Critical Role: Dispatch One-Shot – Episode Summary

Podcast: Critical Role
Episode: Dispatch One-Shot
Date: November 6, 2025
Game System: Daggerheart (with custom moves)

Overview

In this comedic superhero “workplace” one-shot special, the Critical Role cast explores the hilarious pressures and office politics of the Burbank branch of the Superhero Dispatch Network (SDN)—the behind-the-scenes organization that keeps jobs running smoothly for a city’s superheroes and villains. Inspired by Ad Hoc Studio’s new game Dispatch, this adventure blends workplace satire, superhero banality, and improvised roleplay. The team faces downsizing, a looming branch closure, and must avoid the axe (“the Hammer”) by proving they’re indispensable through teamwork, subterfuge, and lots of questionable decisions.

Cast & Characters

• Matthew Mercer (GM)
• Travis Willingham as Marty Green, a shapeshifting, animal-mimicking janitor with secret cosmic origins and excellent cleaning skills.
• Laura Bailey as Barbara Honeycutt ("Queen Bee"), an aging, bee-themed former beauty queen turned office manager with literal bee powers.
• Damian Blackwell as Damian Blackwell/Mr. Mephisto, the uptight, ex-villain branch manager hiding a demonic cape.
• Fritzi (Guest; name implied to be performer name as well), as Fritzi, the perpetually-shedding, hyper-hairy, unpaid intern and administrative chameleon.
• Supporting NPCs: Valerie Halliday (regional manager/SHIELD member), Owen Rook (annoying salesman), Lizzie Sprout, Melody Bird, the pariah Johnny Lathe, consulting superhero Gavi "Spectra" Hexadpuram, and more.

Main Adventure Theme

"Superhero workplace comedy meets office survival."
The Burbank SDN branch must prove its worth (and avoid layoffs or closure) as mysterious “consultants” arrive to downsize and streamline. Over the course of two days, the office must band together to manufacture success, clean up literal and figurative messes, and outmaneuver inept co-workers, villainous interruptions, and their own anxiety.

Key Segments, Insights & Quotes

1. Opening & Introductions (02:09–06:45)

• Matthew Mercer sets the scene: Rainy LA, brutal Burbank traffic.
• The audience is introduced to Marty, a meticulous janitor with supernatural abilities, and Barbara Honeycutt, a bee-wreathed, brightly dressed ex-beauty queen turned office manager.
• Fritzi, the intern made almost entirely of hair, is introduced—and the cast lovingly roast workplace stereotypes from the start.

"Barbara Honeycutt. Ex beauty queen, I would argue."
—Laura Bailey, [05:04]

2. Morning Commute Chaos (11:21–19:49)

• The entire carpool suffers Burbank traffic, and everyone's signature powers (demon-headed intimidation, bee swarms, illusionary sirens) are used comically just to merge on the freeway.
• Fritzi’s mop of hair, Barbara’s bees, and Damian’s arcane illusions cause a minor emergency on the road.
• Humor is ever-present as each failed attempt to skip traffic earns a new round of stress, consequences, and laughter.

"Marty’s head turns into a red demon … shrinks back down …"
—Travis Willingham, [13:48]

"Look at that smog."
—Travis Willingham, [14:59]

3. Office Arrival, Culture & Shenanigans (19:53–31:09)

• The Burbank SDN office is grungy and full of petty [and hair-related!] squabbles.
• Corporate tension and rumor-mongering is high: the team overhears they're being evaluated by a consultant ("Spectra"/Gavi), with potential layoffs and closure looming.

"We might be getting sacked."
—Laura Bailey, [30:36]

• Barbara and Damian plot to gather their allies, manipulate clocks with bees, and spin the office’s failings in a positive light.

4. Scheming to Save the Branch (33:35–45:11)

• The team plans to fudge records, incite crime for good PR, and gather documentation to present themselves as more successful than they are.
• Marty aims to leverage his popularity with a custodial ASMR channel; Fritzi exploits her remaining system access from too many unpaid internships.

"We get rid of Owen first."
—Laura Bailey, [39:27]

• Tension rises as strategies shift between genuine teamwork and Machiavellian manipulation to survive the review.

5. Prepping for Inspection – Office Politics (45:11–53:04)

• The group stages the office: Marty cleans and eavesdrops, Damian sets “professional” lighting (which just makes people sleepy), Barbara calls in superhero favors for a showy visit.
• Fritzi forges sales records, making it look like the heroes are involved in more big-ticket deals than they are.

"You're able to bring in the A team off the street..."
—Matthew Mercer, [50:45]

6. High-Stakes Stand-Up Meeting (53:04–62:06)

• Branch manager Valerie Halliday, ex-SHIELD warrior queen, storms in as reviews begin.
• She gives the team a two-day ultimatum to save the branch or face destruction by "the Hammer," a fearsome two-person (physically and organizationally) specialist.

"If my branch gets shut down, getting fired will be the least of your problems."
—Valerie Halliday (Matthew as Valerie), [54:42]

7. After Work Recon & Bar Scene (75:37–97:04)

• The crew seeks rumors at the Cape and Cowl bar—superhero/villain after-work spot. Fritzi pumps Johnny Lathe, disgraced “edgelord” hero, for Hammer info.
• Johnny reveals: the “Hammer” is a terrifying two-headed consultant who lays people off, known for surface-level interviews (and violence, if required).

