TV review: Galavant


I have been really enjoying this musical comedy series, described as Monty Python meets The Princess Bride, that originally aired on the ABC TV network but is now available on Netflix. There were only two seasons of eight and ten episodes that aired in 2015 and 2016. It is set in the 13th century and the plot involves a heroic knight Sir Galavant, his squire Sid, and a princess Isabella who seek to liberate Isabella’s kingdom of Valencia after it was captured by the king from another kingdom. That king Richard is inept and childish and it is his assistant Gareth who really gets things done.

The series is really funny and has fine performances from the entire cast. Much of the humor lies in tongue-in-cheek anachronisms. I am not a fan of musicals in general but this one is different. The songs by Oscar-winning composers Alan Menken and Christopher Lennertz with lyrics by Glenn Slater are fun to listen to because of four factors: they are short, catchy, witty, and most importantly they move the plot along and are not fillers. It is worth paying close attention to the words.

The song Maybe You Won’t Die Alone is quite beautiful as well as funny. The setting is where Galavant, forced into an alliance with Richard, organizes a romantic dinner to try and set up the obtuse and socially awkward king with the latter’s childhood friend Roberta.

The song That’s Democracy occurs when Richard and Galavant return to Richard’s original kingdom after his extended stay in Valencia and find that things have changed considerably during his absence.

Well worth seeing.

Comments

  1. file thirteen says

    Money Python meets The Princess Bride? That’s a lot to live up to. I’m going to have to watch it now.

  2. ivo says

    I loved this show and was heartbroken (not to mention, bewildered by the audience’s apparent lack of appreciation) when I learned it was discontinued after two seasons.

    I definitely was something different!

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