In an episode that has left fans of Critical Role breathless, the cast faced one of its most harrowing challenges yet during Campaign 4, episode 37, titled “Death to Tyrants,” as player Sam Riegel made a series of character-driven decisions that many critics are already calling among the finest moments in the show’s history. Airing on the network’s official platforms and streamed live to its global audience of millions, the episode centered on Wicander Halovar, the character Riegel has portrayed since the campaign’s inception, as he fought desperately for survival against a barrage of assassins during a single intense four-round battle.
The stakes could not have been higher. As Dungeon Master Brennan Lee Mulligan guided his ensemble through the emotional turbulence of Campaign 4—a season already defined by its willingness to let any character die—Riegel’s choices in episode 37 demonstrated a rare dedication to roleplay that set him apart from even his accomplished fellow players.
A Family Betrayal Unfolds at the Schemers’ Table
The episode resumed directly from where its predecessor concluded, placing viewers back at the Schemers’ table. Wicander Halovar was ambushed by assassins mid-performance during a staging of Halandil Fang’s play, Ko’therai, with Liam O’Brien lending his voice to the character of Fang. According to the episode’s setup, Wicander had intended to publicly denounce Hal once the performance concluded—an act that would have exposed him as an enemy of revolution and sacrifice in the eyes of his own family.
The complication lay in a devastating revelation: although Wicander believed himself to be among the “good guys,” he had fundamentally misjudged those closest to him. The Halovar household, including his father Goddard, mother Iris, and brother Lioran, were actually part of the nefarious forces operating within Dol-Makjar—knowledge that none of them shared with their scion until the moment crisis struck.
The assassins who descended upon Wicander had been dispatched by a particularly formidable adversary: his grandmother Yanessa Halovar, the Photarch of the Candescent Creed. As the attack unfolded, fellow Schemers rallied to defend their companion. Hal, Murray Mag’nesson (portrayed by Marisha Ray), and Azune Nayar (Luis Carazo) rushed toward Wicander’s aid, while Tyranny—played by Whitney Moore—remained at a distance after having previously negotiated with demon proprietor Tsul’rekshi for assistance in reaching the Pit.
The Spell That Changed Everything
What made episode 37 so remarkable to observers was not merely its tension, but Riegel’s approach to it. Throughout the chaos of battle, he consistently chose to act as Wicander rather than as a player attempting to preserve his character—a refreshing departure from what many consider the show’s occasional tendency toward metatextual play.
The most striking example arrived when Wicander’s mother, Iris, threw herself over her son and cast the spell Warding Bond. This incantation grants a target a +1 bonus to their Armor Class along with resistance to all damage, effectively halving any harm they might take. However, the caster absorbs an equal measure of that damage for the spell’s duration—a dangerous trade-off when wielded by a party member, but potentially catastrophic when cast by what appeared to be a low-level NPC like Iris Halovar.
Riegel, ever the meticulous player, inquired whether Wicander understood that the spell required a willing creature to function. Only after failing his Arcana check to confirm this detail did he ultimately allow the spell to take effect, trusting his mother’s embrace even as doubt lingered.
The tension was unlike anything we’d witnessed before. Sam made choices purely from Wicander’s perspective, never once breaking character to protect what he had built—and that is exactly why he stands out as one of the most memorable players in Critical Role history.
A fan reaction captured on social media following episode 37
The assassins prevailed regardless. Wicander was reduced to zero hit points, and a single follow-up strike—counted automatically as a critical hit under the rules for attacks against downed targets—left him teetering on the brink with just two death-saving throws remaining. When Riegel then rolled a 5, failing his final throw, sobbing viewers at home recognized that another beloved character might be departing Campaign 4.
The Choice Between Survival and Redemption
Mulligan presented Riegel with a fateful decision: he could attempt to save himself through further death-saving throws, or he could expend his last reserves of strength to free Tyranny from her family’s contract. Had Wicander died without freeing Tyranny, the House Halovar would have retained absolute control over her fate.
Strategically, continuing to roll for survival offered the safer path—Raising himself and exiting combat as quickly as possible. Yet even as fellow players O’Brien and Ray urged him toward self-preservation against his apparent instinct to sacrifice himself, Riegel chose a different course entirely. When he went down once more shortly afterward, Mulligan extended another offer: keep rolling, or save Tyranny.
This time, Rigel committed fully to the heroic route. He accepted two death-saving failures in quick succession, sacrificing his character’s remaining chances to ensure Tyranny’s release from her binding contract—a decision that ultimately succeeded, though Wicander had carried an exceptionally high probability of permanent death throughout the encounter.
A New Benchmark for Roleplay
Riegel’s nail-biting daring in episode 37 has resonated deeply with the show’s devoted fanbase—affectionately known as “Critters”—and offers a compelling case study in what distinguishes an exceptional Dungeons & Dragons player. In moments when instinct demands that players do whatever it takes to keep their characters alive, Riegel resisted the pull of metatextual knowledge and remained entirely devoted to his character’s motivations.
The result was a phenomenal episode from beginning to end, one that reinforces Campaign 4’s reputation as a season willing to demand real emotional consequences from its cast. As Critters continue to process the weight of Wicander’s choices, Riegel’s performance stands as a testament to the power of immersive roleplay—and perhaps sets a new standard for what players everywhere might aspire to achieve at their own tables.
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