Over their years of Dungeons & Dragons actual play streaming, the Critical Role cast has represented an array of nerdy characters and franchises throughout its various Halloween streams, and this year promises to be no exception with the Bells Hells role players teasing a Lord of the Rings-inspired group costume.
Whilst divulging the channel’s weekly programming slate on X (formerly Twitter), Critical Role shared a photo of the cast gathered around the table dressed as various denizens of Middle-earth. The Halloween display teased such costumes as Marisha Ray’s Legolas, Travis Willingham’s Aragorn and Dungeon Master Matthew Mercer fittingly helming the table as Gandalf. While the remainder of the Critical Role cast appeared to have secured roles as hobbits, Sam Riegel’s Dwarven garb struck fans as uncharacteristically in line with the group assignment.
Riegel added to the entertaining chaos of last year’s heart-wrenching Halloween proceedings, which saw both Laudna resurrected and the Fresh Cut Grass role-player throwing cartoonish prop arms around as Reed Richards. The narrative dichotomy of the comedic costume against the dramatic backdrop of that particular Critical Role arc was heightened by Riegel’s intentionally outlying position, as the rest of the cast were dressed as X-Men characters. Critical Role fans have noted the seasonal symmetry that has coincidentally led to both of Bells Hells’ Whitestone visits occurring while the cast is decked out in Halloween attire.
Aside from the X-Men, Critical Role has spent their Halloween episodes as members of various other beloved properties such as Rat Queens, The Princess Bride, Star Wars and a litany of video game titles. The voice actors likewise have a propensity for meta group costumes, with previous years’ themes including the cast dressed as characters they’ve voiced in video games, Vox Machina villains, Mighty Nein NPCs and even as one another. Although this year’s choice deviates from the meta themes of past Halloween episodes, fans have pointed out that Ray’s Legolas still manages to share some aesthetic sensibilities with Bells Hells’ foe Ludinus Da’Leth.
Critical Role‘s Halloween stream precedes the holiday itself, as additional channel programming dominates the end of the month. The final installment of Candela Obscura’s Circle of Needle and Thread and The Mighty Nein Reunion: Echoes of the Solstice close out a busy October for Critical Role‘s many tabletop narratives. Talk show 4-Sided Dive already held its Halloween episode this month, adhering to its own tradition of randomly-generated prompt costumes such as Riegel’s Thirst-Trap Wario and Liam O’Brien’s New Jersey Swamp Monster.
The Critical Role cast will put their Lord of the Rings costumes to action on Thursday Oct. 19 at 7 PT on Twitch and YouTube.
Source: X (formerly Twitter)
