Mythic Quest Season 3 Levels Up On Apple TV+ [Review]

Season 3 of Mythic Quest proves why the show is one of the best comedies out there.

Mythic Quest is back baby! After COVID delays, season three is finally here. If you thought snagging Sir Anthony Hopkins to narrate last year’s holiday special was impressive; just wait until you see some of the cameos they have in-store this season. This show succeeds where other video game adaptations fail, in that it can appeal to a wide audience. It continues to be a statement on the industry with lots of gamer Easter eggs. However, for those who don’t follow the gaming industry, it’s just a fun comedy, with elements of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, that shot creator Rob McElhenney to fame.

Goodbye C.W. Longbottom

We all knew that F. Murray Abraham wouldn’t be returning to the show this season. Since last season was focused so heavily on his character C.W. Longbottom, I was glad to see the show gave him a touching send-off, rather than just flippantly writing him off. The departure of C.W. allowed several other characters to take more prominence; namely Dana (Imani Hakim) and Rachel (Ashly Burch), which I think only helped improve the show this season. Between seasons two and three of Mythic Quest, the gaming industry has been under immense scrutiny. It does place a large focus on diversification within the gaming industry, especially the empowerment of female developers, something I hope actual game studios are taking note of.

The Expansion Pack

Season three picks up right where season two left off. Ian (Rob McElhenney) and Poppy (Charlotte Nicdao) are struggling to get their new company off the ground. With them focusing on her newest creation, “Hera.” David (David Hornsby) has taken over leadership of Mythic Quest and his utter incompetence starts to show. He is propped up and protected by his fierce assistant Jo (Jessie Ennis). Brad (Danny Pudi) is attempting to restart his life as a janitor at Mythic Quest, following his stint in jail, but seems unable to fully put his past behind him. Our former QV testers, Rachel and Dana, are embarking on their next journey in life. Our bitter and exhausted HR manager Carol (Naomi Ekperigin) is trying to find her footing in an industry that’s more concerned about figureheads and quotas, rather than enacting lasting change.

BFFs or Frenemies?

The show still has the same familiarity from previous seasons that made it so enduring, while allowing all the characters to have deeper arcs. Ian and Poppy’s relationship continues to grow and expand over the season, with the tension and power struggle between the two coming to a powerful head at one point. Both Poppy and Ian struggle with finding how they fit in in this world and how to navigate an industry that is as much about business as it is about art. We see a much more vulnerable side to Ian this season, which I think is heightened by the loss of his beard. There was just something about that beard that added to the larger-than-life mythos of Ian. He loses the beard and much of his own arrogance this season.

Gamers in Control

I was especially excited to see Rachel and Dana take larger roles this season. This season showed just how important it is to have actual gamers involved in the decision-making process. Where last season saw them finally deciding to move beyond the tester roles and take the first steps toward advancing in the industry. Video games are a billion-dollar industry and many gamers have been put off by, what is often seen as, cheap money grabs; from microtransactions to paid skills improvement to releasing games with so many bugs it’s almost unplayable. Rachel especially helps show Mythic Quest that they need to offer gamers incentives that remind them why they love playing, rather than gimmicks that are just there to make money.

Girl Power

While Jo is still her snarky self, with the loss of Ian, the burden shifts to her to keep David from falling apart and continue to move the company forward. This becomes especially important when David is in talks to turn Mythic Quest into a movie, much to the horror of many of the other characters. As we all know, gamers hate movie adaptations of their beloved games.

There was a sweet and poignant focus on female bonding during the season. It’s an important reminder to the audience, that in an industry where women are the minority, it’s imperative for them to band together and not be pushed around by the men who are usually in positions of power over them.

We’re also treated to an incredibly emotional standalone flashback episode. One that dives deep into events that influenced how Ian and Poppy came to be the way they are. For a show that is quick on humor, I actually enjoyed this brief detour that reminds the audience of the often traumatic events that can lead to artistic genius. Kudos to Lindsey Kraft (Grace & Frankie) and young Judah Prehn (Resident Alien) for their powerful performances.

Achievement Unlocked

While Apple+ might pale in comparison to Netflix and Disney+ when it comes to subscriber numbers, they continue to put out some of the best shows out there – Ted Lasso, The Morning Show, See. Mythic Quest is by far not only one of the best comedies out there, but also one of the best-scripted series. It’s a reminder of what good television (if we even call it that anymore) can be in an age when the push for unscripted reality shows seems unrelenting.

Season 3 of Mythic Quest premieres November 11 on Apple+

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