The Guild Season 4 Episode 1: Epic Guilt

After months of waiting, Season 4 of the multi-award-winning webseries, The Guild, is now here.

Season 4, Episode 1, “Epic Guilt” was released yesterday on July 13th 2010 and all 12 episodes of Season 4 will be released weekly on MSN/Bing and Xbox Live. Before we get into the review, though, how about a recap of Season 3 by The Gregory Brothers?

And a look at the Teaser Trailer?

And finally “Epic Guilt” itself:

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

The episode starts with Codex bringing us up to speed on events with her customary webcam chat “…I’ve certainly never done…[glances over shoulder to bed] that…on a first date….” Ah. Regrets – she’s had a few.

But Codex, perhaps still fired up from her epic win over the Asses of Anarchy (and her subsequent conquest of Fawkes) is, for once, clear about what she needs to do. She and Fawkes will no doubt soon be out and about on lofty pursuits like foreign films and foreign food so she has to tell her Guild all about their relationship before they are caught in the act. Er, what?

Her resolve to come clean is immediately tested though because it seems that everyone else has very pressing things to discuss.

Clara, wearing what will surely be the must-have hat for the coming Convention Season, is in high spirits. So high, she is moved to shanty: “Enchant a fish and make a wish – the Festival of The Sea!” Very catchy. It’s an in-game holiday and there’s fun for everyone:

“I can’t wait to get my character that epic coconut bra!”.

And Zaboo is similarly excited: “I’m going to call my seahorse ‘Drowny’. Ironic’d!”

Everyone except Bladezz, of course, who has enough pirate action on a daily basis while working at Cheesybeards without hearing and seeing it ingame, too.

Just as Codex is about to unburden, her computer crashes. Simultaneously Zaboo’s phone signals Red Alert – his psycho mum is on the line! This sends Zaboo into a panic and the poor desperate fool attempts to bury his phone with everything that comes to hand. Including a red hot burger. Burn’d.

Codex gets back online but is interrupted again by Vork who has a special announcement. He has decided that to heal the wounds of their recent difficulties The Guild should buy a Custom Guild Hall. The Expansion Pack included the ability to create housing – but, like real life, it ain’t cheap. Even Clara can work out that they are far short of the half a million gold needed for the deluxe version.

Bladezz, frying (and sneezing on) burgers with one hand while on his laptop with the other, is unimpressed. But he has a new nemesis. Customers are apparently more discerning than expected and the waitress is keen to bring this to Bladezz attention:

“Hey – idiot! I can’t serve a charcoal briquette!”

She follows this up with an impressive burger-hurl at his head. Neat.

Back in chat and Tink is holding no truck with the idea of spending loot on such a waste of space but Codex, perhaps unwittingly, provides them with a rallying point. She has heard (nudge, nudge) that the Axis of Anarchy is going for one of the deluxe halls, which immediately makes the Knights of Good want one too. Hooray for unity!

Codex again tries to segue into telling them about her relationship but is interrupted by Bladezz complaining about Bruiser treating his mum to a wine-tasting tour of Napa “…Like she’s fancy or something.” (oh – the humanity!) and Tink telling Codex that Fawkes has been talking lewd about her.

Codex greets this news with surprise and everyone agrees Fawkes has been innuendoing. Except Clara, who is hungry. As Vork puts it: “He’s reprehensible!”. Quite. So why did Codex look almost pleased?

No matter. At last, she has her opening and took it without hesitation: “I’m dating him.”

After a moment of the awkwardest silence, Zaboo sets parameters by screaming hysterically. It’s a little too late for Codex to put her pants back on so he followed that up with an epic faint.

Not surprisingly, this news does not sit well with the rest of The Guild and Tink is quick to point out that Fawkes nearly broke The Guild apart. Bladezz is also quick to point out to Tink that she was the one who started that, and Clara seems almost excited by the prospect.

