By Melissa Voelker
As I have never gotten into playing MMORPG’s myself, I’ve wondered about the people who do get into playing these popular (and much made fun of) online games. What kind of person becomes so engrossed in achieving 18th level status as an undead troll wizard that they will devote countless hours of their lives to sitting in front of a computer while reality slips them by? With The Guild, Felicia Day’s (recently of Dr. Horrible’s Sing-along Blog fame) webseries ‘written for gamers, about gamers, by a gamer,’ I finally got my answers.
The series starts with Felicia Day’s character, Codex, receiving an unwanted house guest in the form of fellow online Guild member Zaboo (the gnome warlock). Seems he has taken some innocent virtual flirting (with winking Smileys no less) as an invitation to stalk his way into Codex’s real life. The plot of the first season progresses from there, and includes forays into the real world by all of the Guild members (including Bladezz the Rogue/Thief, Vork the Guildmaster, Tinkerballa the Ranger, and Clara the Mage) as they battle arrogant teenagers, creepily over-protective mothers, and poopy diapers.
Ten episodes (ranging from about 3-6 minutes each) for Season 1 are currently available for viewing online. It doesn’t take a long time to watch the episodes, though when you get to the end of #10 you will find yourself wishing the fun wasn’t over yet. Even for someone like me who has very little gaming knowledge (outside of the Mortal Kombat series – which I LOVE – and the hilarious South Park WoW episode) this series is hysterical. The characters are each a great example of gamer stereotypes (the kawaii Asian ball buster girl, the stay-at-home negligent mother, and the hardcore gaming addict who is in not-so-serious denial) and yet they each have personalities that transcend those stereotypes and make the characters seem believable. Ridiculous, but believable. Felicia Day is a talented writer who knows her subject matter and is able to come up with storylines and plot developments that are consistently humorous and highly entertaining, whether you are a gaming insider or not.
And now a quick (well relatively speaking) word about Felicia Day. When I first saw Dr. Horrible’s Sing-along Blog I knew I recognized doomed love interest Penny from somewhere. So I IMDB’d her (what DID people do before IMDB existed when they wanted this kind of information?) to find out what she had appeared in previously that I might have seen. I was hoping (and expecting) for an episode or two of Buffy the Vampire Slayer (which it did turn out she had played a recurring part in) or maybe a scene or three in Angel. But what I was embarrassed to learn was that the most recent thing I had seen Felicia Day appear in was the frequent ABCFamily movie event, Bring It On Again. For my part let me just say I have never seen this movie in its entirety, I just like the big Cheer Off competition at the end. Still, recognizing anyone as having been in a film that I can barely admit to watching takes a hit at my fangirl pride. Luckily Felicia WAS in the much more acceptable Buffy, so I can pretend I remembered her from that show instead.
And now back to talking about The Guild. This webseries proves that the Internet can feature shows that are just as good (if not better) than what the actual TV has to offer. It is smart, funny, and makes fangeeks feel good about themselves while giving them a chance to also laugh at themselves. I am looking forward to seeing Season 2 when it is finally posted, and finding out what Codex and her band of merry gamers come up with next.
This series can be viewed at its homepage: www.watchtheguild.com, or via YouTube.
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About Melissa: By day a mild-mannered tv station receptionist, by night a fighter of crime and corruption in the dirty streets of Spokane, WA . . . or maybe not so much. More like a hyperactive, anal-retentive daytime receptionist and a melodramatic, hyperactive nighttime fangirl who only wishes she could be a fighter of crime and champion of justice (except that would lead to getting my super costume all dirty and I hate doing laundry.) Though my intent has always been to write bestselling novels and live a life of wealth and luxury, putting my talents for snarkiness and word doodling together while letting my geek flag fly suits me just fine – for now.
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By day a mild-mannered tv station receptionist, by night a fighter of crime and corruption in the dirty streets of Spokane, WA . . . or maybe not so much. More like a hyperactive, anal-retentive daytime receptionist and a melodramatic, hyperactive nighttime fangirl who only wishes she could be a fighter of crime and champion of justice (except that would lead to getting my super costume all dirty and I hate doing laundry.) Though my intent has always been to write bestselling novels and live a life of wealth and luxury, putting my talents for snarkiness and word doodling together while letting my geek flag fly suits me just fine - for now. 
Nice review, Melissa. Short and sweet.
I’ve been meaning to watch The Guild for months now, but keep getting distracted by other things (darn you, Rock Band and Hulu). Hopefully, your reminder will be the final push I need.
And don’t feel bad about recognizing Felicia from Bring It On Again. I have watched that movie in its entirety. Multiple times. As well as the third and fourth ones that she’s not in. (Yes, there are four now.) She could have been in something much, much worse. And I still would have loved her.
Thank you so much for linking to my show! I’m really glad you enjoyed it!
XOOX
Felicia
Nice review, I watched The Guild after Dr. Horrible’s first act (I needed to know more about Penny!) and thought it was awesome, even if I’ve never played an online game before (I stick to a strict gamer diet of Zelda, Mario, and Street Fighter).
i love the guild. i’m glad you did this review on it. everyone should watch it. it is worth the time to watch it. you can see it on the site or through itunes as a podcast. which i love cause that means i can take it with me and have people look at me funny cause i’m laughing at my ipod.
I just started watching this today and love it!
Hey Melissa,
Thanks for the glowing review. I co-produce The Guild with Felicia. We’ll be at PAX in Seattle at the end of August. I know it’s a bit of a drive from Spokane but you should come out! We’re screening The Guild in its entirety at 9pm on Friday and Felicia and Sandeep will be signing DVDs on Fri and Sat upstairs in the skybridge area.
Also, thanks for mentioning that you can appreciate the show even though you are not a gamer per se. I’m not a gamer either (at least not MMORPGs) but the script had me at “there’s a gnome warlock sleeping on my couch.” Cuz that’s just funny.
hey guys..check out this hilarious webseries I found the other day…its about this bum who
gets stuck in the nintendo game version of legend of Zelda..by far the funniest thing ive seen in
weeks..http://www.effinfunny.com/legend-of-neil..check it out!!!