S01.E07: My Cousin Izzy / S01.E08: It's All In The Executions

[Bort]

Considering Madalena doesn't even know the name of the Jester, it doesn't really surprise me she doesn't remember Syd. She's a total sociopath (or is it psychopath, I can never remember which is which), only taking notice of someone if they can help her get what she wants or is in the way, and even then only a little.

Sociopath. Good point. I would also chalk it up to Madalena not interacting with Sid because he'd be around Galavant mostly during the adventures while she stayed at home, likely bored and thus further fueling her disdain for peasantry.

[legaleagle53]

Count me as another fan unhappy with the lack of ending. I had been prepared to buy the DVD if there was one, but if there's little promise of a second season, I don't see the point.

 

I let my kids watch this with me because 1. they're too young to get the sex jokes, 2. the violence was slapstick, and 3. they love princesses and knights. They were absolutely distraught when there was no resolution. It was like "Who kills Humperdink, is it Inigo?" "No one. Humperdink lives." "You mean he WINS?!? JESUS, Grandpa, why did you read me this?"

 

And Isabella in the box gave one of them nightmares.

 

 

Considering Madalena doesn't even know the name of the Jester, it doesn't really surprise me she doesn't remember Syd. She's a total sociopath (or is it psychopath, I can never remember which is which), only taking notice of someone if they can help her get what she wants or is in the way, and even then only a little.

 

Lady MacBeth has nothing on Madalena, that's for sure.

[Trini]

 I can handle this being one and done, but c'mon, give us a pay off!! 

 

Seriously! What payoff did we get?

• Galavant and Isabella kissed
• Madalena went full EVIL
• Chef and Jester didn't die?

[Mabinogia]

If we don't get a second season, which seems like a distinct possibility, I would hope they would do something to wrap the story up. A special, a few webisodes, something. I'm fine with most of the endings, sure they are open ended, but they are okay, but Isabella's ending kind of freaked me out. Trapped in a Barbie Room for...until her fiancé hits puberty? *shiver*

 

The cast seemed to enjoy themselves enough that they might be willing to come back for some kind of wrap up even if they don't get a whole season, though I would LOVE for this to be picked up by Amazon or something. I loved spending time with the characters. I don't care if the plot makes sense. I just had fun watching them have fun.

[Snarkette]

Ooh, Madelena's outfit got even spikier! You go, evil queen! 

 

Got to say the to be continued took me by surprise, and not really in all that good a way (although the nielsen ratings joke had me laughing). I was hoping for a self-contained event, not a tbc. 

 

Loved the poison song, glad that Kingsley died fairly quickly, sad about the two loved ones being separated (Richard and Gavin, that is), rather pleased that Isabella is stuck in a gilded cage, and wishing we had lots more Galavant and Richard scenes. Please let this be renewed!

 

Oh and man that jester is tall!

[aradia22]

Oh, Galavant. I didn't enjoy this show nearly as much as I thought I would, either straightforwardly or snarkily but it did have some nice moments. I don't know whether to hate or love them for that ending. I didn't know how they'd wrap everything up and it was a real cop out and yet I did kind of like the jokes about a possible season 2. I watched a lot of the pilots this season and a lot of the shows I did sign on for got cancelled so it resonated with me.

[wayne67]

I was simultaneously amused, disappointed and confused during the last 5 minutes of the show.

 

Gareth being promoted for denying Kingsley to his face and Madelana stabbing him in the back was hilarious.

 

Isabel being stuck in a box for her child fiance was creepy.

 

Galavant going on a road trip with Richard had potential .

 

The problem is I don't find any of the dangling plot threads cliff hangers per se. There's no real threat of danger to the favorite characters except possibly The Chef but Madalena probably won't kill him as then she'd have to find another cook and it seems like a lot of effort. I liked the series for it's musical slapstick comedy but I'm not sure I'll miss it that much if it doesn't get a second season.

[A Boston Gal]

Agree that the last episode was half hot mess and half brilliance, with the tiptoeing secret mission song and lullaby being high points.

