We apologize for the relative lateness of this weekend’s review. The review originally scheduled for this weekend was an anime title featuring the destruction of Japan. Publication of that review has been indefinitely postponed, and we got this alternative up as soon as we could.

Cast

Felicia Day as Codex
Sandeep Parikh as Zaboo
Jeff Lewis as Vork
Amy Okuda as Tink
Robin Thorsen as Clara
Vincent Caso as Bladezz
Wil Wheaton as Fawkes
Viji Nathan as Zaboo’s mom
Teal Sherer as Venom
Michele Boyd as Riley
Simon Helberg as Kevinator

Written by Felicia Day
Directed by Sean Becker

Original Airdate

These episodes originally “aired” between July 13, 2010 and October 5, 2010.

Synopsis

Codex has to deal with her new relationship with Fawkes. Meanwhile, an in-guild competition to generate the funds to construct a guild hall divides the team.

High Point

The start of a new business.

Low Point

The video errors may be amusing, but the specific nature of them seems, to me at least, to be incompatible with that particular technology.

The Review

As with previous seasons, the originality comes out of the situations. We’ve seen the same crew trying to cope with the real world before, but they keep driving towards new and different types of conflicts. I give it 4 out of 6.

The effects were minimal, and basically amount to those listed in the low point. I give it 3 out of 6.

The story holds together well enough. As with the previous season, it picks up immediately where the previous season left off. As a result, it wouldn’t really stand alone as there is virtually no recap (although the DVD does includes recaps of the previous three seasons) which can make it hard to follow if viewed as your first exposure to the series. I give it 4 out of 6.

The acting is as solid as ever. The actors took a heavy hand in creating each of their characters, which helps them do very natural work. I give it 5 out of 6.

The emotional response was strong. Fawkes’ plot thread ends quite naturally, and the constant quirky humour that defines the series has been well maintained. I give it 5 out of 6.

The production is solid, and looks just as good as a lot of network television. I give it 5 out of 6.

Overall, it’s another highly entertaining outing. I recommend watching the entire series from the start if you haven’t already, which you can do through the website as well as iTunes and DVD releases as well. I give it 5 out of 6.

In total, The Guild: Season Four receives 31
out of 42.