First Things First…
Now that I’ve finally seen the movie, I’m excited to start the show! I didn’t hear great things about it, and the scores on IMDB are just average. But whatever… I liked the movie, and it should be cool to see where they envision the story and these characters after almost 35 years.
Knowing Val Kilmer’s health troubles, I assume Madmartigan isn’t in this. That’s a bummer. But I’ve heard some others reprise their movie roles—including Warwick Davis as Willow, of course.
I think the two things I’m most curious about are if Willow has become a great sorcerer, and what is the big threat?
After all, the whole point of the movie is that they have to protect Elora Danan because she’s going to cause Queen Bavmorda’s downfall. Well, they didn’t have to wait for her to grow up—she causes that downfall at the end of the movie. So with Bavmorda’s reign already over, and the movie ending with the realm presumably at peace, has some other threat already replaced her? Or is a new threat just emerging as the show begins?
6 Things I Like
6. The Gales
I don’t know if the Gales are the main villains for the whole season, but they kidnap Prince Airk, so it seems likely.
They’ve got some pretty badass creatures in their army, including the Scourge—the big guy whose head is in a spiked cage, looking like something out of Silent Hill… the contortionist who turns into a giant bird and actually does the kidnapping… and the faceless guy with the whips. And they have Death Dogs.
The imagery in the movie is so striking, especially when it comes to the monsters. So the Gales feel like a good choice as villains here in the show.
5. Elora Danan Reveal
The Elora Danan reveal seemed a lot more obvious the second time I watched the episode. I spent the whole first time thinking it would turn out to be Jade, not Dove—the prince’s girlfriend who works in the kitchen. I guess I should’ve assumed they’d hide her in a more unassuming position, not as a warrior.
Regardless, now she’s reunited with Willow for the first time since she was a baby. She’s the key to making sure evil doesn’t overtake the kingdom. And she seems wholly unprepared.
Should make for a good hero’s journey.
4. Willow’s Fashionably Late Arrival
It was cool to see Willow back. I was a little surprised he doesn’t show up until the end of this first episode, but it looks like he’ll be leading the fellowship going forward.
3. A Future Knight of Galladoorn
“This is what you’ve always wanted, what you’ve worked for, harder than anyone I’ve ever known.”
Ballantine
I’ve grown to really like Erin Kellyman the past few years. She’s great in both Solo and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Seems like she’s in Disney’s good graces, since this is now her third property with them.
She’s fun and an outstanding actress. And she and Kit, the princess, have a romantic connection, even though Kit is engaged to Prince Graydon.
I also like that, despite her feelings for Kit, she’s very clear about what she wants—to be Knight of Galladoorn. And even though we’re just catching up with her now as she’s supposed to embark on her official training, we’re told that she’s worked her ass off for this opportunity.
2. Resident Rogue and Badass
It looks like Boorman is the group’s badass and rogue rolled into one.
We meet him in prison where, despite being in chains, he seems like a pseudo-advisor to Queen Sorsha. She later frees him so he can join the fight against the Gales. The first thing he does when he joins the fight is chop off the Scourge’s arm.
The next day, after Airk has been taken, Sorsha says she’ll wipe away all Boorman’s crimes if he goes on this expedition. She’s confident he’ll live up to this responsibility because it’ll allow him to square a debt with an old friend. I’m very curious about that, and about his crimes in the first place.
As for his place in the fellowship—he’s just what they need, especially since even their fighters have never been beyond the Barrier. They’ve all been sheltered.
1. Beyond the Edge of the World
At the end of the episode, when the “fellowship” finds Willow, he tells them they have to go beyond the Shattered Sea. That even frightens Boorman, who says the Shattered Sea is where all the maps end, and NOBODY crosses it. Considering he’s the only one in their group who’s even been beyond the Barrier and outside the nice little bubble of Tir Asleen, they’ve set this up to be an exciting adventure.
3 Things I’m Mixed On
3. What Happened to Madmartigan?
Like I said at the top, I didn’t expect Val Kilmer to be in this. But they had to address Madmartigan, considering Willow and Sorsha are here. I’m not surprised to find out he married Sorsha. The movie made it look like they’d go in that direction.
But the idea that he left his family kinda sucks. In most cases, I wouldn’t let the situation with the actor influence what I think they should say about the character. But in Kilmer’s case, it feels different.
