The Guild Season 3 – Episode 2

Disclaimer: this is a REVIEW and therefore will contain spoilers about this episode (and possibly previous ones). Just so we’re clear on that.

After last week’s cliff-hanger, I was pretty much hoping that this week would shine some light on what was going on with that the new upstart Guild we saw at the end of S3 Ep01. And I was not disappointed. It was really really hard to limit the quotes from the episode because nearly every line is a peach. As usual, Vork gets some absolute corkers…

The episode starts with Codex at her webcam, still neurotic, still providing plenty of evidence as to why putting herself into any situation that might involve tension, aggravation or just other people is probably never going to end well. That being said, there’s a lot of truth to her words:

Codex: “It’s easy to bond over hating something together– the Internet is total proof of that.”

We then rejoin the action with Codex almost standing up for herself – with a bit of help from the homeless lady (played by Kim Evey) and Vork, that is. What follows is a sequence of events that are as hilarious as they are inevitable. Well, the ending is inevitable, the events are… – eventful!

Worlds collide as Vork (played by Jeff Lewis), Guild leader for The Knights of Good, tries to reason with Faulk (played by Wil Wheaton), the Guild leader for the Axis of Anarchy. Vork, using logic and his impeccable habit of over-explaining things to the point of wanting to beat yourself unconscious just to make the words stop, calmly explains that The Knights of Good were first outside Gamestop (the store that houses the precious expansion pack to their MMORPG) and therefore should be first in line. And some other stuff about the end of the world or something.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, this fails to persuade either Faulks or his motley crew, who are disrespectful both in words and hip-thrust dancing (the ‘jiggling’ dance amused me far more than it should – it was masterfully done!).

At this point Tink (played by Amy Okuda) arrives and demands to know why they aren’t first, which leads to this touching exchange between her and the homeless person:

Tink: “I paid stinky crack-addict over there a lot of money to hold my place!”

Homeless person: “METH addict! Crack is for losers.”

Faulks, looking even more superior than Kirk did when explaining he was coming in peace, is unmoved by the wind and fury directed at them – they are the number 1 Guild and so they get to go first. Clara (played by Robin Thorsen) then steps forward into the fray. She has important questions about Faulk’s kilt:

Clara: “Be honest – are you naked under there?”

Clara is interrupted in her attempt to verify the answer but I have a feeling we’ll be seeing a lot more of that kilt…

Codex continues to try and pacify the situation but she’s on the ship of fail. Left with the option of “dealing with it” Vork decides to invoke the ultimate authority – the Gamestop Manager. The next sequence is wonderful on many levels.

For one, the main protagonist is the only AoA Guild member who is a woman. She also happens to be in a wheelchair. In a move that is so practiced you have to wonder what the AoA do on days the server is down, she maneuvers herself then starts shouting for help and gesturing in front of Vork , causing him to utter:

Vork: “Control your steed, woman!”

Now Vork steals every scene he is in for me. Seriously – I cannot get enough of him and his logistical, analytical mind. And the deadpan face – he is an all-round winner. But he is totally upstaged by the antics happening beneath his nose. Faulks presses his advantage as the Gamestop Manager takes in the scene:

Faulks: “What kind of place is this? This poor, innocent hot girl in a WHEELCHAIR…!”

Even as Vork protests his innocence we know the jig is up. The AoA is triumphant, The Knights of Good banished to the back of the queue.

Codex panics as Tink berates Vork and The Guild is dissolving before her eyes. She spouts off a speil about how great the Centaur mounts will be in the expansion but Vork stops her:

Vork: “As stimulating as riding a half-man would be…” (I told you he steals every scene…)

More conflict! As the group struggles with the fast-changing situation, Zaboo surfaces. He is tenderly carried by Riley and quickly helps out.

Riley: “….Oh no way am I sharing more of my little man than I have to…”

Zaboo: “Yeah, whatever the lady nomming on my neck says..”

Tink, still mad at Vork, Bladezz, and everyone else, assaults Vork and then a stand-off ensues. Clara, Tink, Bladezz and Codex now have to decide what to do. As Codex accepts the greatest responsibility she has ever had in her life, Tink flounces off and talks to Faulks as he exits the shop with the game:

Bladezz: “Is she flirting with him? He’s wearing a skirt!”

Oh Noes!

This episode is nearly all filmed outside and the step-up in production values is very noticeable. The lighting and sound are pretty much spot-on and there are some fantastic compositions and shots. The editing, too, is punchy and keeps the action moving as a very quick pace. There is less than 8 minutes of actual story but you feel breathless by the end.

The acting is absolutely top-notch from everyone – even the extras. Wil Wheaton plays Faulks with so much relish he could be a chilli-dog (er – it’s late and, er, that seemed appropriate) and it looks like each of the AoA  members will bring something new and different to the mix. And that is one of the strong points of The Guild. Although the characters are at the limits of what we could possibly call ‘real people’ they are completely believable. Everyone has met people like them – whether they are gamers or not. Dumb humans.

WorldofHiglet is a writer writing the writer’s dream – to write, always. A huge fan of Joss Whedon and Felicia Day who regularly blogs on the last geek bus home about all things geek. She has interviewed Felicia and has set her sights on Joss next. Her first novel, Turning Left at Albuquerque, is being published as an audiobook podcast on turningleft.podbean.com and her latest non-fiction book is currently being considered by agents.