Over 30 years since the release of the original Lucasfilm classic, Willow arrives in 2022 as a new episodic series on Disney+. The onetime farmer Willow Ufgood has become a noted sorcerer and encounters a group of young heroes on a dangerous quest. Full of wonders and adventure, the series joins original cast and crew with new contributors to expand the beloved fantasy world.
Willow stars Warwick Davis in the title role, as well as Ellie Bamber, Ruby Cruz, Erin Kellyman, Tony Revolori, Amar Chadha-Patel, Dempsey Bryk, and Joanne Whalley. Kathleen Kennedy, Michelle Rejwan, Jonathan Kasdan, Tommy Harper, Wendy Mericle, Roopesh Parekh, Ron Howard, and Samie Kim Falvey serve as executive producers. Writers are John Bickerstaff, Hannah Friedman, and Jonathan Kasdan. The producers are Stephen Woolfenden, Julia Cooperman, Hameed Shaukat, and Max Taylor.
Starring: Warwick Davis, Erin Kellyman, Ellie Bamber, Tony Revolori, Ruby Cruz, Amer Chadha-Patel, Dempsey Bryk, Joanne Whalley
Composers: James Newton Howard, Xander Rodzinski
Executive producers: Ron Howard, Brian Grazer, Jonathan Kasdan, Kathleen Kennedy, Wendy Mericle, Roopesh Parekh, Michelle Rejwan
Producer: Julia Cooperman
Director: Debs Paterson
Willow has been a pleasant surprise to many this season. After the popularity and reemergence of fantasy-based shows like House of the Dragon and The Rings of Power, Willow seemed like an afterthought. But after only three episodes, Willow has certainly held its own against both fantasy juggernauts. All the while, Willow is able to keep our attention without getting mired down in political intrigue and countless plotlines. It’s fantasy/YA, and that’s okay.
The Battle of the Slaughtered Lamb opens with Boorman recalling a tale to Kit until Kit becomes bored and loses interest. In the early parts of this episode, there were a couple of moments where Kit’s humor can sound disrespectful and downright annoying. It’s a defense mechanism for whatever she is hiding underneath. Other fictional characters like Han Solo use it, and even real-life folks like John Lennon use humor to cope with tense situations.
Willow informs the group that Elora has been taken, but shortly after that, Jade finds Ballantine with Elora unconscious on horseback. Jade immediately realizes Ballantine isn’t himself, and a fight breaks out. During the battle, Willow tosses a spell, and suddenly there’s a large puff of smoke, and Ballantine, his men, and Elora are gone. How Ballantine and his men got away so quickly seemed odd, one of a few odd moments in this episode.
Throughout the episode, there are some lighthearted jokes. Some land, some don’t. Hey, they can’t all be perfect, but some jokes certainly felt forced. At one point, Graydon tells Boorman not to let anything happen to his queen (Kit). Boorman’s response is something to the effect of yea wouldn’t want to feel the prince’s wrath. Graydon’s non-reaction says it all. Was that supposed to be funny?
Ballantine, infected with bad magic, is zombie-like, possessed, not himself. As this is the halfway point of the series, character arcs are becoming more fleshed out. Willow is reluctant to use his powers even to fix a broken wagon wheel and very much resembles Luke from The Last Jedi as he has seemingly turned his back on his capabilities. Silas and Willow have reached a mid-life crisis and reflect on their carefree, younger days. Willow reveals he needs to preserve his magic to have it when needed.
Elora is definitely self-reliant, cutting the rope and setting herself free. She runs into the woods and makes her way through the spooky forest until she happens upon two women chopping wood outside a log cabin, Hubert and Anne. Hubert and Anne discover Elora’s true identity by the mark on her arm and vow allegiance. Ballantine comes and kills Hubert after she puts up a good fight. Elora and Anne run away. Seemed odd as well when Ballantine was walking after them, but they never seemed to get too far in front of him, and then Ballantine’s men suddenly appeared in front of Elora like they knew where she was going.
Kit and Boorman also participate in the fleshing out, while Jade and Prince Graydon discuss Willow’s potential sorcery impotence. Willow does a great job of keeping you interested in why Willow is reluctant to use his powers. It’s frustrating, but in a good way. The viewer is feeling the same as the rest of the group.
Kit and Boorman arrive at a graveyard to find the Cuirass but only discover were-rats. While the first two episodes were fun and exciting, this one is slowed down to allow the characterization to form.
Elora is much stronger than her first introduction implied. At first, she comes off as a silly kitchen maid who makes great muffins, but she is strong and resilient and isn’t afraid of Ballantine. While Elora is taunting Ballantine and his men a second time, Jade and the rest show up, and a fight ensues in the pouring rain. Some folks may have thought this scene was dark (I didn’t think so). There was one continuity issue: Willow crawled over to a mortally wounded Silas, then the camera cuts to Willow walking from a different angle. For those who are detail-oriented (including yours truly), that could be noticeable.
During the battle, Willow finally gives in and casts his magic at Ballantine’s group, killing them all. Meanwhile, Graydon got infected by bad magic, so he’ll be a walking dead fairly soon. As the weary group leaves the battle scene victors, they round the corner, and there is Nockmaar and Bavmorda’s old castle.
The Battle of the Slaughtered Lamb was a good episode, albeit not quite as good as the previous two, but it began fleshing out the cast before they traveled further into the depths of evil. Willow is such an enjoyable series, and the cast has undeniable chemistry. And it’s so nice to see such a nostalgic character finally get the attention he deserves, and Warwick Davis definitely deserves it.