Galavant: Democracy!

Last time on “Galavant:” Galavant and Isabella worried that their one kiss wasn’t all that great and maybe their romance wasn’t as strong as they believed it to be. When Galavant found a way to talk to Isabella, everything went wrong and she ended up brokenhearted. Richard, meanwhile, learned of Gareth’s betrayal and was brokenhearted. But they pressed on to Richard’s castle…only to find it gone. Meanwhile, Isabella returned to her room and agreed to marry Harry—unaware Galavant was coming to get her.

Meanwhile, Gareth and Madalena argued about how he decorated the throne room and about their differences in general. They agreed they both hate Sid and went from there.

Also, I came to the realization that Richard is gay and in love with Galavant. And I ship it.

Send help. I have way too many ships in my armada as it is.

Anyway, Richard is miffed that his palace is gone. So naturally, he wants to go find it. And Galavant goes along in hopes of getting Richard’s army so he can storm Harry’s kingdom and rescue Isabella.

They come across a village and Richard says there seems to be something very familiar about it. He hails a peasant, played by Matt Lucas. The peasant is very excited to see Galavant and less so to see Richard. But Richard ignores that to focus on one thing: What the hell happened to his palace? Turns out the reason the village looks so familiar—it is the palace.


Matt Lucas goes on to explain that Richard left for Valencia and didn’t come back for a long time. Richard agrees with that and apologizes. But while he was gone, the people realized that they really didn’t need him. They figured out how to govern themselves and formed their own little democracy. Which leads into a song about how everyone gets a vote. Well, everyone who is a landowning white male, pretty much. Which is basically everyone who had a vote when America was created and as Galavant points out, it is advanced for the Middle Ages. Richard doesn’t care—he just wants his palace (and power) back!

(Hi, Matt Lucas!) 

CREDITS!

Back in Valencia, Gareth wanders the palace and arrives at the throne room. He is surprised to find Richard there. Richard hugs Gareth before asking him why he would do it. Gareth is confused as Richard hands him his crown. He then turns around to reveal a knife in his back, falling out of frame.
Gareth sits up in bed, screaming. 

(Poor Gareth)

Madalena wakes up and goes to Sid, annoyed. She tells him that Gareth keeps having nightmares and waking her up with his screaming. So she says she needs her beauty sleep so she doesn’t get line. Madalena charges Sid with solving the problem or he’ll get a new line on his neck. She storms out but comes back in, apologizing for not being clear since she’s tired—she means she’ll have him beheaded.

No pressure, Sid.

Meanwhile, in Harry’s kingdom, Isabella is sulking in her room. She makes the jester re-enact her break up with Galavant using marionettes. He asks if that’s the best thing for her and she demands that he perform again. 

(All that's missing is a tub of chocolate ice cream)

Her parents come in and say that since she’s agreed to marry Harry, it’s time to really plan their wedding. Isabella’s not in a mood but they get her to meet the wedding planner they’ve hired. His name is Mr. Wormwood and he’s played by Robert Lindsay, who was in the musical “Me and My Girl.” He assures Isabella he’s there to cater to her every whim but crosses his fingers behind his back as he bows to her.

Uh oh.

Matt Lucas shows Galavant and Richard their new rec center and Richard says it’s very familiar. At last, he figures out it’s his palace. Especially when he finds his bed sheets being used as curtain. Matt Lucas explains that everything is used for the common good. So, wait, this town is both democratic and communist? Anyway, Galavant asks if they have an army and Matt Lucas replies they do. Galavant asks to use it to invade Harry’s kingdom and rescue Isabella. Matt Lucas replies that it’ll have to go to a vote.

In Valencia, Sid pulls Gareth aside and asks him about his dreams. Gareth asks how he knows about that and Sid tells him he keeps waking up Madalena. Gareth tells him about the dreams and Sid suggests that maybe Gareth feels guilty about betraying Richard and it’s manifesting in his dreams. Gareth thinks that’ nonsense and storms off. Sid realizes he has his work cut out for him.

(Sid needs a vacation)

Richard wanders around, lost as he tries to figure out his new place in the kingdom. As he sings about it, he pretty much fails at everything he tries. Poor Richard. Let’s give him a hug!

(Group hug Richard!)

Wormwood plots to take over Harry’s kingdom by using Isabella. He charms a crown he intends for her to wear and prepares to convince her to put it on. Isabella is still sullen and not interested in making any decisions about her wedding. So Wormwood has to sing about it. He finally gets her to put on the crown and her mood changes immediately. She sings about getting married and is all happy. So are her parents. Everyone else…is suspicious.

(No, no. That glow is not suspicious at all)

Matt Lucas oversees the town meeting. They finish the items on their agenda as a slightly inebriated Richard watches. Galavant asks if he’s going to become the town drunk and Richard says the position is already filled. He has no place in this new world.

Catching sight of Galavant, Matt Lucas turns the floor over to him. Galavant takes the stage and asks the people for permission to use their army to rescue his true love. A villager points out he already did that, going to rescue Madalena. Galavant says she’s not his true love but Princess Isabella is and she’s in Hortensia (Harry’s kingdom). Everyone confuses Hortensia and Valencia as well as Isabella and Madalena. Galavant continues to plead with them but they don’t seem to be swayed.

Moved, Richard storms the stage. He admits that he wasn’t the greatest king and he realizes some of his mistakes. But he tells them that they will make a mistake if they don’t support Galavant. He extols Galavant’s virtues and man, he’s really in love with the guy, isn’t he? Anyway, one woman stands up and offers to help. No one else follows her lead though.

(Just one brave soul)

Night comes to Valencia and Gareth goes to turn in for the night. He pulls back the sheets to find Richard’s head in his bed. 

(That is a bit alarming)

Richard accuses him of betraying him and Gareth sits up, screaming. Sid runs in and tries to calm him down before he can annoy Madalena. Gareth admits that Sid might be right about him feeling guilty. So now what happens? Sid does something that his mother used to do, which is to “pull” the nightmares from Gareth’s mind while singing a song about just having good dreams. Gareth looks like he wants to kill Sid but it seems to work.

I’m sure Madalena is happy.

Galavant prepares to head to Hortensia to rescue Isabella. Richard shows up and says he’s going with him. Galavant is slightly panicked but Richard explains he doesn’t belong in his own land anymore. He needs to be able to do something. And Galavant is going to need more back up than just the one townswoman who has agreed to go—Roberta. So despite his misgivings, Galavant agrees to let Richard come.

In Harry’s kingdom, Isabella announces that she’s going to marry Harry six weeks from then. And everyone is invited! As they applaud, the jester asks her parents about her change of heart. They don’t question it and are just glad that she’s going to marry Harry like they planned. Though suspicious, the jester lets the matter drop.

(Still, no one questions the glowing tiara? How common is that in this kingdom?)

Hmm, I wonder how far Wormwood will go. And I hope Jester, Chef and Gwynne can figure things out soon. I wonder what this Roberta will bring to Galavant. And how much longer it’ll be before Richard realizes he loves the knight.

Next time: Isabella’s weird behavior continues! How does Roberta fit in?

Screen caps from here.