will need 5 to 7 business days to work through it

Man that Pat Rothfuss is such a wordsmith. He should write a book or something lol

in normal D&D pike would cast the spell and automatically succeed. in mercer's D&D they have to do this ritual to succeed. to the people who complains about how easy it was.. in the original format is alot easier

That moment Vax recites full name Liam is so privately proud of himself you can see him smirk when he finalized it for just a half second lol

“Is he proposing to you?” MATT:*awkward laugh* HAHAHAAHAH

What honestly kills me, in the best of ways, about Vex's addition to Percy's ritual, was that last little line. "I should have told you. It's yours." Just, thinking back to her encounter with Saundor in The Echo Tree when he asks for her heart. "My heart is someone else's." Tears.

Really Gilmore? You're a powerful magician with the ability to instantly warp to your parents house and you HAVEN'T GONE TO VISIT!?

The scene at 1:40:28 is a perfect example of why Sam Riegel is one of the greatest improv artists of all time. The conversation so far had been so dramatic and serious, and he finds the absolute perfect moment to break the tension. I've rewatched it probably a dozen times, and I still can't believe what I'm watching. The way he flows through the scene, guiding the mood of the moment -- from his serious interjection rescuing Percy from his uncomfortable sigh, to the hilariously deadpan accusation toward the rest of the group of "wanting to save the scroll for something else", to the heartwarming hug, to finally turning the whole bit around and making himself the butt of the joke by revealing that it was all a ploy to get his hands on a gun (which is something he established about Scanlan like 40 episodes prior). It's simply masterful. Everyone else in the show is funny from time to time, but Sam/Scanlan is just transcendent.

Gilmore sounding like a game tutorial is just frickin awesome

Side note: I love that Laura now has a little cell for her dice jail.

Sam: "Ashley, we all died. It's just you now; it's you versus the dragons."

1:41:22 "Laughter! Laughter's back!" And boy oh boy, we all needed that. Thank goodness for Sam Riegel. (and all the others, ofc, but laughter is such a precious thing, especially when it's so cathartic!)

i was tearing up at vex's contribution to the ritual, then she rolled that fucking nat20 and i just started full on crying. that felt so raw and beautiful holy shit. taliesin's horrifying luck apparently applies to saving his life too. damn it percy.

"I should have told you. It's yours." Please excuse me while I drown in my own tears. This episode is an absolute roller-coaster.

Laura Bailey is so good at being Vex. She's such a good actress. I have an admiration-crush on her. Is that a thing? Now it is. Her speech to Percy was so, so good.

Love Travis' little smirk as soon as Matt asks what Vex has to bring to the ritual. Laura must have told him what she was going to confess because you can tell he already knows where she's going.

Jared and Scanlan's drug discussion is the funniest shit ever. "It is highly a illegal substance, but since the jail they would put you in is sat on by a giant red dragon, now would be the time to buy it."

So I was relistening to Percy's Spotify playlist before this episode, and it includes a song called Pink Summer. The chorus of the song goes: "And maybe this will kill us And maybe this will kill us What a way to die What a way to die It's not how much you love It's how much you are loved It's how much you are loved" Goddamn does that resonate after this episode.

Okay but can we talk about how firm and centered Grog is during these moments. I love it.

It's such a tiny thing, but 2:46:53 made me smile. Laura noticed that Marisha's dress had slipped down and whispered to Liam to let her know. He then writes a note on his phone, slides it over to her, and she takes a moment to fix it while Laura keeps the scene going and attention elsewhere. The genuine care this group has for each other is always so, _so_ lovely.

