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: Phillipa Lowthorpe
Well, that’s more like it! The sixth episode of Willow, ‘Prisoners of Skellin,’ was the most enjoyable episode since the second. It was an action-packed episode filled with drama, comedy, and likely the series’ best acting thus far. Of course, it wasn’t completely void of questionable moments, but they were easier to ignore this time because of the positives. On top of that, Christian Slater finally made his appearance and, in doing so, stole the show. If the rest of the series can maintain this level of quality, there is a chance at redemption.
One of the questionable moments is right at the start of the episode. Airk is seen roaming Immemorial City. How or why he was let out of his cell remains a mystery. The Crone called to Airk, so perhaps The Crone let him out through magic. For now, it’s expected to be revisited and explained later. The only other negative was how careless Elora was with Cherlindrea’s wand. Yea, they’re teenagers and probably not always thinking about consequences. Same as with Anakin in Attack of the Clones. Willow and Obi-Wan had the same reaction (with probably every adult viewer with kids).
Does Elora not understand or respect where the wand came from? Perhaps that’s why she’s having difficulty learning the magic. Elora doesn’t quite believe in it or herself. Even as the group is crossing the liquified ground and the rocks are crumbling around them, Elora knows it’s happening because of her, but she doesn’t understand how to control it. There is literally a storm brewing around her, which represents what’s happening to her on the inside. When she calms herself, the world around her will also be calm.
When Kit, Jade, Boorman, Willow, and Elora are escorted into Skellin, and the underground opens up into a dark, cavernous slave camp with torches, we’re hit with major Temple of Doom vibes (yours truly’s favorite Indiana Jones film). There are even hints of Kessel from Solo: A Star Wars Story. The trolls looked a little similar to the emaciated Wookiees. One fun aspect of Willow is seeing the visual heritage of past Kasdan and Lucas films.
They’re not hidden, either. From the jokes and lightheartedness to the old-timey adventure feel is straight out of pulp fiction/Doc Savage, and it’s great having that still present in television and movies.
Speaking of Kit and Elora, ‘Prisoners of Skellin’ had some of the best performances by Ruby Cruz and Ellie Bamber. The potential was always there, but the material wasn’t. Now the material was solid, and the actors blew it out of the water. Amar Chadha-Patel, as Boorman, also showed some more depth as his background was further explored.
One has to wonder if the acting was brought up a notch because of Christian Slater’s presence as Allagash. It’s safe to say Slater stole this episode. He was great as the former companion of Boorman and Madmartigan. Funnily enough, Allagash was also kept prisoner in a hanging cage, just as Madmartigan was in the movie. Slater’s comedic timing was very much appreciated, whereas the comedy in previous episodes was hit-and-miss. Allagash meets his end, sacrificing himself for the group but not before telling Kit that Madmartigan knew Elora was the key to everything.
Eventually, the group retrieves the Kymerian cuirass from a vault owned by the late Nelwyn sorcerer Wiggleheim. Wiggleheim first tells the group that they will die if they fail to answer his riddles. But after answering the first riddle correctly, they stall on the second, and Wiggleheim repeats the riddle repeatedly until Elora finally answers correctly. If they were going to die, why give them so many chances to answer?
The trolls were ugly (like trolls tend to be), but they (Lord Sarris and Falken) spoke like ordinary people, which was unexpected but a fun decision. Farscape did something similar with their aliens having normal-sounding voices. Having Elora randomly step on the wand was a really? moment. Like when a writer can’t adequately explain why something happened, so they write All of a sudden, there it was! Graydon trying to stop Elora from sneezing was weird. Why do that, and why have her sneeze at all?
Lots of drama and stakes at the end as Kit confronts Elora about how her dad always decided Elora was more important than his own daughter. Madmartigan’s voice is heard speaking to Kit, which was really cool. Unfortunately, as they’re hashing that out, Kit falls through the liquified ground, and neither Willow nor Elora can help her. And that, my friends, is how this episode ends. So, not perfect, but a vast improvement over the last few episodes.
Back in the Immemorial City, Airk sees a young woman (Lili) imprisoned, and she asks him if he will let her out. Which means he probably shouldn’t, which means he probably will since Airk isn’t the brightest guy in Tir Asleen. Elora has two episodes to figure herself out, Boorman to redeem himself, and Kit to escape and then come to grips with her dads’ decisions. Should be fun!
- Hardcover Book
- Davis, Warwick (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 416 Pages - 11/01/2011 (Publication Date) - Trade Paper Press (Publisher)