AFK: The Webseries

Story-overview: What happens if real people find themselves 'alive' in their favorite MMORPG fantasy-game without a clue how they end up here or how they could leave? This is essentially the plot of AFK. It's a thought-provoking background story well worth exploring.

Genre: As a web-series production AFK is typically 'fast paced' with rather short episodes and frequent use of cliff-hangers. Luckily, at least season-one has a "season's cut" complete video released as well by now. Other than many other fantasy-web-series, AFK does not focus that hard on being "funny". While a certain amount of comedy is included, there is a more sinister and dramatic thread winding through the whole series.

Production: The series is very professional. Actors, costumes, CGI are all excellent and better than many TV productions.

Faszit: A web-series well worth watching and supporting! At least give it a try - it is free after all!

AFK is great for those who like "The Guild," ".// hack," or even the lamestream anime, "Sword Art Online."

The acting is kind of hokey and the cinematography looks more like the series was shot on a handheld DVR than an actual quality camera. However, the set pieces are actually quite good and evoke a sort of low-budget Game of Thrones charm, and the editing itself isn't horrible. Most of the characters are likable with some notable exceptions, like Brendon the Wizard who always sounds like a quivering, shivering nagging banshee. The plots are also interesting, with each episode revolving itself around the various slanguage MMO gamers use (ie. mob, phat lewtz, inc, ganker, etc.); I was pleasantly surprised at how decent the actual writing was, despite the spattering of cliche dialogue throughout. The show itself has heart and I think could have honestly been a series contender if only it had a bigger production/distribution company behind it. AFK on a Netflix-type budget would kick some serious booty (think Legend of the Seeker).

The show itself is pretty short, spanning 16 episodes in totality with each episode running at a mere 20ish minutes. Short and sweet would probably be the best way to describe AFK.

Anyway, like I said, if you enjoyed the webseries "The Guild," it's almost a given certainty that you'll enjoy "AFK" too.

I really liked the episodes a lot. I think some of the acting is pretty good. I LOVE the plot. I really like the direction. I do wish that some of the characters had a bit more depth. I didnt like some of the language, especially Calum Gittins.

This movie appears as low-budget but comes off as a joy to watch. I saw a lot of actors loving what they're doing. Hilariously good fun. What film making should be about, not just making $ millions.

"AFK" doesn't make much sense, but it is entertaining nonetheless, elevated by the characters' arcs and relationships, which give the show its heart.

The story is simple as follows: real people wake up in an online game, their minds in the bodies of their characters. We don't get much in way of explanation, characters' motives, world building or anything. Basically we are thrown with the characters into the world, and the first episodes suffer a little bit from this, because the viewer won't really understand much of what is going on (not that much is going on, but it makes no sense whatsoever).

Funnily enough, with the episodes going by, even if the story is flimsy as they come (non-existent), we get to know the characters and enjoy their company. And that is what makes "AFK" worth checking: the characters. The acting won't get them any awards soon, but the actors embody their roles in an engaging and caring manner.

That helps overcome all the shortcomings: plot, direction, action moments that barely cut the mustard... Put in some nice homages to role-playing games (NPC, the music that comes out of nowhere when you enter a tavern...) and you have a really fun show.