Just doing my duty for those watching in 2023 0:28 - Another Lootcrate Ad 3:00 - Seriously Travis? 4:10 - Laura's similar story 6:54 - Recap Begins 9:07 - Game Begins, A Member is Missing 10:06 - Could Come In Handy 10:34 - Catching up with Kynan 15:18 - The Issue At Hand 20:29 - Shame intelligence check 25:50 - The Scroll 26:10 - Scanlan Doesn't Know What He Is 26:18 - Matt decides to be a nicer DM than I would be and warns them about using the scroll 27:55 - Noooo... 29:34 - Scanlan thinks about what Percy would want 35:46 - Vex's first use of Orcale Arrow 43:05 - The Airship 44:44 - Vex leaves her purse 47:25 - Scanlan points out that Whitestone is hard to find 48:24 - Blanket forts/Helpful Grog 54:30 - Back To Whitestone 55:24 - Percy Towel 56:38 - Contacting Pike 58:04 - Reunited 59:27 - Ritual start/Gallows humor 1:02:06 - Complications 1:03:23 - The Gun 1:05:40 - For Once, Grog's the Smart One 1:07:12 - Solutions 1:09:54 - The Ritual Continues 1:10:14 - Vex searches Percy 1:11:28 - Vex's Plea (AKA 100% Makes Me Cry) 1:13:25 - Pike's Plea/Scanlan's limerick 1:16:57 - Keyleth's Plea 1:19:30 - Ritual end 1:20:12 - The Critical Roll 1:20:45 - The Result 1:21:35 - The Chair 1:22:30 - I felt the same watching this live, Laura 1:22:55 - The Secret Challenge 1:36:34 - Break ends 1:40:35 - Scanlan is Percy's Best Friend 1:42:48 - Sneaky Pike? 1:45:20 - Jarrett and Gilmore 1:47:19 - The Cloak 1:50:32 - The Dagger / Scanlan Screws with Gilmore 1:54:06 - The Marquetra Sutra / Turn Down For What 1 1:55:20 - Spice Delivery AKA Scanlan's lost his damn mind 1:57:04 - A Place for Kynan 1:58:16 - A Letter for Keyleth 2:03:09 - Letter Reactions 2:11:57 - Mama Pike/Technical difficulties 2:17:00 - The Sand Keg 2:19:23 - Vax's delivery 2:23:11 - Technical Difficulties 2 2:24:26 - Pike's hubris/Turn Down For What 2 2:27:46 - Scanlan And Jarrett (2:28:32 - Getting Him Off) 2:32:49 - Percy's Letter 2:38:45 - Vax Messes With Pike 2:41:26 - Hiding Transgressions / Turn Down For What 3 (2:42:04 - Reaching Around) 2:44:14 - The Meeting 2:47:13 - The Revea

I can just imagine Pike with her Monstah gauntlets just grabbing a solid block of stone twice her size while everyone else is in shock as a tiny cute woman screams while running "IMMA MONSTAH"

1:38:40 "Cassandra is there with what appears to be seeker assoun" Matthew Mercer you sneaky, brilliant bastard!

Looking at that empty chair where Taliesin normally sits, I can't help but picture him sitting across the room listening to them play, scribbling out Molly's stats. 🤣

I love watch Travis play he’s so respectful with Matt and and the others and when Laura rolled her nat 20 urging Matt to come look 😊 he’s my favorite

Vex's Nat 20 on the ritual crit me right in the feels. Strongest 20 in the show so far.

1:11:50 Look at sam. Honestly this is saying something. This is saying that both Scanlan and Sam actually care. You know, its easy to be funny when you don't really care and are here just for the fun of it. Sam was very good at conveying that, to the point that it was easy to think him approaching this as just some game and not really having attachment to anyone. But seeing him actually tear up... all of his humour, all of his jokes are actually heroic attempts to bring levity to the distraught team. And that's an impressive act and an sacrifice.

Man, Kerr is incredible. Not a single dice roll under his belt at this point, and still one of the best guest characters.

Travis trying his hardest not to cry when his wife is crying is the most amazing thing ever.

Can we just appreciate how GOOD of a DM Matt is.

Vex's plea for Percy during the ritual is tearjerking Keyleth showed lovely artistry and the charisma check from Matt was perfect for the tension

"I should have told you: It's yours." *Natural 20* Me: THIS IS NO OK, MAN. THIS IS NOT OK. *Teary eyes*.

They were doing some great role-playing right out the jump. "I want to cut the heart from your ribs - I want to cut out my own!" was an amazing line, especially for Liam's style of delivery. Very Vax. And it just got better throughout the episode, from everybody.

