2015’s Galavant was a witty little fantasy comedy that mixed Disney with Monty Python and a raucous sense of fun, but sadly, no one tuned in for the show.
What Is It?
This musical-comedy fantasy series follows the adventures of the charming knight Galavant as he embarks on a quest to reclaim his “happily ever after.” After the evil King Richard steals his true love, Galavant sets out with a ragtag team to rescue her, only to find that love, heroism, and destiny aren’t quite what he expected.
Aired: ABC, 2015-16, 2 Seasons Totaling 18 episodes
Starring: Joshua Sasse, Timothy Omundson, Vinnie Jones, Mallory Jansen, Karen David
Created by: Dan Fogelman
Legacy:
Galavant came and went from the Prime Time schedule without many people noticing, but it delivered a fun little fantasy romp with some pretty good tunes, and it should eventually find itself counted as a cult classic.
A Closer Look:
When ABC originally announced that this show would fill in the Sunday timeslot while Once Upon A Time was on its Season 4 hiatus, I have to admit that it did not interest me too much. A musical/fantasy seemed a bit too cloyingly Disney-ish, and it looked like it would appeal mostly to the OUaT crowd—a show that I had long since given up on by that time. But then I saw the previews, which suggested Galavant would offer a nice helping of Monty Python with its family-friendly fun, and I decided to at least check it out. I can’t say that I thought the show was great at first, but it grew on me (Dan Fogelman’s previous genre comedy The Neighbors took a while to find its stride as well). By the end of its first season I was hooked on this quirky little show that offered plenty of witty lines as well as some of the best meta-ditties this side of Weird Al (who, by the way, has a hilarious turn on the show as a singing monk).
It also had an impeccable (and quite attractive) cast who were up to the task of delivering on both the humor and the tunes. Joshua Sasse gives us the ever-optimistic Galavant, springing back from defeat and believing that love and justice will eventually rule the day, while Karen David counters that with a much more realistic and jaded view of the world, and the two reveal a palpable chemistry. Timothy Omundson is perfect as the inept tyrant who is equal parts vulnerable and petulant, while also proving surprisingly lovable. Mallory Jansen brings a deliciously villainous edge to the role of the queen, embracing the character’s unapologetic ambition and vanity while revealing just a touch of vulnerability. And the supporting cast of talented players each appear to revel in their roles, even if they show up only briefly. Plus, the music from Alan Menken and Glenn Slater is absolutely first-rate and deserves a soundtrack of its own.
Galavant does get off to a slow start, initially lacking that anarchic spark or raucous inspiration you used to get from the Pythons or Mel Brooks (when he was hitting on all cylinders). It seemed a bit too safe and inoffensive at first, as if ABC reined in too much boisterousness because the show aired in a “family friendly” hour. But it started to get a bit edgier, and the writers appeared to sneak a few lines past the censors as the show progressed. By its second season, it was really hitting its stride, and I recall rolling on the floor in laughter at times while watching it. The show didn’t always sustain that level, but it certainly got in its share of laughs and delivered an enjoyable fantasy romp.
It ended up getting cancelled (more on that below), but fortunately the show wrapped up its main storyline by the end of Season 2 and did not leave us hanging (though it also set up a potential new storyline). And really, it would be hard to sustain a comedy like this for multiple years, though I believe it had at least a couple more seasons in it, especially since the first two were in the eight-to-ten-episode range. This show could have even ventured into a great Game of Thrones parody if it had lasted a little longer, but instead of a happily ever after, it got cast into the TV Wasteland. I expect it to eventually gallop into cult infamy and one day be recognized as a great little show that was cancelled too soon. The show’s composer Alan Menken has mentioned that it could head to Broadway, but I personally would prefer another season or two (or a movie) on the tube.
Cancelled Too Soon?
Perhaps this show was cancelled too soon, but for once, you can’t blame the network. ABC scheduled it in the Once Upon A Time timeslot when that one was on its winter hiatus, and it seemed like a good fit, appealing to both the adult and younger audiences watching that show. However, not many people tuned in during the first season, and Galavant seemed sure to be cancelled based on its low ratings. But ABC extended a surprise renewal to the show (along with the equally low-rated Agent Carter, which was filling in for Agents of SHIELD), with the first episode of Season 2 thumbing its nose at the TV by the Numbers site predictions in its title: “A New Season aka Suck It Cancellation Bear”.
Sadly, the show slipped to historically low levels for Prime Time broadcast network television series when it returned, and there was no miracle renewal a second time around. But you can’t blame the network because they gave it a chance by renewing the show after its low-rated first season and scheduled it in a pretty friendly spot. Perhaps a musical/fantasy/comedy just didn’t appeal to the general audience, or perhaps the show was just a bit too quirky for its own good. But for whatever reason, this one did not attract enough viewers, and the Cancellation Bear eventually did catch up with it.
Should It Be Rebooted?
It has only been a little over ten years since Galavant first premiered, so really, we should be talking about a revival instead of a reboot. They could reassemble the cast and pick up ten years later, perhaps doing that Game of Thrones spoof I mentioned above. And maybe instead of a third season, they do it as a movie, which might keep costs down. If that proves successful, crank out another movie or two each year. The series is currently streaming on Hulu, so a movie or two might bring it some attention. Sadly, though, since the show never developed much of an audience in the first place and still hasn’t garnered much of a cult following, it seems unlikely that Disney would be interested in pulling together the talent that was originally involved.
Interesting Facts:
Dan Fogelman, composer Alan Menken, and lyricist Glenn Slater had previously worked together on the Disney animated film Tangled. Fogelman’s other genre works for television include The Neighbors (also cancelled by ABC after two seasons) and Paradise, which is currently headed into its second season on Hulu.
Though barely mentioned in the series, Galavant’s first name is Gary.
Where Can You Watch It?
The entire series was collected on DVD, but that is out of print and it is fetching rather high prices from third-party sellers. As mentioned above, the series is currently available for streaming on Hulu.
