History ShoutOut / CriticalRole

* "A Familiar Adventure: Sprinkle's Incredible Journey" takes its premise and part of the title from ''Film/HomewardBoundTheIncredibleJourney''.

** Caleb uses an enchanted silver rod to turn himself into a dragon, looking just like the iconic TransformationTrinket from ''Franchise/{{Ultraman}}''.

* It might be unintentional, but guest character Arkhan The Cruel might be a reference to the character Arkhan The Black from ''Tabletopgame/{{Warhammer}}''. In addition to the very similar names, there's also the fact that both characters have Necromancy powers and serve evil deities. Both characters arguably end up being Foils for one anouther though, considering that Arkhan the Cruel is fiercely opposed to Vecna, who has several similarities to Nagash, Arkhan the Black's master in Warhammer Fantasy. Though the two might end up NotSoDifferent once [[spoiler: Arkhan the Cruel ultimately acquires the Hand of Vecna for himself once Vecna is defeated...]]

* Gnome bard Kaylie, a member of Scanlan's former troupe, studied at the College of the [[Music/{{David Bowie}} White Duke]] (confirmed by Matt to be named in remembrance); it's compounded by Laura accidentally referring to Jarett as [[Film/{{Labyrinth}} Jareth]].)

* Taryon Darrington, an egocentric, ridiculously wealthy young man with flashy, decked out armor has parents named [[ComicBook/{{IronMan}} Howard and Maria]].

* The Gentleman is a blue parental figure to a slightly goofy hero, and he has a complicated criminal backstory involving human trafficking... kinda like [[Film/{{GuardiansOfTheGalaxy}} MCU Yondu]]

* In ''The Night before Critmas'', the RichIdiotWithNoDayJob is named Film/{{Arthur 1981}}.

* Fjord of all people asking if the horse is a [[Anime/FullmetalAlchemist Mustang]] (a lovely double-headed one - not only is there a RunningGag of references to Ford cars like the Mustang haunting Fjord, but Travis Willingham played Col. Roy Mustang).

* After getting back up with a Nat-20, Liam stabs Ira and mutters, "I can do this all day".

** The conclusion is a (more positive) riff on ''[[Film/PlanetOfTheApes1968 Planet of the Apes]]'''s twist ending, with Taliesin's Dr Wiser landing on a shores of a planet which is to be the new home for a ColonyShip of human refugees from a dying world after a cataclysmic event destroyed their moon... only to discover the Statue of Liberty, half buried in the coastline. Taliesin even references Charlton Heston's final lines of the movie, but with a less cynical, more hopeful subtext.

* Imogen named her horse Music/{{Heart}}, just so she can use "Barracuda" for a horse riding {{leitmotif}}.

** Travis is a gruff SpaceMarine with scars down one side of his head, just like [[Film/{{Avatar}} Quaritch.]]

* Due to her psychic PowerIncontinence, Imogen has been compared to Franchise/XMen Jean Grey.]] In episode 24 [[spoiler:a botched use of Wild Magic makes her lose all her hair, making her resemble Professor X.]]

** Season 2 has special guest Aabria Iyengar as a crime lord in Eamon that Travis dubbed [[Series/TheFalconAndTheWinterSoldier the Power Broker.]]

* Liam quotes ''Theatre/{{Hamlet}}'' again - "Dead for a ducat, dead!" - after Sam kills a mosquito with a rolled-up paper.

* Part of Percy's full name references the main character of ''Literature/LegendOfGalacticHeroes''.

* Ashley Johnson plays Patterson in ''Series/Blindspot'', who carries around a Critical Role coffee mug. When the cast dressed up as each other for Halloween 2021, Liam O'Brien's costume of Ashley included a mug that said "It's a Blindspot thing, you wouldn't understand".