So I don't really get what's now keeping Richard and Galavant from coming back. Gareth is now king; would he still have everyone killed? They all really need cell phones, or at least more messenger pigeons.

Once again, I'm asking for way too much logic from my musical comedies.

Edited January 26, 2015 by A Boston Gal

[Bort]

Oh and man that jester is tall!

I noticed how tall the Jester was too, I bet Madalena climbed him like a TREE! ::jealous:: I love tall guys.

[ParadoxLost]

Count me as another fan unhappy with the lack of ending.

 

I'm not so bothered with the idea of no ending.  Things that bug me with other show don't seem to bother me at all with this one.  I probably would have been ecstatic with an ending that set up cliffhangers that I was dying to see how they were resolved, even if they never were.

 

My problem with this ending is that relative to the rest of the episode, or even the worst episode of the eight, it completely fell apart.  It was so jarring that I wouldn't be shocked if someone does an interview that says they were told the episode order was cut from thirteen to eight when they were done filming 80% of episode eight.  It felt that tacked on to me.

[allonsyalice]

They have the episodes on Hulu. If you have to wait a week to watch it if you don't have one of the cable/ satellite companies to sign in with

thank you, but i also live in Canada! i just ended up downloading it this morning!

[Eliza422]

 

The complete silent during tip-toeing scene was brilliant, since the rest of the episodes were full of noise.

Galavant+Richard were great and Richard+Garreth were also great.. So who was the common denominator? ;)

 

 

My main man, that's who!!! I'm hoping for a spin off on the adventures of King Richeard!! I know I'm dreaming :-)

[DeLurker]

I love the chef.

[legaleagle53]

Darren (Chef) said on Twitter today that that was his first-ever onscreen kiss.  I have a feeling he's going to have more female fans now than he knows what to do with!  ;-)

[ElectricBoogaloo]

And now we know the chef's name is Vincenzo!

[Blue Plastic]

I've had time to digest it now and just - no.  I liked the "secret mission" song, very funny, and the "poison everyone" song, also funny, but the ending, or lack thereof, was very NO.  Not cute, not funny, especially not after having been advertised as a one-time event.  No, no, and did I mention no?  I am beyond tired of being baited and switched with all these "one season" or "one-time event" shows being advertised and then if they turn out to be more popular than expected, as in the case of Under the Dome, or even if they don't as in the case of Galavant, the network starts trying to drag out the show's "moment in the sun."  Sorry, Galavant, you're cute but not that cute.  And the part with the little cousin locking Isabella into the creepy dollhouse was OTT even for this show.  Also, poor Syd.

Edited January 27, 2015 by Blue Plastic

[MisterGlass]

 

Okay, ending stuff aside, "Secret Mission" was the funniest thing I've seen in a long damn time.  Dear God, they were having so much, so very much fun.

 

It really is brilliant.  I just rewatched and they are so much fun!  I started watching this because I saw Timothy Omundson was in it, and he was a highlight of the show.  Even if there isn't a second season, I want another show where he, Vinnie Jones, and the actor who plays Chef get to hang out.

 

Retconning away, I think that Gareth broke them all out of prison and they all ran away together to the pirate ship, boarded it, and sailed merrily back to Richard's kingdom, leaving Madalena to rule the eighteen remaining native Valencians, until they revolt and throw her in the dungeon.  Meanwhile, the pirate ship wends its way across the bay in a happy cloud of song.  Zoom out, triumphant musical flourish, the end.

[AnnaRose]

 I am beyond tired of being baited and switched with all these "one season" or "one-time event" shows being advertised and then if they turn out to be more popular than expected, as in the case of Under the Dome, or even if they don't as in the case of Galavant, the network starts trying to drag out the show's "moment in the sun." 

 

So you're saying Galavant was advertised as a one time event or one season show?  I must have missed that.

 

I'm hoping they get their second season.  I actually think they have a pretty good chance.

[Camera One]

What was the original episode order?  I expected a proper ending as well so was surprised at the end.  Networks just always want to keep things "open", don't they?  That's kinda annoying.  As others have said, they could have done a second season while properly ending this one.

