‘Mythic Quest’ S4: The Goofball Video Game Family Continues to Rip Jokes in Savage Fashion

Our adorable nerds, cynics, and narcissists are back to make fun of AI, sex, and each other

It’s difficult to write about Mythic Quest without shouting, "WHY AREN'T YOU WATCHING ONE OF THE FUNNIEST SITCOMS ON AIR?” at unsuspecting people, but I’d argue it’s equally hard to grasp why many viewers have terrible taste in picking TV shows. Still, I must admit, MQ is somewhat niche for two reasons in particular: 1) It’s a workplace comedy set within the video game industry, and 2) Its appeal and humor can only be fully appreciated if you’re at least vaguely familiar with the outrageousness of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (the two share a creator). Which is kind of a paradox because both of those things have become pretty popular in the past decades (IASIP marking its 20^th anniversary this year), yet the concoction of the two that MQ is remains inexplicably underseen.

One thing’s for sure, though: Rob McElhenney and Co. (including co-creator, writer, and friend Charlie Day) developed the secret formula of writing self-delusional and narcissistic characters who despite their inherent obnoxiousness are still very much likable (and hilarious as hell).

Don’t get me wrong, MQ isn't as much the offense volcano as IASIP on FX, by design, but it still pushes boundaries with gags like cutesy avatars “having sex” in games controlled by 12-year-olds, the exploitation of children through microtransactions, and employing AI to highlight how dumb and useless it can be. You can practically put the series’ self-absorbed goofballs in any situation or safe space, and it’s a guarantee they’ll disrupt a prudent work environment in seconds and spin every conversation to make it about themselves. Damn everybody who attempts to torpedo their egocentric need to be the center of attention.

The difference here, as opposed to It’s Always Sunny, is that these nerds actually love each other in their own twisted and inarticulate ways but are too emotionally dysfunctional and immature to express it openly and meaningfully. That’s a quaint charm in a show replete with facetious deprecation, inappropriate banter, and emotional manipulation — all of which MQ has become a champion at.

So it’s no wonder the latest season goes all-in on focusing on the unexpressed, purposefully denied, and impossible love story between Ian (Rob McElhenney) and Poppy (Charlotte Nicdao). In the Season 3 finale, the former has finally allowed himself to realize the feelings he has for his clumsy and socially inept work partner. Naturally, Ian now goes to extreme measures to not call it “love” but a “deep connection” of some sort because he’s not physically attracted to Poppy per se, but more on a creative and intellectual level. So Season 4 throws in the classic trope of a new pseudo-love interest — the chiseled artist/fuckboy Storm played by Chase Yi — for Poppy, just so we can watch Ian go off the rails as his hurt ego and wounded heart explode like a box full of candy corn and manufactured self-esteem.

Thanks to its sharp and competent writing, however, Mythic Quest is careful to avoid the usual trappings of a love triangle or raging jealousy, and it turns this whole will-they-won't-they back-and-forth into a goldmine of sexual jokes and awkwardly hilarious dialogues. It's a joy to watch how Ian’s self-denial about his repressed feelings sends him into a spiral that results in various forms of excessive behaviors and man-child tantrums until they all fail to get him what he wants. The more he tries to control his relationship with Poppy (particularly clinging to their “creative bond” as game developers), the more she wants to distance herself from him. It’s an effective dynamic that doesn’t get old as long as there’s humor to extract from it — and that Mythic Quest has never been short of.

If I had to point out a slight flaw in the series, that would be its plot stagnancy, which is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, the narrative hardly progresses anywhere significant over the years — and it’s nearly impossible to remember what had happened story-wise in previous seasons — yet on the other, it gives the characters (and wonderfully in-sync cast) infinite opportunities to flex their comedic muscles. Ultimately, we, as fans, keep watching this looney parade for the inherent foolishness and the delightful eccentricity of these borderline-insane people who somehow forged a family out of their flaws and insecurities. And despite the plot’s occasional redundancies, Mythic Quest still finds acres of fertile creative ground to throw its stars in. Let that be a hearing in front of Congress where David (David Hornsby) and Rachel (Ashly Burch) have to defend their company after being sued for child labor, during which all hell breaks loose, or a murder mystery party in Knives Out style where Jo (Jessie Ennis) gets the perfect chance to unleash her sociopathic and serial killerish dark side.

Frankly, the series is just a ton of breezy fun that remains fresh in the same way It’s Always Sunny has after 20 years. And it’s not like we are drowning in shows about video games and their specific nerdy and reference-heavy humor — the only other one that comes to mind was the British Dead Pixels, which has sadly been canceled four years ago — after all. I can easily see Mythic Quest going on for another three-four years. I just hope that it also finds a wider and equally appreciative audience along the way because it truly deserves one. Until then, the thousands of devoted fans (including myself) will be cheering for it loudly and proudly from the sidelines.

Mythic Quest Season 4 premieres on January 29 on Apple TV+.

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