This episode is really good, although not funny. I really loved the girl, Isla Rose, who played the younger version of Poppy; she looked and talked exactly the same; she's like a mimic artist; it was really shocking to see the exact same shorter version of Poppy. I also loved Ian's mom character; that actress is awesome too. I love these types of episodes, in which no lead actor of this show is there, and they are telling us the background of these characters, portrayed by different actors. I hope the next time they decide to do something like this, they do it with Brad's character. It would be amazing to watch the younger version of Brad.
14 Reviews
Another backstory stealing the show
imdb-1014016 December 2022
Wow!
Even though we expect a backstory per season they continue to knock it out of the park (A sports analogy - haha).
The young actors playing young Ian and Poppy captured the mannerisms of Charlotte & Rob perfectly. Exceptional from young actors.
This all lends weight to the business as usual comedy based episodes but gives it so much more depth. Will be interested to see how many easter eggs will come out of this (as with the previous backstories).
I thought Robs Dad leaning down mansplaining with his prayer hands spoke volumes around Ians dysfunction and how we unconsciously pick up mannerisms \ behaviours from the core people in our lives.
So many small details that just bring everything together.
Wow!
Even though we expect a backstory per season they continue to knock it out of the park (A sports analogy - haha).
The young actors playing young Ian and Poppy captured the mannerisms of Charlotte & Rob perfectly. Exceptional from young actors.
This all lends weight to the business as usual comedy based episodes but gives it so much more depth. Will be interested to see how many easter eggs will come out of this (as with the previous backstories).
I thought Robs Dad leaning down mansplaining with his prayer hands spoke volumes around Ians dysfunction and how we unconsciously pick up mannerisms \ behaviours from the core people in our lives.
So many small details that just bring everything together.
Wow!
A thoughtful detour
JT202216 December 2022
Every season, the MQ team seems to create an episode that provides a detour into character backstories. This episode, which goes back to Ian and Poppy's childhoods is thoughtful and at times sad (particularly for Ian). It is written and acted well, especially the actress playing young Poppy who is the exact younger likeness of the older character. The plot was nuanced in places, and provides a great portrayal of their childhoods, what shapes them, and eventually jumps to the point where they first meet.
Definitely one of the better episodes this season, and stronger for the writing and acting.
Definitely one of the better episodes this season, and stronger for the writing and acting.
One of the best
easyeric-4520121 December 2022
Like 'Dark Quiet Dark' in the first season and 'Backstory' in the second, Mythic Quest knocks it out of the park with this flashback episode. It offers a peak into the younger lives of the 2 protagonists and gives insight into their struggles and motivations that led them to who they are. It's a great payoff for viewers who have become invested in the characters and who are familiar with their quirks. The actors are great and there is a richness to characters who could've easily been presented as stereotypes. It's nice to see a show that's willing to throw these curve balls out there and push things a bit.
Season 3's Backstory!
brian_spence_ni16 December 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Well, i'm not normally a fan of episodes that dump the main actors for child-versions of themselves or decide to randomly give us a backstory! We didn't know we needed it.
But we did.
Oh my goodness, this episode was pure heart and soul of the show and it was so unexpected how thoroughly Ian and Poppy's background overlapped. I loved it when Sarian popped up on Poppy's screen and we could see the love affair with code really start to flourish. Then the segue to their meeting in real life and vibing over their passion for gaming, mythic (grimm) quest and just ridiculous social awkwardness. I've been thoroughly enjoying season 3 but this one episode - oh my goodness, it just knocked it out of the park. I love how Mythic Quest can just branch off in the most random direction and still be utterly magical and captivating. TV gold.
But we did.
Oh my goodness, this episode was pure heart and soul of the show and it was so unexpected how thoroughly Ian and Poppy's background overlapped. I loved it when Sarian popped up on Poppy's screen and we could see the love affair with code really start to flourish. Then the segue to their meeting in real life and vibing over their passion for gaming, mythic (grimm) quest and just ridiculous social awkwardness. I've been thoroughly enjoying season 3 but this one episode - oh my goodness, it just knocked it out of the park. I love how Mythic Quest can just branch off in the most random direction and still be utterly magical and captivating. TV gold.
Heartbreakingly beautiful
dallonbrobeck16 December 2022
Warning: Spoilers
I always love when I see that Katie McElhenney wrote an episode of Mythic Quest. Every single time it means it's going to be one of the best episodes of this show but it's going to hurt my feelings in unimaginable ways. She is definitely one of my favorite television writers and I am always so glad Rob brought her onto the show. This episode was beautiful in it's storytelling and heartbreaking with the backstory it gives to Ian and Poppy. The last scene with Ian and his father has stuck with me for hours after finishing the episode. It's haunting and leaves you broken hearing that little kid scream. The one-off episodes of this show remain to be some of their best work.
Best episode of the whole series
bosscain-484-6714819 December 2022
This episode really brought depth to the characters of Ian and Poppy. To see them in their youth as struggling kids and then seeing them meet for the first time brought meaning to their whole existence. I wouldn't mind this type of backstory for all the rest of the cast of characters. Good job to the writers for getting me emotionally involved in the story and to the casting director. The girl that played young Poppy looked so much like the actress Charlotte Nicdao that at first I thought it was her daughter. I knew that when the episode opened up with the classic 80s video game graphics that it was going to be a great episode.
