Hi everyone. I’ve seen a few people sharing their experiences, so I decided to share mine too—not just meeting Critical Role, but my experience of MCM Comic Con as a whole.
Unfortunately, the trip was a very negative experience for me overall. But I want to make one thing absolutely clear: meeting the Critical Role cast was wonderful. They were the one bright spot in an otherwise really difficult few days.
It started with my accommodation. I’d checked the place several times before booking, and everything seemed fine. Then, on Wednesday afternoon, I discovered that something wasn’t right.
It’s a long story, but essentially, they had already charged my card and then messaged me through Booking.com saying they would only give me the four-digit access code if I contacted them on WhatsApp and sent them my ID or passport. The booking platform itself had a warning telling me not to share that information.
When I followed the WhatsApp instructions, I was directed to a website belonging to some company in Dubai. Seeing all my details there made me break out in a cold sweat. They had my name, my home address, where I was planning to stay, my booking dates—everything. They were also asking for another £200.
I didn’t respond. The following day, a man messaged me asking me to send my ID so he could give me the access code. When I explained my concerns, he gave me excuses that didn’t reassure me at all. I told him I wasn’t comfortable sending my passport, and he became angry and told me to take it up with Booking.com.
I ended up losing around £125, which was a huge financial blow for me. I was at home crying because I didn’t know whether I could still make the trip. Thankfully, my husband helped me and booked a room at the Novotel beside ExCeL. I’m grateful, but I still have to pay that money back, and I honestly don’t know yet how I’m going to manage it.
Being so close to the venue was a relief, especially with cold, rainy weather expected.
I travelled to London on Thursday. I was already very anxious and stressed. Before the trip, I’d tried reaching out to people to see whether anyone nearby was going and might want to travel together, but nothing worked out, so I went alone.
Once I reached London, I decided to spend the extra money on a taxi because I was feeling so anxious. Thankfully, I had a lovely driver. We chatted during the journey, and he offered me a generous discount if I paid in cash, so getting to the Novotel cost less than I’d expected.
I wasn’t feeling right that day and had hardly any appetite. I think I’d only eaten a sandwich. Still, I kept telling myself that Friday was coming and I was finally going to see Critical Role. It was also lovely seeing other Critical Role fans at the hotel, and I hoped I might make some friends.
Unfortunately, I had a panic attack during my first night at the hotel and struggled to get back to sleep. Then I woke up on Friday with a really sore throat. I couldn’t understand how I’d become ill at the worst possible time. Luckily, I’d brought some medication, so I took a painkiller to make my throat bearable enough to speak.
I was nervous about heading to the convention alone, but I met a lovely Critter cosplaying Ashley’s character from Campaign 3. We chatted and spent some time together, which was really nice. Unfortunately, I didn’t get her contact details.
Once inside, I went straight to the Critical Role panel, then headed to the group photo session afterwards. That was where the organisational problems started for me.
Staff kept sending me away from the photo area. Eventually, I had to say, “I’m sorry, but the session starts in five minutes. I’m not going to leave just to come straight back.”
Once I joined the queue, it was incredibly confusing. I kept being moved around without any explanation. At one point, I was moved further back while other people with the same type of ticket were allowed through before me. They weren’t VIPs. I genuinely couldn’t understand what was happening, and it was upsetting.
Eventually, I got in for the group photo. Standing there with the Critical Role cast was an incredible experience. My hands were shaking, and I felt so shy—you can probably see it in the picture.
I’m not comfortable sharing that photo at the moment because I’m really unhappy with how I look in it. I don’t know how much of that was down to being ill and exhausted, but I found it disappointing.
There was also a mix-up with the timing of my photo with Taliesin, and staff ended up putting me near the front of his queue. I know some people might think I should have been pleased, but I felt awful. There were around thirty other people waiting to see him, and because of a scheduling mix-up, I was suddenly being put ahead of them.
I felt really guilty, so if you were one of the people I was moved in front of, I’m sorry. It wasn’t something I’d planned or wanted.
Meeting Taliesin was wonderful, though. I told him I’d see him the next day and bring his gift.
By the time I finished the photo sessions, it was around 2:30 pm. I’d written out a plan: get Sam’s autograph, then Robbie’s, then Neil Newbon’s, and afterwards spend some time exploring the convention.
Instead, the rest of my Friday disappeared into Sam’s queue.
I stood there from around 2:30 until close to closing time. I don’t know exactly why the queue wasn’t moving, but what frustrated me most was the lack of information.
Staff kept asking whose queue we were in, telling us to move around and trying to rearrange people, but nobody explained what was happening. Even a simple update saying that Sam was at a photo session and would return afterwards would have helped. We were just left waiting without knowing anything.
Being there alone made it even harder. I couldn’t easily leave to use the toilet or get food. I’d only eaten half a bread roll that day, and I spent the afternoon hungry, needing the toilet and afraid to leave the queue.
When I finally reached Sam, I could see how tired he was. We exchanged a few sentences, and I told him I was half Hungarian. He told me he was Hungarian too, which was a really lovely moment.
I would have liked to talk a little longer, but he looked exhausted, and there were still people waiting behind me. So I gave him his gift, got my autograph, thanked him and moved on after a couple of minutes.
