Web Series - Escape!

Picture from the producer's channel

Producer:

Geek & Sundry (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaBf1a-dpIsw8OxqH4ki2Kg)

Release Year:

2017

# of Episodes:

9

Episode Duration:

20 - 35 min

Room Duration:

30 min

# of Players:

1 team of 4-5 players

Host:

Janet Varney

So what is it?

• So, you enjoy playing escape rooms. But do you enjoy watching others play them? I do, and apparently I'm not the only one, as popular Youtube channel Geek & Sundry decided to create a "show" for that very purpose.
• The basic idea is this: a team of players (typically B-list TV celebrities and/or A-list web celebrities) is brought together to try to solve a custom-made, one-time-only Escape Room under the scrutiny of cameras. The show is therefore a collection of highlights and commentaries from that adventure.
• Basic rules are very similar to what we see in real life: 30 minutes to get out, 1 free hint, 2 minutes per extra hint. Clues and puzzles bearing a special hourglass symbol are optional, but give players an extra 5 minutes if they solve it.
• One notable difference is that since the room is essentially single-use, the props and setting can be fancier, and puzzles can be a lot more "destructive" given they don't need to be reused.
• As for the show itself, it certainly is enjoyable to see these people try to figure out the puzzles around them, and it's a much more enjoyable experience than those shaky "cell cams" recordings usually found on Youtube. The producers came up with this neat on-screen list which keeps updating itself along the way, showing you exactly what the players found, and what they haven't figure out yet.
  
• I knew Janet Varney through some of her voice work and was glad to see her turn up in here. I must admit she occasionally seems a bit out of her element while hosting, though. Then again, I'm not really sure what could be done differently.

Episodes

• Museum
  with Carla Gallo, Melanie Lynskey, Clea Duvall, and Jason Ritter
• Temple
  with Felicia Day, Jessica Marzipan, Amy Okuda, and Robin Thorsen
• Dinosaur Park
  with Oscar Nunez, Ingrid Oliver, Amy Dallen, and Elyse Willems
• Evil Sorcerer's Lair
  with Matthew Mercer, Marisha Ray, Laura Bailey, Travis Willingham, and Christopher Sabat
• Dungeon
  with Legendarius, Burnie Burns, Blaine Gibson, and Korey Kuhl
• Prison
  with Amber Benson, Alison Haislip, Dan Casey, and Josh McDermitt
• Vampire Crypt
  with Yvette Nicole Brown, Sonequa Martin Green, Jim O'Heir, and Becca Scott-Kerns
• Spy Central
  with Jessica Chobot, Timothy Omundson, James Roday, and Scott Adsit
• Starship
  with Hector Navarro, Natalie Morales, Craig Cackowski, and Michael Blaiklock