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There were plenty of laughs at the Critical Role panel hosted by New York Comic Con 2025, and that's a good thing. Because according to the cast, Prime Video's upcoming animated adaptation of their second campaign, The Mighty Nein, is going to absolutely tear your heart out. And according to longtime GM Matt Mercer, a great deal of that heart-rippin' ability is thanks to the fact that the show's episodes are double the length of time than the previous Critical Role series, The Legend of Vox Machina.

The topic came up as the Critical Role cast spoke to a massive throng of fans at the Javits Center, with Mercer joined by his cohorts and CR founders Sam Riegel, Liam O'Brien, Marisha Ray, Laura Bailey, Taliesin Jaffe, Ashley Johnson, and Travis Willingham. Specifically, it came about because the panel's moderator asked how the upcoming fantasy series would balance its emotional heart with its big sense of humor and (maybe even bigger) action sequences.

"The near hour-long runtime in this series," said Mercer, "Gives us a lot more room to breathe. It gives us the opportunity to have more of those meaningful, quieter, intense moments. Emotionally pervasive moments."

"The big theme," the Sakamoto Days actor continued, "Between this whole group of... [here Mercer paused for the right word] dickheads [Nice] is their shared trauma. And their bonding through it. So, yeah, there's a lot of intention to make sure that has as much weight and as much importance as any of the really cool action."

At this point Sam Riegel, who plays character Nott the Brave, jumped in.

"The big theme of the show," said Rigel, "Is redemption, and all the writers really poured their heart and soul into the script [...] The writers' room pulled out the resilience of these characters and explored their traumatic backstories, but also how they sought redemption in each other. It's a cool story of finding yourself in your friends. We show that a bit in season 1, and in season 2."

Season 2, eh Sam? Kinda rude to be teasing us with something that seems so far away. I mean, as if we needed another reason to cry.

The Mighty Nein debuts on Prime Video on November 19.

From the lands of Exandria to your very own smartscreens, Popverse has everything you need to know about the TTRPG phenomenon that is Critical Role. Here you'll find:

• Popverse's Critical Role watch order
• An interview with GM Brennan Lee Mulligan
• The cast's appearance at C2E2 '25

...and more. Roll initiative, player. Adventure awaits.