Parents' Guide to

The Guild

By Will Wade, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Web series pokes gentle fun at hardcore online gamers.

TV Online Comedy 2007
The Guild Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

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age 15+

Based on 2 parent reviews

Heath V.
Heath V. Parent of 11 and 13-year-old
March 5, 2019
age 18+

Boring dialog, completely focused on sex

Really disappointed in this show. First Problem is Netflix has it rated as TV-14, but there are several F-bombs in each episode. The content of the show is continually sexual in nature. While much of the dialog is pretty true to online gaming communities, much of it is very boring and cornball and the cast leaves much to be desired. I only watched a few episodes, but I was disappointed that there wasn’t any actual game play interaction shown. I read somewhere that this was a low budget web-show. Had they been able to get some generic gaming graphics to show them interacting in the game as well as on headsets in real life, they show could have been much more entertaining.

This title has:

Too much sex
Too much swearing
bobsax
bobsax Parent of 15-year-old
January 11, 2015
age 12+

Great show but be aware of sexual content and some cursing .

I watched this on Netflix . I really don't like cursing and there was no bleeping of curse words as the reviewer mentioned , however , I have to say most of the people that cursed were not very nice people so there is no glorifying of cursing. Id say it was one of the most realistic shows with regards to cursing. When some of the ruder characters curse they will often get castigated for there "F Bombes" The Guild cast is really a great ensemble especially the lead female (Codex) and the Indian character Zabu . Codex's facial expressions and comedic timing as she speaks to her computer diary are priceless . Be aware that there is quite a bit of sexual content (nothing graphic) Some parents might feel uncomfortable watching it with there children if they don't discuss sex in their family openly. I might have felt uncomfortable watching it with my daughter when she was 13 but now that she is 15 I wouldn't have any problem.
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

For Cyd (Felicia Day), real-life is not nearly as fun as THE GUILD, the online gaming world where she spends most of her time. Does she have a problem? Is she trying to avoid reality? Well, maybe a therapist could help her figure that out, except her therapist dumped her because she couldn't take time away from battling orcs to make her appointments. She has a thriving online social life with a close-knit group of Guild-pals, but her infrequent face-to-face interactions are… awkward. But these brief webisodes never show the online world, just the real people behind the screens, and their embarrassing attempts to socialize.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2):
Kids say (4):

The Guild plays on stereotypes and tweaks them at the same time. Sure, some of the characters seem like classic nerds, but they are also so over the top that it's hard to take them completely seriously (especially Herman, as a balding, uptight middle-aged man whose devotion to online gaming has clearly marked him as a lifelong bachelor). Day is fun to watch as a social misfit, but seems perhaps a bit too appealing to be completely believable as someone who's afraid of real life.

But it is easy to imagine people who want to hide out online, and what might happen when they are required to venture out from these carefully-constructed fantasy worlds to the often messy real world. Day and her Guild colleagues make these inept interactions seem both cringe-worthy and hilarious, and her slightly-out-of-her depth responses are wonderful. Give her an orc, and she knows just what to do, but watching her stumble through an actual conversation is much more fun to watch.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Cyd's social life. Why do you think she spends so much time with her online friends instead of seeing people in person? Do you think she's trying to avoid something? Do you think this is healthy? Do you know any people like this?

  • Talk about stereotypes. Do you think this show relies too much on stereotypes of gamers as anti-social? Or do you think the show actually respects gamers, while also poking a little fun?

TV Details

  • Premiere date: July 27, 2007
  • Cast: Felicia Day
  • Network: Online
  • Genre: Comedy
  • TV rating: NR
  • Last updated: February 25, 2022

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