Willow

I felt that the first episode was OK, 6/10. Unfortunately, each episode presented so far is worse than the previous one.

I don't want to harp on the modernization prevalent in each episode, because, in other shows it doesn't bother me at all. For some reason though, it just grates on me here. It's like fingernails on a chalk board.

Since I'm airing my laundry, let's touch on other things that are sub par, or just plain bad. The two lead actresses are not very good, and the way their characters are written makes them fairly dislikable... a major negative in a show like this. Top that off with appalling humor, or rather, attempts at humor, no tangible bad guy, and a lackluster supporting cast, and you have the makings of a show that is going nowhere.

I'll keep watching, hoping for improvement; but, color me skeptical.

Willow (the movie) is a darling of a movie, great production, writing that works for the world building and has excellent performances throughout.

Willow (the series) forgets the foreshadowing of the movies and reduces it to a level of superficiality. The world does not feel textured or well built.

The dialogue is random at times and leaps to inject emotions that don't fit with the context of the conversation. They've ramshackled conflict between Sorsha and Willow that doesn't really need to exist or add value to the story.

Elora's reveal as a petulant teenager doesn't fit with the background of the character, not in the context in which we are first introduced to her.

So much about this is lacking it's as if the Director's and writers spent no time with the source material and tried to force the key facets of story telling upon characters and arcs where it doesn't fit.

Two episodes in and there's a density to the villains that doesn't provide any sense of clarity as to the villains main aims. In the movie Bavmorda had purpose, and intent, corrupted by dark powers in the pursuit of power. In the series, we lack this.

From a production standpoint, the world doesn't seem lived in. It seems purpose built to look pretty. Tir Asleen also seems to have moved from being inside of a crag in Wales to now resting on a hillside. Which I wouldn't mind so much if everything else married up.

The young cast also seem out of place but really, that's again because they don't feel like they're part of the world in which they inhabit. Their clothing is all laundry fresh, their skin is clean as though they've just emerged from the shower and each of them is bathed in perfect lighting for the duration.

It makes the production look cheap. There's jarring elements that pull you out of the world also, like the store bought, machine made clothing of Elora.

The aesthetic is different from the movie, less textured, less reality based and it shows. The throne room set piece is about the only exception. It feels in world. Also, the Nelwyn are Fraggles now... living underground.

There was so much opportunity with this show that just seems squandered because it was lead by someone who didn't understand the confines of the world it's about... and doesn't know how to write for characters in that world.

I hope that it improves... but for now, I'm just going say..."Forget all you know... or think you know," they've made something with the Willow name, but it is not Willow.

Warwick is ok, the rest of the actors, accents and all the rest is so far terrible. Willow was a childhood favorite including the books but this does not come remotely close to capturing the magic that was the original Willow.

This how ever starts so poorly in episode one and just keeps getting worse. The sword play is laughable, sets below average and the costumes are a complete joke. If you loved the original movie I recommend steering well clear of this joke of a show which I had high hopes for. Warwick and the music are ok but everything else is a let down with Val Kilmer unable to reprise his role as Mad Mortigan due to his previous cancer struggles and loss of voice.

Its a pity as this could have been a wonderful and amazing show.

It's become apparent that Disney feels some grotesque need to release content on their platform without any deeper thought about what & where to go with it. This is the feeling you get with Willow, and the writing that doesn't even feel amatuer-ish - it feels embarrassing. For everybody on that show, Warwick especially. It's apparent that the writer has no connection with what the character/actor would comfortably say at any given time, prompting him to spew out wordy, awkward lines, that he has to somehow form together into "acting". The dialogue comes across so unnaturally it's embarrassing. Somebody should feel ashamed for this, really.

The last thing you want to do with fantasy is have it come across as modern. Even if you didn't enjoy the Rings of Power show it still has a feel of antiquity about it, about the continuity of what they say and do. About what the characters are concerned with during the course of the show..... but that is not the case here. Here you get Nickelodeon teen drama (that firmly reminds you you're in the year 2022), mixed with half-hearted, poorly conceived fantasy. Which has zero percent of the feel captured in the 1988 movie, and while i can't say that was perfect either it stands as a masterpiece in comparison to this.

Who is to blame here isn't clear. My vote goes to Disney, for coming up with an idea and then going with whatever first idea was presented forth to them, no matter how good or bad it was. The content machine must keep flowing, or else they lose subscribers.. right? Well they will certainly lose people by continuing to release abominations such as this. Ya know i do feel bad, just because i know how severe the internet is going to tear into this one, review-wise. So 6/10 is a mercy from me.

I grew up with classics such as Willow. The designs, the music, it created a general gloomy ambiance... there is a spicy darkness that I couldn't find in the series, even after the first episode unfortunately. I don't know how to describe it, maybe it's just sparkles and hints that went WITH the anxious music back in the days. Maybe it's just badly written:(( Maybe I just can't with remastered songs to go with this.

Also, no Madmartigan, I have to admit it's hard... But I was glad to see Sorsha again!!

The show is MOSTLY for new fans, and the fact that it's not so much for the OG fans makes me even more resentful towards Disney, and George Lucas (who wold his soul).