Galavant’s finale just finished airing on ABC, and we definitely weren’t expecting that ending.
My Cousin Izzy
What’s the plan?
The episode opens on Uther Pendragon Galavant’s father showing up to comfort his son, who has had his chainmail stolen. Again. He tells Galavant that he’ll be a great hero, and get his moment in the sun. But just as he’s really getting into his song, his wife interrupts him to remind him that they need more firewood. Galavant’s father tells his son to never get married or give in to his feelings.
In the present, Galavant is planning his heroic rescue of the still captive Valencian Royal family. Isabella’s parents aren’t exactly the biggest fans of Galavant, and tell her that they managed to send a message via pigeon to her cousin Harry — who’ll come to rescue them, and then they’ll be married. Because the Valencian family tree grows straight, with no branches. Things aren’t looking good for Galavant and Isabella’s budding romance.
The prisoners are called up to the throne room, where Madalena catches Kingsley up on the story so far. King Richard isn’t exactly pleased with her plan to get him out of the way, and marry his brother. In order to restore his honor, and hold on to his crown, he suggests a fight to the death. Of course, neither royal will be fighting themselves. Kingsley beats Richard to the punch, and chooses Gareth as his champion. King Richard appoints Galavant as his own, after he puts himself forward by taking out most of the guards with flourish.
Madalena accompanies the prisoners back to the dungeon, where she implores Galavant to give up this foolish plan as Richard’s champion, and become her “shag-hag.” Which, apparently, Kingsley is perfectly okay with. He declines, so Madalena orders Isabella and Galavant to the arena, so she can watch Isabella watch Galavant die. Really, is anyone else getting Cersei Lannister vibes?
Don’t eat the crab
Isabella and Galavant share a moment together, before he duels Gareth. Or, they would if Galavant was allowing himself any feelings — they’d just cloud his fighting brain. As Galavant moves to take his “moment in the sun,” however, a pointy-hatted army interrupts. Prince Harry has arrived and, well, he’s tiny, adorable, and barely 10 years old. Talk about an age difference.
The duel is postponed in lieu of a royal welcome feast for Prince Harry. The cheering from upstairs leads the prisoners in the dungeon to believe Galavant is dead. So they hatch their own escape plan. Using some classic misdirection, the Jester frees them from their cells, and they head upstairs.
Meanwhile, Chef and Gwynne hatch a plan to poison the feast so that all of the unsuspecting royals die, in order to get their own happy ending. Except Chef can’t go through with it, and instead makes meals with everything the royals are allergic to in them.
Sid and the King and Queen of Valencia make it upstairs, and pass Galavant’s weapon to him. Instead of killing the two kings, he uses it to save Isabella from eating crab — which she’s allergic to. He tells her that he’s not afraid of his feelings, and he wants to be the kind of hero that she loves. Prince Harry gives up on Isabella and returns home to his Mother — leaving Galavant as Valencia’s only hope.
Spurred on by Gareth’s earlier encouragement, Richard decides to fight for himself in the duel. Kingsley, however, defers his place to Gareth — because it’ll be more entertaining to watch the best friends fight to the death. The only thing for certain? That Chef is heading to the gallows for his stunt with the feast.
Continue to the next page for our recap of ‘It’s All In the Executions’
It’s All In the Executions
Ssssh, it’s a secret mission
Back in the dungeon, Galavant admits that his original hero’s plan was more egocentric than anything, but he has a better idea for how to save them all. After dodging another “true love’s kiss” with Isabella, he has Gareth take him upstairs to speak with King Richard.
Galavant shares some gossip about Madalena, before encouraging King Richard to join him for a few drinks. After a few, King Richard admits that he and Madalena never consummated the marriage, much to Galavant’s surprise. But King Richard is a modern 13th century man — he’s all for women’s rights. Well, after he kidnaps them to wed, of course.
As the two continue to drink, Galavant convinces Richard to undertake a “secret mission” to slay his brother in his sleep. Which goes as well as any plan undertaken by two drunk men goes. Terribly. Kingsley catches them in the act, and throws them both in the dungeon — where Galavant promptly passes out. Gareth is particularly upset with Richard, and the idea that he will have to kill his best friend. Galavant really needs to start coming up with some better plans, and fast.
Richard sings the lullaby that his nanny used to sing to him and Gareth, and everyone shares one final moment together before the morning.
Goodnight, my friend
Gareth comes to the dungeon first thing, to take Richard and Galavant away — but not to their deaths. Though Galavant makes a valiant attempt to take the rest of the prisoners with them, and he finally shares that kiss with Isabella, Gareth knocks him out and forces him to leave with Richard.
They’re taken to the shore, where Gareth has enlisted some pirates to take King Richard home, and Galavant with him for protection. Gareth, in return, promises that no harm will come to anyone that Galavant is leaving behind. As Galavant and King Richard are rowed away to the pirate ship, Gareth watches over them and sings one solitary line of the lullaby. He does have a heart!
In the castle, it’s discovered that Galavant and Richard have escaped. Madalena orders Gareth to kill the rest of the prisoners, and he leaves for the dungeon to do just that. Or so Madalena thinks. He whisks the prisoners away, and gives them the keys so they can escape Valencia — but not before taking Sid for a little insurance.
Gareth returns to the throne room, where Kingsley can’t believe that his brother’s kingdom had a henchman who can’t kill a single person, and a queen who does nothing about it. Which is exactly when Madalena stabs him in the back. No. Really. She actually stabs him in the back. Gareth lifts Kingsley’s sword, marking him as the new king, and he takes the throne next to Madalena. Vinnie Jones wasn’t kidding when he said that this episode had a twist!
Meanwhile, Isabella and the rest of the gang arrive in her cousin Henry’s kingdom, where they’re accepted with open arms. Henry has built a perfect room for his princess bride, complete with a beautiful wedding dress. And that is where our story ends. Yes, really.
As the final song informs us, only time and Nielsen ratings will tell if the show will return for a second season, but until then some questions remain. Will Isabella ever be free from her Barbie Dreamhouse room? Will Madalena and Gareth rule over all of the kingdom? And what of Sid’s fate, as well as the rest of the crew? Not to mention Galavant and Richard, who are off on a pirate ship.
Until we get our answers, preferably when ABC picks the show up for another limited run, we’ll have to play the first season (and the soundtrack) on repeat.