Are you telling me, Raishan *puts on shades* assumed the seeker's identity?

1:58:16 Kerr Package. Patrick Rothfuss, wherever you are, you are a wordsmith

I wish more people would talk about Kynan. He’s quite possibly my favorite npc. His struggle is a real one and I love a good redemption character. All he wanted was to be acknowledged by his heroes. He was just taken advantage of by a very clever, and terrible woman.

I know the central focus is Percy being revived but HOLY SHIT THAT LETTER WAS BEAUTIFUL, DAMN.

Life needs things to live. Amen.

That letter for Keyleth was so damn beautiful and inspirational. Rothfuss is the man.

This is me a big burly bearded guy. Crying in front of the screen as Vex declares her heart is Percy's. I am watching from 5 years in the future having studiously avoided spoilers. So I can enjoy the delightful tension of moments like this. Also, you guys are asses. I should have been in bed for two hours when the last episode ended. Now here I am commenting 3 and half hours late for bed smiling.

Thank god im watching this in 2019 because having to wait a week after the last episode would’ve driven me insane

What I love about the end of the last episode and the beginning of this one is that they show who the true leaders of Vox Machina are. Grog and Scanlan may be idiots and the comic relief but when shit hit the fan they got dead serious and started planning all in character. Without them something would have gone incredibly wrong.

I love that when Marisha saw the ring Matt immediately cuts in "read the letter first!" and everyone looks at each other kind of shocked. I think everyone though "oooooh proposal??" XD

Bloody hell. I'm just watching these for the first time, in a mad attempt to get caught up. I know it's been said by many commenters already, but Laura's appeal/speech during the resurrection is heart-wrenching. And then that natural 20 to top it off. Wow.

It’s an exceptionally small detail but I couldn’t help but notice how Vex’ahlia’s ritual prop was a piece of the Condensed Whitestone… just as was Percy’s during the ritual to revive Vex in the Tomb of the Raven Queen. Coincidence? Probably, but serendipity can have a beauty all its own. Amazing performances across the board as per usual, but Laura’s deliveries from the climax last episode to the resolution this one crit me in the feels especially hard.

After how intense and emotional these last two episodes were, I absolutely loved the conversation with Scanlan and Jaret.

Man, Travis deciding to insight check Pike over the books was absolutely hilarious.

God vex using a more expense gem and vax learning and saying Percy’s full name made me tear up a little

“Well weren’t going to let him sleep alone…” and the rest of the team stay silent. I’m FUCKING sobbing

Jesus Christ, the way the resurrection spells have been altered in this make them way, WAY more tense and impactful and important. Just, the idea that you can fail them makes them matter. It also helps that Matt is an amazing storyteller and the players are all able to actually be their characters.

“Well, we’re not gonna let him sleep alone!” My heart ;-;

Liam: "Half of the audience is going to be furious." Nah man we too busy crying.

Seeing this to catch up to season three and seeing how grog handles the passing of Percy is very important. Some are seeing him as heartless but let’s not forget Grog has been traveling in a herd who valued dying in combat. Grog is sad but acting how he normally would and him taking charge alongside scanlon is one of the most heartfelt things. He’s making sure his friends are taken care of as best as Grog can.

Just a little part thats so nice about Vex's offering is how the music swells so perfectly as she says "its yours". It was so cinematic, and the music during that entire scene made it seem straight out of a movie. Such a lovely episode.

9:20 - Start 10:34 - Catching up with Kynan 20:29 - Shame intelligence check 35:46 - Vex'ahlia: Prince of Thieves 43:05 - Vex hires an airship 48:24 - Blanket forts/Helpful Grog 56:38 - Contacting Pike 59:55 - Ritual start/Gallows humor 1:02:06 - Complications 1:07:12 - Solutions 1:10:14 - Vex's plea 1:13:25 - Pike's plea/Scanlan's limerick 1:16:57 - Keyleth's plea 1:19:30 - Ritual end 1:36:34 - Break ends 1:46:35 - Divvying up the goods 1:55:21 - Scanlan's delivery 1:58:16 - Kerr package 2:11:57 - Mama Pike/Technical difficulties 2:16:28 - Sampling Sarif's Swine Swallow 2:19:23 - Vax's delivery 2:23:11 - Pike's hubris/Turning down? 2:27:47 - Subtitles please? 2:32:49 - Invasion of privacy/Vax's art 2:41:26 - Planting evidence 2:44:14 - The meeting 2:47:13 - The reveal 2:52:07 - Fan art

"You're essentially a walking bruise" I like that. I'm going to use that.

