Last year we saw an unprecedented offensive in series blockbusters. Especially in fantasy Streaming services have been able to prove the epic proportions of serially told stories. We were excited to see the duel between the return of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power and the Game of Thrones offshoot House of the Dragon.
Willow has gotten a bit lost in the face of the big names. This is the sequel to the 1988 fantasy film of the same name. It was directed by Ron Howard and is based on an idea by Star Wars creator George Lucas. The Willow series launched on Disney+ in November last year. Now you all can eight episodes in a row stream – it’s worth it!
Fantasy Pick on Disney+: Willow reinvents herself after more than three decades
The series’ story picks up 17 years after the events of the film. At the Kingdom of Tir Asleen There is a commotion because Prince Airk (Dempsey Bryk) has been kidnapped by sinister figures. In a rush, his twin sister Kit (Ruby Cruz) decides to go in search of him. She is joined by her best friend Jade (Erin Kellyman) and Airk’s lover, Dove (Ellie Bamber).
You can watch the trailer for Willow here:
Willow – S01 Trailer (German) HD
More or less involuntarily, Graydon (Tony Revolori), the arrogant Prince of Galladoorn, who is to marry Kit, and the criminal Boorman (Amar Chadha-Patel) join the group. And then there’s Willow (Warwick Davis), the magician from the first part, who joins the group a short time later. plagued by gloomy visionsbut he would like to flee again right away.
The reunion with Willow is a bit reminiscent of the Luke Skywalker encounter in Star Wars 8: The Last Jedi. After all the legends surrounding the former protagonist of the story, a new generation realize that he too has made mistakes and doubts himself. Now Willow embarks on an adventure that will take him and the others to the edge of the world.
Willow combines a fantasy epic with a coming-of-age story in eight episodes
The series was created by Jonathan Kasdan, who knows Lucasfilm inside out (Willow is the third major brand in the Lucasfilm catalogue, alongside Star Wars and Indiana Jones). Along with his father, Lawrence Kasdan, Jon Kasdan wrote the screenplay for Solo: A Star Wars Story, which is based on the Origin story of one of the most iconic figures from Star Wars: Han Solo.
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Where Solo has often faced criticism for only explaining the obvious (How did Han and Chewie meet? What’s the deal with Kessel Run?), Willow’s is the exact opposite. The mythology of the original hovers over what is told, but it is only one loose source of inspirationto tell an emotion-driven fantasy adventure. According to the motto: The way is the goal.
Although the title names a clear main character, Willow is about the companions who join Kit on her journey into the unknown. The quest becomes Extension of the coming-of-age film, which lies dormant at the heart of the series, bringing Willow closer to The Shannara Chronicles than The Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones. The great conflict between good and evil gives way to the exploration of feelings.
Important step for Lucasfilm: Willow dares to go where Star Wars is still shirking
At least three love stories run parallel to each other in Willow as the characters try to figure out who the right person is for them. The screenplays are cheeky and lovingly written, combining wit with empathy and leaning in that way confident in LGBTQ+ storiesas Lucasfilms star saga has not dared to do despite some hints.
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While the Star Wars dream couple FinnPoe will always remain a fantasy, Kit and Jade are gradually being allowed to live out their secret love openly. Kasdan ties the personal challenges into the overall flow of the story, when he doesn’t make them directly the flow itself. Luckily is every character a hit. In the end, you don’t want to let any of the new heroes go.
Admittedly, Willow has to get over some teething problems and find his own pace, which leads to the fact that the second half of the season, the is significantly stronger. Ultimately, Kasdan’s vision is convincing. Never does the series freeze in awe in the face of the original. Instead, she cheerfully collides familiar Willow elements with covers of modern songs.
A breath of fresh air in the Willow universe: George Lucas’ core story remains intact
Willow unites opposites in his youthful curiosity. The Nockmaar Fortress will be unveiled at around a Cover version of Enter Sandman. Just as pop singer Rina Sawayama’s iconic Metallica song is brought back to life, Kasdan dusts off the original and brings a breath of fresh air to the Willow-Verse. This easy-going attitude in dealing with nostalgically beleaguered history is refreshing. After 34 years, there is no harm in changing the rhythm.
Despite all the modernizations and rhythm changes, the core remains, both on a narrative and on a visual level. willow review the hero’s journey trope with lovable characters and draws on an impressive pool of special effects (both practical and digital) to make the adventure tangible. Willow questions and lives his fantasy world at the same time.
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How did you like the 1st season of Willow?