Galavant Season Premiere Review: A True Adventure!
Ashley Bissette Sumerel
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Galavant is infectious, brilliant, and utterly delightful.
The musical style is risky, and I’m sure even the thought of it being a musical has kept many folks from watching. But the fact is, it's done in such a quirky, entertaining way even someone who loathes musicals should enjoy Galavant.
Galavant Season 1 Episode 1 and Galavant Season 1 Episode 2 do exactly what the show claims they will. Galavant is a “musical comedy extravaganza” filled with fun and adventure. Don’t try to take this show too seriously. It’s meant to be an entertaining comedy with bawdy humor and plenty of pop-culture references. Oh, and the songs will be in your head for days!
All of the characters are excellent. Timothy Omundson as the evil, yet completely juvenile and naïve King Richard is fantastic. He’s so excited about the idea of “doing it” with Madelena that he does a little jig and repeats himself for comedic effect.
King Richard: And then tonight, you will join me in my bed.
Madelena: Yes, my king.
King Richard: Then, we're going to do it.
Madelena: Yes.
King Richard: And we're not just going to sit in bed and open gifts and talk about how much fun the wedding was. Okay? We're. Doing. It."
Joshua Sasse makes for a spectacular hero in Galavant. Like all of the cast, he has perfect comic timing and uses subtle humor when it’s called for. He is a loveable character and a joy to watch.
The women of Galavant are tough and strong, while the men are often pretty infantile. King Richard insists his chef feeds him by hand, making a game out of it as though the King is a toddler – a scene that is almost difficult to watch without being repulsed.
Galavant is also a naïve fellow, and he complains in his own childish way.
Oh, my tummy hurts. That was a long song.
Galavant
Madelena (Mallory Jansen), on the other hand, is the opposite of a damsel in distress. When Galavant arrives to rescue her, she insists that she actually doesn’t need to be rescued at all. Madelena makes her own decisions, including sleeping with the Jester right under the King’s nose.
Princess Isabella (Karen David) is smart and manipulative, taking matters into her own hands when her family is threatened. She’s also the one who trains Galavant for the jousting tournament, and sees to it that Jean Hamm is impaired.
Speaking of Jean Hamm, "Joust Friends" includes the first of several major guest stars: John Stamos. If anything is obvious, it is how much fun all of the actors are having as they portray these roles – John Stamos is no exception. Watching him in an exaggerated role of an arrogant knight who is a little too naïve is hilarious and wonderful.
The Jean Hamm joke (a play on John Hamm from Mad Men) is one of many pop-culture references that just adds to the comedy. It’s a way to make the audience feel like they are in on the joke. It’s also a reason to watch this show more than once – even a second viewing reveals some details and references you might have missed the first go around.
Galavant: You know what, Jean? It's 1256. The "your momma" jokes, they're getting really old.
Jean Hamm: So is your momma.
Galavant is funny and entertaining, absolutely. But it’s also artistic and well done. All of the music is perfectly timed and catchy (as I write this, I have King Richard’s song about wanting to kill Galavant in my head), the actors are talented and the writing is witty.
What about you, Galavant Fanatics? Did you love the premiere? Do you want to see more? Or was it simply not your cup of tea? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
And guess what? You can also watch Galavant online any time via TV Fanatic!
Ashley Bissette Sumerel was a staff writer for TV Fanatic. She retired in September 2017. Follow her on Twitter and on Google+.
