‘It was exciting to at least pretend things would return to normal’
Office comedy Mythic Quest has staff back at work, writes Georgia Humphreys
At a time when the world is slowly returning to normal, it feels exciting and hopeful to watch a TV show where office life is back in full swing. And that’s exactly what actor Rob Mcelhenney wanted to achieve with the second series of Mythic Quest.
There was previously a special episode of the Apple TV+ original released last May, which was filmed entirely on an iphone, and written, filmed, and edited in quarantine.
But when making the new episodes last summer, Mcelhenney and his co-creators wanted to pull the focus away from the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We were hoping that people would want to put this behind them in their television shows and movies, and popular culture – that we can look towards a more optimistic future,” continues the 44-year-old star, also known for It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
“So, that was really exciting for us to at least pretend, while we were in the middle of a pandemic, that things would return to normal.”
Philadelphia-born Mcelhenney plays Ian, a member of the team behind the (fictional) biggest multiplayer video game of all time, called Mythic Quest.
Played online, the multi-player, role-playing game is similar to World of Warcraft, and the show follows Ian and his various co-workers’ battles, friendships, romances, and personal challenges, as (almost everyone) returns to work in the office, with the quarantine finally over.
The biggest change in the new episodes is that Poppy (Charlotte Nicdao) has a new role as co-creative director – leading to lots of struggles between her and Ian regarding the direction of the game’s new expansion, following the success of the last expansion pack, called Raven’s Banquet.
Michigan-born Megan Ganz, 36, who’s worked on It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Community and Modern Family is one of the show’s creators and executive producers and likes that we get to see a woman in charge now that Poppy is a boss.
“She used to be under Ian, she used to be able to complain about him all the time, and convince herself that she would do things differently if she was the boss, and this year we’re going to see if she can put her money where her mouth is. And that’s a really fun thing to play – seeing somebody’s dreams come true and how that doesn’t always go the way you think it will.”
While one of the most entertaining elements of Mythic Quest is the volatile relationship between Poppy and Ian, Mcelhenney admits that challenges arise on set because of it.
“I find it difficult to be cruel to Charlotte… Even though I know it’s not Charlotte.”
“But you play it so well!” quips Nicdao, 29, who’s also known for the Australian TV show, A GURLS WURLD.
“There was a scene that we shot this season where Poppy and Ian are very cruel to each other, and I remember that day, as soon as they said ‘cut’ after every take, we were both like, ‘I’m so sorry! I still like you!’” she adds.
● Mythic Quest returns to Apple TV+ on Friday, 7 May