My first experience with Critical Role wasn’t through a clip from a campaign, but rather a GIF set showcasing their animated introduction for Campaign 2. As I passed by it on Tumblr, I was immediately drawn in by the characters. Who was this joyful blue tiefling taking on foes with luminous lollipops and unicorns? What was the backstory of this evidently troubled, fire-wielding wizard? And how did this eclectic bunch of goblins, humans, orcs, and others come to be united?

With these queries in mind, I immersed myself in the realm of Critical Role, uncovering the adventuring group known as the Mighty Nein. While I relished witnessing these characters’ narratives unfold in an improvised Dungeons and Dragons style, I yearned for a deeper exploration of the animated introduction that first caught my attention.

Now, that deeper exploration has materialized in the shape of Critical Role’s latest animated series The Mighty Nein. And it is as splendid as I anticipated.

What is The Mighty Nein about?

The Mighty Nein is Critical Role’s second animated venture with Prime Video, succeeding The Legend of Vox Machina. While the latter took several episodes to find the equilibrium between bawdy humor and high fantasy, The Mighty Nein commences powerfully, presenting a darker, more sophisticated narrative from the get-go.

The tale begins with a heist: A group of formidable wizards from the Dwendalian Empire pilfer the Luxon Beacon from the Kryn Dynasty. The sequence unfolds nearly without words, marked by flashes of deadly magic and hand-to-hand combat. It’s an enthralling reintroduction to Exandria, laying the groundwork for a catastrophic war among nations. It also serves as a darkly humorous opening for The Mighty Nein, as although the Dwendalian wizards and Kryn soldiers represent elite, highly organized factions, our titular heroes are… decidedly not.

At the start of The Mighty Nein, the actual team is far from formed. Each member (despite the title, there are merely six) is dispersed, grappling with their individual dilemmas. And believe me, The Mighty Nein doesn’t hold back on painful backstories. Dirt-streaked wizard Caleb Widogast (voiced by Liam O’Brien) is in search of magical ingredients while escaping his history. Goblin rogue Nott the Brave (voiced by Sam Riegel) consistently drowns her sorrows. Cobalt Soul monk Beauregard Lionett (voiced by Marisha Ray) endures mockery from superiors who disregard her investigative efforts due to her impulsive nature.

In another setting, shipwrecked mariner Fjord Stone (voiced by Travis Willingham) awakens with unwanted magical abilities he has no comprehension of how to wield, while prankster Jester Lavorre (voiced by Laura Bailey) struggles to get her patron deity (and best friend) to respond to her calls. Rounding out the team is Mollymauk Tealeaf (voiced by Taliesin Jaffe), a charismatic circus ringmaster, yet anxious about the future of his circus (and some troubling memories).

In summary, these six individuals have nothing in common. However, the escalating conflict over the Luxon Beacon will bring these outcasts together in unanticipated ways, granting them an opportunity to demonstrate that they can effect positive change. Judging by the skills displayed by both the Dwendalian and Kryn forces in the prologue, however, they certainly have a challenge ahead.

The Mighty Nein forms a powerful team.

The Mighty Nein does not rush the process of uniting its team. There are numerous disputes and internal conflicts, each highlighting the diverse personalities the show showcases. Yet from these challenges arise strong connections of friendship, made all the more rewarding by the effort it took to form them.

The Mighty Nein preserves all the wonderful relationships crafted by players during Campaign 2: Nott and Caleb’s mutual protection, Jester and Fjord’s playful camaraderie, Beau and Caleb’s growing respect and trust, Mollymauk’s knack for bringing everyone together… I could continue, as the bonds The Mighty Nein connects among its characters are as rich and diverse as the characters themselves.

The intricacies of these characters and their relationships come to life not just through dialogue but also in The Mighty Nein’s breathtaking action sequences. The Legend of Vox Machina set a high standard for adapting Critical Role’s battles into animation, but The Mighty Nein not only meets but often exceeds that standard, particularly regarding magic utilization.

Every magic user in The Mighty Nein boasts a distinct casting technique. Caleb employs material components for destructive spells, Jester conjures glimmering hordes of miniature unicorns and sweets, Mollymauk practices blood magic that even surprises him, and Fjord unleashes watery blasts without fully grasping how. Observing their battles means witnessing them stumble upon new abilities in real time. You see heroes evolving before your eyes — and in a spectacular manner, thanks to the stunning animation by Titmouse.

This sense of discovery transforms The Mighty Nein into an unforgettable narrative of becoming something greater than you ever imagined and finding a sense of belonging you never anticipated. It embodies the found family trope.