If you click on a link and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. Read our editorial policy.

Critical Role's Taryon Darrington is Wayne Brady's introduction to the Legend of Vox Machina... but he's not the kind of D&D character Brady usually plays

Ask the Critical Role cast and they'll all tell you that Wayne Brady is perfect as Vox Machina & Campaign 1's beloved artificer. But if the improv kind were to invent a new character himself, it would look very different than Taryon

News by Grant DeArmitt, Staff Writer

Published on Tue Jun 09 2026

Popverse's top stories

Of everything that awaits viewers in Critical Role's The Legend of Vox Machina season 4, perhaps the buzziest element getting introduced in this next chapter is the character of Taryon Darrington. Originally portrayed by Sam Riegel in Critical Role Campaign 1, the foppish human artificer is being taken over by comedy legend Brady in such a way that Riegel considers him the definitive version of the character, and has even inspired talk of a Taryon Darrington spinoff in the Legend of Vox Machina writer's room.

Which makes it even funnier to consider that, when Wayne Brady plays Dungeons & Dragons for himself, his characters are nothing like Taryon Darrington.

Brady revealed as much to Gamereactor UK ahead of Vox Machina's season 4 debut. Asked about how Taryon compares to characters of his own creation, Brady answered with the following.

"I kind of like to either play a paladin or a fighter," Brady told his interviewer. "I think we all like to play the heightened versions of who we would like to be. I would never immediately think of myself as someone like Taryon because of all of his issues. So I think I definitely try, in my mind, to be some big fighter or someone that can vanquish the otherworldly foes easily."

You've got a point there, Wayne, Taryon doesn't exactly have the same 'save-the-world' knack as his heroes the Vox Machina do. But who knows - maybe by the time The Legend of Vox Machina season 5 comes around, costar Travis Willingham will give you a shot at "big fighter" Grog Strongjaw.

Far crazier things have happened with that character.

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:

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

Follow Popverse for upcoming event coverage and news

Grant DeArmitt: Grant DeArmitt (he/him) likes horror, comics, and the unholy union of the two. In the past, and despite their better judgment, he has written for Nightmare on Film Street and Newsarama. He lives in Brooklyn with his partner, Kingsley, and corgi, Legs.