Willow, Disney+ Hotstar series stars Warwick Davis as Willow Ufgood, Ruby Cruz as Kit, Erin Kellyman as Jade, Ellie Bamber as Dove, AmarChadha-Patel as Borrman, Tony Revolori as Gradon, Dempsey Bryk as Air and Joanne Whalley as Sorsha. The series is based on George Lucas’ characters and is a sequel to the 1988 movie of the same name. The Disney+ series is developed by Jonathan Kasdan and
Ron Howard, Brian Grazer, Kathleen Kennedy, Wendy Mericle, Roopesh Parekh, Michelle Rejwan and Jonathan have worked as the executive producers. The review is based on 7 episodes that were provided for early viewing. The synopsis reads, “The Nelwyn sorcerer returns, years after rescuing the infant empress Elora Danan, to lead a group of misfit heroes on a harrowing rescue mission through a world beyond imagination.”
Willow (2022) Series Review Contains No Spoilers At All
The story of Willow is set years after Willow Ufgood got separated from Elora Dana and Queen Bavmorda’s death. Bavmorda’s daughter Sorsha’s twins Kit and Airk have grown up, but the curse still haunts the family. One night, Airk is taken away by the enemies and his sister Kit, along with Jade, Dove, Boorman and Graydon, head out to find him. Finding Airk means crossing the Barrier.
While the search for Airk remains the main premise, we also find out if Elora is alive and where she is. Airk’s sister and friends meet Willow Ufgood to seek help. Heading out and crossing the Barrier means inviting more trouble. Through the 7 episodes, we see the difficulties the characters face and some astonishing revelations about themselves and others.
After taking us to galaxies far, far away with Star Wars’ multiple shows, George Lucas’ mystical world is being explored on Disney+. The 1988 movie had its charm considering the era it was released in. The series dives deep into the magical world, which sometimes works and sometimes doesn’t. The first 4 episodes were truly engrossing and made me curious to know what’s next.
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We have seen several movies and shows where a group of young people go on dangerous quests while encountering some miracles and threats on the way. With House of the Dragon and The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, fans of the fantasy period dramas got some brilliant content in 2022. Willow follows the tried and tested formula of the magical world full of mysteries and disclosures. But it fails to offer something out of the world consistently.
The sequel is also a filler for everything that happened between the movie and the series. Sadly, the revelation of Elora’s existence creates no impact. Every actor has done an amazing job, especially Warwick Davis. His presence in the show is delightful, and he stands out in every scene. Despite having a lot of fresh faces, Davis makes you want to know more about what his character has been up to. I missed the unspoken connection the sorcerer had with Elora in the movie.
Willow Review: Final Thoughts
Overall, the Disney+ Hotstar series is a treat for the die-hard fans of the Willow franchise. It’s a nostalgia trip for those who loved the film, but there are only a few bewitching moments. If you are a fan, you should watch the first two episodes right away!
The first two episodes are now streaming online. The series will have a new episode dropping every Wednesday on Disney+ Hotstar.