Side Quest Season 1 Episode 4, “The Last Raid,” marks the final episode in this first season. It’s the weakest outing for me (with “Pull List” and “Fugue” being my favorites), but it’s still a fun coming-of-age story. It’s a relatable narrative about organically moving on from friendships. Change isn’t always a bad thing. Life keeps moving regardless.
Side Quest proves that the Mythic Quest team will always excel at these one-off stories. I love how it expands and fleshes out this fascinating universe. Each episode is so different narratively and stylistically. I hope we get a second season.
RELATED: Read our recap of the previous Side Quest episode, “Fugue”
Side Quest, “The Last Raid”
We open with Devon (Van Crosby) logging onto Mythic Quest for “Raid-iversary,” the anniversary of his group’s raid. Kelly, aka Sorisana (Melanie Brook), the Undying Mistress of Light, also logs on. Sorisana speaks in a British accent and refuses to be called Kelly. Rory (Alice Wen) and Seth (David Andrew Calvillo) join the fray. Seth reveals he’s late due to a nosebleed, which got on the keyboard Rory, his girlfriend, bought him. Freddie (Justin Jarzombek) arrives fashionably late, spewing expletives and talking way too much about finger blasting. Now, they’re waiting on Devon’s little brother, Ben.
Next, we learn that this group of five friends has been raiding together for four years. Before they get to a-raidin’, Devon urges the gang to partake in the requisite Dab Queef dance. Go, Team Dab Queef! It’s tradition. Ben (Dash McCloud) finally logs on. He’s disappointed that they all did the Dab Queef dance without him, so he does it by himself. He inadvertently stumbles upon the Cyclops’ Den, going in the opposite direction.
The Cyclops’ Den
After this, our crew battles the titular Cyclops. They die and come back to life. Thankfully, Devon delivers the killing blow, clearing the level. Everyone cheers. Before this, though, the game glitches. Seth believes they should scour Reddit to see if others have encountered this problem while playing. Freddie pops out for a spell to check. While he’s gone, Ben farts on him repeatedly, as you do.
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We learn that Devon got gifts for the gang for the Raid-iversary. Ben asks what he’s getting from his older brother. Devon allows him to continue passing gas on Freddie. What a good big brother. Freddie returns, revealing that the MQ servers haven’t been patched in forever, which is causing the glitches. It’s not an internet issue. So now the game will lag whenever a raiding party exceeds five people.
Freddie suggests they give one of them the boot. Devon isn’t a fan of this, though. He also refuses to reschedule because it’s their Raid-iversary. Freddie pressures Devon to make a choice. After the Cyclops’ Den, our gang arrives at Raven’s Ridge. Freddie tells Devon to kick Ben out. Devon admits he can’t; he’s babysitting Ben. When he’s not playing, he’s getting into sh*t.
Castle at Everlight
Next, Devon reveals he missed the application deadline for his college of choice, so he’s living at home with his brother. The conversation returns to one of them leaving the game due to the glitches. Our crew makes their way toward Castle at Everlight.
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There, Devon reveals his game plan. Rory, Sorisana and Seth will soften the enemies. Then, he’ll send Ben and Freddie in to finish the boss. As long as they all aren’t in the same space, the game should be glitch-free. Later, Rory and Seth reveal that they’ve broken up. In fact, they broke up after the last raid. Sorisana already knew this because she’s Rory’s BFF.
After this, Devon trains Ben on how to best utilize his attacks and weapons. Yes, there’s more to this than creating gnarly fart bubbles. Ben compliments his brother, stating he’s a good teacher. Then, the gang ventures to Gorgon’s Lair. Devon urges his comrades to adhere to the plan. They’ll tackle this boss one person at a time to ensure the game doesn’t glitch.
Finger Blasting at Gorgon’s Lair
What transpires next is a montage of each character dying and reviving. While Ben’s momentarily out of commission, the other five try to rush the Gorgon together before he returns. Ben finally understands what finger blasting is when a ball of light materializes at the tip of his finger. Oh, the innocence of children. This is a fun bit.
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Ben barrels into the lair with his finger blast attack at the ready. Unfortunately, his arrival means there are six in the raiding party, glitching the game. The Gorgon kills everyone. While Devon talks to Ben, Rory, Sorisana and Freddie learn that Seth is dating someone — Kristen Davis, aka Piss-Stain Davis. Hey, she peed her pants in second grade one time. Ben doesn’t take too well to Devon urging him to log off, so Devon forcefully removes him from the game.
After defeating the Gorgon, our crew kills the bosses in the Cliffs of Valkyrie and Minotaur’s Dungeon, arriving at their last stop: Hydra Sky Coliseum. The final boss is quite deadly. However, everyone’s at each other’s throats over personal issues, and the in-fighting certainly doesn’t help them defeat said boss. Devon learns that Freddie found a guild at Google, where he works, called Clit Hounds. He plans to join them.
Revelations at Hydra Sky Coliseum
Meanwhile, Rory can’t get over Seth dating Kristen, someone who apparently loves writing Dragon Ball Z porn. Seth fires back that he prefers girls who aren’t obsessed with being cool. Sorisana learns that Rory doesn’t want to room together at college. Rory claims Sorisana is “a lot” and that it’s exhausting.
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Next, everyone purposely allows the Hydra to kill them. After they’re all revived, Devon calls for an out-of-game video chat. Then, we see a screen with the five of them on it. Nobody looks happy. Mythic Quest is destroying their friendship.
Freddie, Rory, Sorisana and Seth believe it’s time to move on. Devon refuses, clinging tightly to the past and this game. The Raid-iversary is important to him. They’ve been playing MQ for four years. Devon launches into an impassioned monologue about his life being in the gutter. He doesn’t know what he wants to do post-high school. And now he’s living with his little brother. This game is his lifeblood.
Everyone sympathizes with him, but they’re ready to embark on their respective next chapters. Even Kelly drops the Sorisana bit. They bid him farewell.
RELATED: Read our Mythic Quest recaps
Moving On
Later, Devon’s game character removes all his armor and pitches it, only leaving on his helmet. He proceeds to go through a depressive episode, filled with lots of lying face down on the ground and setting villages on fire. After this, he drinks in a pub, still naked save his helmet and his bottoms. Kelly returns as Sorisana. She reveals that she goes by Naevys Luthana now. She joined a new guild where they all speak Elvish.
Additionally, we learn that Kelly didn’t end up attending college. As it turns out, in-character mukbangs on Twitch are quite lucrative. She earned $3,000 for eating six Nashville hot chicken sandwiches. Um, sign me up. Devon reveals he’s working a lot and saving money. He’s also applying to schools again and thinking about becoming a teacher.
Kelly launches into narration, fondly reminiscing about their old crew. We see a montage of images from past raids. Devon and Kelly watch Ben play with his new buddies, teaching them the art of creating fart bubbles. Devon asks Kelly if there’s room in her guild for one more. She teaches him a sentence in Elvish as a test.
Maybe he has time to pick up a second language.
RELATED: Read our Side Quest recaps
Side Quest Season 1 is now streaming on Apple TV+.
Geek Girl Authority Crush of the Week: RACHEL
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What I do: I'm GGA's Managing Editor, a Senior Contributor, and Press Coordinator. I manage, contribute, and coordinate. Sometimes all at once. Joking aside, I oversee day-to-day operations for GGA, write, edit, and assess interview opportunities/press events.
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