Tabletop: Game On!
There are two things I love in this world that fellow Dorkadia writer Charles Spurr doesn’t get: IPAs and Tabletop. As a dark beer man, Charles reacts with indifference whenever I gush over Gchat about whatever new hoppy beer I’ve discovered. Likewise, board games aren’t his thing (he’s more of a video-game player), so anytime I try to talk to him about the latest Tabletop episode, his response is a huge “meh.” Which is cool; we don’t all have to love board games. But for those of you who do, you should be watching Tabletop.
It’s the internet show I never knew I needed. While I’ve always loved board games, I’ve always been hesitant to spend money on a game I might hate. (This is especially true for the spendier games.) Two things help me make choices on what games to buy: board games (like the excellent Castle in Toronto) and Tabletop. Of the two options, I prefer watching Tabletop as my go-to learning tool. Wil Wheaton is a natural at explaining game mechanics and offering strategy to his fellow players.
The premise is simple. Every other week, Wil Wheaton gathers three friends from the movie/music/internet/gaming sphere and sits them down for a game. He opens by explaining the game and outlining the ways to win, then this week’s guests are introduced and the game is on.
Games are often punctuated by confession-room style mini interviews with the players, and as rules need to be explained they pop up in increasingly sophisticated art breaks. Each game is roughly a half-hour long (although there are some two-parters) and put up on the Geek and Sundry channel.
What makes Tabletop great for me is Wheaton. His genuine interest in gaming shows through, and much like Late Night’s Jimmy Fallon, Wheaton cares more that everyone enjoys themselves than winning (except when it comes to Tokaido). Tabletop’s guest stars are largely drawn from people I know and enjoy, such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer alums Seth Green or Amber Benson. Occasionally the guest star is amazing (it had to be a great moment for Wheaton to be playing Munchkin with the creator of the game, Steve Jackson) or hilarious (Felecia Day? Always a pleasure; the intricate backstories she invents for her characters is jaw-dropping).
My only critique of the show happens anytime the guests are all male. Usually Wheaton mixes up the gender cast, which makes for a more enjoyable game to watch for me personally. Anytime there are four guys playing there seems to be a little too much “guy humor” (specifically on the Tsuro of the Seas episode).
But this is a minor quibble. Tabletop got me into so many games (including some I’ll review for Dorkadia). It also got me into watching series on YoTube, and remains one of the few shows I look forward to week after week. May Wheaton and Day continue to play more games for many seasons to come.
tl;drs
Blank is a blanker version of blank: Tabletop is like a geekier version of Top Gear, replacing top-of-the-line muscle cars with beautifully designed board games and way fewer people in helmets.
Screen credits over/under: Under. Wheaton and Day are the sole credited screenwriters. The instructions for each game are done well and makes each game easy to follow along.
Recommended if you like: Board games, obviously.
Better than I expected: Three seasons in and the premise hasn’t faded; each game feels fresh and the art department gets better and better each show.
Worse than I hoped: With a few exceptions, the episodes featuring all guys get as dudebro as this game gets. The interactions between players are much more fun when there’s a gender mix.
Tabletop would work better as a(n): A few years ago I’d have wanted a network to pick up the show, but now? I’d rather Wheaton keep creative control and keep it on YouTube.
Verdict: Like board games? Looking for primers on new games? Then you should be watching Tabletop.
