The Guild, a review of the web tv show located at http://www.watchtheguild.com
If you are not already in love with Felicia Day, then you're out of the loop! Who is she? Well, she's "Codex" on "The Guild", www.WatchTheGuild.com. She is also the writer and lead on this awesome web tv show. I stumbled onto this gem while chowing down a foot-long Blimpie's Best sammy over lunch about a month ago.
I had fired up the TV for a little G4TV on my cable system while destroying the sandwhich and they were doing an interview with Felicia about "The Guild". Being a former, and ever recovering, MMORPG geek, I was intregued immediately. After having spent nearly 3 years of my life sucked into the world of Everquest, only having given it up after my lovely bride politely told me that if I didn't stop playing the game, I'd be playing with myself for the rest of my life, anything I can live the MMORPG life vicariously through without actually logging the hours is right up my alley.
So that evening I watched the entire season 1 and as there were only two episodes of season 2 released, I added those to the night's viewing enjoyment. Note, each episode is only between 3-8 minutes long so knocking out the entire series up to this point is well worth the less than 2 hour investment. Much more entertaining than the 2-hour movie you've got 6 items down in your Netflix queue (trust me, I know).
Basically "Codex" (Felicia Day) is in a guild with a few other players. Vork (Jeff Lewis), Tinkerballa (Amy Okuda), "Zaboo" (Sandeep Parikh), "Clara" (Robin Thorsen), and "Bladezz" (Vincent Casso). Here's a direct link to the Cast Page.
This band of looters and raiders are all...special...in their own way. Zaboo leaves his mother's home to travel across the contry to pronounce his love for Codex, who is the least bit interested but still allows the creepy little sex pot to live in her house. His mother later comes into the picture as a mega-boss. In an effort to get some help from her guildmates, Codex arranges a real life get-together with these fine folks she's never met in person before. Hilarity ensues, as this group of social misfits, albiet a powerhouse of MMORPG goodness in-game, are a bunch of weirdos in real life. Hm...wonder if that's how things were back when I was rocking the Quellious Server in Everquest as a level 47 magician, "Skoalman". Anyway, Bladezz holds the guild's loot bank hostage, Tinkerballa offers to babysit Clara's neglected children, Zaboo continues to attempt to make Codex fall in love with him pitifully, and Vork is trying to abide by guild rules not only in-game, but in real life.
One thing that the show is missing is some actual in-game footage. Maybe there's copyright reasons they aren't allowed to clip in some Warcraft video or whatever the flavor of the month MMORPG game is these days. It would sure be nice to see some "South Park"-esc game action here and there as this group struggles between real world problems and in-game guild obligations.
I've got to give this show a 10 of 10 for not only nerd humor, but the writing is great, the cast is outstanding, and the show is just an all around blast to watch if you can relate to the gamer mentality. Give "The Guild" just an episode or two of your time and see for yourself. I can promise you that you'll enjoy it as much as I do...if you're the least geeky or nerdy. And if you're here, you are.
-Corby-
