Apple TV+ continuously distributes quality content through its series. While Mythic Quest isn’t as wholesome as Ted Lasso or Trying, it’s still (and undoubtedly) the kind of series worth binging for fans of workplace comedies.
The series stars Rob McElhenney, Charlotte Nicdao, David Hornsby, Danny Pudi, Ashly Burch, Imani Hakim, Jessie Ennis, F. Murray Abraham, and more in a fictional game studio workplace comedy. Mythic Quest remarkably weaves in origin stories, everyday tasks, and the creative battles faced commonly by anyone in similar fields. Its unique premise can quickly draw the audience’s attention while keeping them entertained throughout. And with the third season premiere right around the corner, now’s the perfect time to start watching (or rewatching) the first two seasons.
1. Complex Characters
In our book, complex characters driving the narrative will always be more riveting than the plot. If there aren’t well-written, interesting people whose stories matter, then what’s the point? Characters don’t always have to be likable, but in order for a series to be worth the time, they need to be multifaceted enough to attract attention. And the characters on Mythic Quest certainly are.
These characters aren’t always likable, and more often than not, their actions will make eyes roll. While they’re not as extreme as the characters in HBO’s Succession, there’s still a lot about them that can be intensely frustrating at times. Still, that’s part of the show’s charm, and their personality traits, along with their dynamics, make the series that much more riveting as a comedy. It’s easy to find ourselves not only caring about them but surprisingly relating to parts of them and their struggles.
2. Humor
There are various forms of humor that work universally for most people and niche depictions that might only intrigue a specific type of crowd. In more ways than one, Mythic Quest is the latter. Workplace comedies perform well when there’s a particular level of heart attached to them, but at the same time, the humor needs to be grounded in something, whether light or dark, we each choose our fighters. And while the series isn’t a dark comedy per se, its specific brand of humor might only work if you’re open to the complexities of human flaws.
As said, it’s not nearly as wholesome as Ted Lasso, but there’s still enough self-awareness in the series where its humor lends itself to characters and the frustrations of the prosaic day-to-day lifestyles. The jokes are cruel at times, outright nonsensical, and yet, almost always, pretty clever.
3. Unique Workplace Premise
Often, workplace comedies occur in reasonably common, ordinary jobs that the characters don’t always love. While Abbott Elementary and Parks and Recreation are exceptions to dull places like The Office’sDunder Mifflin Paper Company, they still align with the career paths that are more relatable to the audience. However, Mythic Quest (the studio) is a place for creative minds, making the job itself part of the charm. We don’t usually get to see careers that take place in the entertainment field, which makes it much more exciting.
Sure, the Newsroom and The Morning Show tackle journalism pretty accurately, but because they’re both dramas, it leaves Mythic Quest’s plot as a somewhat unique one for now. Whether you’re a gamer or not, the ins and outs of this studio make for one entertaining episode after another.
4. Representation
We know what our romance readers want, and we’re more than happy to confirm that Mythic Quest not only has a great love story but it’s an LGBTQ relationship too. There’s no denying how lovely Rachel and Dana’s friends-to-lovers connection is, and it makes the series better by putting representation front and center.
Additionally, the representation isn’t merely through the romance but through the incredible cast and storylines that feature complex characters. Poppy Li (Charlotte Nicdao), for instance, is a lead engineer and an incredible one at that. The performances throughout the series drive the characters to great heights, ensuring that, ultimately, each season is better than the one before. And like Brooklyn Nine-Nine, it never feels as though decisions solely check Hollywood boxes but rather to tell authentic stories.
5. Creative
The series works best when it showcases how challenging it can be to be a creative person. There’s so much that goes into developing something and seldom do we see discussions about the toll that can take on people while balancing work and home life. Where the romance genre usually tackles creative fields, it’s still rare in the world of TV comedies.
At the same time, this detail is a part of the show that makes it so much fun. As someone who isn’t a gamer, it makes the world far more riveting than it was before, actually making me want to pick up on something now. Perhaps, The Witcher. Ultimately, it explores creative career paths with much more realism than I expected, making it pleasantly surprising in every way.
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Mythic Quest almost always takes viewers through engaging roller-coasters. I went into it thinking it could never make me cry, but it somehow managed to do even that at times. It might not be entirely wholesome, but it’s got plenty of heart coded into every episode with a whole lot of mischief too.
Mythic Quest is currently streaming on Apple TV+.