The Legend of Vox Machina Season 4 Episodes 1-3 Ending Explained: Where Is Scanlan Shorthalt?

The Legend of Vox Machina Season 4 picks up a year after the events of Season 3, with Vox Machina split up, engaged in their independent lives. However, while fans catch up with Percy and Vex, Vax and Keyleth, and Grog and Pike, and also meet newcomers Taryon Darrington and Doty, there is one character nowhere to be seen: Scanlan Shorthalt. The finale of Season 3 saw Scanlan head out into the world with his daughter to make up for lost time. The first batch of episodes that have been released for Season 4 catch up with all members of Vox Machina, but do not follow up with Scanlan and his daughter, Kaylie.

Rather than the entire group parting ways at once, Scanlan left the team to spend more time with his daughter, right after he had died at the hands of Raishan. Scanlan believed that his death might have messed up any chance at a relationship he might have had with his daughter, and was quickly prompted to mend things with her. During the one-year time skip in the actual game, Percy is said to have seen the duo performing while on the road, but no such indication was made in the show.

Further, Scanalan and Kaylie are able to begin running a successful counterfeiting business under the assumed title of ‘The Meat Man’ at Ank’Harel. However, the discovery of a cult prompts Scanlan to reunite with his friends.

Breaking Down Season 4 Episodes 1-3 Endings: A Broken Team and Rising Shadow

Episode 1: One Year Later… Reorients Viewers To Pike, Grog, Vex And Percy

Picking up a year after the events of Season 3’s finale, the Chroma Conclave has been defeated in its entirety. However, the continent is still recovering from all the damage that it suffered from the horde of dragons. Vox Machina has not been together for almost an entire year, each faction believing that the others are content with the lives that they are leading, without the pressure of having to save the world.

However, this does not mean that their fame or notoriety has diminished at all. In fact, the team has attracted a new adventurer and his automaton- Taryon Darrington and Doty. While mostly set dressing for the first three episodes, the characters hold an important place in the hearts of the fans- it is the character that Sam Riegel created so that he may play with his peers, while Scalan’s story unfolded differently after the much-celebrated ‘A Bard’s Lament’ episode.

The episode ends with the rulers of Whitestone, and Grog and Pike having had encounters with the undead, long-time fans would know heralds the coming of Vecna. However, Vox Machina are not yet aware what they are up against, which is a first for the team, given that the Briarwoods and the Chroma Conclave opened the respective arcs that they were final bosses of with the big, bad, evil guy for the particular storyline front and center.

Episode 2: Trial By Water Finally Brings Keyleth’s Aramenté To A Close

Trial By Water opens the episode, catching up with Keyleth and Vax. Vax’s decay from Season 3 has accelerated, and his supposed impending death looms large on Keyleth’s activities. Once she is finally bestowed with the title of the Voice of the Tempest, invitations are sent out to gather Vox Machina and also other well-wishers of Keyleth, so that they may see the young elf come into her position as a leader of the Ashari.

The episode is lighter on the action than the opening and allows Taryon Darrington to indulge himself a little more. The mystery of the undead attacks thickens, and fans also get a glimpse of the kind of character that Keyleth sets out to be. Despite her not being sure of her abilities and her place a leader, the character shows quick presence of mind, and a heart that cares for people and results later. This is what allows the character to come into her tribe’s leadership position.

Further, Grog and Pike tried to connect with the Everlight to find out about the undead plague that is seemingly spreading in the wake of the defeat of the Chroma Conclave. Their storyline is mirrored by that of Percy and Vex, who also now have the added issue of dealing with the imbecile Taryon Darrignton. Given that this character is going to be a part of the team long-term, it would have made sense to change his characterization a little bit. His foolish behavior was supported by the numerous comedic moments the character had during the live stream, but now just comes across as annoying, thanks to being trimmed down.

Episode 3: The Coronation Reunites Vox Machina- But Where Is Scanlan?

Given that Keyleth and Vax did not show up until the second episode of the show, one could have expected Scanlan and his daughter to appear in the third episode. However, the treat that fans get is Vox Machina reunited, and completely out of sync. This is also resolved as they fight the Necro-Ninjas, who run away at the first sight of Vax unleashing the powers granted to him by The Matron.

However, there is still no Scanlan, with the group even noting his absence. In the source material, Percy actually checked in with Scanlan and his daughter through a scrying glass, finding them performing for audiences throughout their travels. That seems to be wholly absent from the show, given that even Grog comments at the beginning of episode 1 that Scanlan must surely be dead. However, the Meat Man will likely make his entrance in the next batch of episodes, as the threat of Vecna begins reaching other sections of Tal’ Dorei.

Who Is This Season Alluding To As It’s BBEG?

The Briarwoods and the Chroma Conclave were antagonists that have given Vox Machina a clear target from the get-go of each season. However, Season 4 seems to be opening with no clear antagonist in sight for the adventuring party to fight. All that they have faced so far are a loose collection of undead warriors and monsters that are seemingly hellbent on tearing down the old, traditional order that exists in Tal’Dorei.

Of course, fans of the live streams who have seen this exact story play out know that the character that the party will be facing is none other than Vecna, a character that is one of the most classic Dungeons & Dragons monsters. So far, Vecna’s cultists have managed to cause devastating damage o Keyleth’s home and people. This was in part foreseen by the Matron, the deity who has marked Vax as her champion. Vax’s presence was what specifically pushed the cultists back.

Name	The Legend of Vox Machina
Created by	Critical Role Productions
Cast	Laura Bailey Taliesin Jaffe Ashley Johnson Matthew Mercer Liam O’Brien Marisha Ray Sam Riegel Travis Willingham
Rotten Tomatoes Score	100% || 94% (as of June 3, 2026)
IMDb Score	8.4/10 (as of June 3, 2026)

Where do you think Scanlan is in the show’s continuity? Let us know in the comments!

The Legend of Vox Machina is currently streaming on Prime Video.