*Warning – contains full spoilers for The Legend of Vox Machina season 4 finale.*
With a brutally shocking cliffhanger closing out season 4 of The Legend of Vox Machina, the Critical Role gang certainly aren’t pulling any punches as we near the endgame, with season 5 already confirmed as the fifth and final instalment of the animated adaptation.
Just when you thought things couldn’t get any worse for Exandria’s heroes following their deadly showdown with the Chroma Conclave dragons, enter the Children of Truth: a cult of acolytes (featuring none other than Delilah Briarwood) who worship one of Dungeons & Dragons’ most powerful and iconic villains, the Whispered One (aka Vecna).
The protectors of the realm are once again put through the ringer as they try to stop the villain’s ascension – aided in no small part by Pike’s celestial blood. But despite Keyleth seemingly ending Gideon before the ritual could be completed, things aren’t quite what they seem – because that would be far too easy a victory for the gang.
Wondering how the showdown played out and what happened to the adventuring party? Read on for everything you need to know about The Legend of Vox Machina season 4 finale.
The Legend of Vox Machina season 4 ending explained: Did the gang stop Gideon’s ascension?
Well, it appeared that they did, following an intense battle with the cult leader. Despite Pike turning against the gang as Delilah carried out the ritual to transform Gideon’s body into a vessel of divinity, the group managed to defeat Delilah and seemingly contain the Whispered One.
Just as it looked like Pike and Grog were about to defeat him, he halts the whole party with his necrotic-fuelled magic. As a last-ditch effort to help turn the tide, Vax called on the Raven Queen, transforming into her golden-winged champion for one last flight.
But Keyleth couldn’t let Vax sacrifice himself to end The Whispered One, and with Mythcarver in tow, she transforms into her towering Fire Elemental and eagle form, to drive the sword into the chest of the sorcerer, delivering the final blow before he fully transformed into a god.
However, despite Gideon seemingly disintegrating into a beam of light shooting into the sky – causing a giant purple explosion – it turns out that it was all part of his master plan. Cruelly he reveals that he had to die to transcend his physical form and be reborn into his final (Skeletor-esque!) phase.
He also reveals that he was the driving force behind reuniting Vox Machina, with the help of the well-meaning Taryon Darrington, manipulating the adventurer to bring them back together through a few well-placed chapters in his book.
The series closes with his many followers dotted around Exandria eerily chanting “we are his blood” and seemingly transmitting The Whispered One’s speech as he gives Vox Machina an ultimatum – bend the knee, swear allegiance to him in front of the realm, and he will promise them that the Champion will live. That they will all live “happily ever after” in a glorious new age.
Despite Keyleth submitting – and the rest following – Vax defies the new God, spitting on him and telling him to “get f****d”, sealing his tragic fate.
Does Pike stand with The Whispered One or re-join Vox Machina?
Wielding several vestiges of divergence while protecting Grog’s body, Pike faces off against the remaining members of Vox Machina as she awaits Gideon’s side of the bargain to unfold.
She unfortunately believes that she’s helping to save the world, as the Whispered One has manipulated her ongoing struggle with faith and her belief that the gods are puppeteering their lives. She tells Vox Machina that the Gods lie, and that Vax should choose his own fate.
She slows the gang down as Delilah completes the ritual, with Gideon transforming into “a new God”. Forgotten by Vox Machina and the Everlight, rejected by Scanlan, Pike gave everything but still lost her Pop Pop and Grog, and she finally lets out all her hurt and rage, trapping the gang in a necrotic magic-fuelled bubble to finally listen to her.
But Grog’s resurrection and wise words help to persuade the cleric that what she did was wrong, and with Mythcarver in hand, Pike eventually rejoins the fight and goes toe-to-toe with the ancient sorcerer.
Does any of Vox Machina die in the final fight?
Unfortunately, yes – and it’s a painful one. Just as you thought Keyleth had averted Vax’s doomed fate to die in the battle against Gideon by being the party member to kill him, the reborn God ultimately seals his tragic fate.
Themes around changing your fate, the power of free will/choice and the effects of the old Gods has loomed large this season, fuelling many of the character’s arcs – particularly Vaxleth (Vax and Keyleth) and Gideon’s.
“The weave of fate is still frayed, maybe there’s a chance we can mend it. Thread the needle and change all our fates,” Vax tells Keyleth in a tender embrace. And that’s what makes his eventual death sting all the more.
Following their “victory” against Gideon, Keyleth used her elixir to heal Vax’s increasingly painful blight marks, which had spread across his body, seemingly saving him from his doomed fate as the Raven Queen’s champion.
However, in doing so, the Voice of the Tempest inadvertently robbed the realm of the only means to defeat the reborn sorcerer, as it’s revealed that the marks are actually divine powers that could challenge him in his final form.
Despite grappling with his destiny throughout the show, Vax had accepted his fate and denied Gideon the satisfaction of bowing to him – refusing to be his pawn. And in defying him, the Whispered One fired a bolt of green magic through the Champion’s skull – killing him instantly.
As his body hit the ground, he slowly disintegrated in front of Keyleth and the gang as the realm watched on, losing their loved one – and their one hope to save the realm.
Is there a post-credit scene?
Following that gut punch of a cliffhanger and Gideon’s cackle as his plans centuries in the making finally came to fruition, viewers will no doubt be searching for some glimmer of hope in the form of a post-credit scene.
However, after the show fades to black and the credits roll (accompanied by incredibly solemn religious choral music) the Metapigeon animated ident appears, confirming that there is no reprise to be had here.
Unlike season three’s tease of The Whispered One, there is no post-credit scene in the fourth instalment of The Legend of Vox Machina – meaning fans will have to wait until the fifth and final season to discover the gang’s fate.
For now, Critters may have to console themselves with The Mighty Nein, which is expected to arrive on Prime sometime in late 2026 or early 2027.
The Legend of Vox Machina is available to stream on Prime Video. Sign up for Amazon Prime for £8.99 a month.
Check out more of our Fantasy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what’s on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Add The Legend of Vox Machina to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more.
