The Elite: Vox Machina

This fantasy series was created by the group Critical Role Productions, who were behind other projects like the Dungeons and Dragons web series. It looks very much like Dungeons and Dragons, with team fights and getting to an objective by beating certain world obstacles but the one differing component seems to be its character depth. Each character has some kind of backstory that either defines who they are now or chases them as a heavy toll to the present.

The story starts with the team having been sent on a mission to defeat a dragon that had brought terror to the most magical city in the continent. This defeat gave birth to the team and gave them a position in the world. With much stature came an equal amount of responsibility and they had to go and face other evils that were terrifying the kingdom like the evil lords of Whitestone or the chroma conclave in season 2.

But the show, apart from having the desire to complete and defeat these ultimate battles as a team, also has a desire to give peace to all the characters. Vex’ahlia never could atone with her father after she was thrown out as a child. Vax’ildan became the herald for a great power that commands him to go against his wishes and what is right. Keyleth desires to complete her people’s leadership quest but is too afraid to face the dangers. Pike dwells in the betweenness of trusting her deity and being faithful or trusting herself above everyone else. Grog is an outcast of his tribe and was hated for being kind. Scanlan could never love, and his daughter broke that. Percy lost his entire family and had to learn to make a new one.

 It’s not a series where one theme has the purpose of teaching one thing. The viewer is intended to dwell on the characters and learn from their experiences and be able to move on in the best way possible. This team is a family from the most broken corners of the world, and they come together, much like we should too. So that one day they can beat all their evils together and be able to form something incredible from it.