 

On the whole, I suppose I don't care *that* much it wasn't resolved, since the cliffhanger felt like part of the parodying, and the humor/satire aspect of this show made the "plot" almost secondary.  But if they're planning to do a second season, at the very least, they need to make the plot make sense.  It came out of nowhere when Madalena stabbed the King's Brother.  The "ending" felt randomly thrown together in 5 minutes.

 

These last two episodes were better than some of the in-the-middle episodes, but I wish the writers knew when they were writing that the show would be aired as an hour-long show.  The 30-minute episodes made certain elements a little repetitive, and the back-and-forth of everyone ending back in jail got a little tiresome by the end of this hour in particular.

 

The songs were fun, and there were some good laughs, so I do hope they get renewed for a second season.  Even if that's the case, we'll probably have to wait a year to see it, I suppose.

[twoods]

I hope it gets renewed so I can look at Galavant's face every Sunday night. He is gorgeous! Plus, Timothy back on my screen is awesome. I miss Psych.

[Blue Plastic]

So you're saying Galavant was advertised as a one time event or one season show?  I must have missed that.

 

I'm hoping they get their second season.  I actually think they have a pretty good chance.

Well, I thought they said it was going to be a 4-week comedy.  They never said it couldn't have another season, but since they aired it with two half-hour episodes back to back for only 4 weeks to kill time until Once Upon a Time comes back from hiatus, I for one took it as a one time thing.  If it does come back, it doesn't have a set time to do so as far as I know.  Would it come back again for another 4 weeks next January when nothing else is on?  Or during the summer when nothing else is on?  It might be kind of a hard show to keep going for weeks on end.

 

I'm not saying I'd be against another run for it, but I'm against them promoting it the way they did and writing it with such an open ending even though it's kind of a long shot that they'll come back.

[AnnaRose]

On the whole, I suppose I don't care *that* much it wasn't resolved, since the cliffhanger felt like part of the parodying, and the humor/satire aspect of this show made the "plot" almost secondary. 

 

Thank you for writing this.  I normally like to have everything all wrapped up, but for some reason the ending here didn't really bother me.  I think it is probably due to the parody/satire aspect you mentioned.   I hadn't quite made that connection... but yep, I think that's exactly why.

[bros402]

My problem with this ending is that relative to the rest of the episode, or even the worst episode of the eight, it completely fell apart.  It was so jarring that I wouldn't be shocked if someone does an interview that says they were told the episode order was cut from thirteen to eight when they were done filming 80% of episode eight.  It felt that tacked on to me.

 

They stated in the upfronts May 2014 that it would be two episodes back-to-back every Sunday in January.

[Trini]

I think I would have liked to hear the Jester's "Catch Everyone Up" song.

[jhlipton]

Loved these last two episodes, the Secret Mission song reminded me of With Cat Like Tread from Pirates of Penzance (I love that song).

yes, YES, YES!!!! [Tarantara!]

 

Prince Henry was hysterical, so cute, loved Richard and Kingsly's reaction to him.

I loved that they flipped the "age difference" trope. That was funny.

 

I wasn't surprised they had a cliffhanger ending because my understanding was when they shot it, it was a short-season-hoping for renewal. But by the time ABC decided to air it, they presented it very clearly as an "Event", which made it seem very intentionally one-and-done. So barring amazingly surprising ratings, it was probably going to be one and done. So in that regard I'm surprised they didn't have any slightly different alternate ending so that it...ended once it was decided, and let's face it, it was basically already decided, that this wasn't going any further. But perhaps budget also meant, no, just leave it, cliffhanger and all, even though the marketing all along had an implicit promise that this thing would have a beginning middle and end. So, basically, booo ABC.

I agree that if there was any doubt that they should have filmed a one-and-done ending. If the network assured the cast and crew of a Season 2, show the not-a-cliffhanger, otherwise, wrap things up.

[Goldmoon]

It was corporate or creative greed, making a play for a second season like that.  I wasn't that invested since they never fleshed out the characters - with the possible exception of Richard and Gareth.  I LOVED secret mission song.  I laughed out loud at that.  Everyone I talked to hated the ending.