Beautiful standalone Flashback brilliance.
asteriK16 December 2022
Beautiful. The anual stand alone episode of Mythic Quest does not disappoint. How they manage to pack not one but two origin stories with so much love into not even half an hour is astonishing. It shows how the two main characters (Ian and Poppy) get to find out what their destiny is, how incredibly important positive stimulation and acceptance of parents is when growing up and that 'normal' doesn't always equate to good. In fact standing out and following ones passions, especialy with the help of the right people, might make one end up in fantastic situations.
Again, it's only half an hour but it doesn't feel that way... 9/10 (because a 10/10 doesn't exist imo :P )
Again, it's only half an hour but it doesn't feel that way... 9/10 (because a 10/10 doesn't exist imo :P )
That's how you tell backstory.
seanfiggers1 August 2023
Like the previous flashback episodes, this one really fleshed out the characters, but not in a 2D way that you seem to get with other shows/films.
Every aspect was meticulously crafted and the childhoods of each character hit way too close to home that I was holding back tears.
This show continues to use nostalgia and era-defining (through costumes, props, games, tech, etc.) in a way that not only keeps out of the way of the characters and story, but really helps you connect with them. The attention to detail is quite impressive.
But all of this description and detail falls short of how this episode is beautiful, heartbreaking, funny & necessary. Just when I thought the show was starting to get too far-reaching, this episode has anchored it.
Every aspect was meticulously crafted and the childhoods of each character hit way too close to home that I was holding back tears.
This show continues to use nostalgia and era-defining (through costumes, props, games, tech, etc.) in a way that not only keeps out of the way of the characters and story, but really helps you connect with them. The attention to detail is quite impressive.
But all of this description and detail falls short of how this episode is beautiful, heartbreaking, funny & necessary. Just when I thought the show was starting to get too far-reaching, this episode has anchored it.
Best Episode of The Year
vdngjr23 December 2022
This episode was beautifully made and probably the best episode of any show I've seen all year. I think it's exactly what the show needed to take it to the next level. The writing, acting, and directing was absolutely flawless. I thought I knew Ian as a person and judged him for being narcissistic but this episode completely changed my opinion of what type of person he is. Poppy's backstory is pretty similar to what I imagined it to be although I do feel there is much more to unpack on her side. Overall I wouldn't mind another character development episode for these two. Hopefully next season!
Great job!
Great job!
Isla Rose hall might actually be Poppy
ba_tsi_gow_tsi17 December 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Little Poppy was uncanny. I kept laughing at how similar she was to Charlotte. I was surprised how few credits she has. Her character may have been a bit to similar given how much of a foul mouthed little heathen she was portrayed as.
Little Ian wasn't written in the same manner. Came off as kind of a regular little kid, where as Rob plays him as generally self-interested and pretentious. Maybe he developed this whole being raised by a sith Lord. Spoiler? Video game reference.
Maybe they'll come back with a second part to the young versions of the characters. Poppy's evolution was very easily and clearly shown, while I am just stops living with one parent and lives with the other. At the same time, we know Ian has daddy issues, which hasn't been flesh out.
Little Ian wasn't written in the same manner. Came off as kind of a regular little kid, where as Rob plays him as generally self-interested and pretentious. Maybe he developed this whole being raised by a sith Lord. Spoiler? Video game reference.
Maybe they'll come back with a second part to the young versions of the characters. Poppy's evolution was very easily and clearly shown, while I am just stops living with one parent and lives with the other. At the same time, we know Ian has daddy issues, which hasn't been flesh out.
Sarian
bobcobb30117 December 2022
Warning: Spoilers
They found a good actress to play the young Poppy, but as a whole this show was a disappointment tonight and continues the trend of some really underwhelming episodes the last couple of weeks.
They did a one-off episode like this in each of the last two seasons and they led to some of the most memorable, engaging and entertaining installments Mythic Quest has done. No such luck tonight with this one that found me consistently looking at my watch and wondering when it would be over.
And do they really need to cut to the present day when they do this just to get current Poppy and Ian in? It is okay if those actors miss one episode a season.
They did a one-off episode like this in each of the last two seasons and they led to some of the most memorable, engaging and entertaining installments Mythic Quest has done. No such luck tonight with this one that found me consistently looking at my watch and wondering when it would be over.
And do they really need to cut to the present day when they do this just to get current Poppy and Ian in? It is okay if those actors miss one episode a season.
Nah. Not good at all
speaktomenow11 January 2023
I was really looking forward to this episode because they have done some particularly good standalone episodes in previous seasons. But this episode just had nothing to say and nowhere to go. I quite liked the actress who played young poppy. But other than that it really didn't group me. Nothing about this is worth the 10 out of 10 reviews that this is getting on IMDb. It was actually quite a slow episode. As others have said in their reviews, I found myself looking at my watch and playing with my phone, because I really didn't feel engaged or connected to the material. Honestly, kinda boring.
Thought this show was a comedy?
geeboy-4885428 December 2022
This season has been really weird since the first two seasons were hilarious but this one seems all over the place. And this episode specifically is all over the place since its bordering on cheesy drama. The fact that they try to sum up the childhoods of two main characters in less than 30 minutes is almost silly and again, isn't this show supposed to be a comedy? I just don't understand what they were going for here and it was a little painful to try and get through since it was just very dramatically cliche and besides a few minutes at the end I saw nothing comedic. I feel like they have just exhausted all the comedic aspects of the original premise and now they are just reaching for unrelated avenues to write about.
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