Mythic Quest: Raven's Banquet

Mythic Quest: Raven's Banquet is an American comedy streaming television series starring Rob McElhenney for Apple TV+. The series premiered on February 7, 2020.

Mythic Quest: Raven's Banquet
GenreComedy
Created by
Starring
ComposerTakeshi Furukawa
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes10 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
Producers
  • Chris Smirnoff
  • Jeff Luini
CinematographyMike Berlucchi
Editors
  • Trevor Penna
  • Josh Drisko
  • Steve Welch
Running time24–35 minutes
Production companies
DistributorApple Inc.
Release
Original networkApple TV+
Original releaseFebruary 7, 2020 (2020-02-07) –
present
External links
Website

Apple TV+ renewed the series for a second season on January 18, 2020, ahead of its season 1 premiere.[1] A special episode, entitled Mythic Quest: Quarantine, was also produced and aired on May 22, 2020.[2]

Premise

The series follows a video game studio that produces Mythic Quest, a popular MMORPG, run by game-creator Ian Grimm. At the start of the series, the studio is about to release a major expansion to the game, titled Raven's Banquet. The game's creative director is Ian Grimm, who argues with lead engineer Poppy Li, head of monetization Brad Bakshi, and head writer, C.W. Longbottom.[3]

Cast and characters

Main

Recurring

Episodes

Season 1 (2020)
No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date [4]
11"Pilot"David Gordon GreenCharlie Day & Megan Ganz & Rob McElhenneyFebruary 7, 2020 (2020-02-07)
David hires Jo, his new assistant, who immediately begins siding with Ian's opinions, often against David's wishes. In the newest expansion of the game, Raven's Banquet, Poppy creates an in-game item, a shovel, despite Ian's protests. Poppy leaks the shovel to Pootie Shoe, a popular game streamer, who criticizes it. Ian agrees to leave the shovel in the game as long as it can be used as a weapon in addition to Poppy's intended use of in-game digging.
22"The Casino"Todd Biermann
David Gordon Green		David HornsbyFebruary 7, 2020 (2020-02-07)
Pootie Shoe draws attention to the Masked Man, a non-player character with a hidden identity. Ian has claimed since its release that there is a backstory behind the character, but reveals that he is still trying to create it. Brad attempts to use the Masked Man to introduce an in-game casino concept to increase profits, but Poppy immediately insults him and tells him that he is not an important member of the team. Brad revolts by leaving the office and makes all in-game items free for purchase. David and Poppy admit they need Brad, as monetizing the game is the only way to support it. Ian and CW decide to create a second character, The White Knight, who is the Masked Man's son. Despite the similarities to the plot of Star Wars, the team decides to proceed with this plot line.
33"Dinner Party"Todd BiermannMegan GanzFebruary 7, 2020 (2020-02-07)
The Mythic Quest team learns that their game has become an online hangout for Nazis, and attempt to fix their public relations issue. Ian resists an outright ban of Nazis, while Brad, C.W., and David try to determine what types of people should be removed from the game. Poppy releases a new part of the game called Dinner Party, which allows like-minded users to meet and talk. During an in-game anti-Nazi rally, the Nazis use Dinner Party to meet one another and destroy the rally. Poppy and Ian realize that Dinner Party allowed them to see every player who identifies as a Nazi, and move them to an isolated server.
44"The Convention"David Gordon GreenJohn Howell HarrisFebruary 7, 2020 (2020-02-07)
Pootie Shoe announces that he will no longer be playing Mythic Quest. Ian, David, Poppy, and Dana attend a gaming convention to find a new person to stream their game. When there are no successful picks, Poppy realizes that Dana would be an ideal candidate to stream the game online. A Girls Who Code group shows up at the office for a tour, and are disappointed when David is able to find few women to speak with them.
55"A Dark Quiet Death"Rob McElhenneyKatie McElhenneyFebruary 7, 2020 (2020-02-07)
A true standalone episode--none of the main characters are involved. The complete lifecycle from birth to bargain bin of the game "Dark Quiet Death." Guest stars Jake Johnson and Cristin Milioti as Doc and Bean.
66"Non-Player Character"LPDavid HornsbyFebruary 7, 2020 (2020-02-07)
Poppy takes a tour of a rival and sees what the other side looks like while Ian has his masculinity challenged by a new programmer. Dana start her new job as a streamer. David deals with a glitch in the game.
77"Permadeath"Todd BiermannAparna Nancherla & Ashly BurchFebruary 7, 2020 (2020-02-07)
Ian challenges a hacker to an in-game showdown while Poppy goes with the flow.
88"Brendan"Pete ChatmonMegan GanzFebruary 7, 2020 (2020-02-07)
Poppy weighs her decision while Ian takes her to a mysterious meeting. At the office, Brad and Jo have existential crises and Dana gets outed.
99"Blood Ocean"Catriona McKenzieMegan Ganz & Rob McElhenneyFebruary 7, 2020 (2020-02-07)
Season Finale. Poppy and Ian argue and decide what "Blood Ocean" means. David tackles a burgeoning labor dispute.

Special (2020)
No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date [4]
10"Mythic Quest: Quarantine"Rob McElhenneyRob McElhenney & Megan Ganz & David HornsbyMay 22, 2020 (2020-05-22)
The staff deals with virtual meetings and the pandemic. Brad and David have Street Fighter contests with increasing stakes.

