The Legend Of Vox Machina Is Replacing A Popular Main Character

Published Sep 27, 2026, 1:00 AM EDT

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The Legend of Vox Machina hit a major milestone in its recent fourth season. For the first time since Prime Video's Critical Role franchise began, the titular Vox Machina team underwent a personnel change, as Scanlan Shorthalt departed to reconnect with his daughter (and play guitar solos to drunken revelers). Scanlan's spot in the party was occupied by the unlikely figure of Taryon Darrington, a wealthy Vox Machina fan who had spent most of his adult life pampered in luxury.

While a character as unique and exuberant as Scanlan can never truly be replaced, Wayne Brady's Taryon proved a canny addition to The Legend of Vox Machina's cast, his unique blend of ridiculous comedy and heartbreaking tragedy playing well with the existing team members.

Taryon Darrington may have started The Legend of Vox Machina season 4 as a seventh wheel, tagging along like an unwelcome boil on Vox Machina's backside, but he very quickly assimilated into a genuine team member. After helping to breach the security of the Cobalt Soul and fighting against the Unalive Five, Taryon enshrined himself as a proper cog in the Vox Machina. So much so, the other members even defended him against Scanlan's mocking jibes.

Alas, it would appear that Taryon will become more of an honorary Vox Machina member than a fully-fledged, active participant in their adventures when The Legend of Vox Machina season 5 begins. The biggest clue comes in the final stage of season 4, as Vox Machina prepares to infiltrate the Whispered One's realm. Together with Taryon's help, they activate the ziggurat portal, but the jolly gemster elects to remain behind, explaining, "You always said I got in the way right? ...I know real heroes when I see them."

Taryon planned his exit in advance, not even forging himself an amulet to pass through the ziggurat. His parting words imply a realization that, despite finding firm friends in the fold of Vox Machina, being a hero was never Taryon Darrington's true calling in life. Luckily for Tary, he came to that conclusion before facing off against an immortal undead lich with godlike powers.

Viewers can perhaps expect Taryon to adopt a supporting role in The Legend of Vox Machina's final season, joining the likes of Kima, Allura, and Gilmore as allies to the group who don't travel alongside them.

The Legend Of Vox Machina's Final Season Can't Ignore Taryon

The Legend of Vox Machina has a terrible habit of kicking characters when they're down, and perhaps never more so than with Taryon Darrington. Across the span of 12 episodes, Taryon learned that his father was a criminal who despised him, he watched several friends die painfully, he lost his beloved robot companion, and he came to the realization that he'll never be a proper hero.

The only crumb of comfort softening the blow for Taryon was that he'd made genuine friends for the first time in his life, but in The Legend of Vox Machina season 4's final moments, even that achievement took on a bitter taste, as The Whispered One revealed he had actually deceived Taryon into reuniting Vox Machina, thereby triggering the end of the world and Vax's death.

Given the Whispered One's immense power and knack for manipulating innocent minds, the calamity isn't exactly Taryon's fault, but that won't wash away his guilt over being the instrument of Vox Machina's demise, no matter whose hand was wielding it from the shadows. Even if he's not traveling around with the main group, therefore, Taryon deserves a chance to redeem himself in The Legend of Vox Machina's final season. One grand act of bravery that atones for his role in the Whispered One's treacherous plot.