Willow is a return to the fantasy world of 1988 film, but with new heroes with a dark force threatening to tear everything apart! Many things are cloaked in secrets, but the series executive producer, Jon Kasdan, seems to maintain the plot threads of the movie. The series has begun streaming on Disney+ with the first two episodes. We open to a desk with scroll and a dusty book with the Elora Daanan symbol embossed on the cover. I love the fairy tale book opening that was featured in so many Disney princess animated movies. We see the Willow title page and then the prologue which has Nockmaar castle from the Willow film in drawing form. The narrator, Sorsha (Joanne Whalley) with her distinctive voice, explains about the child, Elora, who has a special destiny. The “unlikely heroes”, Nelwyn farmer who wanted to be a sorcerer, Willow (Warwick Davis), a “man of pure heart” , and then we have the other, kicked in the face by Sorsha on horseback. “An impossibly conceited thief”, Madmartigan (Val Kilmer), whom she married. Now Sorsha says, “I was young.” They saved the kingdom, Tir Asleen, from her witch mother, Bavmorda. A nice summary of the film.
When he returned, Sorsha narrates that Willow had a vision, we see the older Willow troubled by what he has seen. “An ancient evil” would return, flashes of a canyon, a castle, and an urn. The evil would destroy the empress, Elora, that would lead to a new dark age! Sorsha continues that Elora was hidden. Her hands close Cherlindrea’s wand into a small chest. She mentions that Elora’s identity was secret even to herself for her protection. This resolves into the drawing again. We move to “Chapter 1: The Gales” with an illustration of a masked figure raising up a sword. This moves to the scene where the sword wielder in scarlet duels with another in blue. They clash swords on stacks of rocks making a cliffside called Canyon Rocks. The duel ends with the fighter in scarlet holding a sword to the red-headed woman (Erin Kellyman), Jade, who unmasks. Kellyman was Karli Morgenthau in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021) and also starred for Lucasfilm in Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018). The victor removes her mask, Kit Tanthalos (Ruby Cruz), Jade calls her arrogant, and Kit explains the win was “adapting to your terrain.” Cruz was in the dramatic mini-series, Mare of Easttown (2021) and appeared in the horror series, Castle Rock (2019).
The roundabout explanation is that King Mikal Tanthalos (he is seen at the end of the movie), was romancing Raziel, but ends up marrying Bavmorda, having a daughter, Sorsha, this is from the Willow Sourcebook (1988). The princess dreams of having adventures beyond The Barrier. Jade eyes her, this is where I thought they may be more than friends!, and is about to bring something up about Ballantine. She is interrupted by a knight below them. He announces that the queen wants her properly dressed for the Galladorn royal party. This was the kingdom that was defeated in the movie. She brings up her twin brother whom the knight says is in the Western Wood. Twins like Luke and Leia? Then, we find the prince, Airk (Dempsey Bryk) passionately kissing a woman whom he later calls Dove (Ellie Bamber) under a tree. Bryk appeared in this year’s The Fight Machine and he was in episodes of V-Wars, a horror show. Bamber was in the Disney film, The Nutcracker and the Four Realms (2018) and she was in the action horror movie, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (2016).
He pauses and says she an “effect” on him and Dove mentions his reputation. A veteran knight, Kase (Simon Armstrong) breaks their moment together. Armstrong was Qhorin Halfhand in Game of Thrones and played Merlin in King Arthur: Excalibur Rising (2017). Kase has finally found the prince and brings up King Hastur’s royal party. He of course has to be “presentable” before their arrival, Dove finds this amusing. Kit and Jade ride horses up the hill to the Tir Asleen castle. It looks much larger as well as the surrounding area from the film, but time has passed since it was cursed. It is later explained, it is “two hundred moons” after the events. They walk into the castle streets, Jade offers to take the horses to the stables, and Kit says she has invited Jade to the banquet. Then, Kit finds her brother kissing goodbyes to the kitchen maid, she brings up that she makes the best muffins to Airk. Their conversation is stopped by the appearance of their mother, Queen Sorcha. I think it is interesting the accents of these two actors, it must be from their father. She notices something on his neck!, he explains it is a bite from a fire moth.