[iMonrey]

 

So you're saying Galavant was advertised as a one time event or one season show?

 

It was definitely promoted as more of an "event" than an on-going series.

 

Here's the thing: even if they were hoping for a second season, they still could have told a complete story in the first one. Look at some of the great mini-series of the past, like Roots and Winds of War (not saying Galavant was of the same caliber, just talking about format). Those series managed to tell one complete story, then made sequels or follow-ups afterwards based on their success. Galavant could have done the same thing, surely they knew they were screwing over their audience.

 

I think they pull this shit because they think if they leave the audience hanging everyone will write to the network and demand another season.

 

The problem for Galavant was that it took some getting used to. I know I warmed up to it a lot more in the last four episodes than I did for the first four, but if you only checked out the first two and didn't care for it you probably didn't watch the rest of it to see if it got any better.

[DeLurker]

And now we know the chef's name is Vincenzo!

I am a total fail as a fangirl because I did not even remember that.  Bad bad Z̶o̶o̶t̶!̶  DeLurker!

[Rick Kitchen]

Well, Chef said, "Call me Vincenzo."

[meep.meep]

I don't mind the ending.  It's not like there's a mystery to be solved (aka The Killing) - if they don't tell me what happens with Gal and King Dick, I can make it up myself.  The lesson of Into the Woods is that there's not really any happy ever after.

 

I'm looking forward to personally busting out This is my Moment in the Sun whenever it seems appropriate.

[Snarkette]

If only they'd give us a continuous Moment in the Sun though. Because we all need to have a Moment in the Sun.

[Trini]

I think my favorite part was the little snippet of Kiss the Girl that played when Gal and Sid were talking about Isabella.

 

I recognized that reference, but I didn't realize they actually played part of the tune until my third viewing!

[ParadoxLost]

I think they pull this shit because they think if they leave the audience hanging everyone will write to the network and demand another season.

 

But they didn't do that.  They made Gal the new Gareth, Gareth the new Richard, and Isabella locked in a life size dollhouse by an eight year old.  I doubt anyone cares what happens next.  I don't.  You need to either resolve the storylines or be so evil about the cliffhangers that people will complain about the lack of resolution for years.  They didn't do either.

[Bruinsfan]

I loved that they flipped the "age difference" trope. That was funny.

As soon as Isabella mentioned it I realized that an older Prince Harry wouldn't be all that funny, and they would be going in the other direction instead.

[ParadoxLost]

What I find funny about "moment in the sun" is that I was sincerely annoyed every time I saw that very short 'Galavant' promo half way through OUAT for months.  Now I'm fairly well convinced that it was a running gag that paid off with Galavant's moment in the sun running joke in the finale.

[iMonrey]

 

But they didn't do that.  They made Gal the new Gareth, Gareth the new Richard, and Isabella locked in a life size dollhouse by an eight year old.  I doubt anyone cares what happens next.

 

I care what happens next, and that's not a resolution to the story they were telling. Everything going on with these characters is still up in the air. A proper ending would be Isabella's parents getting their kingdom back and Galavant and Isabella riding off into the sunset together. And Madalena winding up with nothing. Instead we've got Isabella and her parents at the mercy of their weird cousin and Galavant escorting Richard back to his own kingdom. That's a "to be continued," not a "The end."

[SmithW6079]

I hope they release this on DVD, because my TV froze for 10 minutes during the first episode of the night, and I missed the Chef/Gwynne song.

 

I say this, only because it's driving me crazy and even though I know it's ridiculous to expect logic in this show (which I loved, BTW), but how exactly was Richard king? Kingsley first says he doesn't want the sword, because he wants to rape and pillage, but then he does take it as he leaves the room, so didn't that make him king? Wouldn't Richard have technically been regent, not king? And even if Richard took the crown, when Kingsley returned, wouldn't Kingsley be king again? Madelena seemed to think so, which is why she was planning to marry him. Or were they talking about the kingdom of Valencia, and not the kingdom of "Nearby" (isn't King Richard described as a "nearby king"?). 

