The Mighty Nein

Nothing in life is perfect, for we are but fallible mortals, but this, this, is SO close.

Whether you're a critter, with a decade of lore, laughs, and love you're looking to relive, or someone who enjoyed the predecessor 'The Animated Adventures of Vox Machina', maybe you just stumbled upon this on Prime and wooed by the slick animation and fast paced opening scene of episode one. It doesn't matter, you're here now, and all that is left is to induct you appropriately to a wonderful show full of humour, heart and heartbreak, so... Welcome to the Mighty Nein!

I followed every episode of the Mighty Nein campaign when it first aired and I am so attached to this crew, these characters and this world. Seeing it finally brought to life in animation, and done so beautifully, makes me incredibly happy. My friends and I spent years wishing it would become an animated series and now it is finally here. It truly feels like a success story. Even if you have never watched the campaign, the intrigue, story and character development are strong enough to hook anyone. I highly recommend it. ✨

The Mighty Nein animation successfully transfers the lightning in a bottle of it's original long-form content to succinct, compelling storytelling featuring lovable anti-heroes. While many adaptations (of games, books or otherwise) suffer from being too precious or verbose, Mighty Nein hasn't been afraid to pull punches and shift plot details in service of a stronger, well-paced story. Adding in enough Easter eggs for the most diehard "Critters" to enjoy, the Mighty Nein's first season is truly one to watch!

As a big fan of Vox Machina. This show fully takes you into yet another world of adventure. This time around there is a bit more depth into the main characters. Whit out loseing the humor and crazy elements from Vox Machina. I salute the studio for creating yet another show that I will need to binge watch. Thank you. My only hope is now that They hurry up and have a lot more seasons ready.

I went into The Mighty Nein with zero background in Critical Role. I've never watched the streams, listened to the campaigns, or seen Vox Machina. I only knew "those famous D&D guys" existed. With that context, I'm genuinely surprised by how quickly this series pulled me in.

What caught me the most off guard was the emotional weight in the relationship between Caleb and Nott the Brave (no comma!). Their early dynamic is messy, fragile, and quietly intimate in a way I didn't expect from a fantasy adventure animation. There's a particular scene early on that hit much harder than I thought it would, and I had to pretend I wasn't tearing up since I was watching it with a friend. Watching these two reluctantly take care of each other, becoming this strange and beautiful little pair of broken souls, was honestly moving.

The animation itself is strong and consistent. It isn't groundbreaking, but it absolutely does its job: expressive character acting, clear fight choreography, great visual atmosphere. It feels like the kind of art direction that supports the story rather than tries to overshadow it. As someone who plays D&D, it's delightful to catch little familiar touches: spell components, dice logic hidden in scenes, and that unmistakable "party of weirdos who barely know each other" chaos.

What makes the series feel fresh is that it doesn't follow the usual Western fantasy formula. It's messy, morally grey, and character-first. It reminded me a bit of certain Japanese anime in the way it balances humor, trauma, and emotional depth, but without ever feeling derivative. It has its own identity, and that identity leans into vulnerability and flawed humanity more than heroics.

Three episodes in, I'm honestly impressed. This feels like fantasy storytelling with personality, heart, and a willingness to go deeper than expected. If the rest of the season maintains this balance of humor, mystery, and emotional honesty, I think I'm in for something special - even as a total newcomer.