‘The Mighty Nein’ (2025) Prime Video Series Review - We Could All Use Some Friends

The Mighty Nein is set twenty years after the events of The Legend of Vox Machina, and like Vox Machina, it doesn't so much reinvent the wheel as recycle it with exuberance. I was almost surprised by how much I grew to like the lead characters—a ragtag group of misfits. By the time you finish the series, you may even want to join their little crew yourself. The crew members are Molly (Taliesin Jaffe), Caleb (Liam O'Brien), Beau (Beau), Nott the Brave (Sam Riegel), Fjord (Travis Willingham), and my favorite Jester (Laura Bailey). Whenever they refer to themselves by their titular name, the characters around them wonder how this group could be The Mighty Nein (Nine) when they only have six members. Nein, you see, comes from Caleb, who uses this word in place of "no" or "nope." He is a wizard with the power to conjure fire and a cat. What he cannot do is take a shower. Nott the Brave is not so brave in front of water, but one can bet she smells better than Caleb. She's also a thief, an alcoholic, and in urgent need of good friends. Molly is a tarot card reader, Beau is a human monk with the talent for both martial arts and investigation, Fjord is a sailor and a half-orc warlock who poses as a captain, and Jester, a tiefling cleric, is smitten by Fjord and elicits chuckles from the audience. I liked her weapon — a big lollipop with what looks like a bow tie. She even kills with sweetness. 

The Mighty Nein is at its best when it focuses on the titular characters, which is something it thankfully does for the most part throughout its eight enjoyable episodes. With scenes set at a carnival, a forest, a cave, and an area where a puzzle is solved by figuring out constellations, the series presents itself as great fun. It's undoubtedly made by a team that loves animation. Look at the design of a terrifying frog or a strip club. Observe the reflections inside a house of mirrors at a carnival, or enjoy the elegance of a shot where someone's tears flow in the direction of their lover. An image of a cat sitting on a floating candle is probably more delightful than any animated series I have seen this year. At its core, The Mighty Nein is about the power of friendship. Its tagline could be, "Everybody needs good friends." The keyword here is "good" because Caleb has two, um, friends who don't really make the right decisions (I am deliberately being vague to avoid spoilers). Perhaps my description could lead you to believe that The Mighty Nein, along with being funny, is mushy as well, but that's not accurate. The show never becomes too serious, even though some of the events here are bleak and terribly fatal. It maintains a light tone without turning insubstantial. The plot wheels are well-oiled and constantly in motion, but the characters don't come across as rigid, lifeless chess pieces. 

The story has something to do with a Beacon, a war between kingdoms, and a bad teacher, but these "heavy" threads did not capture my interest. There were times when I found myself tuning out during scenes that focused on these aspects. As far as I am concerned, The Mighty Nein is worth watching primarily for its misfit gang. They work wonderfully together; their skills complement each other, as is evident when they solve puzzles. Although this group may not be particularly intelligent—especially since no one considers how "nein" undermines their mightiness—they are quirky, endearing, and lovable. It's worth spending your time with them.

Final Score- [7/10]
Reviewed by - Vikas Yadav
Follow @vikasonorous on Twitter
Publisher at Midgard Times
Note: All 8 episodes of Season 1 are screened for this review.
Premiere Date: November 19, 2025, on Prime Video