“I smell a backstory, and I love backstory.”
Warning: Full spoilers for the episode below.
So far, Season 2 of Galavant has been all about switching up character pairings and developing dynamics between different people. Those we saw together in the first season have been apart. It was an effective technique to keep the story fresh, but it’s time for storylines to start coming back together and with the reunion of Sid and Galavant, it’s starting. They’re also connecting plots by having Wormwood work alongside Madalena and Gareth. The puzzles pieces are snapping into place.
Isabella did indeed get to have a kick-ass scene when she kicked Wormwood out of Hortensia. In the midst of his humorous departure — I appreciate how he’s an invested wedding planner — he casually mentioned the sword wielded by the one true king is the only thing capable of stopping him. Richard possesses the sword. It’s a hit-you-over-the-head approach to take with the plot, but Galavant is that kind of show so it works.
The awesomeness of Isabella continued when she delivered her short speech about how she’s ready to be her own person. Thank goodness. I practically clapped in support. It makes me wonder if her situation was played poorly in order to get this strong of a reaction, but honestly, I would have felt this way regardless. Anyway, her final scene in Hortensia kind of took away from it. Henry is a kid and immature, I get it, but her bra? Really? I mean, really. I couldn’t have rolled my eyes harder at the scene.
Luke Youngblood in Galavant
Galavant was finally given more material to work with in this episode. They hung a lantern on bringing in his backstory, and I adore them all the more for doing so. Learning about his background and the way his father, played by Greg Wise, treated him made Galavant’s arrogant nature and his heroics come into focus in a different way. He’s probably been overcompensating most of his life since he never got his dad’s approval.
It was quite moving to learn Gal’s dad kept up with his adventures and captured them in tapestries. Joshua Sasse’s and Wise’s performances brought a lot of emotion to their scenes. The idea of tossing a cabbage around should be a preposterous one, but because of the way they played it, it was sweet and poignant.
Their reunion was cut short by the arrival of Sid. Can we all pause to take a minute to praise the brilliant creation that was the Forest of Coincidence? So many television series and movies have scenes like the ones that played out in the forest — scenes where everything magically falls into place, where the right information is shared at the right time, etc. The Forest of Coincidence is one of the best and most hilarious things Galavant has ever done.
Galavant isn’t a show with high drama. Even when Gareth kills three servants at his surprise party, it’s casual and handled with the on screen equivalent of a shrug. So, though it will likely work out, Sid accidentally stabbing Galavant was a shock. It’s also a way to poke fun at other series that leverage such theatrics to get viewers to tune into the next episode.
And speaking of the next episode, they need to step up the musical aspects. “About Last Knight” was the second installment in a row without any standout numbers.
Like Richard, I love backstory, and Galavant’s was sad and charming. The concept of a once horrible but now fantastic father isn’t a new one, but it was executed with heart. Characters and storylines are finally starting to come together, and while it’s unlikely Galavant is dead, it’s a different tone for the show. Who wants to bet they’ll call out the dramatic cliffhanger in some way next week?