Sorcha turns her attention to her daughter who was acting dangerously. She wants Kit to wear a gown she has chosen. Airk is connected to the general who died in battle in Willow, but Kit’s name is unusual. It appears that the queen allows his son to spend his time with affairs while she wants her daughter to act like a princess. A horn is heard announcing the arrival of the Galladorn royalty. Sorcha hears whispers about The Gales. At the banquet, Kit is uncomfortable in her green dress. Jade has to adjust her dress when Commander Ballantine (Ralph Ineson) walks up to her. Ineson was in The Northman (2022) and played the title role in The Green Knight (2021). He brings up what they have discussed, but Jade is worried that Kit might feel that she left her at an important time. At their table, Kit mentions Prince Graydon Hastur (Tony Revolori) to Jade. Revolori was Flash Thompson in Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) and is in The French Dispatch (2020). Kit had met Graydon, but is unimpressed. Sorcha speaks to King Hastur (Derek Horsham) about attacks which he says are from Bone Reavers.
Queen Sorsha’s royal dress, crown, and sword, Lucasfilm exhibit, D23 Expo, author’s photo.
Airk is busy pouring wine for two ladies, Niamh (Niamh McCormack) and Sakura (Olivia Chan). Dove watches him, until he notices her. Queen Sorcha declares the marriage between her daughter and Prince Graydon to unify their kingdoms. She raises a toast to the day when Empress Elora Danan returns, everyone cheers, “Till that day!” The whispered warning is heard by Sorsha again. Later, Sorcha walks to a cell, inside is the prisoner in the darkness. This we find out later is Thraxus Boorman (Amar Chadha-Patel). The actor is also in The Wheel of Time fantasy series first season and played a guard in the live action Aladdin (2019). Boorman happens to be a confidante saying that she wants him to advise against the marriage. Sorsha appears to be keeping up appearances to protect her loved ones. Kit dances with Jade, it should be apparent right there, Jade tells her that the Shining Legion. The Knights of Galladoorn accepted her application.
She explains that she leaves with King Hastur to train in the south after Kit’s wedding. Kit starts to walk away and then faces Prince Graydon. This gets the attention of the rest of the banquet guests. Jade tries to pull her away, but Kit acts like a lover scorned. Kit starts to tell Graydon about the story of Princess Taramis of Cashmere. There was a Princess Kashmir in The Simpsons who was an exotic dancer. The story continues with a contest for the princess’ hand ending up with a Galladoorn knight and a “helmeted warrior.” The mysterious warrior is victorious and like Brave (2012) is revealed to be the princess. Kit puts a small pumpkin on Airk’s head and then pulls aside Graydon. She picks up a knife for this “contest.” King Hastur gets his attention and Graydon declines to take part. Kit raises her arm to throw the knife, but is taken away by the queen! Sorsha tells her that life can’t be chosen, Kit adds mothers too, and the queen says Kit should have met her mother! Airk walks in saying he has smoothed things a bit with Graydon. Sorsha lashes out to him, I think she regrets this after saying it, and tells Kit to apologize and will marry Graydon.
Kit is angry at Airk for his help, but he says he did so because he loves her. Would this not calm any situation? She tells her brother that if anyone expects anything from him, he will leave, like their father, Madmartigan. Ouch. Kit goes to her room and then Dove almost runs into him. She wants to break up with him, but he says he will commit to her. In the stables, Jade is wakened by Kit who says she is “looking for something beyond the Barrier”, then she kisses Jade who is stunned. In his bedroom, Airk gives Dove a bracelet, then they kiss. Strangely, I think Airk is no Casanova, but may be serious about Dove for the first time. In her room, Queen Sorsha is troubled with the words of her mother, then she hears the words of Willow, “It’s begun”! She is shaken from his warning about the Gales and says, “Willow.” In the hills outside of Tir Asleen, there are three dark figures. They are joined by a giant hawk figure that shapeshifts into a woman with mummy wrappings like Bavmorda! She sends from her hands, a magical fog that heads towards the castle! This is the Gales that put all of the kingdoms in danger! Part two is coming soon! Willow has an evil that may be connected to Bavmorda that brings new heroes into the adventure!
Five Bracelets out of Five!
#Willow, #JonKasdan, #WarwickDavis, #RubyCruz, #ErinKellyman, #JoanneWhalley, #AmarChadhaPatel, #TonyRevolori, #DemseyBryk, #SimonArmstrong, #RalphIneson
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