Willow
Willow
Now Showing

Willow

"The next great adventure begins."

6.6
Yr 2022
Status Canceled
Your Verdict

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Series Brief

Overview

Many years after the events of the original film, legendary sorcerer Willow leads a group of misfit heroes on a dangerous rescue mission through a world beyond their wildest imaginations.

Critical Reception

What critics are saying

Score 50 /100

Critical reception for the Willow series is deeply divided, reflecting a wide gap between those who found it a charming, earnest fantasy adventure and those who saw it as a derivative misstep. Supporters praise the show for its well-drawn ensemble cast, beautiful production design, and a successful mix of reverence and irreverence that captures a sense of fun. These reviewers often highlight the chemistry between the younger characters and the series' epic scale.

Conversely, detractors criticize the show for its inconsistent tone, citing "cringe-inducing" dialogue and a narrative that feels like a thin movie script stretched to unreasonable lengths. Many reviewers noted that while some aesthetic elements are strong, the series struggles with pacing and creative focus, often appearing aesthetically ho-hum or failing to capture the magic of the original 1988 film. Ultimately, the show is viewed as either a surprisingly enjoyable ride or an incoherent, YA-style drama.

“That perfect balance of reverence and irreverence is what immediately catapults “Willow” to the upper echelon of Disney+ series.”

“Willow on Disney Plus feels more like a teenage YA drama than an epic fantasy.”

“This series feels like a movie script stretched beyond its limits to fill out six hours of television.”

“Willow is an epic fantasy adventure that just gets better and better as it goes on, but it is not without its issues.”

Why fans love it

Building on the fantasy universe established in the original film, this 2022 series brings back Warwick Davis as the legendary sorcerer. The narrative expands upon familiar lore, leaning into classic high fantasy elements like prophetic visions and chosen-one destinies while pushing its characters into unfamiliar, dangerous territory. Fans of the original story get to see how the world has evolved years later, delivered with the scale of a modern sci-fi and fantasy adventure.

At its core, the action-adventure drama thrives on the unpredictable dynamic of a band of misfits thrown together for a perilous rescue mission. The show balances the high stakes of their journey with plenty of character-driven drama, giving this unlikely group of heroes room to clash, bond, and face unexpected threats together.

Featured Players

Cast

Credited 64
Regulars 23
Longest run 4 eps
Show 56 more
Hannah Waddingham as Hubert 1 episode Caoimhe O'Malley as Anne 1 episode Christian Slater as Allagash 1 episode Annabelle Davis as Mims Ufgood 2 episodes Jack Kilmer as Madmartigan (voice) 2 episodes Graham Hughes as Silas 3 episodes Joanne Whalley as Queen Sorsha 3 episodes Simon Armstrong as Jørgen Kase 1 episode Alexis Rodney as Lachlan 1 episode Ralph Ineson as Commander Ballantine 3 episodes Derek Horsham as King Hastur 2 episodes Talisa Garcia as Queen Arianna 1 episode Niamh McCormack as Niamh 1 episode Olivia Chan as Sakura 1 episode Eileen Davies as Prunella 2 episodes Daniel Naprous as The Doom 3 episodes Vitas Le Bas as The Lich 3 episodes Joonas Suotamo as The Scourge 4 episodes Claudia Hughes as The Dag 4 episodes Sifiso Mazibuko as Merrick 3 episodes Kenny Knight as Keene 3 episodes Charlie Rawes as Toth 2 episodes Eldredd Wolf as Guard (uncredited) 2 episodes Theo Morton as Guard (uncredited) 1 episode Miguel Ángel Luque as Guard (uncredited) 3 episodes Paul Ginns as Guard (uncredited) 2 episodes Josh Dyer as Guard (uncredited) 2 episodes Sarah Bennett as Libby 1 episode Simeon Dyer as Karthy 2 episodes Alayna Jacobs as Elora (Five Years Old) 1 episode Jason Beeston as Guard (uncredited) 1 episode Richard Blenkiron as Nelwyn Villager (uncredited) 1 episode Alexander Bracq as Guard (uncredited) 1 episode Neil Chapelhow as Troll (uncredited) 2 episodes David Cheung as Guard (uncredited) 1 episode Mario Revolori as Dermot 1 episode Jean Marsh as Queen Bavmorda 1 episode Sallyanne Law as Mother 1 episode Benjamin Revolori as Young Graydon 1 episode Jane Carr as The Crone (voice) 2 episodes Adwoa Aboah as Scorpia 2 episodes Amalia Vitale as Ganush 1 episode Kevin Pollak as Rool 1 episode Kate Entwistle as Bone Reaver Warrior (uncredited) 1 episode Stephanie Pamplona as Tavern Wench (uncredited) 1 episode Tom Wilton as Sarris 1 episode Dee Tails as Falken 1 episode Derek Arnold as Upper Management Troll 1 episode Shakirudeen Adewale Alade as Bolo 1 episode Danny Woodburn as Wiggleheim (voice) 1 episode Rosabell Laurenti Sellers as Lili 3 episodes Aidan Cook as Troll (uncredited) 1 episode Ian Kay as Troll (uncredited) 1 episode Stephanie Silva as Troll (uncredited) 1 episode Julian Glover as Zeb 1 episode Robyn Betteridge as Young Kit (uncredited) 1 episode
Production Board

Crew

Signal Match

Similarity

Where Willow overlaps with other shows, and exactly what they have in common.

Keyword Cloud

Keywords

chosen one based on movie high fantasy visions band of misfits
Technical Sheet

Details

First Aired
November 30, 2022
Status
Canceled
Origin
US
TMDB Votes
451