It’s Christmas time in the Mythic Quest office, but that doesn’t mean everyone gets the day off. A large contingent still need to be on-site to ensure the servers keep on running and players can keep going uninterrupted. As a result, the workplace could really use some holiday cheer.
“The 12 Hours of Christmas” provides a bittersweet view of Poppy and Ian’s lives. They are very driven people that excel at their jobs. However, that success can come at personal expense. The usual hijinks aside, it’s sad to see how alienated both are from their loved ones. They already seem isolated since they started GrimPop, but the holidays can accentuate that loneliness.
We have a firsthand look at their destructive nature as they hijack David’s festive activities over at Mythic Quest. Although the workers don’t mind since their boss doesn’t necessarily know how to have a good time. It is touching how honest Ian and Poppy can be to each other and how their pain only brings them closer together. Through their kind gestures to one another, they don’t have to spend Christmas alone.
The episode also continues Jo’s growth and her coming out her shell. She is putting herself out there for other people and it adds depth to the unhinged character of before that felt so one note. I also enjoy how her subplot ties to previous events including brunch and the tank as well as Playpen, the computer program used to make cutesy games. If next year Ian isn’t around, Poppy can always spend the holidays with Jo.
If there are two people expected to bring the love on Mythic Quest, it’s Dana and Rachel. Things are progressing nicely and Rachel is ready to meet her partner’s parents. But, it’s also the support they give each other as Rachel has reservations in her new role as head of monetization. Dana is there to praise her girlfriend’s first accomplishment. I’ve always enjoyed the observational humor regarding Brad and Rachel’s relationship and I like how Dana points out that he is more the assistant than the puppet master. This results in a twist in positions and a blow to Brad’s Ego.
The conclusion does suffer from your typical holiday episode cheesiness. Everything comes up roses in the end and even office villain, Brad, finds away to spread the cheer. But you can overlook that because it’s all about bringing people together.
“The 12 Hours of Christmas” finds a lighthearted and bittersweet way of addressing the loneliness of the holidays while still having a happy ending.
New episodes of Mythic Quest drop Fridays on Apple TV+.
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