Mythic Quest Season 4, Episode 2, “1000%,” takes the characters’ best efforts to be bold to another, eventually AI-generated level. This episode, written by David Hornsby and directed by Charlotte Nicdao, diffuses the emotional bombshell at the end of “Boundaries” by leaning on computers. For much of its runtime, “1000%” delays the inevitable across most of Mythic Quest Season 4’s serialized arcs by embracing the technical to avoid the personal.
The ensemble eventually learns that this is easier said than done. “1000%” demonstrates that these characters and their dynamics are too interesting to be eclipsed by patterns of 1s and 0s. Mythic Quest Season 4 now has the exciting job of unpacking their reluctance to accept that and all that it means.
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The Ethics Committee Returns
“1000%” frames that conversation about valuing people with a bookend featuring Sue, who hasn’t appeared since Mythic Quest Season 3, Episode 3, “Crushing It.” Giving the opening a horror slant compliments David’s jarring delivery of Sue needing to fire 1,000 people–all of whom Jackie knows by name–by the episode’s end. David’s inability to compromise and employ more humans (The company is only down $4 million) boosts support for Dana. David, who usually has a sympathetic portrait, comes across as greedy, and that image is further tarnished by entrusting AI to prove his decisiveness to Ian.
This side of David isn’t new; Mythic Quest’s previous seasons gradually bring him to this place where he will do anything to prove he can lead. Consequently, the show has more material to play with and explore the character’s depths. Unfortunately for him, that does not happen in the first ethics committee meeting since Mythic Quest Season 1, Episode 3, “Dinner Party.”
That meeting is a more efficient vehicle to pitch Brad’s in-game economy that rewards creatives, including Dana. Coincidentally, it’s also the platform for a dialogue about people teaching and trusting technology to help people. The bit culminating in tech losing their progress–much like the team’s bonding over their least favorite things being lost off-screen–is hilariously transparent. The complexity of human emotions and experiences is rarely accurately translated to technology, whether AI or a SMART Board.
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What’s Next for Carol? And Jo?
Even when all of the sex positions and grievances are lost to the lost signal, the humans who help create those lists persist. “1000%” quickly drops a lot of exposition about Carol’s personal life, so, unsurprisingly, a story takes shape for her with one of the testers, Andy. Mythic Quest has yet to make real waves for Andy or Mikey, but “Boundaries” makes the point that Andy has an interest in life beyond their room. Hopefully, this storyline will provide substantial screen time for all of them, especially Carol. Naomi Ekperigin is an invaluable talent.
It’s already exciting that “1000%” signals more of Carol in Mythic Quest Season 4, but this episode doesn’t stop there. It takes the lead of “Boundaries” and shapes Jo’s arc. Though it finds its most explicit definition in the final minutes, “1000%” does subtle work that makes that final exchange with Dana excel.
In Season 1 (or 2 or 3), Jo would boast that she read Rachel’s texts to make that carefully curated binder of (mostly) adoptable dogs. In this episode, Rachel is hesitant to tell Dana the truth. Then again, Jo gets a twinkle in her eye at the idea of stealing dogs from their owners. That balance makes Jo’s final scene impactful. For once, someone–Dana–is willing to invest in Jo on the same (or similar) level she invests in others. But to accept that, Jo must figure out what she wants, which is a great place to leave her after this two-episode premiere.
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Ian and Poppy Are Irreplaceable
While other characters are verging on reconnecting with themselves, Ian and Poppy couldn’t be more disconnected. Mythic Quest posits that Poppy is distracted by her relationship with Storm, but the relationship is too new and too absent on camera to understand its distracting capability. At this point, it’s more common for the show to feature Ian’s perspective on it than any scenes between Poppy and Storm. (Whoever decided to have Ian play with a grip strength trainer while saying he’s 1000% with the relationship deserves an award). Ian’s jealousy (David and Rachel acknowledging it!) is the main element that underscores Poppy’s relationship’s supposed seriousness.
Interestingly, “1000%” reveals Poppy’s reaction to Ian’s perception of her. She appears hurt that Ian only sees her for her brain, which eventually drives her to create the AI versions of both of them. Not only does Ian basically admit that he hopes Poppy 2 makes Poppy jealous, but those AI iterations reveal more about how well Poppy and Ian know each other. Ian knows to ask about Poppy’s relationship with her sister, and Poppy can replicate Ian’s mind, which was previously impossible, according to him. These two characters know each other better than most, and it doesn’t help that “1000%” doesn’t give Storm a chance.
Instead of a single scene of the new couple, Mythic Quest features a fantastic montage of Ian and Poppy, who eventually spiral with their AI counterparts. Cleverly, “1000%” cuts from that to Ian admitting to missing more than Poppy’s brain. He says that a computer could never replace her earlier in the episode. Still, this one-sided conversation comes as a recognition that he likes Poppy for all of her human complexities–something she appears to want to hear earlier.
Rob McElhenney’s performance makes this monologue (His voice breaks at one point!), and Nicdao’s direction emphasizes Ian’s rare display of vulnerability. It’s a perfect culmination of the episode’s themes that Ian reveals so much (“It’s all so confusing”) to Poppy 2. That distinction lifts weight from such a recognition and removes reciprocal emotion. Moreover, it delays a conversation that will need to happen because human emotions are bold and unavoidable, and Poppy and Ian’s connection is irreplaceable.
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What did you think of Mythic Quest Season 4, Episode 2, “1000%?” Let us know in the comments below!
New episodes of Mythic Quest stream Wednesdays on Apple TV+.
