Felicia Day and Kim Evey are making some big waves in the online video pond with their show the Guild. Having cleaned up with a Youtube, Yahoo, ONNetworks and SXSW awards with their first season, amassed over 9 million views and single-handedly put the niche of MMORG on the radar of every net-savvy producer out there, they’re back with season 2, just in time for Christmas.
I won’t mess you about, the second season – currently on episode 3 – is quite good, better really, than the first season.
What I particularly like is that we are starting to see a bit more about the characters. Felicia the scriptwriter understands that this what we want and so, for example, in episode 3 we get a particularly funny peak at Vork’s life. Her dialogue in this second season seems to be even more chock full of MMORG geek-speak, which left me lost once or twice, but I know that the players will eat it up. And besides, I get the gist of what she means and the rest of the script is tight and funny.
More importantly, she gets that comedy isn’t necessarily about being silly or packing your dialogue and story with non-sequitors (Seth MacFarlane Presents, the Blah Girls, Val Verde). Yes, we laugh, but we want to get closer to the characters and their sad, game-obsessed lives.
Season 2 – Episode 3: Quest Accepted!
…what the hell am I babbling on about, this ain’t a NY Times review (they spell better and have a better grasp of grammar than I do, for one). You want to take notice of the character’s use of the “4th wall” or how an indie production like this has garnered so much attention and a sweet sponsorship from MSN-Video? Go right ahead. I, personally, geek out at the production values, which I wish to god more online video producers would use as a role model, but even that is not really worth mentioning.
What absolutely has to be said is: “look, people, the show is good fun. Go watch it and be happy.”
And so, despite one or two wrinkles: Sandeep rushes through his lines/ad libs like a guy doing improv, I really hate the MSN-Video site, especially ’cause I usually can’t find the show and I can’t embed an episode here!!)... I recommend the second season so far unreservedly.
This is just a short heads up to let you know that the Guild Season 2, episode 1 is out! I can’t embed it here because it belongs exclusively to MSN video. It’s great – go watch it.
The story continues with Zabo and Codec getting kicked out out Codec’s house by Zabo’s mom….and I [...]