D&D's official new series fixes the biggest issue with shows like Critical Role

Dungeon Masters keeps it short and sweet, helping new fans getting into the show

The third episode of Dungeon Masters, Dungeons & Dragons' new official actual play show is out, and the series is quickly gathering an enthusiastic following. While there is plenty of competition on the market, with popular and long-running series like Critical Role often monopolizing attention in the D&D actual play space, Dungeon Masters is carving its niche and standing out from its competitors by one simple but essential factor: the length of its episodes.

[Ed. note: Spoilers for episode 3 of Dungeon Masters.]

In the two-episode premiere of Dungeon Masters, the yet-unnamed adventuring party composed of Professor Crem de la Crem (Neal Newbon), his wife Zora Thornska (Devora Wilde), and hired blades Eloin Emberleaf (Christian Navarro) and Wesley (Mayanna Berrin) was roughly spirited away to the Realm of Dread called Sithicus, in the Ravenloft setting. Dungeon Master Jasmine Bhullar did not waste any time in introducing the horrors of that plane through a meeting with a doomed doctor and an undead monstrosity. However, the true terror awaited in episode 3.

After the party journeyed to Nedragaard Keep, they quickly came face to face with the Darklord of Sithicus, Lord Soth, the death knight who is also a popular character from the Dragonlance setting. As many Curse of Strahd players who tried to pull a fast one on the titular vampire right after arriving in Barovia know, it's foolish to face a Dreadlord without preparation. Soth quickly annihilated the party, which was only saved by the intervention of Inza, Soth's rival and a dangerous entity on her own. The episode concluded with a memorable tarokka reading, where each character not only received a glimpse of their future, but was also forced to unveil secrets that they'd rather keep hidden.

All this was accomplished during a one-hour and twenty-minute runtime, which might sound absurd to veterans of actual play shows. Critical Role fans in particular are used to episodes being four-hour marathons (and sometimes more!). While more content of our favorite shows is always great, it also means that it's harder for new fans to get into them, and sometimes even longtime fans struggle to keep up with the new releases. Watching (or listening to) an episode of Critical Role is not something that can be easily done in an evening, but Dungeon Masters is taking a very different direction.

To accommodate the shorter runtime, the episodes have to be more focused. This might throw off fans who are used to D&D parties wandering around and bothering every single shopkeeper in town; however, this approach allows for getting a lot of things done (and said) in a short time. In just three episodes, Dungeon Masters has established its cast, set up a main antagonist, a few quests to be completed, and teased a lot of that dark past/mysterious backstory stuff that usually gets fans hooked into this type of show and invested in the characters. Speaking of which, Dungeon Masters also did an excellent job at setting up a mostly conflictual dynamic between the party members without derailing the story or stopping the action.

It's clear that a lot of this was set up in advance, but still, props to Bhullar and the cast for making it look so smooth. Backstories play an essential part in the development of D&D characters, but as any DM knows, it's hard to weave them into the present narrative while keeping every element balanced. After just three episodes, I'm invested in Dungeon Masters and want to know if Zora will truly leave poor Professor Crem, if she will get back with Eloin, and what will happen to Crem's resurrected "daughter," Lavindria.

The short, focused nature of the show helps make it connect with viewers, at least judging from the enthusiastic comments under the latest episode on YouTube. It's a welcome change of pace from other popular actual play shows, and as the cast grows more comfortable in their roles, I expect to see its popularity grow even more.