Exandria Unlimited

• Ashley Johnson as Fearne Calloway, a faun druid[1][2]
• Robbie Daymond as Dorian Storm, an air genasi bard[1][2]
• Liam O'Brien as Orym of the Air Ashari, a halfling fighter[1][2]
• Aimee Carrero as Opal, a human warlock[1][2]
• Matthew Mercer as Dariax Zaveon, a dwarf sorcerer[1][2]
• Aabria Iyengar as the Dungeon Master[3]
• Anjali Bhimani as Fy’ra Rai, a fire genasi monk[4][5]
• Erica Lindbeck as Morrighan Ferus, a lagomore rogue[5][6]

Exandria Unlimited (ExU) is an eight-episode limited series. The show is set in the city of Emon on the continent of Tal'Dorei 30 years after Campaign One and 10 years after Campaign Two.[7][3] IGN reported, in June 2021, that "Exandria Unlimited will be considered canon within the wider Critical Role story, and 'will affect future environments and timelines across the overall lore of Critical Role.' So as fans await what may come from Campaign 3 of the core CR cast, Unlimited looks to offer a new vantage point into the world of Exandria".[8] IGN also highlighted that "it's likely not the only such story planned; the announcement for the series teases that 'Within the world of Exandria, there are an unlimited amount of stories to be told - and we have only just begun'."[8]

Exandria Unlimited: Kymal follows Dorian Storm's return to his friends after his time in Campaign Three and the party's subsequent adventure in the Tal'Dorei city of Kymal.[5][9][10]

Aabria Iyengar (known for other streaming shows such as Happy Jacks RPG, Dimension 20, and Saving Throw) is the show's Dungeon Master – it is the first Critical Role show to feature a Dungeon Master other than Matthew Mercer.[3][11] On the design aspect for a limited series, Iyengar said, "It's the perfect thing because it creates this narrative scalpel. It's a very different type of storytelling in a familiar world".[3] ExU also introduces two additional newcomers to Critical Role – Robbie Daymond and Aimee Carrero.[7][11]

Daymond, O'Brien, and Johnson reprise their ExU characters in Critical Role's third campaign; while ExU takes place chronologically before the third campaign, it is also concurrent to the third campaign.[12][13] Daymond's character Dorian exited the third campaign after fourteen episodes.[14]

In March 2022, Critical Role announced that the two-part adventure sequel, Exandria Unlimited: Kymal, would be released at the end of the month. Daymond, Mercer, Carrero, and Iyengar reprised their roles.[5][9][10] Anjali Bhimani, who was previously an ExU guest star,[4][15] also reprised her role. Erica Lindbeck joined the cast in an unspecified role.[5][9][10]

Chris King, for Polygon, commented that the show's episode length is a potential barrier of entry and that the opening hook "can leave newcomers feeling as though they’re missing something". King also called Iyengar "extraordinary" with a "unique style" and highlighted that "Iyengar's work here goes a long way toward proving that Critical Role doesn't always need Mercer at the head of the table to succeed".[16] In a review of episode eight, The Geekly Grind highlighted that "this series wasn't to everyone's tastes, but overall I think it was a fun little mini-series to give the Critters nation a little taste of what the Critical Role channel could become in the future. [...] This was a fun, crazy, surprisin [sic] and fantastic start to a great new series. I hope to see new GMs and players (both DnD vets and newbies) in future series. As much as I’m jonesing for another longform campaign, these quick mini-series have a real potential to snag many new friends and viewers to Critical Role".[17]

Jennifer Melzer, for CBR in August 2021, wrote that "Iyengar's style is incredibly different from Critical Role's main Dungeon Master Matthew Mercer [...]. While both approach Dungeons & Dragons wholeheartedly with the story in mind, Iyengar went above and beyond at times to see her players flesh out their in-game vision in ways some DMs may consider controversial – but it worked".[18] Melzer highlighted that early poor dice rolls led to the characters' rough start, "however, their struggles became incredibly endearing".[18] Melzer commented that "incorporating history, lore, story elements and even characters from past campaigns made the world familiar enough that it was easy for fans to fall in love with the story, the new players and the new DM even while missing those not at the table. [...] The mini-campaign did more than just hold fans over until the next full season – it was a successful experiment that deserves to come back in the future".[18]