Sam Riegel unpacks Scanlan's hero's journey in 'The Legend of Vox Machina'

Scanlan Shorthalt (voiced by Sam Riegel) takes quite the emotional journey in The Legend of Vox Machina Season 2. The show's resident bawdy bard starts the season with a defeatist attitude about facing the Chroma Conclave. However, in the final episode, he deals the killing blow against the dragon Umbrasyl (voiced by Matthew Mercer).

So, what was the catalyst for his heroic stand against evil? Turns out, surprise fatherhood.

In episode 10, Scanlan discovers that Kaylie (Aisling Franciosi), the gnome he's been hardcore flirting with throughout his time in Westruun, is actually his daughter. And she's got quite the bone to pick with him for abandoning her mother. Upon finding out he has a child, Scanlan is instantly remorseful and attempts to make amends. However, that change of heart is not enough to heal a lifetime of pain for Kaylie. She tells Scanlan she doesn't want anything to do with him as she departs Westruun.

The revelation that he has a daughter is a huge shock to Scanlan's system, as he's rarely one to make deep interpersonal connections. "For so long, he's just been a solo act. Scanlan hasn't thought that he needed anybody else," Riegel told Mashable in a Zoom interview. "Just being around Vox Machina for the events of Season 1 and Season 2 made him start to think, 'Maybe I've been doing this wrong. Some of these guys are heavily happier than me because they're either seeking love or they have each other or their sister or mother."

Scanlan's lack of connection has notably been a thread throughout the season, even as he grows closer to characters like Pike (voiced by Ashley Johnson). When the sphinx Osysa (voiced by Alanna Ubach) reveals the members of Vox Machina's worst fears, she simply tells him, "No one cares about you. I'm no different." Those two lines cut deeper than any sword, yet in the season's final episodes, The Legend of Vox Machina asks, "What happens when Scanlan finds something he cares about?"

"When he meets a member of his own family, he's never had that before in his life," Riegel continued. "It really changes him, and it makes him realize that he has something to live for and something he doesn't want to die over. Coming into the final moments of the season, a lot of that is weighing on him. He wants to make the right choice but also wants to stay alive for this person who he now cares about."

The shadow of Kaylie hangs over Scanlan for the entire season finale. He imagines himself as an excellent grandfather to her children, part of a loving family. Later, as Vox Machina battles Umbrasyl, Kaylie's words about Scanlan running away haunt him. Should he "gnome up" and help his friends fight for a better future? Or will he turn tail and run?

Luckily for Vox Machina, Scanlan makes the choice to stay, a choice that ultimately saves the day. He takes up the mighty sword Mythcarver and finishes Umbrasyl once and for all. It's an exciting kill — and one that originally went to Grog (voiced by Travis Willingham) in Critical Role's original campaign.

"We're always trying to be faithful to canon and to the lore when we can, but we also want to change things up to keep things surprising and follow the flow of the story of the series," Riegel said of the choice to have Scanlan kill Umbrasyl. "There was just a moment [in the Umbrasyl fight] that felt like it needed an unexpected turn, and Scanlan was the guy who was going through a lot in that moment who hadn't had it pay off."

Many other characters had had big moments throughout the season, such as Keyleth (voiced by Marisha Ray) entering the Elemental Plane of Fire, Vax (voiced by Liam O'Brien) making a pact with the Matron of Ravens, and Grog taking out his evil uncle Kevdak (voiced by Ralph Ineson). After Kaylie changes his whole worldview, it seemed only right for Scanlan to have a revelatory moment of his own.

"Scanlan needed a little boost of confidence to go into Season 3," Riegel said. "We'll see where it takes him."

Season 2 of The Legend of Vox Machina is now streaming on Prime Video.