Since the recent surge for the genre, Disney’s newest series, Willow, is the streaming services’ first attempt at a live-action fantasy TV series. It is a follow-up to the identically named Lucasfilm film from 1988. The series continues where the movie left off as a sequel. The film is recapped at the start of the series, which refers to it as a prologue. It also brings back a lot of well-known characters, like Sorsha and Willow (Warwick Davis) (Joanne Whalley). But more than that, the show makes constant allusions to the movie.
Airk
The film’s allusions begin with the offspring of Sorsha and Madmartigan (Val Kilmer). Old Madmartigan’s buddy Airk Thaughbaer (Gavan O’Herlihy), who oversaw the Knights of Galladoorn, inspired the name of Airk (Dempsey Bryk). He supported Willow and his allies in their battle against Bavmorda (Jean Marsh). In the film’s climactic battle, Airk Thaughbaer gave his life, and Sorsha and Madmartigan named their son after him. This Airk resembles his mother less than his father, it would seem. Airk has a bad attitude and a propensity for breaking hearts. After Airk is abducted, the plot centres on a rescue operation.
Boorman’s Imprisonment
Although Boorman (Amar Chadha-Patel) doesn’t appear in the movie, he plays a role akin to Madmartigan. He has a propensity to put himself first, just like Madmartigan. Boorman, a former squire for Madmartigan, is the quest’s rebellious participant. Similar to how Madmartigan first appears in the movie, he makes an entrance. Madmartigan is imprisoned in a cage when Willow first encounters him because of a crime. Willow frees him after some resistance. Similar to how Boorman begins his story imprisoned in Sorsha’s lair. What, exactly, is unknown. However, Sorsha offers Boorman his freedom if he leads the search, just as Madmartigan received freedom for protecting Baby Elora (played by Ellie Bamber in the show). Hopefully Boorman succeeds in the mission more successfully than Madmartigan did with the child.
Cherlindrea’s Wand
Willow receives a magic wand from the High Fey, Cherlindrea (Maria Holvöe), in the movie. This wand is crucial to Willow’s study of magic and the decisive battle. The wand returns in the series. It is still in Willow’s hands throughout the series. Like his magic, he brings it on the journey but refrains from utilising it. Even though he used it when he first studied magic, he won’t allow Elora to use it in her classes since he thinks she isn’t ready. The series will undoubtedly make extensive use of the wand, a potent magical instrument.
Elora’s Bluff
Elora is surrounded in episode three’s “The Battle of the Fallen Lamb.” The young woman bluffs, pretending to be a powerful sorceress despite only knowing one spell since she is surrounded and in need of a strategy. She attempts to frighten off her captors by reciting an incantation intended for growing plants, but they merely laugh. In a sequence similar to the movie, Willow repeatedly asserts his prowess as a great sorcerer, despite the fact that he is untrained in magic and that no one ever believes him.
Galladoorn and the Shining Knights
The Galladoorn kingdom itself serves as another oblique allusion to the series. Galladoorn had succumbed to Bavmorda in the movie, much like Airk did. The Shining Legion knights continued to fight even though the realm had vanished. Graydon (Tony Revolori), the prince of Galladoorn who Kit (Ruby Cruz) is scheduled to marry, is the series’ introduction to a newly reconstructed Galladoorn. Notably, the Shining Legion is still active because they accepted Jade (Erin Kellyman) as a recruit; but, instead of travelling to Galladoorn, she chooses to embark on a mission.
Madmartigan’s Sword
On her search, Kit discovers a second heritage sword. The magical door that Madmartigan used had his sword left outside. When Kit discovers the sword, she also hears her father calling her name. While less unique than Sorsha’s sword, this one resembles the one in the movie.
Nockmaar
The conclusion of Episode 3 is a cliffhanger as the group of heroes search for cover to save one of their own. Nockmaar Nockmaar castle in WillowImage courtesy of Disney. Only Willow, who professes to being familiar with the area, is aware of their whereabouts. He names the ruin Nockmaar and points to it. The citadel of Bavmorda, where infant Elora almost perished in the movie, is better known by this name. As the granddaughter of Bavmorda, the place is vital to Elora, Willow, and Kit.
They are tormented by the past as Willow and the others look for safety there. They can’t avoid thinking about what transpired there. Although the new characters have illusions about exactly how certain events transpired, they talk about the movie’s events. Additionally, Willow issues a warning against entering the High Tower because the gateway that appeared in the movie is still active. Even Bavmorda converting the enemy army into pigs is mentioned in the series. With Boorman jokingly inquiring if everyone had been turned around, the allusion adds a lighthearted interlude to the otherwise serious programme. The group sets the food—presumably pork—they were eating aside despite Willow’s assertion that he believes it to be true.
Sorsha’s Sword
Sorsha is shown carrying a very distinctive-looking sword throughout the movie. The blade has one serrated edge, making it a more dangerous weapon than the norm. Sorsha pulls out the same blade to defend her country in the series when the castle is invaded. Along with Kit, Sorsha’s daughter, the sword embarks on the adventure.
