Webseries Review: The Legend of Neil

By Melissa Voelker

If “The Guild” is the clean, cute, and humorously obsessive side of gaming, then “The Legend of Neil” would be its opposite. The premise is that the titular hero Neil accidentally (we hope) asphyxiated himself while playing “The Legend of Zelda” and… um…doing something to his body that is not exactly appropriate to mention in polite society. He awakens hung-over and confused, and finds that he has somehow been transported into the actual game. Much questing, foul language, cheap special effects, feeling up of fairies, and hilarity ensue.

Created by Sandeep Parikh, who plays Zaboo in Felicia Day’s webseries “The Guild,” I watched this show on a recommendation Felicia made via Twitter. It seemed like a reasonable thing to do, just follow the actors from one show to the next. And there is definitely some cross-pollinating going on here between these two shows. Besides promoting new episodes of “The Legend of Neil,” Felicia also stars as a very naughty fairy with commitment issues in Episode 3. It is fun to see her play a character that is so very different than Codex from “The Guild.” She sheds her good girl image with almost unbelievable ease, which makes me wonder which character is really more like the Felicia Day of real life. It is also nice to see how involved these actors/writers/directors are in helping each other and seeing that everyone’s shows get as much exposure as possible (not that Neil probably needs anymore exposure than he gets in this series.)

“The Legend of Neil” is only four episodes so far, and like any series it could start out at the top of its game and then lose its footing about midway through the season. But luckily it has a very strong start, and it benefits from being on the Internet and not having to worry about cancellation after only one less than stellar showing. Sandeep has also taken things like a low special effects budget and cheap looking sets and integrated them into the humor of the show. When Neil visits his first “guide” of the game, the suitably called Old Man isn’t embarrassed to reveal the smoke machine he is using to create an ambiance of mystery (as far as I can figure) in his cave hideout. It takes some skill to make fun of your own effects in such a way that it really is funny and not just lazy or flat, and “The Legend of Neil” is created with that amount of skill.

New episodes of “Neil” are premiering on Thursdays each week via www.atom.com. If you are into watching shows that are a little raunchy, with characters who are kind of dirty and unlikable, in situations that are certainly funny, check it out.

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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.