NOT ME ACTUALLY IN TEARS OVER TRUE LOVE'S CRIT WHEN IVE SEEN IT LIKE FIVE TIMES...........and travis said get over here and LOOK and matt's expression is so happy and laura IMPROVISED THAT MONOLOGUE???? perc'ahlia grindset never stops we stan legends only 💪

When Vex said “It’s yours” my heart grew 3 sizes larger this day

I know this is old as hell, but I'd like to take just a moment to marvel at how ridiculously photogenic Ashley Johnson is- she's looking worried, on Skype, filtered through an additional camera, compressed, and watched on a smartphone and she looks like she's at a photo shoot. Bananas. To quote South Park's Chewbacca defense- that does not make sense.

Kerr's letter to Keyleth is still one of my favorite moments of all time. There was so much love in that moment and, knowing the hell she (Marisha and Keyleth) was going through at the time, it makes it means so much more.

Pike is always like a taste of fresh air when she appears! Adorable.

1:12:35 My favorite part of the whole episode. I had a hunch that Vex was talking about Percy when they went to fight Sondur in The Echo Tree episode when Vex said "My heart belongs to someone else." Really cool stuff, and I'm glad they all buy into this campaign so much. Makes it really fun to watch.

Don't get me wrong, I am ecstatic that Ripley is gone, but I am horribly bitter that NOBODY made a 'believe it or not' joke

Pike is definitely the type to be like "these edibles ain't shit"

percy to vax: you remind me of myself (derogatory) percy to vex: you remind me of myself (complimentary) (2:35:48)

1:11:00 Vex: “Percy, I don't know if you can hear me, but… that day in Syngorn was one of the best moments of my life, and not because of what you think. It wasn't because of my father or the title. It was because of Whitestone. It was because of you. You allowed me to be a part of the thing that you hold dearest, and I was so proud. But I don't want to be here if you're not. Whitestone still needs you, darling. I still need you here. (leans down and kisses him) I should have told you. It's yours.” Matt: “Make a persuasion role.” Laura: **huffs**. **Rolls...** Laura: *“NATURAL TWENTY!”* Travis/everyone: **GASP LOOKS** Matt: “I trust you” 😁😁😁😄😄😄 THIS IS SO PERFECT The fates align.

After watching this I can't help but think how cool it would be if Critical Role was made into an animated series since the people who are part of the cast are actual voice actors so all they would need are animators and writer to make the script. It could even be base on the story line from their D&D sessions, which would be just as awesome considering how enjoyable it is to watch on Geek & Sundry.

I think I relate to Ashley the most when playing DnD - she has those pauses where she doesn't know what to say in RP or what she's supposed to do

