The High Aldwin – As the second episode of Willow begins, Willow (Warwick Davis) visits Queen Sorsha (Joanne Whalley) to tell her about his dream. He is confident that is what will happen if they don’t change things. Willow insists their true enemy is still out there and only Elora is standing in its path. While Queen Sorsha says Elora is still a child, Willow wants to start her training immediately because it’ll fade without proper nourishment. Sorsha believes there are other ways to defend themselves, but Willow argues that no barrier is strong enough to keep the enemy out forever. She reveals that is why she sent Madmartigan in search after finding a clue in the ancient scrolls about the whereabouts of the Kymerian Cuirass.

They haven’t heard anything since he rode out so she worried she sent him to his death. Willow doesn’t believe death would stop Mads from returning to her. He goes on to remind her that no weapon can defeat the Crone and only Elora can do that. Willow offers to train her since he is a High Aldwin now just like Raziel said he would be. Sorsha does not agree that he is a great sorcerer or that he ever will be. Willow gets upset and leaves. In the present, Willow tells Elora (Ellie Bamber) and the others to follow him because it isn’t safe here. He takes them to the place where he lives and reassures Mims (Annabelle Davis) that it is okay since it is Elora Danan. Mims tells Elora that she is the one who found her. They call each other beautiful as Willow tries to keep everyone calm. Jade Claymore (Erin Kellyman) checks on Kit Tanthalos (Ruby Cruz) since she looks a bit deranged.

Kit is worried about Airk so she isn’t ready to learn about Nelwyn culture right now. Willow addresses the villagers. He says they will rejoice tonight because what he thought was lost has been found. Willow consults with the bones before saying there is a balance between all things including light and shadow. When that balance is upset, the universe corrects and the Crone’s influence grows. Just as they were starting to lose hope, the child of the prophecy returns to fulfill her destiny. Willow explains that the great war will begin soon, but Elora has to complete her training first. He thinks the magic will flow through her naturally since she is the one. When she fails the finger test, people begin leaving. Willow insists it means nothing since he failed the first time too. The Gales learn that the child has revealed herself. Queen Sorsha learns about Elora possibly passing through the barrier so she sends Commander Ballantine (Ralph Ineson) to track her down.

She doesn’t tell him much about Elora. We see that the darkness still seems to be running through Ballantine’s veins. Thraxus (Amar Chadha-Patel) talks to Willow and the others about the route they intend to travel. Willow makes it clear that Elora will remain with him so she can learn the art, but she explains that she left to save Airk and not take wizard classes from him. She goes on to say she is leaving with them. Later, Mims and Willow talk about the baby Elora who seemed to understand everything. Mims believes she fell in love and she thought Willow would understand that more than anyone. She reminds her dad that Elora needs his help before asking what he hasn’t told her. Willow warns her that the world will burn if anything happens to Elora. His daughter encourages him to go with Elora to protect her. When she is ready, he can give her the staff. They’re interrupted by a man who informs them that Elora is gone.

Jade and Kit argue about leaving without Elora. Kit doesn’t want to believe that Dove is actually Elora. When Thraxus tries to get them to leave, Graydon (Tony Revolori) tells them they shouldn’t do that because she is Elora Danan. Willow interrupts and calls them names while searching for Elora. He warns them that everyone they care about will be made to serve the power behind the Crone and their only hope of escaping that nightmare is wandering around in the woods. They split up to search for Elora. Willow remembers finding Elora and being put in charge of keeping her safe. Once he finds her, Willow learns that she is afraid because she can’t even pass the finger test. Willow explains that she has to believe since the finger test is about having faith in the power inside you. Elora asks him to come with them because they need him to find Airk.