By then, closing time was approaching, and I still had a prepaid ticket for Robbie. I asked a female security guard whether she could help. She checked my ticket and took me to the front of his queue.
Again, I felt terribly guilty about being moved ahead of people who had been waiting. This happened more than once during the convention because of organisational problems, and it made me uncomfortable every time.
Robbie was lovely. He still seemed full of energy—he was dancing around and even touched my little demon horns! We chatted a little longer, and I told him that Dorian had inspired my very first D&D character. Then I gave him his gift and rushed over to Neil Newbon.
There were only about two people ahead of me for Neil, so thankfully that was quick. Then the closing announcements started, and I realised I hadn’t managed to do even half of what I’d planned.
I’d also booked a photo with Neil for 4 pm on Friday, but I missed it because I was still waiting in Sam’s autograph queue.
Before leaving, I looked back towards the Critical Role signing area and saw poor Matt still signing for around twenty or thirty people. I felt sorry for the cast as well. It looked exhausting.
I’m not blaming Sam for the wait. What upset me was that nobody told us what was happening. After paying in advance, I think we deserved basic communication. My entire Friday afternoon had gone on standing in one queue, unable to eat, use the toilet or enjoy the rest of the convention.
Afterwards, I returned to the hotel, changed and went out to buy food. Then I became really unwell that night.
I don’t know how much was illness, exhaustion or anxiety, but I was vomiting, coughing and having another panic attack. I tried asking reception for help, but unfortunately, I found them rude and unhelpful.
Eventually, I asked an AI assistant for help. I’d run out of paracetamol, and it suggested that late-night medicine delivery was available in London. At that point, I didn’t care how much it cost—I just needed something to help.
The delivery arrived at around 2 am. I took the medication, but I was still tossing and turning, coughing and feeling feverish for most of the night. I finally fell asleep at about 5 am, then had to get up again at 7.
I packed my suitcase, got ready and went to Tesco for a pack of bread rolls because I hadn’t had breakfast. Then I left my suitcase with the hotel and headed back to MCM for Saturday.
By this point, I was really struggling. My throat hurt badly, I felt dizzy, and I was exhausted.
When I was getting close to the front of Liam’s queue, I told a staff member that I felt very unwell. She said I looked really pale. I asked whether I could go straight to Taliesin afterwards because I needed to go home—I didn’t feel able to stay much longer. She kindly said yes.
Meeting Liam meant an enormous amount to me. I’m a comic artist, and he’s one of my biggest inspirations. I love his voice work and his characters, and they inspire me so much.
We spoke for perhaps five or ten minutes. I won’t go into all the details because some of it was personal, but I told him about my mental health struggles and started crying.
He asked whether he could hug me. I said yes, and he did.
That meant more to me than I can explain. I was trying very hard not to get tears all over him, but his kindness meant so much.
I also gave him the little drawings I’d made for him. I’d kept the gifts small enough to fit in the palm of a hand so they would be easy to pack and take home.
After saying goodbye to Liam, I joined Taliesin’s queue and was able to see him quickly.
I was even more emotional by then and struggled to hold back my tears. I’d wanted to bring another gift too, but I’d worried it might be too big to fit in his suitcase, so I hadn’t brought it.
I did give him the little Mollymauk drawing I’d made. I wasn’t very happy with how it turned out, so I’m hoping to make him something better around his birthday.
We talked for a little while, and I told him about some of the mental health difficulties I’ve been dealing with. I ended up crying quite a lot.
I love the whole cast, but Liam and Taliesin hold a particularly special place in my heart. They’re both equally important to me.
Taliesin asked whether he could hold my hand. I said yes, and we talked for another minute or two. We also took a photo together.
Those moments with Liam and Taliesin were the most meaningful parts of the trip for me. Their kindness is something I’ll remember.
I’d finished both autographs by around midday. Afterwards, I quickly visited three artist friends to collect things I’d arranged to buy beforehand. Sadly, when I got home, I discovered that other artists I love had also been there, but I hadn’t found them or even realised they were attending. I was really sad to have missed them.
I left MCM at around 1 pm, collected my suitcase from the hotel and took a taxi to Waterloo. I was there by about 2 pm and got home at around 5.
I was so ill and exhausted that I more or less fell straight into bed. I fell asleep at around 5:30 pm and didn’t wake up until about 9 the following morning.
I also spent a lot of time crying afterwards because I’d really wanted to go to the live show. I wished I could have spent more time seeing the cast, but I simply wasn’t well enough, physically or mentally. Missing it was really upsetting.
So that was my MCM experience.
I’m going to start saving again in the hope that, if they return in two or three years, I’ll be able to see them again. Hopefully, next time I won’t have to go through the whole experience alone.
Before anyone asks: I’m still struggling mentally, but I’m working on it. Physically, I’m feeling a little better, and I’m resting.
I hope everyone else had a lovely time at MCM, made some friends and enjoyed the live show too. Sadly, I didn’t come away with the friendships I’d hoped for, but I’m grateful for the kind moments I did have—especially with Liam and Taliesin. ❤️