The Bone Reavers and Kael
Jorgen Kase (Simon Armstrong), the knight who was supposed to be leading the quest, was killed during the Bone Reavers’ pursuit of the questers. The Bone Reavers don’t appear in the first movie, but they wear armour similar to that of Bavmorda’s assistant Kael (Pat Roach). Following Bavmorda’s orders, Kael pursues the infant Elora and mainly acts as a henchman. The most immediately recognised comparison is the helmet that resembles a skull.
The helmets are explained in Episode 5 by the revelation that Kael was the original Bone Reaver. His past was also revealed in the series, which detailed how Bavmorda struck a deal with Galladoorn’s slaves in order to free them in return for their allegiance. These people established a civilisation in the woods after Bavmorda was destroyed. Scorpia (Adwoa Aboah), one of Kael’s daughters who now commands the Bone Reavers, is introduced in the programme. She alludes to Madmartigan’s execution of Kael during the Battle of Nockmaar, as depicted in the movie. But even that isn’t the most important allusion to Kael. Jade is revealed to be Scorpia’s sister. Jade was captured when the Bone Reavers retreated and was brought up to believe that the Bone Reavers murdered her family. Jade is actually a legacy figure as well.
The Brownies
The character Rool makes another appearance in Episode 5. (Kevin Pollak). Two Brownies named Rool and Franjean are introduced in the film (Rick Overton). They guide Willow to Fin Raziel (Patricia Hayes) at Cherlindrea’s request and aid him in his travels, but in reality, they seem to engage in pranks more frequently. While Franjean has relocated to the south, Rool is depicted as being retired and residing close to the Bone Reavers. Although Rool and Willow have differing recollections of their voyage, Rool is glad to see Willow again and talks about the good old days. Once more, Rool consents to aid Willow and Elora but makes the decision not to journey with them. Even though Rool only appears for a short while in the series, his presence is always appreciated.
The High Aldwin’s Tricks
The High Aldwin (Billy Barty), the Nelwyns’ supremo, is first introduced in the movie. He uses magic, though somewhat ignorantly. He specifically employs two techniques in the movie. One, known as the “finger trick,” is used to spot potential apprentices. He tries to read the future from bones in the other. Both tricks are featured in the series, and Willow, who has assumed the identity of High Aldwin, does them this time. Willow makes an effort to read Elora’s future from the bones, but she isn’t successful. He also does the figure trick, which Elora fails at just like Willow does in the movie. Even Willow brings up the audience’s seeing of his failing the trick.
The Pig Trick
A reference is also made to Willow’s well-known sleight-of-hand pig trick, which he botches in the Nelwyn village. In the movie’s climax, Willow pulls off the prank with Elora playing the pig. The infant was finally secure since Bavmorda thought Willow had transported her away. It’s not the kind of sorcerer trick one would expect, but in Willow’s case, it worked. In a flashback where she and Willow dispute about what to do with Elora, Sorsha mockingly mentions the trick. Although Sorsha intended for her remark to lessen Willow’s influence, what exactly did she do at that instant to safeguard the infant?
The Prisoner in the Cage
In Episode 6, Kit and Willow are kept in crow cages with a mysterious man and another nod to Madmartigan. The character in the imitates the introduction of Madmartigan once more, although this time he goes by the name Madmartigan. However, it turns out that the man is Allagash (Christian Slater), a longtime ally and friend of Madmartigan. He conned the trolls who had captured them with the moniker, letting Madmartigan escape. Allagash is employed as another Madmartigan stand-in even though he isn’t in the movie.
The Ritual of the 13th Night
In episode four, Willow and Elora return to the High Tower, the scene of the movie’s decisive battle. Similar to the movie, Graydon tries to complete the Ritual of the 13th Night and evict Elora while possessed. The scene resembles the movie’s rituals and the battle, with allies breaking in to aid Willow and Elora. Elora discovers the truth about Willow’s strategy for saving her at this point: a bluff. One of the more overt references in the series, the show emphasises the comparison by playing excerpts from the movie as smokey memories.
The Word “Peck”
Willow is referred to as a “peck” throughout the movie, which is a derogatory term for the Nelwyn race. However, as Willow earned respect via his acts in the movie, the word is used far less frequently in the series. even though it persists. Commander Ballantine (Ralph Ineson), who is affected by black magic, visits the Nelwyn settlement in an effort to locate Elora. He and Ballantine are challenged by Mim (Annabelle Davis), Willow’s daughter, and he uses the word.
Visions in Nockmaar
Elora and Kit see historical visions while in Nockmaar. Nearly reuniting with her mother—or a ghost of her—is Elora. Elora discovers the mother she never knew after witnessing the woman’s final moments. Elora is said to be present in the vision, but there is nothing Elora can do to stop what occurs to her. In the movie’s climax, Elora also has a vision of herself as a newborn.
Kit can hear Bavmorda’s voice as she vowed allegiance to the Crone. Although not directly from the movie, this serves as a lead-in to Bavmorda. Kit struggles with the Bavmorda ghost and how they might be similar throughout her stay in Nockmaar. She is even charged by Boorman with making her grandmother proud. The parallel forces Kit to remember Bavmorda’s deeds, which finally motivates her to set herself apart.