If he takes her to the Immemorial City, she will have to listen, study, and work hard. Willow says he can’t defeat the Crone without her, but she can’t save Airk without him. Elora admits she is excited to be his student and learn magic. Willow says goodbye to his daughter before leaving with the others. Ballantine and his men find the camp so they know they’re going in the right direction. When the others want to stop for a break, Ballantine tells them that purpose is such a wonderful feeling. He attacks them. Thraxus tells Kit that he was with her, but he wanted to dupe the others into thinking he was with them. He claims he is a treasure hunter and became that when he was around her age and someone told him about the legend of the Kymerian Cuirass. Thraxus goes on to say he and her father spent five years searching the world for it.

When asked if he knows what happened to him, Thraxus says yes before confirming he found it. Willow begins explaining magic to Elora who starts getting ill. Willow admits he wanted to train her when she was a child, but Sorsha wouldn’t let him at the time. She thought it was safer for Elora to grow up thinking she was like everyone else. Willow insists she isn’t because there is something in her that has been stifled for too long. When she gets sick and throws up, Willow says they should probably walk for a while. Later that night, Willow gives her eckleberry seeds and tells her to plant them anywhere. Then, he gets her to repeat after him. It doesn’t go well because Elora begins mimicking his facial expression and using odd hand movements. He tells her to keep practicing until she gets it right and a sprout pops up out of the dirt.

Elora suggests skipping to battle magic now before grabbing Cherlindrea’s wand. Willow says no and takes it back because she isn’t ready for it yet. Willow believes she has the power deep inside. In a flashback, Willow talks to a young Elora about being small and coming from a place where everyone is small. He ends up scaring her. Sorsha finds out and reminds him that she would’ve sent every knight after him. Willow gets mad and tells her that he doesn’t care what happened to her or Elora from now on. When he wakes up, he begins telling Silas about the bad decisions he has made. Ballantine reaches the village and yells that they’re looking for the girl traveling with the Princess. When Mims comes out of hiding, he tells her that he can help them if she tells him where they’ve gone.

She claims she went back to Tir Asleen, but they don’t believe her. After they find fresh wagon tracks heading west, Mims is already gone. Meanwhile, Elora starts giving up because she doesn’t think the magic will work. She says her real name is Brunhilde. Willow suggests otherwise and tells her she’ll have to focus if she ever wants to see Airk again. Elora gets upset and walks away. Jade tells Kit not to start because she knows exactly what she is thinking. Jade is going to follow the Queen’s orders by staying with Willow even if Kit thinks he is wrong. Graydon approaches Elora to tell her she shouldn’t be out there alone. He offers to help with the book since he is good with that sort of stuff. She tells him how she felt when she learned she was Elora and how she doesn’t think she is special. Graydon admits it is somewhat funny that she is the only person who can’t see how extraordinary she is.

Once he leaves, Elora tries the spell again. Willow tells Silas he thinks they should turn back because it is too late. He doesn’t think she is Elora anymore. Willow explains his visions and how Elora always has to die no matter how many times he has tried to prevent that from happening. Kit wakes Thraxus because she wants to know about her father and the Kymerian Cuirass. Elora wakes up and finds that the spell didn’t work so she tries again. Ballantine knocks her out before dragging her away. The sprout finally rises out of the ground.

 

Willow Review

Through two episodes, Willow is neither spectacular nor terrible. Although there are some good aspects, the story is moving at a snail’s pace and Willow probably isn’t great for adults. In particular, the dialogue has a tinge of cringe that makes the show feel like a teenage drama more than an epic fantasy along the lines of Lord of the Rings or Game of Thrones.

The performances seem okay even though it is hard to say because the dialogue is so difficult to take seriously. Warwick Davis is good as Willow obviously and Ellie Bamber is doing well with her role even though the cast is bloated at this point.

Willow is just okay since it can’t replicate the magic of the original movie. A younger audience may enjoy the episode a lot more than I did though. The action may pick up in the next episode now that Ballantine has found Elora and intends to kidnap her.

The second episode scores a 6 out of 10. Recaps of Willow can be found on Reel Mockery here. Have you found our recaps helpful? Consider supporting our work by following this link.