 

As someone asked upthread about why Madelena couldn't just take the crown for herself, there is actually historical precedence. Queen Joanna of Naples and Sicily in the 14th century was queen in her own right. She was married four times, because in those days, a queen could not lead armies in the field. Her fourth husband was a knight (in any event, he was not royal) and therefore beneath her, but it was a marriage she had to make to protect her kingdom. (Joanna I of Naples is a fascinating figure from history.)

[legaleagle53]

Good question.  Madalena isn't of royal blood (at least not that we know of), so any power she had as Queen would be derived from her marriage to Richard.  Gareth would at best be her consort, not King.

 

Then again, are YOU going to challenge her at this point, even though she is definitely guilty of treason, among other crimes?

[Snarkette]

Madalena rules by right of Malum Regina Disnus

[jhlipton]

Madalena rules by right of Malum Regina Disnus

 "The Evil Queens of Disney"?  (or perhaps just "Maleficent")

[ParadoxLost]

I care what happens next, and that's not a resolution to the story they were telling. Everything going on with these characters is still up in the air. A proper ending would be Isabella's parents getting their kingdom back and Galavant and Isabella riding off into the sunset together. And Madalena winding up with nothing. Instead we've got Isabella and her parents at the mercy of their weird cousin and Galavant escorting Richard back to his own kingdom. That's a "to be continued," not a "The end."

 

 

I agree its a to be continued, but its about as intriguing as Richard/Gal turned the boat towards weird cousin castle and knock on the door to pick up Isabella, the stuff you said, and the end.  They didn't do anything to build anticipation into the cliffhanger.  No real threat of peril.  They didn't even manage to convey that the adventures of Gal and King Richard would be entertaining.  The last five minutes were like they threw a wet blanket on the proceedings.

 

Someone could have at least been attacked by a dragon or a sea monster.

Edited January 29, 2015 by ParadoxLost

[Camera One]

Yeah, with those "cliffhangers", they could have had the Jester sing two more verses of the "Galavant" song, and it could all have been wrapped up.   They might as well have filmed those extra 3 minutes of Galavant sweeping in to rescue Isabella and then Sid, just in case the series was cancelled.

[peachmangosteen]

I loved this show from beginning to end. I was a little annoyed at the ending, but only because of the promotion the show got. The network definitely sold it as a mini-series and therefore it seemed like it would end. But I liked the ending so I don't really care. I really want it picked up though!

 

Did the writers know from day one how the show was gonna run/be promoted? Because if so I would say it's on them that they did the finale the way they did. But if they didn't know the network was gonna tell the audience this show was an 'event' then I don't blame the writers for that finale, I blame ABC.

[TudorQueen]

I was mostly unhappy with the 'cliffhanger' ending, especially since I've read it's unlikely ABC will bring the series back. The exception to my dissatisfaction would be Gal and Richard being set up as an adventuring partnership, or at least a bromance. I loved how they evolved from hating each other to bonding over having been dissed by Madalena and threatened by Kingsley.
 

I liked nearly everything else, especially all the music in the last episodes, which pleasantly surprised me; after the first two or three episodes I told someone that I was truly disappointed in Alan Menken, because most of the music sounded like second-rate ripoffs of his own stuff. Then of course he does an outright reference to "Under the Sea" and I love it. The Secret Plan song and the lullaby were the best, with "Let's Poison Everybody" right behind.

 

Other things I liked:

• Vincenzo and Gwynne's offbeat 'downstairs' romance
• Kingsley dying while in full-blown smug mode
• That Prince Henry, while awful, was also a rather cute little boy with some definite 'little boy' traits.
• Gareth telling everyone to knock him out, and finally, irritably, telling them to "just take the keys"
• Gareth really does love Richard! Richard knew it, and I knew it~
• "You'll have to either gain or lose a lot of weight." (Do you get the idea I really love Gareth?)
• Everything Richard did, said, sung or pranced. (I love him too)
• Gal and Isabella finally kiss. And her "brains explode onto her face"!
• Isabella's parents are truly awful, but darn they are funny.
• Though Madalena gets everything she wants, she doesn't seem very happy

 

Oh, and until Gareth puts Gal and Richard on the boat, I had forgotten that they were all in Valencia, and Richard is being returned to his actual power base!

