Critical Role Campaign 4 Officially Introduces a Steamy New Romance

When Critical Role first introduced its fourth campaign, Dungeon Master Brennan Lee Mulligan said it would be built on five pillars: swords, to represent physical danger and conflict; family, to highlight the deep connections between characters; death, to convey the campaign's stakes; magic, because it's a Dungeons & Dragons game, and, last but not least, kissing.

"Just kissing," Mulligan teased in the trailer. "Everyone likes it." Until now, however, it seemed that the romance aspect had to take a backseat in the world of Aramán.

Campaign 4 finally achieves its fifth pillar

While there have been hints of romantic feelings between several characters—such as Wicander Halovar (Sam Riegel) and Tyranny (Whitney Moore), as well as Occtis Tachonis (Alexander Ward) and Thimble (Laura Bailey) — no official fling has been confirmed until episode 34, “Rock and Flame.”

Shipping and romance are popular among any fandom, and Critical Role is no exception. Across the company's previous three campaigns and one-shots, several couples, flings, and even an orgy (a fake one, but still) have emerged. Even in Campaign 4, two of the player characters, Thaisha Lloy (Aabria Iyengar) and Halandil Fang (Liam O’Brien), have been established as a couple with children from the start. However, that hasn’t stopped Critters from crossing their fingers and hoping other characters show their romantic sides. Yes, they’re saving the world from evil, but that doesn’t mean there’s zero time for kissing.

Thankfully, Kattigan Vale (Robbie Daymond) and Murray Mag’nesson (Marisha Ray) are here to help with that fifth pillar. Both Kattigan and Murray expressed attraction toward one another during Campaign 4’s overture before parting ways. More than 30 episodes later, after a night of identifying magical items together, the two finally came together to seal the deal in the most sensual way possible — kissing under a cloak of invisibility.

That said, Critters expecting a long-term romance from these two might end up disappointed. Kattigan is still incredibly heartbroken over the loss of his wife and child at the hands of Primus Tachonis, and while there is attraction between the two, it seems both Kattigan and Murray are looking to pursue something purely physical rather than open their hearts to one another.

Of course, that doesn’t mean Kattigan and Murray might not become more emotionally available in the future. Critical Role campaigns usually span 100+ episodes, and some Critters (and players) prefer a slow burn to a fast one. A slow progression from friendship to love made the unions of couples such as Percy and Vex, Caleb and Essek, and Imogen and Laudna especially satisfying when they finally came together.

For now, Kattigan and Murray’s romance seems skin-deep, and with the two apart again, it doesn’t look like it’ll develop anytime soon. Either way, Campaign 4’s first new romance is a fiery one — but will it be the last? Given how much Mulligan stressed the importance of the fifth pillar, we sure hope not.