How can one not love the two-part season finale of Galavant, when it starts with such a brilliant recap song by the Jester, “Thank you. Here all week…unless I die.” Followed by a running argument between Gareth and Madalena (with interjections by Wormwood) and a rousing speech by Isabella.
Galavant and Richard lead their army of “half-dead” soldiers onto the battlefield while Chef and his “bae” realize they are right in the middle of everything. Chester Wormwood turns into an evil, and male, Mary Poppins for the “Do the D’ew, D’ew D’ew” (which may, or may not be the title but it looks right…) just in time to keep Madalena from changing her mind about using dark magic.
Chester turns the zombie army against everyone. “You make a cake, you break a few eggs,” is his response when Madalena complains. Later, she goes to save Gareth who is taking shelter from the dead soldiers with Isabella, Galavant, and his old pal Richard.
After the first half of Galavant’s season finale ends, the second half starts with a musical flashback where Richard and Gareth are children. (Keep an eye out for a splendid in-joke.) The entire opening takes a leaf from “The Kid” with Richard playing Bruce Willis’ part.
The zombies surround Gareth and Galavant while the “one true king to rule them all” goes after Wormwood. In the interim Madalena and “Tiny Tot” do battle and Sid arrives with reinforcements (but no one famous due to budgetary reasons) and viewers with keen hearing will notice a Wilhelm scream at the end of one comic fight.
Happily ever after is a low key affair for one couple, or two if one includes a certain former royal staff member and his “bae” while the other two lovers manage to have a happy ending that could be termed a ball of fire.
There is one last surprise guest on the series as Weird Al Yankovic shows up as a marital monk, who sings what just may be the best song of the second season, and also performs a musical marriage ceremony.
Galavant, in its finale, manages to have some really excellent sequences: The armies all rushing together to do battle. Gareth and Madalena expressing how they really feel. Wormwood and Richard with their confrontation and the physical followup to the “cat-fight” song by Isabella and Madalena.
It is no secret that this show took some getting used to. However, repeated viewings and a steady appreciation for what Menken and the writers were striving for (under the guidance of show creator Dan Fogelman) turned this reviewer around.
The season finale, where the players break the fourth wall repeatedly, brings up that Galavant may not be renewed for another run. If that is the case, then fans can take comfort in a cracking end to a series that entertains and is able, just like the finale itself, to make the viewer laugh and perhaps shed a little tear.
(Although that could have just been me…)
The stars of the show,Timothy Omundson, Joshua Sasse, Vinnie Jones, Karen David, Mallory Jansen and Luke Youngblood all do brilliantly in their respective roles. (Praise is also to be lavished on the Welsh actor Darren Evans who kills it every time he is on screen.) In terms of guest starring roles, Galavant has proffered the “creme de la creme” of talent from across the pond.
The actors who all appear in cameos, guest roles and recurring ones (Robert Lindsay for example) all went above and beyond the call of Galavant and apart from thrilling at least one certain fan, made the show a lot of fun.
Galavant sails off into the musical sunset tonight after another rapid round of episodes. May the network demigods approve the show for further seasons and make room for even more great guests. After all, at least one character did not get her happy ending and it would be brilliant to see where this storyline could lead.
ABC airs the season finale tonight, tune in and see how many musical homages you can spot.
