It's been three weeks since fans have revisited the main offices of Mythic Quest. The last two episodes have left behind the gaming company's main staff for some intense character investigation of C.W. Longbottom. "Backstory!" reviewed C.W.'s history, including a tale of unrequited love and the truth behind his Nebula Award-winning novel. Then, in last week's episode "Peter", C.W. got a shot at, if not redemption, at least reconciliation with an old friend.
The C.W. saga created a deeply moving portrait of a character who'd previously been an easy target for scorn. At the same time, the two episodes rest uneasily amidst the entirety of the season, in part because of their extended absence from the characters who are the real heart of the show. This week "Juice Box" brings everyone back for the high watermark of Mythic Quest's second season.
It's not often that a show can hit moments of comedy that also feel emotionally sincere. The real draw of Mythic Quest has been its incorporation of three-dimensional characters whose complexity plays for laughs. The C.W. episodes couldn't find the balance between complexity and hilarity, though they hit individual beats with particular strength. In its best moments, "Juice Box" finds the balance and perfects it.
Checking In
The many B-plots of the episode quickly make the rounds between Mythic Quest's supporting cast. Poor David Brittlesbee contends with some major changes in his life. Mainly that his ex-wife forcing him to move out of their old home. Not to worry, he'll be moving closer to the widow he started dating in "#YumYum". His cheery optimism in the face of endless defeats never struggles to get a laugh. Still, one hopes that the show eventually gives David the same careful attention and added depth its given most of the other characters.
When testers Rachel and Dana are on screen, the show delightfully continues to avoid going for easy drama. In the very first episode of the season, Mythic Quest ended the "will they/won't they" aspect of their dynamic. The show favored exploring their genuine relationship, and "Juice Box" continues the trend. There is an opportunity for easy conflict that the episode disregards. It turns to a more heart-warming and believable development in the couple's relationship.
Dani Pudi's Brad Bakshi continues his interesting evolution that began in "Breaking Brad". He's disheartened when David asks for help moving because "You only ask nice people to help you move." This episode asks, for the first time, if Brad would drop his cutthroat demeanor if it wasn't so necessary for his survival at Mythic Quest. It also sets up Brad to get the opportunity to ask himself that same question.
C.W. gets only one scene, but his is one of the funniest. "Juice Box" doesn't try to present the character any differently than episodes that came before the show's deeper exploration of the character. The audience might know more about C.W. now, but that doesn't mean his behavior has changed at all. Unfortunately, his scene is brief enough that the full effect of that newly developed dissonance isn't entirely felt.
Heart And Soul
The relationship between Rob McElhenney's Ian Grimm and Charlotte Nicdao's Poppy Li has been at the heart of the entire season. Their tense confrontation at the end of "Please Sign Here" left their friendship in question. Their individual expansions for the Mythic Quest game are finally ready, but each has its own problem. Poppy faces a technical issue – her idea just doesn't seem to function in the game. Ian faces an emotional issue – his idea feels incomplete without Poppy's approval.
Mythic Quest has always been at its strongest when it investigates the inner workings of human relationships. The success of last season's "A Dark Quiet Death" rests entirely on the reality of the relationship at its core and the performances of its two leads. This episode gives both McElhenney and Nicdao their most shining moments of the show's run.
"Juice Box" squashes any lingering doubt as to whether McElhenney can act outside of a comedic box. His tender and vulnerable presentation of Ian is especially moving. Viewers can see the character's psychological walls coming down, and Ian's inner struggle offers the most touching moment the character has had so far.
At the same time, the show manages to take his habitual defensiveness and use it for a laugh right in the heart of the drama. For her part, Nicdao gives an uncompromising yet empathetic performance that melts away the distinction between Poppy as character and real human being. Together, the two of them create a moment that has just as much heart as the ending of "Peter" without any sense of forced resolution.
If there's a complaint to be had, it's that the disparate story threads aren't given quite enough time to breathe. "Juice Box" is just about the shortest episode of the season (it's longer than "Breaking Brad" by a few seconds). Though the episode doesn't feel rushed, it could have benefited from a few more minutes to give all the characters time to feel out their scenes. This is a near-perfect episode of Mythic Quest. It's what makes the show one of the best on the air.