 

If there is a second season or even a partial season, I look forward to hijinks, a completely Bizarro world rescue of Isabella, Syd and the rest, and more songs.

 

[HouseofBeck]

King Richard's hair was magnificent in that shot with the pirates.

Chiming in to agree with the above, and to confess I rewound the DVR several times to get the perfect shot of his windblown hair. Gawd. Give me an older man like that any day.

Rutger Hauer continued to be a delight. I was secretly hoping he'd pull out a Ladyhawke moment and start laying about him with a sword. The chloroform was, however, a very nice touch.

The Poison song was worthy of Tom Lehrer, and we keep replaying the Secret Mission song.

What a delight this show was.

[majormama]

After having a few days to think about it, I realized the reason I hated the "cliffhanger" ending is because it wasn't actually a cliffhanger, it was a really bad ending. Galavant and Gareth had a gentleman's understanding. Gal was to take Richard back to their country of origin and take care of him there; Gareth was to protect everyone else. It was only after Gal and Dickie left that Gareth "protected" the rest by kicking them to the curb. Gal has no idea that Isabella is locked in a box, therefore it's unlikely he'll come to rescue her. This is The End. Madalena rules Valencia with Gareth as her consort, Gal takes care of Dickie, and Isabella is a living doll in a creepy dollhouse. A cliffhanger would be if Gal had learned of Izzy's plight and dramatically said, "I must save her! Come on, Richard!" before fading to black.

[TudorQueen]

A cliffhanger would be if Gal had learned of Izzy's plight and dramatically said, "I must save her! Come on, Richard!" before fading to black

 

 

And that would have been awesome, especially if Richard had leapt up with an eager smile, and gone to Gal's side.

[Camera One]

It was only after Gal and Dickie left that Gareth "protected" the rest by kicking them to the curb.

 

He did prevent them from all being executed, so there's that.  I don't understand why Isabella's only option was to go to her betrothed.  And Gareth kept Sid for unconvincing reasons as well.

[natyxg]

I care what happens next, and that's not a resolution to the story they were telling. Everything going on with these characters is still up in the air. A proper ending would be Isabella's parents getting their kingdom back and Galavant and Isabella riding off into the sunset together. And Madalena winding up with nothing. Instead we've got Isabella and her parents at the mercy of their weird cousin and Galavant escorting Richard back to his own kingdom. That's a "to be continued," not a "The end."

 

I think that would have been a happy ending, and not all stories have them. My problem with the finale is that it felt like they pulled it out of their ass and it made little sense. Galavant as the title hero super sucks and couldn't even fix anything or be in control of his own destiny. His ending had nothing to do with choices he made or anything of the sort. Gareth had to come to save the day, while Galavant kept going around in circles for like three episodes straight. Richard's brother was equally useless and we never got to see him in scary evil mode to justify his reputation. Richard's attempts at growth were stopped in their tracks and, like Galavant, his ending wasn't really in his hands. And that's not mentioning the creepy cousin/fiancé.

 

The only things that worked for me because they actually were payoffs of the season were Madalena getting control and Gareth showing that he loves Richard. Everything else seemed thrown there for the sake of clinffhangers. I also liked the image of Madalena and Gareth sitting side by side on the thrones.

 

Not saying I wasn't entertained by the episodes, I was. But they were pretty nonsensical to  me.

 

It's weird that Richard and Madalena never had sex, so I bet if there is ever more episodes/a wrap up Madalena will lose everything because Richard gets the marriage annulled cause it was never consummated. Or something like that.

[SomeTameGazelle]

I didn't mind the ending mixing everything up, and I found this week much more entertaining than the last couple. The joke about how filthy and disgusting Chef and Gwen are didn't ever work for me though because everything about their appearance was so trim and CLEAN. At one point IIRC (maybe last week) he made a reference to how terrible her teeth were but to me they seemed to be blindingly white and straight.