6/29/2023 0 Comments Galavant richard and tad cooper(Though I’d argue that Apple TV+’s genre-bending Dickinson comes close.) There was certainly nothing else like it on the air at the time, and there’s been little since that can match its unique combination of heartfelt emotion and sly irreverence. A weird, charming mash-up of fantasy tropes and musical theater Easter eggs (a Season 2 number blatantly rips off Les Misérables’ “Do You Hear the People Sing?” with hilarious results), Galavant was a show as willing to confront the socio-economic issues both genres often ignore as it was to deconstruct the entire concept of the fairytale romance. If you’re wondering how Galavant ever even managed to get made in the first place, I have no answers for you, because this is precisely the sort of show that mainstream television networks rarely if ever greenlight, let alone allow to exist for two entire seasons. As it continued, genuinely touching moments arose in the most ridiculous of ways (I too believe in Tad Cooper) and the show regularly broke the fourth wall to make sure its audience was fully in on all the jokes. Even Richard’s violent former bodyguard Gareth (Vinnie Jones) manages to find love for the first time, with a fairly unexpected partner. Former damsel in distress Madalena blossoms into a (surprisingly complex) evil queen as Galavant forges a new relationship with the feisty princess Isabella (Karen David), all while his young squire Sid (Luke Youngblood) becomes a hero in his own right. Though Richard is initially positioned as the series’ antagonist, it turns out that all his awkward bluster masks a charming heart of gold. What follows is a wildly unpredictable mix of new quests, hilarious guest stars (Kylie Minogue’s turn as the proprietress of a woodland gay bar called The Enchanted Forest is a particular treat), and musical numbers that range from “passably clever” to “relentless earworm,” as Galavant tries to figure out what’s next for him and the series slowly transforms this motley crew of characters from trope-y caricatures into real, three-dimensional people. (Or “getting fat and growing my own food,” as she puts it.)įrom that point, all bets are off. Until, that is, the series blows its entire premise up within its very first episode, revealing that Madalena doesn’t particularly need saving, having decided being a rich queen is probably a lot more fun than returning to a life of grinding poverty and having a baby every other year. It all feels very cliche and fairly predictable, a sort of wannabe The Princess Bride only with more snark and an actual, open acknowledgment of sex. A brave and dashing knight, Galavant begins the series on a quest to rescue his beloved Madelena (Mallory Jansen) from the clutches of the evil King Richard (Timothy Omundson), who has kidnapped her. Galavant followed the story of the titular hero of the same name (played by a very charming Joshua Sasse). While the sheer audacity of this thing was truly unmatched, it’s easy to see how the show might have struggled to find an audience. A half-hour series that, on paper, essentially sounds like a drug-induced hallucination, this medieval-set fever dream featured everything from horny knights and tiny lizards who might be dragons to musical interludes that mercilessly skewered both its own premise and the Disney Princess Industrial Complex, and it all aired on a network the Mouse itself owned. If you completely missed the proverbial boat on ABC’s 2015 musical comedy Galavant, well, just trust that you weren’t the only one. Come relive your TV past with us, or discover what should be your next binge watch below: With Menken writing the tunes and Slater writing the lyrics, Galavant begins his quest with musical backup to cheer him on along the way.Editor’s Note: Welcome to our TV Rewind column! The Paste writers are diving into the streaming catalogue to discuss some of our favorite classic series as well as great shows we’re watching for the first time. His ego crushed and finding solace in at the bottom of a bottle, Galavant is aimless until summoned by Princess Isabella (Karen David) to repel the land-stealing king and win back his lady in the process. Galavant's rescue (during the King's wedding to Madalena) goes south when she dismisses her former lover in favor of the high-falutin' lifestyle she's found within the castle walls. Jousts! Sword fights! Speeding tickets given to horseback riders! For a full synopsis, check out the lyrics to its opening song:Īs the tune goes on, it tells the story of how Galavant's love, Madalena (Mallory Jansen), is whisked away by King Richard (Timothy Omundson). "Galavant" stars Joshua Sasse as Sir Gary Galavant, the beloved knight looking for his happily ever after, along with all that a medieval fantasy show promises.
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