Mythic Quest Season 3 premieres on Apple TV+ Nov. 11.
When a sitcom enters its third season, there can be a tendency to either rest on its laurels or attempt wackier stories to avoid a dreaded rut. Thankfully, Mythic Quest on Apple TV+ is doing neither of these things. At the end of last season, Ian (Rob McElhenney) and Poppy (Charlotte Nicdao) left MQ to focus on Poppy’s new out-of-this-world game Hera. Entering the GrimPop Studios era gives every character space to develop — and, in some cases, regress. The mix of cynical humor and heartfelt moments has always been part of the Mythic Quest tapestry, and both sweet and sour are intrinsic to what makes this show stand out. McElhenney, Megan Ganz, and Charlie Day have perfected this balance in a season with plenty of laughs and a few tears.
Friction is part of the Poppy and Ian formula, and a new setting doesn’t alter their dynamic. A will-they-won’t-they is a sitcom staple, but Mythic Quest replaces a romantic endgame for a creative coupling that is equally compelling. After all, there are plenty of ways to tell a love story, and platonic soulmates don’t always get the attention they deserve.
Dana (Imani Hakim) finds herself caught between the partners as the sole additional GrimPop employee; thankfully, the power games within this trio shift continuously. The “stupid spaceship office” (as Poppy describes it) generates conflict throughout the season and never grows old. Asking for interior design without any visible lines means that it is amusing whenever a character opens a door. Production designer Valdar Wilt has created a distinctly Ian Grimm workspace. Sight gags include the wall of innovators, and they are playfully sending up Apple with these black-and-white images that scream the famous Think Different campaign.
Meanwhile, Poppy’s workstation is the level of chaos we expect; a mix of candy and post-its scattered with no rhyme or reason. Mythic Quest leans further into the different methods of getting anything done. Without the other distractions from their former co-workers, the unlikely duo’s artistic quirks and impossible egos are laid bare.
Nicdao has always played Poppy as a bag of nerves with zero filter, and she turns up the dial on both aspects of the personality with impressive results. Her inability to read cues isn’t the only element lost in translation, as she doesn’t get obvious pop culture references. If you thought you had seen every iteration of Lucy and Ethel in the chocolate factory scene, then prepare to be mistaken. Throwing in Aussie snack brands like Tim Tam and confusing Ian with the word “jumper” are a couple of the laugh-out-loud moments — not to mention her liberal cuss word usage.
Poppy is captivating because she is simultaneously a genius and a mess who isn’t trying to be America’s Next Top Girlboss. Not to say she doesn’t want to charm or wow other people, but she is also aware of her struggles, even if it takes a beat to land on the same page as everyone else. Whereas her partnership with Ian is established, she also builds on some relationships with her former colleague. One of the funniest outings involves brunch with Jo (Jessie Ennis) and Rachel (Ashly Burch), underscoring this group’s different shades of awkwardness. Callbacks are a Mythic Quest strength, and this brunch is not forgotten as soon as this episode is over.
C.W.’s absence is explained in the first episode with equal parts heart and humor.
The characters try to find a place in this working environment as a running theme, whether it is Poppy and Ian trying to make Hera happen, Brad (Danny Pudi) playing janitor, or the recently promoted Carol (Naomi Ekperigin) getting a handle on her new job. The former HR maven swings between exasperation and feeling herself, which is a combination that shouldn’t go together but does. The latter also sums up how every different pairing or trio is a winning mix-and-match system.
Change has come to the MQ office in more ways than one, and it was announced earlier this year that F. Murray Abraham would not be returning for the third season as seasoned sci-fi author C.W. Longbottom. No further information was divulged at the time (and you can currently see the Oscar winner in The White Lotus), but C.W.’s absence is explained in the first episode with equal parts heart and humor.
In fact, it becomes clear that last season’s C.W.-focused flashback episode and subsequent follow-up with guest star William Hurt effectively closed the chapter on this character in its exploration of lost love, artistic ambition, and ego standing in the way of friendship — a cautionary tale of sorts. C.W. had become more than a blowhard who couldn’t help but say something inappropriate, but there was a risk that the writers would end up repeating the same jokes. Without C.W., the third season moves forward rather than circling the admittedly entertaining drain, and creatively it is a decision that pays off.
There are references to the science-fiction worlds C.W. created, and it wouldn’t be Mythic Quest without a standalone episode exploring the past. The first season’s exquisite “A Dark Quiet Death” made it clear that this comedy wasn’t sticking to the workplace sitcom playbook. While “Sarian” doesn’t quite hit those depths, it does strike an emotionally revelatory chord that showcases how fantastic the casting department is and feeds into the main themes of identity and finding your place.
Exploring character doesn’t mean the laughs are lacking, and “12 Hours of Christmas” is an example of being able to deliver jokes while successfully landing sentimental interactions. Having a festive episode this close to the holiday season isn’t simply a case of tapping into the goodwill of this time of year. The blend of highs and lows experienced by the MQ employees, coupled with David’s (David Hornsby) plans for this particular day, manages to do what the Ted Lasso Christmas episode (which had the misfortune of airing in August) could not.
Community is part of the MQ brand, and while a lot of resentment runs through the employees’ veins, there are projects that bring people together. The Mythic Quest movie in development this season gives David rare confidence, although there are plenty of obstacles along the way and moments for Jo to dial up her intensity. Seeing the prickly assistant tasked with making small talk with Joe Manganiello (who is playing himself) is endlessly entertaining — particularly as Jo has a meager opinion of Hollywood types. Ian’s outrage over this casting of a game he created leads to some hilarious height jokes, and I was thrilled that Mangianello’s public D&D adoration is referenced. If you are going to stunt cast, then best to do it with someone who fits this particular world (see also: the references to his True Blood character).
The attention to detail from each department shows a deep care for this universe.
A lot of the on-screen talent pulls double duty, whether in writing or directing capacity (in some cases both). The attention to detail from each department shows a deep care for this universe. Building worlds is what these characters do, and while their onscreen counterparts struggle this season, the writing team (including McElhenney, Burch, Hornsby, and Ekperigin) soar. That isn’t to say it is flawless, and one area that I would like to see more of is Rachel and Dana’s relationship. They have settled into a comfortable place but don’t spend much time in each other’s orbit now that they are on different paths. However, Mythic Quest remains one of Apple TV+’s best shows and has not lost its appetite for ambitious storytelling. The finale will leave you craving the next expansion pack, and the good news is that it has already been renewed for a fourth outing.
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