Our heroes grand tale continues in the season’s penultimate episode as they attempt to rescue Pike. Meanwhile, she sits conflicted as the Whispered One’s argument proves more convincing.

As our two couples walk through the portal, Vax’s blight spreads, but the pain soon subsides as he realizes the Matron’s curse has prepared him for this moment. His powers enhanced, he pinpoint’s Pike’s location via her thread of fate.

When danger strikes, Vax’s powers elevate with the new ability to see the immortal henchmen’s pressure points: a shadow stone buried within their bodies. Destroying it kills them and their connection to each other and the Whispered One. Fearing their lives have an expiration date, they doubt their leader. He quiets this slight dissent with violent anger.

Pike witnesses his crude discipline. The Whispered One quickly employs his art of manipulation, feeding off Pike’s feelings of abandonment and distrust in her faith to offer her real belonging in his inevitable ascension.

After Keyleth’s tames the doomstalkers, Vox Machina rides in for the kill, only for Vax to suffer a fatal blow. But the appeared demise is a rouge. As Keyleth, Percy and Vex kill the three henchmen using Vax’s weapons, he finds Pike.

Vax explains how they must leave before its too late, but Pike refutes his advances, admonishing Vox Machina for surviving at any cost, regardless of who suffers. She’s tired of blindly following them, the Matron, and Everlight, only to be abandoned.

As Pike delivers a devastating monologue, Delilah summons the ritual, mass-murdering the devout followers as blood sacrifices for the Whispered One’s new form. The episode closes with Pike arming herself against Vax declaring she is His blood.

“Let the End Begin” is an expedient episode of non-stop action and tremendous writing. Watching Vax relinquish doubt in his purpose as Champion was exhilarating. And for the first time, the Whispered One aka Gideon displays his purest form: cult leader. His charisma and modest approach are used to groom his victims, preying on their vulnerabilities. We not only see him steer Pike’s grief into allegiance with empty promises, but witness him do the same with Delilah. His truth has been a long con to center his ascension above all else.

Rating: 10/10