Official ranking of least to most donkey shit characters of vox machina are in TLOVM s3 (with reference to s1 and 2 because that does inform how good they are in s3).
1) Vex: Yes I 100% agree with the analysis of how TLOVM didn’t really get Vex’s subtleties, but my argument is that this version of her, and her problems at least have time spent on them, and make sense in season three. The talk with her Dad is a nice resolution. The only good character in season three, arguably. Ep 8 is a good end to her character arc, then eps 10-11 have a dull Ripley fight that don’t do much for her.
2) Percy: What if we made Percy boring? No hint of psycho behaviour, he is a true gentleman who processes his emotions with Vex’ahlia well, processes his guilt over his guns and the need for revenge after a pep talk. I think he makes sense for TLOVM’s version of him and the plot, but he is so much boring if you compare him to the campaign. Season one carries his characterisation. Should be a bit more depressed and deranged tbh
3) Grog: he does nothing in season three. I like the moment when he runs after Percy :) season two was good for his character so don’t mind that he had less to do here.
4) Pike: ‘the only thing we can think to do with her is redo her season one crisis of faith again but make it worse’. Her talk with Zerxus was good but then it just turns into Pike needing to rely on herself only. So what was the point of season one? And then she talks about disobeying gods in the finale, as if that is what she did. I don’t like what we’ve seen, but it feels unfinished and Zerxus hints at larger plans for Pike so just a middling rank for Pike with some hope that it’ll be a good storyline.
5) Scanlan: the writers really decided conflict was for bad, huh. Instead, he mopes about his daughter, then writes a song for his daughter. His daughter realises that he does care and forgives him. I CANNOT BELIEVE HE FALLS INTO A DEPRESSION COMA WHICH IS BROKEN BY SONG. Zero conflict with Vox Machina, because his role in the team was resolved by him slaying a dragon. Still, at least they spend time on him, and it’s a coherent storyline, it just feels like a massive cop out compared to the depth of the storyline in campaign one.
6) Vax: the writers do not have the time to show a complicated and nuanced relationship with a God, so why do they attempt it here? Vax’s relationship with the RQ is confused here as we see that RQ is sending him visions about him dying and his friends dying. Or are these Vax’s fears manifesting? Then she punishes him for bringing someone back to life, disapproving at the start even though his soul is explicitly said not to have passed over. Then the RQ is shown to be vindictive and give Vax a burn. Vax is robbed of the chance of building a relationship with the RQ, instead he is just turned into a reactive pawn. Still, his moment with Thordak was good…? I like the moments with Vex?
7) Keyleth: the manifestation of poor writing from season one, we get one of the most powerful character’s reduced down to a relationship with Vax. Ranking the lowest because at least Vax’s storyline had time spent on it in season two and made sense then, whereas Keyleth’s storyline has been rushed in season two, and then season three it’s explored slightly more but with poor motivations and a narrative that canning settle on if Keyleth is ready to be open with Vax or not. Truly a character that does not have close relationships outside her boyfriend.