However, Boorman raise a point that makes me think maybe that’s not what happened. Maybe later in the season, we’ll get the truth about Madmartigan and it will be kinder to his memory. So I’ll reserve further judgment until we learn more.
2. Forced Marriage
“You married Madmartigan. Nothing easy about that choice, but at least you made it for the right reasons.”
Boorman
The forced marriage trope is overdone in fantasy stories, especially when it involves a young bride and groom who barely know each other.
The reason I’m not totally against it here is because the wedding gets put off for the quest to save Prince Airk. And since both Kit and Graydon are on it, they’re finally starting go get to know one another and seem to be building a fun rapport.
1. Willow If It Was in the MCU
I’m not sure about the tone of the show. The movie is so earnest, but this seems much more ironic and jokey, with a more modern sensibility. It has more of an MCU vibe in that regard. And I love the MCU, but I’m not sure that’s what I want from Willow. They even cast the MCU’s Flash Thompson, Tony Revelori, as Prince Graydon… But so many of these characters are getting their jokes off regularly, and I’m just not sure about it yet.
It’s also strange that Kit, Airk, and Graydon don’t have British accents. I think they’re all American. That’s not a bad thing, but I have to admit, in a fantasy story like this, it feels out of place. I’m sure I’ll get used to it, though.
3 Things I Don’t Like
3. Once-in-a-Lifetime Love?
“I think it’s best that we stop seeing each other. Seeing you with those… just, uh, made me crazy. Made me mad. And I was so distracted, I… I… I burned my muffins. I never burn anything, ever. And I suddenly realized, how can I expect you, the Prince, to commit to me, muffin girl, when you’ve got countesses and trollops shamelessly throwing themselves at you?”
Dove
They’re two very attractive young actors, but they didn’t strike me as an overly realistic couple.
Before we get the Elora reveal, Dove defends the relationship multiple times throughout the episode. And it always comes off as naïve, or wishful thinking, that their love is really so unique.
Once the reveal happens, it makes more sense that Airk really would have felt differently about her than all his other “conquests” that are hinted at. But in their scenes together, it never feels like there’s anything special about their love, or their chemistry.
If anything, to me the imbalance in the power dynamic while she was still thought to just be a kitchen maid felt very noticeable.
Not to mention, Airk’s proposal is out of the blue and totally unrealistic.
2. Magic Is the Only Way
“It’s all happening just as he said it would. I believed if Elora Danan disappeared and we forbade magic, that perhaps we could keep evil out. Willow disagreed. He believed eventually evil would find its way in, and when it did, magic would be the only thing that could save us.”
Queen Sorsha
Obviously magic is important in this story. A big part of it is about Willow becoming a great sorcerer.
But they say specifically that in Willow’s vision, there’s a greater evil than ever approaching, and magic is the only way to defeat it. I don’t like the idea that magic is needed for the worst of the worst. It’s hard to identify with, because most people—even in their world—aren’t magical.
You would think it would be something like friendship is the only way—and that’s why they need to unite the two kingdoms. Or something like that.
1. Royal Tantrums
I get why Kit is so upset about not having any say in her life—especially who she gets to marry. Add onto that the fact that the girl she obviously likes, Jade, just told her she’s leaving after the wedding, and she has a right to be upset.
But Kit has one of the cringiest lines I’ve ever heard when she goes right up to Graydon, who she’s supposed to marry the next day, and says…
“Hey! So, we’re getting married. That’s weird, right?”
She then manages to make a fool out of herself, Graydon, and her brother all in one fell swoop.
But she’s not the only royal family member who lets her temper get the best of her.
Airk tries to smooth things over with Graydon and seems to actually have done a good job of it. Yet instead of thanking him, Sorsha says…
“I think you should stick to chasing girls rather than sticking your nose in matters that you’re incapable of understanding and are not your concern!”
Airk was actually being more useful in rectifying the situation than Sorsha was.
Afterward, Kit keeps going after Airk, complaining how everyone loves him but no one has to expect anything from him. He’s not weighed down by responsibility like she is. Plus, she accuses him of leaving the way their dad did.
There’s obviously a lifetime of history between the two of them that we’re not privy to yet. But none of her accusations are fair in the moment, and they all make her unlikable because she comes off as a petulant child.
Tim Matassa
