Couch Critic: How can 'Galavant' top its first season?

To everyone's surprise — including the cast of the show — "Galavant" is back for Season 2, which premieres Sunday on ABC at 7 p.m.

While pleasing that a show that had so much fun last year is back for another go, I don't see how a second season for "Galavant" can end up being any more than a failed sequel. When was the last time a musical sequel was better than the original? Can anyone name two songs from "The Return of Jafar?"

The title of Season 2's first episode breaks the fourth wall hard: "A New Season aka Suck It Cancellation Bear." And while I'm all about meta cult classics, a la "Community," what made the first season of "Galavant" so great was that it prided itself on being the "Once Upon a Time" interlude. While Disney's soap opera was on hiatus, "Galavant" stepped in to be a "comedy extravaganza" to help pass the time.

If "Galavant" Season 2 is going to work, it needs to keep to that formula.

Bringing back composer Alan Menken for the second season was a key move. Menken wrote the music for Disney classics like "Beauty and the Beast," "Aladdin" and "The Little Mermaid." He even wrote the interlude in Alan Silvestri's "Captain America" score, "Star Spangled Man."

And after writing the joyous "Galavant" prologue that captured me and so many other viewers, Menken is back for more fun in Season 2.

The cast is hilarious, and working on a medieval-themed set like "Galavant" looks like absolute fun.

Joshua Sasse stars as the titular character. He was a virtual unknown before "Galavant," but now he's melting the hearts of everyone with his steaming good looks and panache at the spry young age of 28. A GIF was posted on the "Galavant" Facebook page in promotion of Season 2 that was a loop of Sasse pouring a bucket of water over his bare torso. The show's target audience is clear.

But don't worry, there are beautiful women in the show, too. Evil queen Madalena (Mallory Jansen) ended the first season having usurped the throne from King Richard (Timothy Omundson, "Psych") and beginning her rule of tyranny alongside Gareth (Vinnie Jones). And then there's Galavant's romantic interest, Isabella (Karen David). She ended Season 1 held captive and living inside a doll house, and now it's up to Galavant and King Richard to team up, defeat Madalena and rescue Isabella — typical Disney musical stuff.

And don't forget Galavant's noble squire, Sid (Luke Youngblood, fan-favorite Magnitude from "Community"). It's more appropriate to call him Galavant's life coach rather than squire.

The second season has all the makings for more fun, but it's going to be difficult to top the pleasant surprise of Season 1, which was eight 20-minute goof ball episodes, essentially the length of a stage production. In fact, I would pay money to see a theatrical production of "Galavant" Season 1.

But musical sequels never come close to their predecessors. I can only hope Season 2 proves me wrong.

Follow Richard Briggs on Twitter, @BriggsRich.

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