GALAVANT: Dwarves and Fathers and Danger – Oh, My!
Episode 204: “Giants vs. Dwarves”
[photos: ABC/Nick Ray & Liam Daniel]
Things are heating up for us in this week’s episodes of Galavant.
Richard (Timothy Omundson) wakes Galavant (Joshua Sasse) up with some extraordinary news: he just traded the jewel of Valencia for a dragon. A rather … unimpressive dragon. An iguana, really. Tad Cooper does little to impress Galavant.
Galavant is less than pleased, and he has a rather messy breakup with Richard, saying that Richard is a “king that isn’t a king” before running off to find the giants he planned on asking to join the quest alone. Richard storms off in the opposite direction, singing about “My Dragon Pal And Me.”
Mr. Wormwood (Robert Lindsay) still has control over Isabella (Karen David), so she is still far too excited about her wedding to Prince Harry. Mr. Wormwood is using his magic to convince Isabella that all his ideas for the wedding are perfect. One of the guests has yet to RSVP, and the place holders for the wedding will not go perfectly if not everyone is going to show up. Isabella’s mother stands up to Mr. Wormwood, finally speaking up about Isabella’s strange behavior. Mr. Wormwood uses his control over Isabella to send her parents to the dungeon.
Galavant quite literally stumbles upon some rather unimpressive giants. Andre (Nick Frost). the leader of the giants, agrees to help our hero, nonetheless, in return for Galavant’s help with fighting the dwarves.
Meanwhile, Sid (Luke Youngblood) is recognizing some changes in Gareth (Vinnie Jones). After some pestering, Gareth admits he thinks he’s fallen in love with Queen Madalena (Mallory Jansen).
The giants and the dwarves are about to begin their “pre-fight meeting.” The leader of the giants explains how the fight between the two parties began, with the building of a bridge that was supposed to unite them. But when it came time to unveil the bridge, the dwarves had built their side too short. The dwarves are are as equally unimpressive. In fact, the two groups are pretty much the same size. Richard then reveals that he has joined the ranks of the dwarves, calling Galavant a “Giant jerkface.”
Richard and Galavant decide to fight right then and there, and the giants and dwarves are only too happy to oblige. Roberta storms in on the scene and stops the fight before it can truly begin. She questions the two about what they are doing and is just as unimpressed by Richard’s pet as Galavant was. She tries to convince them that they are both being silly. But Richard and Galavant are still angry and decide that they do indeed want to take part in the battle between the giants and dwarves.
Sid is trying to talk some sense in Gareth about his feelings for Madalena. Sid does his best to explain the “Bro Code” to Gareth, and then tries to warn him against a relationship with her. Sid points out her last three relationships ended in “betrayal, exile, and murder” and that she may rip Gareth’s heart out. Sid admits that he thinks of Gareth as a friend and Gareth reciprocates.
Isabella goes to meet Princess Jubilee. Isabella asks the Princess why she hasn’t RSVP’d to the wedding. Jubilee sings about being “A Different Kind of Princess.” She’s trying very hard to be edgy. She burps and Isabella’s crown falls off her head, breaking the curse.
The battle of the giants and dwarves begins, very reminiscent of West Side Story. The battle begins, but there is much confusion as to who is who. Galavant suggests shirts and skins, when Roberta rides in again and fixes the bridge. She does her best to patch things up between Richard and Galavant, though both are stubborn. Galavant realizes he was wrong and apologizes to Richard. Richard accepts and and asks if Galavant really believes in Tad Cooper.
Madalena walks in on Sid trying to invite Gareth to a show, and accuses him of the warning he gave to Gareth. Gareth admits he broke the “Bro Code” and Madalena sets a warrant for Sid’s arrest. Madalena admits she likes Gareth as well.
“I Believe” sends off the episode, with Richard, Galavant, and Roberta on their way once again: Madalena and Gareth sharing their feelings, Sid running for his life, and Isabella off to make things right within Hortensia.
Episode 5: “About Last Knight”
Sid is still trying to escape Valencia and is nearly caught by some villagers. Sid does his best to incite a revolution among the peasants. During the course of “Today We Rise,” Sid reveals some gruesome details that perhaps he could have left out if he wanted support. He is wheeled into the gates, with no one standing with him. He’s left to make another hasty retreat.
Roberta, Richard, and Galavant are on their last leg. Their final horse is out of it, and they express their regret of what had happened to them. Luckily they happen to find the property of “Sir Arnold Galavant.” Galavant is very intent on not approaching his father, but they are out of options.
Madalena is set on throwing an excellent birthday party for Gareth. His surprise leads to him murdering a few people before the festivities can begin. Gareth admits “hoity toity king stuff” isn’t for him. Madalena asks him what he wants for this birthday, and Gareth tells her he wants a scar. Madalena is happy to take him to get a new birthday scar.
Isabella rides back into Hortensia coming for Wormwood. She confronts him, but Wormwood tells her that the only thing that could kill him is the sword wielded by the one true king. (Cut to Richard using the sword he found as a nut cracker. Foreshadowing at its finest.) Isabella banishes the wedding planner. Wormwood tries to have the last word, as well as a last few wedding tips in, before finally leaving.
Galavant tries to convince his party to not approach his father. Richard and Roberta couldn’t care less.
His father is very happy to see Galavant, and is proving to be man who runs a training camp for at risk youth.
Madalena and Gareth go to a bar, but the fighting is over the second they walk in the door. When Gareth tries to start a fight by insulting someone’s mother, the peasants all begin to agree with him and grovel. Not exactly what Gareth was hoping for. He storms out.
Wormwood, Barry, and Sid meet in the Forest of Coincidence. They, by some coincidence, (ha ha) are able to help each other out by trading information. Sid is able to get a sword and a horse to go find Galavant, and Wormwood and Barry are hear news of the power mad Madalena and Gareth.
Richard is being trained by the kids in the swordsmanship program. Roberta expresses her worry for Richard not being ready when the battle came. And the kids ask Galavant to tell a story about his father. He does – a not so happy one. The children protest with the song “He Was There.”
Isabella apologizes to her parents, and her parents return the sentiment. She contests the court of Hortensia to break off the wedding. Prince Harry demands her bra as compensation. She is faced with death or giving the 11 year old her bra.
Galavant’s father, Arnold shows him the tapestry of his life. Galavant is touched by how much attention his father paid without ever showing it. Arnold is very regretful that he was never able to have time with his son. He tells Galavant that “I’ll Be There” and Galavant accepts the support.
Madalena apologizes for the poor birthday, but surprises him with Mr. Wormwood and “an unprovoked war” between Valencia and Hortensia.
Galavant and his father are playing “throw the cabbage around,” and Sid arrives at the estate. Sid is happy to see his knight again and tells Galavant he has something for him. Richard gets a little too rowdy with the kids, and Galavant turns to see the commotion. Sid throws the sword toward Galavant, and Galavant catches it … with his chest. Roberta, Sid, and Richard crowd around and Galavant proclaims “I’ve had worse…. Maybe not,” and the episode ends.
These two episodes are really starting to heat things up. I was fairly unimpressed with Princess Jubilee. She seemed far too convenient and made it seem like whoever came up with her was trying a bit to hard to sum up “feminist” in an unappealing and disrespectful way. I was also a little annoyed that they would have the crude humor of having an 11 year old demand a grown lady’s bra. However, the end cliffhanger with Galavant shocked me quite a bit, and I am more than excited to see what happens to our hero.
