IR TV Review: WILLOW - EPISODES 1 & 2 [Lucasfilm/Disney+]

The context of the story of "Willow" is born within the concept of destiny. The original film played to the inherent importance of Elora Danan .The show, in its first two premiere episodes, picks up 20 years later but follows a slightly different path, one actually with a little bit of foreboding. Bathmorda's daughter (Joanne Whaley) is now queen with twin children (a boy and a girl) with Madmartigan (Val Kilmer) nowhere to be seen. An ancient evil is brewing (though it is not very contextual) but it points to a quest. What it requires is Willow (Warwick Davis) but the importance or his myth plays more to the ambition than the reality. Like before, there is an element of slight of hand in what Willow actually is capable of.

Are people really who they appear to be? The build has a Lord Of The Rings angle to it but there is a definite sardonic nature to the proceedings certainly in the way it shows the heroes and what they believe their possibility is. But there isn't quite a wonder to it...yet. It is an interesting tone though a little off-putting because it does not show a clear path and that likely is part of the point. The idea of magic and the element of something more is built in a context of skepticism. The importance of the twins and their path definitely takes a structure plan from "Star Wars" and "Dune" (especially with the reversal of the daughter) so it will be interesting to see how it is used. Like the Jedi twins though reverse it does create an interesting build of emotions and responsibilities once another figure comes into play. B

By Tim Wassberg