Side Quest Season 1 Episode 3, “Fugue,” might be my favorite of the bunch thus far. As a musical and creative person, this one resonates profoundly with me. It’s so hard to regain your footing when you lose the impetus for why you create or what fuels your passion. You stop hearing the music all around you — in all the small things. “Fugue” deftly captures this feeling and offers a light at the end of the tunnel. Dare I say it’s beautifully composed? Tee-hee.
RELATED: Read our recap of the previous Side Quest episode, “Pull List”
Side Quest, “Fugue”
We open with an orchestral performance of Mythic Quest: A Hero’s Passage. The maestro, Gustavo (Esai Morales), addresses the audience before said performance. He talks about how we live in a world of sound, but we don’t always hear everything around us. Music is a living, breathing thing. The orchestra kicks off with the Mythic Quest theme song before catapulting into a different piece. Video game visuals play on a screen to accompany the music.
A golden leaf leaps off the screen and floats toward a little girl in the audience — Sylvie (Emilene Bell). She holds the leaf in her hand until it breaks apart into points of light, dancing every which way throughout the theater.
The Orchestra
Fast forward to the present. Sylvie (Annamarie Kasper) is now a cellist auditioning for the MQ orchestra. Side note: I love that Kasper is an actual cellist who debuted as a soloist at 16. Sylvie auditions for Gustavo and scores that coveted seat in the orchestra. On her first day, she meets her seat neighbor, Simon (Abe Kim), who bickers with his seat neighbor, Kevin (Andrew Patrick Ralston). Sylvie is euphoric during rehearsal, especially after Gustavo takes to the podium.
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Next, Sylvie plays a video game with her roommate, Kourtney (Asjha Cooper). Kourtney is about to go on a date with a guy she met on Tinder. She wants Sylvie to accompany her. Sylvie opts out, though, deciding to stay inside to practice. Kourtney urges her to ease up a bit. After all, Sylvie got her dream job. Sylvie wants to be the best, though.
Later, Sylvie performs on stage with the orchestra. We see a string of golden light dancing around her, encircling her. She’s on cloud nine. Afterward, Gustavo seemingly nods at Sylvie with approval. They also lock eyes backstage.
On Tour
Then, Sylvie packs for the international tour. She’s going across the pond to cities like Naples, Paris and Antwerp to play the Mythic Quest score for countless fans. Kourtney criticizes Sylvie’s wardrobe choices, noting the lack of color. She encourages Sylvie to bring along her red Jessica Rabbit dress.
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While waiting to take to the stage for their first international performance, Sylvie notices Simon and Kevin’s incessant bickering and the man in front of her scratching at what looks like a psoriasis patch on the base of his neck. However, Sylvie doesn’t let the distractions deter her from giving it her all. The light still swirls around her. After the performance, though, Gustavo addresses her, stating she was flat. Sylvie’s smile fades.
Later, Sylvie sees a text from Kourtney, asking how Paris is. We see the Eiffel Tower from Sylvie’s hotel room. Instead of going out, Sylvie stays in, sitting before the window to practice. The following performance, Sylvie finds Simon and Kevin’s arguing and the man’s scratching more distracting than usual.
Off-Key
While playing onstage, the composition suddenly sounds off-key. Sylvie feels it. The man scratches the patch on his neck. The dancing light looks dimmer. Sylvie finds it challenging to focus. The next night, Sylvie notices the man is now scratching what looks like an open wound on the base of his neck. Kevin remarks that Sylvie’s holding up the line as they prepare to enter the stage.
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After another performance of things being off-kilter, Sylvie approaches Gustavo. She apologizes to the maestro for not being on her A-game. She reveals she can’t “see” it anymore. Gustavo informs her that it’s not her job to see it but to play it. He tells her she’s been out of sorts for multiple performances now. If she can’t screw her head on straight, Gustavo will replace her. Sylvie vows to get it together. Girl is just like me — we hear one critique, which sends us spiraling.
What transpires next is a montage of Sylvie playing onstage and practicing in hotel rooms. She looks miserable. During one performance, Sylvie sees the open wound on the man’s neck is now bleeding profusely in front of her. She sticks her bow in said wound, which is terribly unhygienic. The performance concludes, and Sylvie looks like she dissociated during it.
Swallow You Whole
During another performance, the dancing golden light that once enveloped Sylvie vanishes, leaving only what looks like blackened detritus or ashes surrounding her. At one point, the orchestra players vanish onstage, save Sylvie and Gustavo. Gustavo continues conducting as the ashes swirl around Sylvie at warp speed, eventually swallowing her whole. God, this really is what being a perfectionist with imposter syndrome feels like. Love the symbolism here.
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After this, Sylvie runs off stage. She curls up in the fetal position on the floor of her hotel room, which morphs into the living room of her apartment. Kourtney, who’s now moved in with her boyfriend, visits Sylvie.
Kourtney tries to give Sylvie a pep talk. Sure, she had a panic attack onstage and got booted from the orchestra. But now, Sylvie can focus on living her life. Sylvie insults her friend, who tells her to call when she’s done spiraling.
Separate Love From Work
Next, Sylvie packs her bag, grabs her cello and hops on a plane to where the orchestra is performing now. She tracks down Gustavo, who’s eating dinner alone in a restaurant. Sylvie begs the maestro, hoping to get her job back. Gustavo reveals that Sylvie’s seat has already been filled. He insists she’s not cut out for this line of work.
RELATED: Read our Mythic Quest recaps
Sylvie emphatically tells him that she’s been playing since she was eight years old. Music is in her blood. Gustavo asks her to read an email from Ian aloud. He provides notes for Gustavo’s latest composition. Gustavo stops Sylvie after a few lines to reveal that this goes on for three pages.
He’s learned to compartmentalize, to separate his love for music from his job. It’s his job to answer to a board and to fill theaters. Sylvie just wants it to come back. Gustavo promises her it will, but only when she’s ready to hear it again.
Finding It Again
Months pass, and later, we see Sylvie reunite with Kourtney for drinks at a bar. Sylvie apologizes vehemently for her abhorrent behavior and for insulting Kourtney, who was only trying to help. We learn that Sylvie’s now working as a receptionist in a dentist’s office. Kourtney is engaged to her boyfriend, and she tells Sylvie a funny story about her engagement party.
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During their chat in the bar, Sylvie starts to hear the “music” of the world around her. The bartender throwing ice in a glass. While outside, car honks sound like brass instruments. Footsteps on the pavement evoke the heavy bass of drums. Sylvie barrels toward her cello. She throws open her window and plays near it, letting the sounds of the outside world inspire her.
Later, Sylvie plays in a string quartet for Kourtney’s wedding. The golden leaf reappears, this time falling into the hands of a little girl attending the wedding with her mother. Like with young Sylvie, the leaf breaks apart, morphing into streaks of light. Sylvie smiles at the girl.
Gustavo was right. It came back.
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.
Who I am: Before moving to Los Angeles after studying theater in college, I was born and raised in Amish country, Ohio. No, I am not Amish, even if I sometimes sport a modest bonnet.
Bylines in: Tell-Tale TV, Culturess, Sideshow Collectibles, and inkMend on Medium.
Critic: Rotten Tomatoes, CherryPicks, and the Hollywood Creative Alliance.
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