Willow Season 1 Review

Willow (2022-)
Season 1 - 8 episodes (2022-23)

Watch Willow on Disney+
Created by: Jonathan Kasdan, George Lucas (based on characters by)
Starring: Ruby Cruz, Ellie Bamber, Tony Revolori, Erin Kellyman, Amar Chadha-Patel, Warwick Davis
Rated: TV-14
Watch the trailer

Plot
Twenty years after vanquishing the wicked queen Bavmorda, the sorcerer Willow Ufgood leads a group of misfits on a dangerous rescue mission into the unknown.

Verdict
This does a nice job of bridging the gap from a movie thirty years ago, but it's a similar tale in a longer format with many of the same characters. A fetch quest forms the basis for a plot that's similar to other recent fantasy series where a ragtag group embarks on an arduous journey. The plot and the characters are just a bit too predictable. Most of these characters are here to make it seem like the show is doing something, but the characters are too shallow.
It depends.

Review
This is a sequel series to the 1988 movie, also titled Willow. The first episode establishes the plot with a bunch of characters volunteering to find the kidnapped prince. Of course they must team up with Willow (Warwick Davis).

Warwick Davis, Ellie Bamer play Willow Ufgood, Elora Danan

This is an adventure that unfolds much like you'd expect unfortunately. It fulfilled my expectations in the first episode, but doesn't do much more. These characters are here to round out the subplots for each episode. There's so many of them to add filler. This doesn't do anything to stand out. The overall plot is a group of misfits must defeat the villain.

This has a number of characters that could be interesting if the story lines weren't so familiar. It's too easy to predict what will happen. This introduces us to characters but fails to develop them. Each of these characters needs to be the hero of their own mini-story, but they only exist to fill space in the episodes.

I really liked the soundtrack has this utilizes modern songs remixed to end each episode. It's a similar technique that 1899 used.

Amar Chadha-Patel, Ruby Cruz, Erin Kellyman, Tony Revolori play Thraxus Boorman, Princess Kit, Jade, Prince Graydon

I appreciate that this concludes the events of the season while leaving the door open for new adventures. An end credits scene seems to indicate three seasons. This season certainly is a decent basis for future development, but this show needs to take a chance with characters and plots instead of playing it safe. The show seems preoccupied with make sure it's something the audience likes which puts this closer to boring than not. Part of what makes good heroes are good villains, and this doesn't do much to develop what the protagonists are fighting. This show could have done so much more.

Update: It was announced on March 15 that this show was canceled.