If you’ve been following some of my writing, you know I’m a huge fan of Apple TV+ and the comedies on the streaming service. So when they announced Side Quest, a spinoff of Mythic Quest (another favorite of mine), I knew I had to check it out. With four half-hour episodes that are connected to the overall universe of Mythic Quest, Side Quest is a fun, short, and sweet exploration of a few individuals. The messages from each episode are highly resonant to the video game industry and the inner turmoils of humans as they navigate their lives.
“Song and Dance”
Phil (Derek Waters) has been a brief but constant part of Mythic Quest, both in the show and the game’s development team. As the Art Director, he has an enormous responsibility, which means he has to pump out designs (and redesigns) on a dime for Creative Director Ian Grimm (Rob McElhenny). Although his work is fantastic, the time spent and wasted by constant changes has become a massive stress for Phil. While on a much-needed vacation with his girlfriend, Maude (Anna Konkle), Phil has to dodge phone calls from Ian, who needs him to work on stuff even though Phil should be unplugged.
“Song and Dance” is a brilliantly framed exploration of passion and purpose in Side Quest. Phil tries to stretch himself thin by pleasing Maude and Ian, but fails. Since he intends to propose to Maude, he juggles more than he can handle, which leads to panic attacks. The episode is incredible because it digs into the need to accomplish and pursue things outside of work. The ending is incredibly satisfying and might have repercussions for any future seasons of Mythic Quest, because of the trajectory of Phil’s career.
“Pull List”
The next episode, “Pull List” steps outside of the inner circle of Mythic Quest and shows the lives adjacent to the game. There’s a hot new issue of a Mythic Quest comic that four distinct individuals desire; the problem is that the shop only received a single copy.
This episode also features an actor I adore, William Stanford Davis, known for his work as the janitor on Abbott Elementary. Davis plays Earl, a local Magic: The Gathering player who observes everything in the shop while playing cards. Shalita Grant is Janae, the owner who works hard to provide a good environment and struggles to keep the store profitable. This episode explores fandom and the wars within it, as the people who want the comic start to argue over who deserves the copy since they are “the biggest fan.”
I enjoyed this episode because it finally shifts the focus from those who make the game/world to the ones who consume it. Within Mythic Quest, we mostly follow the game’s development and rarely go into the fans who make the title popular. There’s a lot of devotion to cosplays, knowledge, and collections, a fantastic reflection of reality in Side Quest. Each character’s motivations are relatable; some only have these stories as they are social outcasts or want to connect with others. Another refreshing ending reminds us why we enter these spaces, as we flock to join people who find joy in these “nerdy” spaces.
“Fugue”
In another tale neighboring the Mythic Quest universe, Sylvie (Annamarie Kasper) is inspired at a young age to take up music after attending a live orchestral performance. As she matures and keeps up with performing, she auditions to join the symphony that travels and plays music from the Mythic Quest game. Similar to “Song and Dance,” there are pressures to perform that begin to pile on Sylvie, which causes nightmares and stress while she pushes herself to practice. Even while abroad in Paris and Amsterdam, Sylvie stays in her room with her cello and never steps out to enjoy some of the fruits of her labor or the world around her.
“Fugue” is the most disconnected of the Side Quest episodes, with only the music of Mythic Quest having anything to link it back to the greater world. Regardless, its emotional impact is perhaps the strongest, having relatable moments to Imposter Syndrome, personal anxieties, and the pressure to perform at a high level. The ending is probably my favorite of the four episodes, since it comes around full circle.
“The Last Raid”
Finally, we venture into Mythic Quest, the game. The episode’s visual format was creative: a group call over Discord, with individual tiles for each character. The group is celebrating another year of Mythic Quest by returning to run raids all across the land on their “raid-iversary.” As someone who spent many hours playing Destiny 2, I think this one hit particularly hard and brilliantly.
“The Last Raid” navigates life, how we move on from things, and the changes that growing older introduces. The ability to jump in and play diminishes between school, work, relationships, and life. Also, how the shift in a relationship can inhibit the group’s overall dynamics and create strife that could lead to confrontations. The accuracy in this episode’s themes and subject matter is impressive; I could see many facets of myself in various characters.
It was also great to see the game finally being played, since we’ve spent years with Mythic Quest, but hardly any time within it. Using a raid as the event was brilliant, allowing the failures and struggles to have a measurable podium.
Final thoughts on AppleTV+’s Side Quest
Side Quest was a welcome addition to Mythic Quest, and the title fits perfectly. I hope they consider doing another set of these, as seeing the global impact of the Mythic Quest was stirring and shows the game’s reach. The only thing I find odd is the decision to release it at the same time as the finale of season 4 of Mythic Quest, but should be watched after finishing Mythic Quest.
Side Quest is now streaming on Apple TV+! Have you watched the main entry, Mythic Quest? Let us know if you’ll be watching Side Quest and what your thoughts are on it. We are on social media @mycosmiccircus and have a Discord server to discuss this series and so much more!
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