Mythic Quest Season 4, Episode 3, “Breakthrough,” centers on financial, personal, and professional developments – or the effort it takes to avoid them. The characters circle relevant conversations as they take breaks to prevent burnout and crash-outs. This episode, written by John Howell Harris and Directed by Todd Biermann, says a lot in its subtext and through its joke. In its unique way, Mythic Quest reminds its characters that it’s okay not to be OK, that rest is essential, and that rebirth can look different for everyone.
MORE: Have you read our review of Mythic Quest Season 4, Episode 1, “Boundaries?” Here it is!
Brad Cares About More Than Money
“Breakthrough” is a small part of a series-long breakthrough for Brad. What starts as money’s self-proclaimed father acting for the betterment of money becomes about Brad’s care for Dana and Rachel – even if he doesn’t admit it. Brad takes the time to sift through their financial records and invests so much energy in their financial investments that it inspires a Don Draper impression. Brad cares so much that Dana and Rachel will be broke in 5 years that he tries to use the testers’ financial status to scare them. When they don’t fully receive his warnings, Brad’s reaction (He entertains paying Andy and Mikey to fight each other) makes him the subject of his advice to remove emotion from money.
While it’s hilarious for Brad, who served time for insider training, to be the point person for financial responsibility, there is truth to the importance of economic knowledge and literacy. Given her significant debt, Rachel’s Hustlers-inspired purchase is both inspired and irresponsible. Likewise, there is truth in Rachel’s point that money is for happiness and a reward. Mythic Quest represents both sides of that coin, yet the characters struggle to find a financial balance. Instead, Dana and Rachel find an emotional compromise. Though they may be broke in five years, the couple will have Hustlers and happiness.
MORE: Did you miss our review of Mythic Quest Season 4, Episode 2, “1000%?” Here it is!
Warrior Within Day with Jo and David
Every Mythic Quest Season 4 episode finds a different way to strengthen Dana and Rachel’s relationship. Meanwhile, they find other characters, specifically Jo, searching for stability and purpose. Ian’s repurposed Warrior Within Day leaves Jo with a small dagger that makes her “a rogue,” a near-death experience, and the reassurance that she is supposed to be an assistant. Though Ian says being a rogue makes her a good assistant, Jo’s adherence to that role contradicts the type of warrior she supposedly is. Hopefully, this means that Mythic Quest is far from done with Jo’s arc. After all, Dana promises to help Jo find something beyond this job but has yet to deliver. Perhaps that’s why Jo’s potential last thought is about Dana – a breakthrough for Jo is still on the horizon.
Alternatively, David makes real progress during “Breakthrough.” The first two episodes of this season wreck David’s confidence when they aren’t painting a less-than-favorable portrait of him. This episode has David confront his fear of getting hurt and being vulnerable, all while David Hornsby delivers a fantastic line read (“Where’s the breastplate section?). It’s also very in character that David winds up having a real reaction to Warrior Within Day and goes out on a limb to try to create a friendship with Ian. David and Ian’s back and forth (“I like you, just not as a friend”) helps Mythic Quest juxtapose Ian’s platonic dynamic with David and Ian’s less-than-platonic dynamic with Poppy.
MORE: Do you want to revisit the details of the Mythic Quest Season 4 trailer? Watch it here!
Ian, Poppy, Storm, and the Unavoidable
Poppy spends nearly all of “Breakthrough” with Storm, which is fundamental in defining their relationship. Until now, Mythic Quest does a lot of telling instead of showing, but this episode illustrates the appeal of their romance. It’s imperative, given that “Breakthrough” suggests Poppy is (somehow already) falling in love with Storm. Nevertheless, Poppy’s break with Storm results in an art idea, just as Poppy’s Warrior Within Day with Ian would result in an idea for the expansion. The parallel writes itself, but Mythic Quest makes the subtext explicit – Poppy spends the entire day comparing Ian and Storm. She only mentions loving Storm in reaction to things being easier with him than with Ian. A relationship milestone should be exclusive, but Poppy makes it include Ian.
Elsewhere, Ian spends the entire day trying to fill a void left by Poppy, helping others to breakthroughs and mentioning her at every turn (Thank you, David, for noticing!). Ian kicks off his Warrior Within Day by telling Jo and David, “The weapon that one chooses tells us exactly what kind of warrior they are.” Ian picks “the best weapon” – a broad sword – to make Poppy jealous. Still, he denies that he cares about Poppy and Storm; Ian denies his breakthrough. Meanwhile, Ian’s body screams at him in the form of Poppy’s stress hives.
The incandescent, not-so-invisible string between Poppy and Ian is evident enough that even Storm asks if the two have ever been romantic. Poppy’s answer is a variation of “no,” of course, but Storm may want to ask Ian after the final scene of “Breakthrough.” Poppy’s assertion that Strom “brings out the best in” her means that Rob McElhenney can deliver another heartbreaking expression as Ian processes what that means for him. While he noodles through the situation by saying that their dynamic is “totally different” and one couldn’t possibly be “better than the other,” Ian’s hives become unavoidable.
Only when Poppy names them does Ian resign to their existence. His belief that “it’s nothing to worry about” would stand if Mythic Quest doesn’t undercut him by cutting to Cold War Kids’s “Something Is Not Right With Me.” It’s all here – unless Mythic Quest wants to join Ian in denying this breakthrough.
MORE: Did you know Mythic Quest has an anthology spinoff series premiering in March? Here are all the details on Side Quest!
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What did you think of Mythic Quest Season 4, Episode 3, “Breakthrough?” Let us know in the comments below!
New episodes of Mythic Quest Season 4 stream on Wednesdays on Apple TV+.
