Galavant: Have Fun Storming the Castle!

Last time on Galavant: Galavant and Isabella spend the night in Sid’s hometown, where they learn Sid hasn’t been truthful about his adventures. The townfolk believe he’s the hero and Galavant is his squire. Galavant reluctantly plays along while Isabella gets a little too involved, claiming she and Sid are betrothed. Sid’s parents throw a ball in their honor. Meanwhile, in Valencia, Richard throws a ball to relieve the boredom he’s feeling. It doesn’t go so well—mostly because Richard has done away with most things needed for a ball while invading Valencia—until he turns it into a roast. The Eunuch finally tells the king that his wife is cheating with the Jester, ending the party. Richard seeks out the Jester, asking to learn how to make the queen laugh. Meanwhile, Galavant helps the Pirate Lord Bonneville’s pirates fix their boat while Isabella grapples with her guilt over leading Galavant into a trap.

With Valencia in sight, let the show begin!


Galavant is ecstatic to reach Valencia. Even more ecstatic that he’s reaching Valencia is Richard. He tells Gareth that Galavant is due at the castle when” the sun is cast its last shadow upon the earth and the crescent moon is risen above the eastern ridge.” Or as Gareth says: “So, like 9 o’clock?” Yes, Galavant is due at 9 o’clock that night. Richard will be waiting—he’ll surprise Galavant, kill him and give the jewel to Magdalena. Then she will love him and they can have sexytimes.

Speaking of Magdalena, she comes in searching for her handmaiden. Her hair’s a mess. She finds Gwynne, who smooths a piece a hair into place. Magdalena asks Richard what he’s doing and he says nothing. She yells back that he is doing nothing. That they’ve been in Valencia for a year and he still hasn’t gotten her the jewel. She storms off, determined to find someone who will get the job done.

Let’s go check in with Galavant. He’s reached Valencian shores and wants to go immediately to the castle and rescue Magdalena. Isabella, now really racked with guilt, tries to dissuade him. She suggests he attack another day but he shoots it down because it’s not easy to rhyme. And he expects songs and poems to be written of his victory. Isabella then blurts out that he smells and should have a bath before being reunited with his beloved. Galavant starts to argue until he catches a whiff of himself. He agrees.

The entire time, Sid has been going on about something to make it easier to undo pants. Like a zipper…Galavant and Isabella think it’s a stupid idea.

Anyway, Isabella brings them to one of Valencia’s monasteries—the Holy Order of Our Father of Perpetual Refrain. The doors open to reveal a bunch of singing monks, led by Weird Al Yankovic. Galavant asks for the backstory and Isabella informs him that all Valencian monks take a vow of singing. Galavant’s like “Kill me now.” The monks perform and you have to go hear their song. It’s great. When they finish, Isabella asks for a bath for Galavant and then asks a monk if there is someone who can counsel her. 

(Brother Weird Al and the Monks)

Magdalena realizes the person who will get the job done is herself. She even has a song with her reflection about how she’s the one. 

(The All Magdalena Chorus)

Magdalena goes to Chef, asking him to help her. Chef doesn’t want to betray the king especially giving how easy it is for his family to end up on the chopping block. Magdalena, though, has noticed that the Chef likes her handmaiden Gwynne. She promises to help set them up if he helps her. He agrees, telling her the king is having a meeting “as soon as the croak of the frogs usher in the raven’s last calling.” Magdalena responds with: “So, like 9 o’clock.” Chef confirms that yes, it’s 9 o’clock.

Back at the monastery, Brother Weird Al sits with Isabella to counsel her. She talks about how she is supposed to betray Galavant but she doesn’t want to. After Isabella threatens him if he doesn’t break his vow, Brother Weird Al suggests—not in song—she doesn’t want to do so because she like likes Galavant. Isabella denies it but realizes she has to do something to put things right. Brother Weird Al leaves to go practice with the other monks.

("I don't know. The songs became popular and I had a career resurgence...")

Richard and Gareth wait for Galavant. The king rants about how rude it is for Galavant to be late while Gareth suggests a universal method for keeping the time. Richard thinks that’s idiotic. Maybe after this, Gareth and Sid should get together and start inventing things. Anyway, Isabella appears and tells Richard the deal’s off. He doesn’t think so. She even offers to give him the jewel just as long as he leaves Galavant alone. 

(Isabella trying to right her wrong)

Richard realizes Isabella’s falling for Galavant. He tells her she needs to honor her deal or else. At this point, he lifts up two serving tray covers to reveal her parents’ heads. Isabella screams and they move, assuring her they are still alive. They agreed because they were bored. But Richard says he’ll kill them for realsies if she doesn’t do what he says.

(How boring is it in Valencia?)

Isabella goes back to the monastery and prepares to lead Galavant into Richard’s trap. They are disguised as monks, which will let them supposedly sneak in.

Magdalena and the Chef had been eavesdropping on the king and she realizes Galavant is coming. She starts plotting, writing a letter she sends off with the palace’s fastest pigeon. Because it “absolutely has to be there overnight.” 

(This seems ominous)

Chef is focused on his romantic future with Gwynne. Magdalena gives him a specific menu to cook for Gwynne, including giving him permission to take a Bordeaux from her private stock. She then goes and orders Gwynne to have dinner with Chef that night.

He tells Gwynne he knows it’s not very romantic to have her boss order her to dinner but he really likes her. Gwynne reveals her hesitancy isn’t because she doesn’t like Chef, it’s because she doesn’t know if they can make it in such a crazy, medieval world. Chef believes they can and sings about it. It’s another unromantic love song but one that accurately lies out life as a peasant in medieval times. In the end, Gwynne is sold and Chef is feeling quite confident.

(Peasant love!)

Galavant, Isabella and Sid make it into the palace but are ambushed by Richard and Gareth. They are taken into custody as Richard thanks Isabella for upholding her end of the bargain. Galavant looks absolutely betrayed. Isabella tries to explain but she’s taken to the dungeons with Sid. Galavant, meanwhile, is scheduled to go straight to the gallows. It looks like Richard has won.

(That's the face of one who has been betrayed)

Gwynne walks down the hall, eager for her dinner. We see it laid out but it is Magdalena standing over the food. As Richard prepares to hang his foe, he orders the bag over his head removed. It reveals the Chef instead, who is very confused. So is Richard. 

(What a twist!)

Where is Galavant? He is brought to the Queen’s table—the meal is for them. She tells him there is nothing to worry about. Especially once her other guest arrives…

Who is the person Magdalena sent for? Will Gwynne ever have dinner with the Chef? Will Galavant forgive Isabella? Find out the answers to two of these questions tomorrow in my recap of last week’s second episode.

Screen caps from here.