The Gales – As the first episode of Willow begins, the narrator talks about a child named Elora Danan being born during a time of dread to save the world. She was saved by a farmer named Willow and an impossibly conceited thief, liar, and rogue. Madmartigan was the man she’d marry. Together, they defeated her mother Queen Bavmorda. Although they thought the war was over, Willow had a vision when he returned home that an ancient evil would rise again and destroy the future Empress. Her end would herald a new dark age. As a result, Elora was hidden away and her true identity was concealed even from herself. It was the only way Sorsha could protect her. Kit Tanthalos (Ruby Cruz) and Jade Claymore (Erin Kellyman) practice with their swords.

When Kit gets the better of her, she tells her not to beat herself up about it because she has skill and talent. Jade claims she would’ve beaten her before if it weren’t for the loose rock that tripped her. Kit suggests she has to still think about going beyond the barrier and having grand adventures. Jade says she spoke to Ballantine earlier, but gets cut off before she can tell her about it. The Princess is told that the Queen wants her to get dressed because the royal party from Galladoorn will arrive soon. As for the Prince, it is believed he is hunting in the Western Wood. Instead of hunting, Airk (Dempsey Bryk) is busy making out with Elora (Ellie Bamber). She is surprised he is trembling because she didn’t think he felt that way about her. He admits that some of the rumors might’ve been true, but he is not that guy anymore.

Airk claims that he loves her. Jorgen Kase (Simon Armstrong) interrupts to tell Airk that King Hastur was seen riding into the Vale. His mother wants him to be presentable when they arrive. When they get back, Kit tells Jade she is coming tonight even though Jade isn’t thrilled to wear gowns. After Kit asks what she wanted to talk about earlier, Jade says they can talk about it later. Kit sees Airk kissing the kitchen maid so she begins belittling him about it. She thinks he’ll eventually break her heart although Airk denies it will happen. Kit thinks he calls her Dove because he doesn’t know her name. Queen Sorsha (Joanne Whalley) wonders why Airk looks like he has been rolling around in the grass. Lachlan (Alexis Rodney) told her that she found Kit and Jade atop the Canyon Maze again. When they hear the horns blowing, they have to rush to get ready.

When Sorscha is alone, she hears someone telling her that the Gales are coming. Jade tells Commander Ballantine (Ralph Ineson) not to say anything about her dress because she only endure the agony for Kit. He thinks Kit will be happy for her, but Jade thinks she’ll feel like she is being abandoned. Once they sit down together, Kit tells Jade about Graydon Hastur (Tony Revolori) who is the Prince of Galladoorn. She has to marry him. Sorsha talks to the King about settlements being torched in the north. He insists nothing gets through the barrier. Airk tells the girls that he does everything around here. They’ve heard that he is the best swordsman in Air Asleen. As he claims he is only the second best, Elora happens to see him talking to the other girls and gets jealous. They begin talking about his father and how he rescued Elora from Queen Bavmorda.

The Queen addresses the group to remind them about the Knight vanquishing Bavmorda’s legions and freeing Tir Asleen from its curse. She reveals that Prince Graydon will marry her daughter tomorrow and will finally unify Tir Asleen and Galladoorn. She wants them to rule until the true empress Elora Danan returns. Again, she hears someone telling her that the Gales are coming. Then, Sorsha goes to the dungeon to talk to one of the prisoners. He thinks she wants him to tell her not to force her daughter into a loveless marriage. She doesn’t think she has a choice. Sorsha is tired because she has done everything to protect the people she loves. Kit tells Jade that their lives don’t have to change since they can still ride together. Jade finally tells her that she has accepted to train with the Shining Legion. They’ve made an exception for her.

She will have to travel south with King Hastur after the wedding. Kit gets upset so she walks over to Graydon to tell him it is weird that they’re getting married. As Jade tries to interrupt, Kit begins telling Graydon about the story of Taramis. She tells the story of Princess Taramis fighting for herself to earn the right to choose her future. Sorsha takes her away and scolds her for embarrassing her and the prince. Airk says everything is fine. He spoke to Graydon and he wasn’t a terrible guy after all. Sorsha thinks he should avoid sticking his nose in matters that he is incapable of understanding. She orders them to go to bed and apologize to the King and Prince in the morning. Then, she will marry him. Once Sorsha leaves, Kit tells Airk that she doesn’t need his help. She claims everyone loves him because he is charming and fun as long as they don’t expect anything from him. Airk tries to talk to Dove, but she thinks it is best that they stop seeing each other.

She burned the muffins and doesn’t think he’d want her when he has so many other options. He suggests he is ready to commit to her after all. Later, Kit sneaks into Jade’s room and climbs on top of her to say she is leaving. She is looking for something that is out there. Kit kisses her and tells her she is going to be a great knight even though she’ll still kick her butt. Airk gives Dove something that symbolizes his commitment to her. Later that night, Sorsha begins hearing voices again that tell her to start the ritual. Jade tries to convince Kit to wait a little longer before leaving. Kit insists she has to go now or she’ll never go. They notice the fog outside. As a soldier is killed outside, Sorsha hears the death dogs. Kit and Jade begins fighting with one of the monsters. Dove tells Airk to be careful after he grabs a sword and prepares to go outside.

