The Guild is an online series written by Felicia Day that premiered in July 2007. Season 4 episodes are currently being released weekly on MSN Video. Initially developed as a sitcom pilot, the show was instead produced to be shown online, with short episodes combining to tell a complete story. The Guild tells the story of the Knights of Good, an online-gaming guild who collaborate in an unnamed massively-multiplayer online role-playing game. We quickly learn from observing Codex (Day) that the game is the guild members’ alternate, preferred reality. The real world, though, has an annoying habit of intruding, and the first season begins when Zaboo (Sandeep Parikh) appears at Codex’s door under the impression that they’re dating. Things are really turned upside-down when Bladezz (Vincent Caso) behaves badly in-game, and the guild arranges an unprecedented real-world meeting at Cheesybeards to discuss the matter. The drama, tension, and abundant humor in the show develop as we watch the group attempt to function and interact to resolve their problems in the real world.

Originally produced as a web series, and released in six-minute online episodes, seasons one and two of the show are packaged together on DVD, with extras including audio commentaries, script PDFs, and interviews with the cast and crew. The production and marketing of The Guild has broken new ground, with Day and others using technology to forge direct connections with the audience. Felicia Day is active on Twitter (@FeliciaDay), and has produced a number of special videos to bring attention to the show, including Do You Want To Date My Avatar, a prelude to the release of season three. The Guild is one of the media highlights of the past couple of years — a can’t-miss experience! Watch seasons one and two on DVD and catch up with season three and the new season four online.

John Jewitt – Savage Branch