We’ve hit the last episode of Prime Video and Critical Role‘s drop of The Legend of Vox Machina. Take a moment to mourn that we have to wait an entire week for the last three episodes of season two. Now, back to business. In the ninth episode, “A Test of Pride,” Grog (voiced by Travis Willingham), Pike (voiced by Ashley Johnson) and Scanlan (voiced by Sam Riegel) head to Westrunn in search of the Titanstone Knuckles. But will Grog be able to face his past? Let’s find out!
DISCLAIMER: These are recaps and, by definition, will contain spoilers for The Legend of Vox Machina. Please proceed with caution and be sure to check for traps. If you haven’t had the chance to check out the episode, we highly suggest doing so.
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“A Test of Pride” opens as a group of half-giants lay waste to a village. It’s utter bloodshed, but the most shocking part is at the end, we learn that one of the young half giant is Grog. In the present, weak Grog and his friendly gnomes are keeping watch outside of Westrunn. Grog doesn’t want anything to do with his uncle or the herd, and we soon learn why. Grog explains a bit more about what he knows about the Titanstone Knuckles, and Scanlan decides to sneak into the city. And the beret is back!
As Scanlan buzzes into the city, Grog gives Pike a bit more backstory on what life was like in the herd. He also shares that her grandfather Wilhand (voiced by Henry Winkler) was the reason he left. And we are sure that super adorable picture of little Pike with her black hair (because if you know, you know) had a lot to do with it too.
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Within Westrunn, Scanlan finds a group of half-giants discussing their discontent with their current deal with the dragons. One such half-giant is Grog’s cousin Zanzor (voiced by Abubakar Salim), who wants to take the herd from his uncle. But before they can go on, Scanlan becomes a gnome again and just barely makes it out of there alive. Inside his hiding place are a group of citizens hiding from the half-giants.
We jump back to the sad Grog backstory. It turns out that he knocked his cousin out in order to help Wilhand escape. Of course, this causes a bit of an issue with his uncle and cousin. Grog gets mad but, unfortunately, isn’t strong enough to stand up to the Titanstone Knuckles. After getting his tush handed to him by his uncle Kevdak (voiced by Ralph Ineson), he is banished and left to die. But little Pike is there to save the day, and the Trickfoots take in the half-giant. It’s emotional, and we dare you not to shed a tear.
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Their moment is broken up by the arrival of Umbrasyl (voiced by Matthew Mercer), and panic sets in. Scanlan, on the other hand, is getting the lowdown from Kaylie (voiced by Aisling Franciosi) and her friends. Dranzel (voiced by Mercer) and the others are excited about Scanlan, but Kaylie just wants him to get them out of there.
Umbrasyl shows up with Ripley (voiced by Kelly Hu) for the gold, and it’s clear that the half-giants are pushing their luck with the dragon. They have three days to get the rest of it, or Umbrasyl is taking the Titanstone Knuckles instead. Zanzor tries to call his father out over the whole ordeal, and he gets his face knocked in over it. It looks like the herd is going to be working overtime to make sure they don’t end up as dragon food.
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Pike and Grog watch Umbrasyl head off and decide to sneak in to find Scanlan. Best plan ever. Kaylie finally convinces Scanlan to get them out of there (and folx she really doesn’t like him), and with her flute and some quick thinking, he is able to get them to at least Grog. After introductions take place, they decide to sneak out of town while the half-giants have their meet-up. But Grog isn’t leaving.
He can see that the herd is terrifying everyone, and that won’t change unless he stops them. Grog needs to stand up for the little folk because that is what makes someone strong. Our boy is learning! In the center of town, Kevdak calls out those trying to work against him and demands that anyone who wants to challenge him say so. And as “A Test of Pride” comes to a close, Grog calls out to his uncle. What a reunion.
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What a way to end this set of episodes! Grog is a powerhouse, but he is starting to understand that there is more to where all that power comes from. Fighting for what’s right and who he cares about is just part of his strength. The raging and big muscles are needed too, but we’re sure that everything will be fine. And poor Scanlan is getting the short end of the stick this episode. He meets Kaylie, and she just doesn’t like him. Hopefully he will be able to prove her wrong.
We sure missed Vex (voiced by Laura Bailey), Vax (voiced by Liam O’Brien), Percy (voiced by Taliesin Jaffe) and Keyleth (voiced by Marisha Ray). But we’re sure to see them when the final three episodes of season two drop next week. What are your thoughts so far? Let us know in the comments below and on social media!
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Who I Am: A nerd by the strictest definition. I enjoy diving straight into my favorite fandoms without a care in the world. I live on video/board games, fantasy movies and TV, and all things geeky.
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