Vork has more pressing matters, but first he has to deal with the unconscious Zaboo. His First Aid training comes into play but he sets his own parameters:
“I am not putting my mouth to your mouth!”

Zaboo, temporarily revived, is a babbling wreck yet still manages to blame himself: “…Why did I remove those surveillance cameras?!”

It’s all too much and he passes out again. Bladezz accuses her of “Guild incest” since Bruiser is also in a physical relationship with his mum and in her panicked damage-limitation Codex manages to confirm that yes, her and Fawkes were intimate on their first and only date. Tink is aghast and Zaboo? He takes the news pretty much as you would expect and refaints. Clara delivers a classic: “…achievement unlocked..”

Bladezz puzzles the semantics of “Banged” versus “Boffed” while Codex tries her best to justify her actions. Her and Fawkes are in a relationship and she wants to let it runs its course. Tink is scathing in her assessment of a successful union but Clara is more comforting – the fact that Fawkes left his jacket at Codex’ apartment means that he is like a dog who pees to mark his territory. Which is apparently a good thing.

Vork has had enough of this non-Guild-related chitchat. There are important decisions to be made re, colon, The Guild Hall. Codex’ plea for props since she was honest about everything falls on deaf ears and, because she wasn’t distraught enough, her computer then starts to fizz and crackle, and then sets on fire. Divine judgement? Or something else? Watch this space….

It is a relief to see all of The Guild together again at the beginning of this episode exactly where they should be – sitting at their respective computers (or standing, in Bladezz case). Vork is back in his shed with Zaboo at his side. It’s the way it should be. No wonder Codex has to immediately put that in jeopardy. This season opener brings everything together so well. The status quo is reset at the beginning but then the conflict starts straight away. We are introduced to a new character; Bladezz co-worker, and she certainly made an impression (and not just on Bladezz head). I’m looking forward to seeing more from her.

Why does Codex feel the need to tell The Guild about her and Fawkes’ tryst? Surely the chance of being ‘discovered’ isn’t that high and who’s to say he’ll ever ring her again? He could easily just send Bruiser around to arrest her for stealing his jacket – that’s more likely than them sharing melt-in-the-mouth uncooked Italian meat. They have a relationship?!? No matter how much Fawkes is into Codex (and I think he has been interested for a long time) surely even she can see that he is not really relationship material. Or maybe she can change him? That always works out so well….

This season is shot in glorious 1080p – and it shows. The quality is amazing even streaming on the web and I can’t wait to see it in HD on my Xbox. The edits and cuts are fast and precise, and the music is, once again, exemplary. And the ‘exploding computer’ special effect is very well done. Considering that most of the characters are mostly static the whole time, there is an amazing amount of action involved and the episode does not feel over five minutes long. Felicia crammed a whole lot of story, emotion and laughter into this script.

The arena is set for another epic season and I’m looking forward to seeing what’s in store. The actors are at the top of their game and the performances are spot on. What will happen next?

Felicia Day has blogged (http://feliciaday.com/blog/guild-season-4-premieres) about this episode and gives some great insights into the story and look of this season. The Official Fan Podcast of The Guild, The Knights of The Guild (http://knightsoftheguild.podbean.com), are also running special CompanionCasts for each of the episodes of Season 4. This special episodes will be packed with Behind The Scenes information and interviews. In the Season 4, Episode 1 CompanionCast (http://knightsoftheguild.podbean.com/2010/07/14/kotg-companioncast-s4e1/), Kenny Mittleider (http://twitter.com/geekyfanboy) interviews Felicia Day, Kim Evey, Sean Becker, Sandeep Parikh, Jeff Lewis, Tymberlee Hill and Greg Aronowitz.

The Guild Season 4 will be released every Tuesday for the next 11 weeks and I will be reviewing them all here on PinkRaygun.com. See you next week!

The Guild website: http://www.watchtheguild.com/
The Guild Twitter: http://twitter.com/theguild
The Guild at San Deigo Comic Con: http://www.watchtheguild.com/the-guild/1371/

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