The Guild Season 4, Episode 3 – Oversupportive’d

By WorldofHiglet

Last week saw the release of “Game On’, the epic new music video from The Guild. The song and video were released yesterday (August 3rd 2010) and zoomed up the charts, going straight into the iTunes top ten in the US, Canada and UK.

This week Season 4 continues with “Oversupportive’d”

Codex is back in rationalisation alley, which is next to “I got stood up” alley and way over on the other side of the tracks from “I have a boyfriend” street. Sure, there could be lots of reasonable explanations for why Fawkes sent Venom instead of showing up himself. He was probably just to caught up in the game to realize it was supposed to be a date. Really.

Her self-doubt is cut short by more webcam fail, though.

Lucky for Codex, though, Zaboo is on hand and he is soon on his knees, rummaging around. Seems that Bladezz put inferior parts in the box that caused it to go wild. It doesn’t take him long to get everything in order.

Like the Zaboo of old, he is upbeat and earnest:

“Look how far we’ve come, huh! From star-crossed lovers to inseparable BFFs! Rollercoaster’d!”

And, like the Codex of old, she is contrary and distant: “Er, I wouldn’t have put it either of those ways. But thanks.”

His mission of mercy accomplished, Zaboo is keen to drive home the point that he is absolutely 110% on Codex’ side when it comes to her dating Fawkes. So much so that he has a special and unique present for her – a picture. And what a picture!

Codex is almost overcome at the sight of it, and who can blame her? And imagine if it was painted on the side of a van…! It’s team Codex-Fawkes. Team Cawkes! (wow, that does NOT sound right….). Luckily she doesn’t need to say too much because – incoming! Zaboo mom has left him another voice mail.

It’s the dragonlady’s birthday soon and one thing that would really make her day would be just to hear from her precious. How awful! Zaboo feels trapped by her all over again but Codex can’t see the problem. Sometimes people seem like jerks but really, you should just call them. Apparently she was talking about Zaboo. Riiiight.

Zaboo is so happy with the way things are going, he is super-stoked: “I love being the friend zone! I never knew women could be such great pals!”

The positive vibe is killed when they both log on to find Vork in the throes of despair over his lack of gold acquisition. His iron ingots have barely shifted while and Clara is crowing over her and Tink’s awesome new line of must-have accessories – über fishing gloves. Clara taunts Vork with a hearty “Vork is a loser! Vork is a loser!”. Not quite as catchy is her ‘Festival of The Sea’ shanty, but it gets her point across.

Tink and Clara have been coining it in by luring buyers onto private chat called “Fishy Lips” and then wowing them with their feminine wiles – they’ve teamed up to clean up. It even works on Zaboo. They’ve already amassed 5000 gold and are well on their way to getting the Guild Hall of their dreams. Vork only has 2000 gold so far and is outraged: “Can I turn them in for auditory prostitution?”

Zaboo doesn’t rate his chances at that but Vork is desperate: “I need a defensible Guild Hall not a glitter… infested…urgh..puffy paint palace!”

He rails against Bladezz too, but Codex reminds him that Bladezz is a worker now, which gets Vork to wondering whether they could team up, since Bladezz is all responsible and such now….

…Cut to Bladezz, who is in the middle of a delicate operation. Bowling plastic cups over. On the kitchen floor. With a hunk of meat. His boss is impressed with his toss but when Bladezz’ co-worker, Jeanette, complains, she is threatened with the plank. Oh yes. Bladezz is loving his place in the world of work.

Back in Codex’ bedroom, the BFFs are discussing Fawkes’ aroma. Well, Zaboo is. He imagines Fawkes to exude the aroma of nutmeg and rawhide, which horrifies Codex: “He’s not a gingerbread cowboy!”

Codex again has problems with her computer and Tink scornfully suggests she asks her new boyfriend to buy her a new one – which leads Clara to ask how The Date went. Codex starts to babble but is sort of saved by her computer crashing completely. Clara suggests she wave to Fawkes in game since he is riding by, which panics Codex further. Vork dryly suggests that Fawkes is probably on the way to but a Deluxe Guild Hall in sensible colours.

Again, Zaboo is there to save to day and offers to log into her account on his machine, since he has her password and sometimes rearranges her backpack items. Codex uses Zaboo’s laptop to wave at Fawkes but, alas, she is, as Tink puts it: “…blown off by a guy riding a mastodon!”

Codex’ ego-preservation goes into overload as she lists off reason why he might not have seen her and quickly determines she should ring him. Why shouldn’t she ring him? They are dating, for goodness sake!

She rushes off with the phone and quickly gets through to Fawkes, who is, at least, to the point: “You can’t undo the past. But you can certainly not repeat it. Bruce Willis.” Codex tries to be casual in asking when they should arrange to go out again. Fawkes is clear that he was clear about the fact that he doesn’t date.

Which is not what Codex wants to hear. She is not a one-time deal sort of gal – except Fawkes is making out like she is. He hangs up leaving her hanging on to an awful realization: “Oh my god! I really am a hoe-bag?”

This is another action-packed episode that races on with super-slick editing. The webcam failure at the start is really well done, although because of the streaming problems I was having I wasn’t sure at first whether it was my computer or Codex’ that was glitching.

When Zaboo plays the message from his mum and Codex starts to ramble on about how people might not be the jerks you think they are, I totally thought she might talk about layers and pie. Obviously she didn’t, so it’s enough that I thought she might…mmm pie. And that picture!!! It is so wrong, it is epically right! Painted by Greg Aronowitz you can see it in all its glory here.

It’s great to see Zaboo so upbeat and trying so hard, even if it’s bound to end badly (if not for him, then Codex). He suffered so much at the hands of Riley it is heart warming to see his infectious zest for life reemerge. You just have to love his commitment to his friend.

Tink and Clara’s fishing glove patter is hilarious – as is the fact that it works on Zaboo, too. They are working so well together it’s a joy to behold. It’s a blessed relief to see Tink smiling, even if it causes Vork so much pain.

There are some wonderful one-liners, as always. Vork’s “Aneurism!” ejaculation on hearing Tink and Clara have sold even more gloves is timed perfectly and definitely goes on the enormous list of Vorkisms. Codex’ line: “My character is leaping around like a crack-filled ferret!”, Zaboo’s “Inventory Tetris’d” and Clara’s “Get drunk and turn up at his doorstep…”are also classic.

Given how much Bladezz is enjoying being the favourite at Cheesy Beards and how irate Jeanette is getting, I think it’s safe to imagine that he might be getting some kind of comeuppance before the end of the season.

I love the way that Fawkes answers every call with his activity at the time, “Journalling.” And the fact he is writing in a huge tome. With a quill. He is so cocky and sure of himself that it makes me want to punch him in the sporran. Sporran-punching is a dish best served cold. I hope it’s on the menu soon.

Roll on Episode 4!

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WorldofHiglet is the online persona of writer Mary R. Higgins, a born-again geek reclaiming her heritage bit by bit. A youth filled with sci-fi, horror and adventure in TV, films, computer games and books was crushed by years of office grind. Buffy brought her back into the fold after years of denial. Discovering Firefly sealed the deal. Now she geeks fulltime on her blog ‘the last geek bus home’ . Her first novel ‘Turning left at Albuquerque” is complete and she has just launched HigletFilms.com, a new webvideo entertainment site serving new, original videos every Monday.

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