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With The Legend of Vox Machina season 4 having wrapped, Wayne Brady has earned his place in Critical Role history for his performance as Taryon Darrington. And as you may recall Popverse reporting on previously, the improv comedy legend was already circling a spot therein, as both a TTRPG player and fan of the D&D actual play series long before he got the casting call. But it wasn't Taryon (or any Exandrian citizen), that we have to thank for Brady's involvement in The Legend of Vox Machina; it's an entirely different fantasy royal.

That is, Disney Junior's Sofia the First.

That's what we learned from Brady himself, who spoke to the good folks at AV Club. In case you didn't know, Brady voices the character of Clover on the Disney Junior series Sofia the First, which works elements of Disney classic Sleeping Beauty into a new story. In order to get into character, Brady worked with a vocal coach - a vocal coach that just happened to be OG Taryon Darrington Sam Riegel.

After multiple interactions with Riegel, Brady decided to dive into the Critical Role actual play universe, which he admitted he was "incredibly jealous" not to be a part of. Eventually, though, his luck would change.

"[A] couple of years later," Brady told it, "Sam reaches out to me and says 'Wayne, I’ve got this character and his name is Taryon Darrington' [...] And I’m like 'Yes. When do you want me there? When can I start? Let’s go.'"

"It was the coolest thing to be asked to be part of these guys," Brady concluded, "Because I look at Critical Role as an improvisation troupe that just happens to play D&D. We’re all in the same tribe of musicians and actors and improvisers. We come from the same place. So to play make-believe in their world with a character that Sam had already created, and that I was being blessed with and told just to do my thing, was the best of both worlds. You can always get a job, but you don’t always get an opportunity."

With two animated series on Prime Video, Campaign 4 in full swing, and so much more Exandrian lore to come, Critical Role is showing no signs of slowing down. That's why the adventuring party at Popverse are here to bring you everything we can from those nerdy-ass voice actors & Bo., including:

• Critical Role release schedule
• Critical Role's Campaign 4 characters ranked
• How to watch Critical Role in order
• Ways for you to relive the Critical Role panel from ECCC '26
• Taliesin Jaffe on playing Mollymauk Tealeaf for Campaign 2 vs. playing him for Prime Video
• Matt Mercer's homebrew warrior class (created originally for Vin Diesel)

...and much, much more. Roll initiative, player. Magic awaits.