The Guild Season 3 Episode 4: Get It Back!

By WorldofHiglet

The plotlines thicken this week and The Guild takes over the Internet with a plethora of new content – videos and websites! The Guild Season 3 is being released weekly each Tuesday on MSN video and Zune. Not only is there S3 Ep4 released, there is also the bonus gag reel from episodes 1-4. Video after the jump.

The bonus gag reel:

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

Season 3 so far: The Guild unite to line up for the new Expansion Pack to their game, ‘The Spires of Dragonor’. After an altercation in the line up with a rival guild, ‘The Axis of Anarchy’, Tink leaves The Knights of Good for the new guild and Vork hands over the Guild Leader disk and chain to Codex. Vork then sets off in search of free wi-fi while Codex has a whole new responsibility to worry about. The Guild free-falls from there. Clara’s marriage, Zaboo’s relationship and Bladezz’ parental situation all threaten the completion (and even the installation) of the Expansion pack.

Episode 4 starts with Codex still trying to find her way as Guild Leader.

Codex: “Without the two hammers of The Guild, Tink and Vork, there (looks at hands) what is this?..”.

Obviously it’s hard not to think of Captain Hammer – he could probably give Codex a few pointers…

We cut straight to the action, then, with George on the verge of leaving Clara. She pleads with him to stay after her indiscretion with Stunt Guy, Wade, explaining:

Clara: “…I was really drunk – and he had touched Chuck Norris..”

Hmm…not really sure that’s a good defense. The whining, immature behaviour from Clara contrasts sharply with the angry position George is taking. He’s been wronged – but he is willing to give their marriage another try on one simple condition. Clara has to spend more time with him. Easy! Except that means less time on the game. I’m sensing more pleading in the future…

A visit from Zaboo really helps Codex to focus, though. Zaboo is staying with Riley since Vork has up and gone. He’s taking a break from all the sex he’s been having (and appears intact after Ep 3’s ‘rough play’). Codex is thrilled to be all up-to-date on how different to her and awesomely oversexed Riley is.

She is still trying to find ways to reach out to Tink so Zaboo suggests she try talking to her in the Axis of Anarchy chat. Codex thinks this is a great idea and is saved from her panic attack by the online reappearance of Vork. He has tracked down some free wi-fi at last – in the drive-thru of a fast food outlet. In between harassing the minimum wage order person with gems such as:

Vork: “That’s the consequence of offering too many combo options!”

Vork counsels Codex on how to deal with Tink. It’s easy – she should just move forward…

Vork is forced out of his wi-fi zone and Codex plunges into the unknown territory of the Axis of Evil chat without any real help. First up we see Wil, er Faulks, berating his fellow Guild-mates for losing something or other. He is not a happy bunny and there is some serious language flying around. What I love about the MSN bleeps is that they are completely redundant – it is all-too-obvious what is being said. In fact, they add a winsome charm.  And although it looks like everyone is enunciating really clearly to aid lip-reading, I’m sure that’s just an illusion.

There is bad feeling, perhaps summed up best by ‘Venom’ (who bested Vork at The Gamestop with her whellchair): “God I hate you guys! There isn’t a natural disaster big enough to kill all the people I hate – including all of you.”

Into this happy scene Codex cheerily, if nervously, pipes up. The AoA are suitably impressed with an interloper in their chat and the language flies freely again. Faulks is acerbic and asks why she is there, while Bruiser (the large black guy who danced so effectively in Ep 2) tells Codex Tink is listening in.

Codex is happy Tink is there – Tink less so. She is adamant that she is staying in the AoA and doesn’t want to talk it through with Codex. This slap in the face is summed up by Bruiser: “You diplomacy just got smeared a *bleep* moustashe, Sport.” Codex is distressed, but she hasn’t seen/heard anything yet. Faulks ends with a firm (and bleep-ridden) warning about that those who mess with the AoA…

Codex and Zaboo barely have time to get used to the fact Tink is gone before Bladezz is OMG-ing. Someone has leaked his guilty modeling secret all over the intertubes! FinnSmulders.com is live and already sent to the whole of his High School email list and Finn Smulder-faces on sticks are all over campus. Smulder’d. Bladezz’ life is ruined and it’s all down to the AoA. The episode ends with Dena playing on her bass, Bladezz throwing a toy at her and them both shouting for Mommy…

So the downward spiral continues. Will Clara be forced to actually face up to her responsibilities to her family? Is Bladezz ever going to be able to show his face again?  Will Vork find a decent wi-fi connection? Is Tink gone for good? Is Codex ever going to do something effective for The Guild? Has the glow been beaten out of Zaboo and Riley’s relationship?

I’m enjoying this season immensely. The characters are showing their true colours and are being forced to do the unthinkable – come to grips with their off-line lives.

Seeing all the different ‘gaming rooms’ that the players have is a real treat and the set dresser is to be complemented on creating some very individual spaces. Telling a complete story with so many characters, most of whom are not in the same room, in less than 8 minutes is a very tough call.  But I think the writing is spot on. The narrative flows from person to person seamlessly, and the editing is brilliant. The expression shots and quick cuts really give it pace without confusing the story.

And if that wasn’t enough - the gag reel! I’m not going to day much about that except that it is hi-larious! The first one with Wil and the….well, just watch it – you’ll be so glad you did! And there’s more! We find out about two new websites in this episode, and both of these sites actually exist, so check them out. One thing you can say about The Guild is, that as a series, it really gives you more!

Interview time!

I’m going to be doing a mini-series of articles about the ‘Women of The Guild’. I’ll be doing some interviews as part of this series and I did the first one with Jenni Powell, Key Production Assistant, today. Next I’ll be doing an audio interview with Michele Boyd (who plays Riley), so if you have any questions for Michele please leave a comment here.

What will happen next? Tune in next week for another thrilling installment!

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.

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