‘Side Quest’ Review: Apple TV+ Anthology Is a Pleasant but Aimless Ramble Through the ‘Mythic Quest’ Universe

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One characteristic that stands out in Apple TV+’s “Mythic Quest” is its fondness for unexpected turns. This trait has been evident since the initial season, which took an abrupt deviation to focus on two characters who were new to us and haven’t reappeared since. This penchant for digressions continues through subsequent seasons, with episodes dedicated to exploring the pasts of main cast members or revisiting a minor character we last saw years ago.

The series now reaches as far as its initial spinoff, titled “Side Quest“. Given the adorable name, this essentially offers self-contained chapters, or what you might call side quests, that branch away from the main storyline of Mythic Quest. These adventures stray beyond MQ HQ to delve into various corners of the show’s universe, each presenting a peculiar tale. However, without a predefined route to deviate from, these excursions are merely aimless wanders, even if they remain largely enjoyable.

Hailing from the team behind “Mythic Quest”, which includes Ashly Burch, John Howell Harris and Katie McElhenney, the series “Side Quest” kicks off in a setting that should resonate with fans of its predecessor. The first episode, titled “Song and Dance,” is reminiscent of “Mythic Quest” so much that it seems more like an unused segment from the past rather than the start of something new for this season’s four half-hours.

The story centers around a familiar character, Derek Waters’ consistently overwhelmed art director Phil, and introduces a guest appearance by an established character, Rob McElhenney’s relentless Ian Grimm, who keeps piling on unreasonable tasks onto Phil. In terms of plot, it follows the well-explored theme of an “Mythic Quest” staff member struggling with work-life balance, and connects directly to the main “Mythic Quest” narrative by revisiting a phone call we’d seen mentioned in another episode from a few weeks back.

However, instead of starting with Phil at work, the series initiates with him on vacation with his girlfriend, Anna Konkle, who is both beautiful and patient but growing increasingly frustrated. This shift from a typical “Mythic Quest” scenario, where an employee’s workday is disrupted by personal issues, subtly redefines the dynamic such that it’s Phil’s job that intrudes upon aspects of his life that truly matter to him. This opening scene sets the stage for a recurring theme in “Side Quest”: the notion that there may be more to life than just this game.

Following this theme, the third episode, titled “Fugue,” delivers another story about an artist on the brink due to her unwavering dedication to her profession. This time, we meet Sylvie (Annamarie Kasper), a cellist who becomes overwhelmed by her own high standards upon securing a coveted position with the touring orchestra of Mythic Quest. While episodes two and four explore the consumer perspective, they focus more on the social aspect that the game provides for its enthusiasts rather than their passion for the game itself.

If the primary ideas remain similar, however, the approaches differ significantly. The distinct segments of Side Quest, each standing alone without significant connections to one another, and only “Song and Dance” having a strong link to the main storyline of Mythic Quest, enable it to explore diverse formats and moods, resulting in a pleasing mix.

The fourth installment in this series, titled “The Last Raid,” focuses on Team Dab Queef, a band of old high school friends reuniting for a much-anticipated gaming session. There are hints of the 2020 hit from Mythic Quest, “Quarantine,” in its structure as we primarily observe characters’ avatars combating monsters while they argue through headsets, with their real selves only occasionally appearing on video chat. This digital setting serves to demonstrate both the bonding potential and the shortcomings of such platforms: In the end, despite the valiant attempts of team captain Devon (Van Crosby), even a virtual hangout spot cannot mend a friendship group that has been growing apart in real life.

In episode two, titled “Pull List,” it seems so self-contained that it could easily serve as a trial run for a separate spinoff of Mythic Quest. Penned by Leann Bowen and Javier Scott, and directed by Mo Marable, this installment is a comedy revolving around a comic book store run by the hardworking yet weary Janae (Shalita Grant).

This show’s customer base is a vibrant mix drawn from various corners of the geek world – characters like the outspoken Cherry (Bria Samoné Henderson), the charismatic cosplayer Mike (Rome Flynn), the long-time fan Earl (William Stanford Davis) and others. The series offers an authentic Black interpretation of nerd culture, while simultaneously exploring a wide range of opinions and preferences within this realm. Although its humor sometimes strays into overly staged dialogue that feels reminiscent of stand-up comedy routines, it’s refreshing to see such a distinct point of view. It’s enjoyable just to relax and join in on the conversations as they debate who has the most nerd street cred or discuss which characters they consider Black (like Skeeter from Doug, Piccolo from Dragon Ball Z, the Teletubbies because they are “a group of friends singing, dancing, living their best lives – it’s like Living Single”).

However, if “Pull List” showcases the best that “Side Quest” has to present, it also brings attention to the peculiarity of this endeavor.

In one aspect, it’s charming that the show Mythic Quest is eager to explore lesser-known aspects of its expansive world. However, at times, it can be unclear why these stories are presented as spin-offs from Mythic Quest, especially when compared to alternative histories such as For All Mankind or full-blown fantasies like Marvel, where the reality is significantly different from our own. An episode like “Pull List” stands alone effectively and the connection to the original series seems superfluous. Conversely, an episode like “Fugue”, though endearing, doesn’t feel more profound simply because Sylvie and her team theoretically share the same air as Ian and Phil.

The most effective deviations from Mythic Quest have been those that have further explored the main story’s themes or the characters involved. For example, ‘A Dark Quiet Death’ delved into the central debate between art and commerce, while ‘Backstory!’ and ‘Sarian’ provided insights not only about the main characters but also about the emotions and conflicts they carry within their professional lives.

A Side Quest essentially refers to doing something similar, yet distinct from the main task. However, the distance it maintains from its parent task can sometimes be as much a hindrance as an advantage. Isolated in their own realm, these ancillary tasks often find it challenging to make progress independently.

A Side Quest is like doing something related but different. The distance it keeps from the main task can sometimes be a drawback as well as an advantage. Being separated in their own space, these additional tasks frequently struggle to move forward without much guidance.

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2025-03-26 10:24