Mythic Quest Season 4, Episode 1, “Boundaries,” twists and turns dynamics until the lines between the professional and personal are so blurry that they’re nearly invisible. Written by Megan Ganz & David Hornsby and directed by Todd Biermann, this episode makes a complex mess of interpersonal relationships. “Boundaries” hinges on constructive chaos that stretches the characters. Season-long narratives take shape rather quickly – some more than others.
Of course, that progression is ideal for a season premiere, but it’s also conducive to the series’ longevity. Mythic Quest is four seasons into its run, and “Boundaries” shows that the comedy still has momentum. This season premiere uses that to tease that the characters, their stories, and the game itself will go to exciting, even surprising, places. Mythic Quest Season 4 only has to deliver.
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Brad and Himself (and Jo)
Unsurprisingly, one of the more ambiguous arcs belongs to Jo, but it could also be one of the most promising by the end of the season. “Boundaries” sees her literally position herself between Dana (her boss) and Rachel (her friend) and feel torn by that strain. This specific interpersonal conflict works because Jo puts more emphasis on these dynamics than they have on Dana and Rachel, respectively. However, it could have worked even better if Jo’s reason for investing meaning into these dynamics had a bit more on-screen evidence.
Since Jo is obsessed with gaining power and aligning herself with those who have it, it’s a big deal that Jo admits she may be her “own worst enemy” regarding her relationships. That confession expresses a self-awareness that will, hopefully, lead Mythic Quest to get to know Jo as she tries to put more stock in her dynamics and get out of her own way. Of course, Jo admitting that perception of herself to Brad doesn’t encourage the most sympathetic response, but it draws an important distinction between the two characters.
Brad and Jo are very similar, so it’s no wonder they make such a chaotic match in “To Catch a Mouse.” However, their distinction relies on their self-awareness – at least in “Boundaries.” Brad doesn’t even imagine that he is the person he’s hunting until David and Ian explain it to him. Brad’s reflection independently moving in Dana’s trophy to mock him is bizarre yet silly, but it tees up an interesting season for Brad. Mythic Quest has a bit of a clean slate for him after he served time for insider training in Season 3.
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Dana and Mythic Quest (and David)
“Boundaries” also positions Brad amid an ongoing and intriguing conversation about creatives and corporations, except it puts him on the artist’s side. That alone is a fascinating conundrum for him, but it’s hard to tell where it will go. For Dana, it may mean leaving Mythic Quest. In “Buffalo Chicken Pizza,” Dana vows not to work for dysfunctional people again, but “Boundaries” finds her back there. The reasoning is nebulous (MQ paid for her school, and Brad locked her into a “rookie contract”), but the conflict’s larger impact outweighs that.
David’s desperation to keep Dana at the company stems from a place of financial gain rather than accommodating the artist who brings that revenue into the game. As artists are valued less in the real world, it feels more than relevant for Mythic Quest to have these conversations among its fictional characters. In turn, it’s rewarding to see Dana stand up to herself and suggest she will try to go somewhere else. It’s also a strong reflection of Dana and Rachel’s relationship that Rachel says making Dana happy is “a couple secret, not a company” one. They are solid this season. “Boundaries” finds real stakes in Dana and Rachel learning professional and personal boundaries because Mythic Quest invests time and story into their relationship.
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Ian and Poppy (and Storm)
Alternatively, “Boundaries” creates seismic waves by introducing Poppy’s aptly-named boyfriend, Storm. Their relationship raises more questions than answers. They’ve been together long enough for Ian to know that Poppy has a boyfriend before she tells him. More importantly, they’ve been together long enough that Storm created and Poppy coded a robot as the central piece in Storm’s art exhibition. “Boundaries” skips a lot of their relationship milestones.
Since it’s only the first episode of the season, Mythic Quest has time to fill in those gaps. Hopefully, it will do so as soon as possible to bolster a relationship that “Boundaries” suggests means a lot to Poppy. Until then, Poppy and Storm’s personally and professionally blossoming relationship only pales in comparison to those complex and well-explored aspects of Poppy and Ian’s dynamic.
All of this brings Mythic Quest back to one of its most debated concepts – whether or not Poppy and Ian are romantic or have romantic potential. Over the last three seasons, the show repeatedly goes out of its way to ensure everyone that their relationship is exclusively platonic. Despite sex dreams, heart-to-hearts, and homages on shovels, Mythic Quest denies any signs of romance. “Boundaries” does when David gently presses Ian about his jealousy of Storm. Yet, the same episode has a wonderfully subtle performance from Rob McElhenney as Ian realizes Poppy gave her “big, beautiful mind” to Storm.
It’s challenging not to read Ian’s reaction as heartbreak. Ian spends “Boundaries” being overly cautious of boundaries to maintain the dynamic he cherishes with Poppy. That effort culminates in Ian learning that his partnership with Poppy isn’t unique – that work and life can blend into signature art and have for Poppy and Storm. Mythic Quest can (and likely will, at least for now) approach this story with a platonic lens, but those final looks between Poppy and Ian speak volumes. An emotional storm is undoubtedly brewing.
MORE: Have you read our review of Mythic Quest Season 3, Episode 8, “To Catch a Mouse?” Here it is!
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What did you think of Mythic Quest Season 4, Episode 1, “Boundaries?” Let us know in the comments below!
New episodes of Mythic Quest stream on Wednesdays on Apple TV+.