Another baton pass! Credit to gustavo ferrant. Let's... just get through it. 0:28 - Another Lootcrate Ad 3:00 - Seriously Travis? 4:10 - Laura's similar story 6:54 - Recap Begins 9:07 - Game Begins, A Member is Missing 10:06 - Could Come In Handy 10:34 - Catching up with Kynan 15:18 - The Issue At Hand 20:29 - Shame intelligence check 25:50 - The Scroll 26:10 - Scanlan Doesn't Know What He Is 26:18 - Matt decides to be a nicer DM than I would be and warns them about using the scroll 27:55 - Noooo... 29:34 - Scanlan thinks about what Percy would want 35:46 - Vex's first use of Orcale Arrow 43:05 - The Airship 44:44 - Vex leaves her purse 47:25 - Scanlan points out that Whitestone is hard to find 48:24 - Blanket forts/Helpful Grog 54:30 - Back To Whitestone 55:24 - Percy Towel 56:38 - Contacting Pike 58:04 - Reunited 59:27 - Ritual start/Gallows humor 1:02:06 - Complications 1:03:23 - The Gun 1:05:40 - For Once, Grog's the Smart One 1:07:12 - Solutions 1:09:54 - The Ritual Continues 1:10:14 - Vex searches Percy 1:11:28 - Vex's Plea (AKA 100% Makes Me Cry) 1:13:25 - Pike's Plea/Scanlan's limerick 1:16:57 - Keyleth's Plea 1:19:30 - Ritual end 1:20:12 - The Critical Roll 1:20:45 - The Result 1:21:35 - The Chair 1:22:30 - I felt the same watching this live, Laura 1:22:55 - The Secret Challenge 1:36:34 - Break ends 1:40:35 - Scanlan is Percy's Best Friend 1:42:48 - Sneaky Pike? 1:45:20 - Jarrett and Gilmore 1:47:19 - The Cloak 1:50:32 - The Dagger / Scanlan Screws with Gilmore 1:54:06 - The Marquetra Sutra / Turn Down For What 1 1:55:20 - Spice Delivery AKA Scanlan's lost his damn mind 1:57:04 - A Place for Kynan 1:58:16 - A Letter for Keyleth 2:03:09 - Letter Reactions 2:11:57 - Mama Pike/Technical difficulties 2:17:00 - The Sand Keg 2:19:23 - Vax's delivery 2:23:11 - Technical Difficulties 2 2:24:26 - Pike's hubris/Turn Down For What 2 2:27:46 - Scanlan And Jarrett (2:28:32 - Getting Him Off) 2:32:49 - Percy's Letter 2:38:45 - Vax Messes With Pike 2:41:26 - Hiding Transgressions / Turn Down For What 3 (2:42:04 - Reaching Around) 2:44:14 - The Meeting 2:47:13 - The Reveal

tiberius fixed that particular diamond. the dead helping the dead.

Ashley looked sad and worried for hours.

God, that numbness wine is the best purchase they’ve made. I wish they gave it to Victor.

I truly love how indepth they all take their roles. Especially matt the greatest DM and Talisan in his role as Percy

Watching this over a year after. I want to thank all the commenters that didn’t spoil the story. . . . . . . . . I thinks it’s amazing how Ashely was watching the last episode and immediately wanted to come in. Now here she is taking time out of her busy schedule just to bring him back. All of these guys are so invested and Matt dear god that man has single handedly gotten me to want to DM

I fucking love how Matt makes resurrection a skill challenge rather than just a certain thing... makes bringing back people from actually dying a much more meaningful thing than "Cast the spell, use the component...done"

I love that they have the CC script written in, like everyone should, As someone with slightly fucked up hearing I wish that they would put the character name that Matt specifically is speaking instead of just Matt.

Its so cool to think Molly both never existed before C2, and was outside that room for hours

I love how Sam tries to cheer everyone up by being his usual cheery and sarcastic self, yet there was a moment where he wiped away his tear just made it so much more impactful

That letter just convinced me to pick up the first book in The Kingkiller Chronicle. If that is how poetic Patrick Rothfuss can make a short letter then his novels that he puts much more time and effort into must be absolutely stunning.

Spoiler-ish: Not sure how I haven't seen a comment yet, but considering how emotional this episode was, something about seeing/hearing Patrick Rothfuss read/send Keyleth a letter was... the emotional icing on the cake. I have no insight other than intuition, but I feel like Matt asked Patrick to do that as a special something for Marisha (favourite author maybe?). Seemed pretty impactful for both Marisha and Keyleth. That physical ring is a heck of a keepsake. Great episode.

I'm an emotional wreck right now. I just watched 2 episodes back to back, it's now 4am. I've gone through so many tissues between the two. I knew I couldn't sleep not knowing if Percy would live or die. I damn near had a heart attack while they were fighting Ripley. That letter from Rothfuss too, pure fucking gold. Marisha and Laura killed me and then Ashley fighting the tears. I need a Resurrection because I've been slain.