The Guild: Season 1 Review

Logline:

Cyd Sherman, a.k.a. Codex (Felicia Day) has hit bottom. Dumped by her boyfriend, her employer and her therapist, she drowns her sorrows the way any modern girl would: in the world of online gaming. But after a fellow player mistakes their in-game rapport for real-world romance and shows up on her doorstep, Codex brings all of the members of her online guild face-to-face…with very awkward results.
-Amazon product description

Review:

Reviewing The Guild is like trying to review Abraham Lincoln's presidency (okay, not quite): The historical significance tends to eclipse the details. The Guild was part of a revolutionary wave that established web series as serious business. It made Felicia Day into one of the first genuine web series celebrities. And it managed to attract a Microsoft distribution deal. But how well does Season 1 do as 3 to 6 minutes of entertainment?

Pretty well. The Guild shines by targeting a core audience of gamers. While the jokes are usually easily understood, a gamer will probably get a little extra enjoyment out of phrases like "+5 sexterity." The cast captures the humor in a variety of gamer stereotypes, but Felicia Day stands out by also capturing our heart. Her struggles with confidence, responsibility, and happiness feel universal.

At the start of episode 5, she tells us that all the conflicts of the last episode have been resolved. But this instantly proves to be false and she endearingly admits, "I was lying... lied to my own webcam." It's a challenge for any gamer to not fall in love with her.

However, the episodes can feel a bit short for the content in this season. 3 minutes doesn't seem like enough time to really handle 6 characters. This drawback is addressed in later seasons, which range from about 5 to 9 minutes.

The writing is occasionally a bit on the nose or cheesy, but The Guild offers a compelling and addictive first season.

Watch The Guild: Season 1.