Production

Development

On August 9, 2018, it was announced that Apple had given a series order to a new half-hour comedy series written by Rob McElhenney, Megan Ganz, and Charlie Day, all of whom also serve as executive producers alongside Michael Rotenberg, Nicholas Frenkel, Gérard Guillemot, Jason Altman, and Danielle Kreinik. Production companies involved with the series consist of RCG Productions, 3 Arts Entertainment, and Ubisoft Film & Television.[5][6][7]

On January 18, 2020, it was announced that Apple TV+ had renewed the series for a second season, ahead of its season 1 premiere.[1]

Ubisoft, a large video game publisher, assisted with development of the series. McElhenney said the concept of the show resulted from a discussion Ubisoft had with him about producing a television show around video games. McElhenney had been invited to Ubisoft Montreal to discuss the project, and though he was initially hesitant, as he toured the studio, he saw the potential vision for the show. Since then, Ubisoft has assisted in designing the video game characters and game world, as well as providing other art assets for the show. Ubisoft also helped the writers with details of video game development to stay authentic to industry approaches.[8]

The first season consisted of nine episodes released on February 7, 2020. A special episode focusing on the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic was released on May 22, 2020. This episode titled, Mythic Quest: Quarantine was written, shot, and edited in just three weeks, using products supplied by Apple, such as iPhones.[9]

On November 11, 2020, it was reported that the second season suspended production after positive COVID-19 tests of production team members.[10][11]

Casting

Alongside the initial series announcement, it was confirmed that Rob McElhenney would star in the series.[5] On February 1, 2019, it was announced that F. Murray Abraham, Imani Hakim, David Hornsby, Danny Pudi, Ashly Burch, Charlotte Nicdao and Jessie Ennis had joined the cast of the series.[12]

Filming

In March 2019, it was reported by The New York Times that filming had concluded.[13]

Marketing

On June 10, 2019, a trailer for the series was presented by McElhenney at Ubisoft's E3 2019 press conference, where he announced that Mythic Quest would premiere in the fall of 2019.[14]

On December 18, 2019, it was announced that the series would premiere on February 7, 2020.[15]

Reception

The review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 89% approval rating, based on 37 reviews, with an average rating of 7.66/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "While it relies too heavily on the workplace comedy formula, Mythic Quest: Raven's Banquet is nonetheless hilarious and stands out for exploring the gaming industry with intelligence, thoughtfulness, and sincerity."[16] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 73 out of 100 based on reviews from 12 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[17]

References
  1. Turchiano, Danielle (January 19, 2020). "Apple TV Plus Renews 'Mythic Quest: Raven's Banquet' Ahead of Series Premiere". Variety. Archived from the original on November 16, 2020. Retrieved February 4, 2020.
  2. Petski, Denise (May 15, 2020). "'Mythic Quest: Raven's Banquet': Apple Comedy Sets Return With Special Quarantine Episode". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on May 21, 2020. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  3. Rivera, David (February 7, 2020). "Mythic Quest: Raven's Banquet is a comedy surprise you can't miss". The Verge. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
  4. "Mythic Quest: Raven's Banquet – Listings". The Futon Critic. Archived from the original on November 16, 2020. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
  5. Petski, Denise (August 9, 2018). "Rob McElhenney & Charlie Day Comedy Lands Straight-To-Series Order At Apple". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on August 9, 2018. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
  6. Otterson, Joe (August 9, 2018). "Apple Orders Charlie Day, Rob McElhenney Comedy Straight to Series". Variety. Archived from the original on November 16, 2020. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
  7. Goldberg, Lesley (August 9, 2018). "Rob McElhenney-Charlie Day Comedy Scores Apple Series Order". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
  8. Prudom, Laura (February 3, 2020). "Rob McElhenney Explains How Apple's Mythic Quest Will Stay 'Authentic' to the Game Industry". IGN. Archived from the original on November 16, 2020. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
  9. McHenry, Jackson (May 26, 2020). "How Mythic Quest Wrote, Filmed, and Edited Its Quarantine Episode in 3 Weeks". Vulture. Archived from the original on November 16, 2020. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  10. Andreeva, Nellie (November 11, 2020). "Three Series Pause Production, A Pilot Is Delayed At CBS Studio Center Due Of Positive COVID Tests". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on November 16, 2020. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  11. Maddaus, Gene; Low, Elain (December 17, 2020). "'Mythic Quest' Crew Members Angered by Producer's Response to COVID Outbreak". Variety.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  12. Petski, Denise (February 1, 2019). "F. Murray Abraham, Imani Hakim, David Hornsby, Danny Pudi Among 7 Cast In Rob McElhenney & Charlie Day's Apple Comedy Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on November 16, 2020. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  13. Koblin, John (March 17, 2019). "Apple's Big Spending Plan to Challenge Netflix Takes Shape". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on December 30, 2019. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
  14. Patches, Matt (June 10, 2019). "Always Sunny's Rob McElhenney and Ubisoft unveil gaming sitcom Mythic Quest". Polygon. Archived from the original on November 16, 2020. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
  15. "Apple's New Comedy Series "Mythic Quest: Raven's Banquet" to Premiere Friday, February 7". The Futon Critic. December 18, 2019. Archived from the original on November 16, 2020. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
  16. "Mythic Quest: Raven's Banquet: Season 1 (2020)". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on November 16, 2020. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
  17. "Mythic Quest: Raven's Banquet: Season 1". Metacritic. Archived from the original on November 16, 2020. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
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