Not Jester 2.0: Laura Bailey Reveals Critical Role’s Thimble Is a Grounded, Grieving Pixie

Critical Role fans have a new face to follow in Campaign 4: Thimble, a pixie rogue played by Laura Bailey. However, Bailey says Thimble is *not* a return to Jester-style chaos; instead, the character is more grounded and driven by grief and purpose.

1. Thimble is not Jester
2. Bailey’s character-creation approach
3. Campaign 4 cast and the new world
4. Where Teor and Thimble are starting

Thimble is not Jester

Thimble is introduced in Campaign 4 as a pixie rogue played by Laura Bailey. Early episodes show that Thimble is grieving the death of her best friend, Thjazi Fang, and is focused on finding who is responsible. Consequently, she does not read as a mischievous, happy-go-lucky fairy.

Bailey responded to fan reactions to early fan art, saying, “When we just released the fan art without ever having the episodes released, there were a lot of people saying, ‘Ooh, it’s going to be another Jester character. It’s going to be a lot of chaos,’” Bailey tells Polygon. She added that Thimble is “so completely different from Jester. She’s far more grounded in her views of the world.”

Bailey’s character-creation approach

Bailey has created several well-known Critical Role characters across campaigns, including Vex, Jester, and Imogen. She says her process changes with each campaign. For example, she described Vex as being “very much like myself,” while Jester was “absolutely off the wall, doesn’t ever stop, doesn’t have a filter at all.” Meanwhile, Imogen was a character who “overthinks everything.”

Thus, Thimble represents another different direction for Bailey: less chaotic, and more emotionally driven.

Campaign 4 cast and the new world

Campaign 4 features a large ensemble — a party of 13 players that includes the original Critical Role founders — and the series is streaming new episodes every Thursday night. Additionally, Prime Video is preparing an animated adaptation of Campaign 2, The Mighty Nein, which is due soon.

Dungeon Master Brennan Lee Mulligan moved the story to a brand-new setting called Aramán. As a result, cast members felt new pressures and opportunities when building characters for this world.

Travis Willingham on joining Campaign 4

Travis Willingham, a Critical Role co-founder, said he felt pressure because of the new setting. He described his reaction: “I sort of found myself sitting back in my chair and going, ‘Oh God, I don’t know anything about this world. I am nervous about it,’” Willingham says. He then created Teor Pridesire, a nama paladin who presents an aura of wisdom and regality.

Where Teor and Thimble are starting

Both Bailey’s Thimble and Willingham’s Teor are at the beginning of their Campaign 4 journeys in Aramán. Given the length of Critical Role campaigns — which often run multiple years — their stories and development will unfold over a long period.

For now, Thimble’s immediate goal is clear: investigate Thjazi Fang’s death. Meanwhile, Teor’s character has been introduced as a more measured and regal paladin, setting up contrasting personalities within the new party.