"All you need is bullet points. I tried a Radiohead song—didn’t work."
—Johnny Lathe (Matthew as Johnny), [91:13]

• Barbara briefly sleeps with Johnny (regrettably).

8. Day Two: Traffic, Heroic Mishaps, and PR Stunts (97:38–117:37)

• On the next morning's commute, the office tries to improve visibility by staging a PR-worthy rescue: Valerie Halliday lifts a minotaur's car blocking the freeway—with Marty’s shapeshifting help.
• Barbara films and edits the “heroic moment,” prepping social media to sway perception before the consultant’s review.
• Fritzi uses meme editing to enhance their viral post.

9. Showdown in the Office: Villains, Dogs, and Chaos (151:00–161:11)

• Villain OllieOllieOxenfree invades, unleashing a herd of magical mini-oxen. Epic, funny combat breaks out; Marty and Fritzi’s powers turn the tide.
• Meanwhile, Melody’s “Bird Dog” (a monstrous, superpowered canine) is rampaging through a dentist’s office below—Marty and Damian must wrangle the pet before it damages the branch’s reputation.

10. The Hammer Arrives: The Reckoning (205:22–241:45)

• Review day dawns. Marty, Barbara, Damian, and Fritzi each face The Hammer—a superpowered, dual-entity consultant pair—one at a time.
• Each character justifies their value to the company in their own hilarious, flawed way:
  • Marty impresses with versatility, is offered a management job at DTLA, but chooses to stay.
  • Barbara, after expert bullshitting and PR spin, is up for a promotion.
  • Fritzi is offered a (still unpaid) internship but is promised a real paycheck soon.
  • Damian tries to weasel out and shift blame while subtly promoting his own crypto coin.
• Decisions: Owen is exposed as a liar and is fired; bulk is let go; the branch is saved (though some office-mates are cut).

"I thank you for your participation in what has been a carefully laid out exercise. And you have all played your roles beautifully. I must take my leave now. Your lives will be over soon. I’m just fucking with you."
—Marty Green (Travis), [243:06]

11. Aftermath & Celebration (241:45–end)

• The office relaxes at the Cape and Cowl bar, celebrating their narrow escape and the permanent damage to their work/life balance.
• Marty, despite being promoted, opts to remain where he belongs.
• Fritzi gets recognition (if not immediately, at least symbolically).

“Once in a while, you do manage to do some good. And maybe sometimes doing some good costs you a little bit of your soul under fluorescent lights, paper clips, and a lot of corporate jargon.”
—Matthew Mercer, [243:54]

Notable Quotes & Moments

Best Quotes:

• “Traffic this bad is criminal.” — Damian, [110:21]
• “That little motherf***er… How many trip dips does this man eat at Chili’s?” — Barbara, [138:15]
• “We are the world. We are the children. That’s right.” — Damian & Fritzi, [72:30]
• “It’s like a big dude with, like, a little dude growing out of his torso. It, like, scares the chicks off and stuff.” — Johnny Lathe, explaining 'the Hammer', [88:26]
• “I’m an unpaid intern… This is my dream.” — Fritzi, [29:02]

Memorable Moments:

• Damian conjures emergency lights on the car to skip the Burbank traffic (16:04).
• Barbara moves the office clock forward with a literal swarm of bees (21:43).
• The “A-Team” of superheroes are called in for pure show, unshowered, to impress consultants (50:45).
• Barbara and Fritzi tag-team to take down Johnny Lathe with an army of bees and hair distraction (93:11–93:35).
• Fritzi, after battling another intern, becomes office assistant and social media manager in the space of five minutes (127:16).
• The fight with OlliOllieOxenfree’s 32 mini-oxen, ending with puffs of beard and mops (157:11–163:59).
• Marty’s emotional, surreal job review: “I’ll need some time to think about it. I have other offers.” (214:35)
• The crew realizes accidentally that their plot to boost crime for PR makes them the baddies (202:00).
• The “Hammer” reviews with management speak and, for once, fair outcomes.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Opening & Setup: [02:09–06:45]
• Morning Commute/Traffic: [11:21–19:49]
• Corporate Shenanigans: [19:53–31:09]
• Scheming/Prepping for Review: [33:35–45:11]
• Team Staging for PR: [45:11–53:04]
• Stand-Up Meeting, Branch in Peril: [53:04–62:06]
• Cape & Cowl Bar Scene: [75:37–97:04]
• PR Rescue & Office Arrival: [97:38–117:37]
• Office Villain Fight: [151:00–163:59]
• Hammer Review/Job Survival: [205:22–241:45]
• Celebration & Wrap-Up: [241:45–End]

Summary of Outcomes

• The Burbank SDN survives! The team bluffs, sabotages, and improvises their way into being deemed “worth saving.”
• Multiple side plots—exposing Owen's fraud, rescuing a rogue super-dog, and fending off minor office villain attacks—contribute to their (and the company’s) salvation.
• Those with the best (or at least most creative) corporate BS survive and even get promoted. Marty chooses camaraderie over promotion; Fritzi is (almost) finally paid.

Final Thoughts

This episode is a tour-de-force of improv TTRPG comedy, blending mundane office miseries with the over-the-top flavor of superhero universes. The Critical Role cast’s chemistry and quick-witted riffing lend pitch-perfect satire to asinine corporate bureaucracy, while bringing genuine heart to misfit workers. Recommended for fans of The Office, Brooklyn 99, and all who have ever suffered a team-building meeting.

For more from Ad Hoc Studio’s Dispatch, check Episodes 1–4 here.