The fight continues outside with more soldiers getting involved. Sorsha releases the prisoner so he can help with the fight. Jorgen and Airk prepare to go outside to join the others. Sorsha arrives in time to help Kit. Airk is approached by a shape-shifting monster. Eventually, the enemies just stop fighting and leave. Kit yells for someone to help her mother who has been injured. Jorgen tells Dove that Airk was right behind him fighting that witch. Graydon tells them that they took him and he thinks Airk is what they came for. Later, he tells them that he was in the tower when he heard the voice speaking in Pnakotic. Dove listens near the door as he says he saw the monster with someone in its talons. Prunella (Eileen Davies) tells Dove to drop it, but she argues that they have to save him. The prisoner is brought into the throne room after he was caught trying to steal a horse before Kit offers to go rescue Airk.

She is surprised when her mother agrees with her. Ballantine offers to go only for Jorgen to say he should stay since he is the Commander. Queen Sorsha agrees he should go instead. When Jade says she’ll go too, King Hastur wants to send Graydon with them. Sorsha wants the prisoner Thraxus to go with them since he has been beyond the barrier before. She agrees to pardon his crimes so he quickly agrees. They’re going to need a sorcerer and there is one left in Nelwyn. She thinks he is expecting them because it is happening like he said it would. In private, Sorsha thought they could keep the evil out by forbidding magic and Elora disappeared. Willow thought evil would eventually find a way to get in and magic would be the only thing that could save them. Sorsha tells her that Babmorda’s blood and spirit survived in Sorsha, Kit, and Airk. Willow thought it would return and destroy Tir Asleen. Sorsha saw it last night too.

She urges her daughter to be careful because they have enemies without and within. Ballantine gives Jade the gift sword he had made for her. She tells Sorsha that she won’t let anything happen to Kit. Sorsha thinks she’ll need to be sensible with Kit is rash. Ballantine is injured and it looks like something is happening to his veins. The group approaches the Rangers garrison which is led by Commander Remar. Jorgen has seen the Mothers’ Gate although he hasn’t been beyond it. They think they’re being followed so they set up a trap for them. When they find out that it is Dove, Kit insists she doesn’t want to take it. They agree to let her cook for them, but she has to go back at first light. Thraxus tries to get them to understand the situation that night. He is impressed with Dove’s cooking. Then, they learn that the force field was forged by Raziel and Cherlindrea to protect the realm.

Jade reveals that her family was attacked when they headed to the Mothers’ Gate. She was the only one who survived. Jorgen and Thraxus make it clear that the barrier was built for Elora Danan. People say she is dead but they think she will return one day to unite the world against the forces of darkness. Kit thinks her father snuck out of the castle one night and took her somewhere where no one would find her. Then, he stayed with her. Thraxus suggests she wants to believe he picked her over them because it is easier to hate them. When they wake up, the kitchen maid is gone so they suspect she went back. Instead, she tries to find a way to get past the gorge. He begins walking across a fallen tree. The others reach the post and find it empty. A message on the wall about the Eternal One who is described as the healer of worlds. When he wakes from his slumber, the Harbinger of the Wyrm will come.

Dove continues cautiously walking across the tree.  After an earthquake, she manages to pull herself up on the other side. She continues through the barrier. When the others catch up with her, Dove tells Kit that she isn’t the boss of her. Jorgen tells them that they’re all in this together and will not survive if they’re vigilant before he is killed by an arrow. They’re attacked by Bone Reavers so they flee. One of them tells Thraxus Boorman that he is supposed to be dead, but he denies being Boorman. They end up jumping off the cliff and landing in the water below. Once they walk out of the water, they try to figure out what Thraxus was saying before they leaped over the edge. He explains that Hsu-Gala is an ancient Angorian word that means stop. As they continue, Kit apologizes to Graydon for being childish.

He understands it because he thinks you should be in love with someone before you agree to spend the rest of your life with them. He reminds her that they’re going to be in charge and they won’t have to do what their parents want. They travel to the village where Willow is supposed to live and encounter a man who says he is Willow but is out of the sorcery business. Once Willow (Warwick Davis) hears Kit’s story, he comes out to confront them since he knows who she is. He tells her that her brother is alive although he is a prisoner of The Withered Crone who dwells in the Immemorial City. Thraxus believes they’re out of luck since they can’t cross the Shattered Sea to get there. Willow checks the mark on Dove’s arm and tells her that she shouldn’t be there. He admits it is good to see her while calling her Elora.

Although she denies it, he says she is the best hope against the evil coming to destroy them all.

 

Willow Review

The first episode of Willow was mostly underwhelming for a handful of reasons. Although there is still time for the story to develop and come together, nothing stood out as being original or spectacular. The story is pretty typical with a lot of clichés sprinkled in for good measure. There is no cohesion in terms of dialogue or delivery since the characters sound like they’re from different time periods.

Willow doesn’t feel like an engrossing epic fantasy because the performances are more aligned with a teenage drama. Rings of Power at least had a serious tone even though it had problems of its own. A lot of people are going to be disappointed by Willow for this reason so it obviously isn’t going to please everyone. Nevertheless, the show looks great and the story could get better in future episodes.

The decision to give Ellie Bamber the role of Elora Danan was wise because she has been so consistent. It is just hard to take Willow seriously with the silly dialogue and poor delivery and it is difficult to be optimistic about the future of Willow, but younger viewers may enjoy it more than I did. The episode scores a 5.5 out of 10. Recaps of Willow can be found on Reel Mockery here. Find our recaps beneficial? Consider supporting our work at this link.