User reviews

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.

I don't know if people were expecting a masterpiece or something but I found the series enjoyable. Is it cheesey? Yes, but so was the movie. Many of us Willow fans were kids when it came out. You have to watch the series with the eyes of the kid you were and think of this as a fun, family, fantasy series. The special effects aren't bad, better then the 80's for sure. Yes it's a little YA, but that's because they are trying to reach a new audience, a younger one, and I don't think there is anything wrong with that. Stop trying to take everything so seriously and just enjoy it for what it is. It's not supposed to be another Game of Thrones, which could work in it's favor considering the ending of that 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 so wanted this to be great... But it really feels like a group of highschoolers cosplaying and joking around, bringing out of retirement their parents' teenage movie heroes. I know it's fiction, in an imagined world, chocked full of magic and so on. But it would give it a more realistic tone if the language used was more sophisticated; if the character's behavior, attitude, manners... had been worked on more, instead of sounding and feeling like an angstsy teenager reading the script; if the wardrobe didn't include a couple of woodswomen wearing jeans and flannel; basically, if the original story had been treated with respect by Disney+ and they had spent more resources in making it better. I really don't want to blast any of the actors (well, one of them is terrible, but I'll let her be, she's young and has time to refine her skills), but Lucasfilm should have been more careful with how they handled their treasured 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.

I really don't understand why this show has so many negative reviews.

I'm 48 and watched the original movie in the cinema. This series has the same theme and easy jokes as in the movie, but with better CGI and character development (advantage of the TV series format). In summary, I have the same feelings of fun and fantasy story as when I watched the original movie.

Yes, it has some "teen" themes and "modern" tropes that would have been weird in 1980s, but I think it's a perfect continuation of the film.

I hope Disney will renew the show for a second season and the critics will be more patient with the series.

It gets better as it goes on. If you've ever been of fan of offerings like 10th Kingdom, The Last Unicorn, or Merlin, then this might be for you.

Yes, the first three episodes have a lot of information to plow through and there are some pacing issues, but each episode improves and it starts finding its bearings in episode 4.

As a whole, the show is fun and light-hearted, which really sets it apart from other high fantasy offerings in the mainstream right now. And let's not forget how campy, quirky, and silly the original is. Willow as a tv series is a nice, youthful successor-- a tongue-in-cheek fairytale focused on passing the baton to the younger generation.

I wont lie Willow is one of my favorite films of all time. It could be called a childrens fantasy made by adults for adults. The acting, music and story are superb.

This is the opposite of any of that. Its so strange to watch. Its like one of those generic spot filler YA fantasy movies thats just a vehicle for some disney star, but even in that context the writing pacing and action are so bland. Like Twilight bland. If nothing else they went super cheap on the writing. Its like an intern chained to a desk wrote this in 20 minutes and the cast are just collecting paycheck.

Really disappointed that Disney would take an IP like Willow and dump out schedule filler trash like this.

The show continues to build and build. There are some great fight scenes, memorable henchmen, dancing on "truth plums", twisting character progression, and some great nostalgic beats (as well as some recognisable tropes) that will either make you feel delighted or illicit a groan.

I found myself laughing out loud, rooting for the heroes, joining in with the quests, and enjoying the progression of the main villain.

I am a sucker for magic, fantasy, dungeons and dragons, I suspect I watched this with kinder eyes than some.

I saw a series that took chances to build a wider world as well as paying homage to the original film.

I was able to see the first 4 episodes. The series will likely please die-hard fans of the original film because I mostly enjoyed what I was able to see, it takes some time to get used to the new characters & the modern look of the series but they don't waste too long getting the adventure started with some fun action, comedy & heart. I love Warwick Davis and it's great that they bring him back in this role, he hasn't lost his touch. If you fell in love with Willow during your childhood, you are going to be more than happy to see that he's just as inspiring and courageous as he was back then. I think the pacing is on-point so far, the world was fresh in my head after watching Willow the night before but they use the mythology very well to build the foundation for this season.

Not all the characters work for me but the spirit of the original film is there and that's going to be sufficient for people who've been waiting a long time to see Willow back on the screen. I feel confident to say that people who are not really familiar with Willow can jump into the series without seeing the original film, even though I recommend watching the original film before because the series act very much like a sequel to 1988's Willow. The people at ILM are having a blast with visual effects building this world with new goggles and some of the new creatures really benefit from the technological advancement.

If you're not exactly sold after the first episode, I feel like it gets better as it goes along because you get attached to everyone and they actually took the time to write an engaging story. Episode 4 was the last one I saw before writing this review, it might be my favorite episode so far. There are some nice surprises in there for fans of Willow and you can expect the same balance of emotions you found in the 1988 film. I didn't love everything about the series but I know I'm going to stick until the end of this season to see where this is all going. I was quite surprised because this is not usually my type of series, but Warwick Davis is the big draw here. We're back into his element!

7/10.

Look, 40 something fans who loved the movie are not the target audience. It's not bad for a teen drama with magic. I have daughters, I get it. This show is closer to Monster High than it is to Willow. Disappointing, but not surprised.

Sooner or later Disney is going to have to remember who pays the subscriptions. You can't raise the rates while ruining intellectual properties that are cherished. But whatever, I'm glad to see Willow again if only for a minute.

My biggest gripe believe it or not is why does it take place 20 years after the movie when it's almost 40 years later? Seems like an odd timeline.

This didn't even feel like Willow. It felt like people were attempting to use what little clout the franchise had and use it as a vehicle to introduce a story/characters that should've been written into their own series in the first place. Here's some issues:

1.) Willow isn't even the main character. Imagine going to watch Wednesday only to find out it's about her friends, and she's just kind of 'around'. That's what you get here.

2.) Remember the beautiful orchestral music from the film? Gone. Replaced by completely inappropriate songs, many of which are terrible covers. Hearing The Beach Boys in a high fantasy setting completely detaches you from the show...or Crimson and Clover during a weird forest rave. There's a reason the fantasy genre generally sticks with basic music...anything else feels out of place.

3.) The series changes things with little to no explanation. Why has everyone aged decades except one specific character? Why do certain creatures suddenly have an extensive vocabulary and look completely different? You'll be left with more questions than answers.

4.) The forced modernization. Every race and sexuality are represented. I've said before, diversity is great but not when it feels forced. When it feels forced it's almost as offensive as no diversity, because you're essentially creating 'token' characters. There also shouldn't be social commentary on war/pollution in a fictitious world. We're watching a fantasy series to escape our world for a while, not to be reminded of what exists in it.

Bottom line, I'm fairly confident this series won't be renewed, and with good reason. Warwick Davis deserved way better than this.

I am enjoying this series. There are great character inserts that help keep it exciting. So far I'm still interested in watching because I want to see the out come and because I love Warwick Davies and Willow.

The series could be better - example not sure if it's the actors or the writing but the little love interests between various characters are not convincing and have not made me excited for them to finally get together. They seem forced and there is no actual Interest just words.

The New Age music is not needed. If anything it's making it worse because I'm watching a show that has taken me to another land and time with their world and suddenly I'm listing to upbeat songs from our world. They don't match.

I hope this series keeps going but go back to its roots and make me want the characters to succeed, fall in love, feel anger, etc so far it's just dialogue. Some of the actors even look confused as opposed to the feelings they should be showing with what they are saying.

Contains minor spoilers.

Willow is my mum's favourite film, so we eagerly awaited this continuation.

What we have is a fairly decent fantasy show with some bizarre writing and soundtrack choices.

The story follows on from the original by being set 20 years later. Sorcha is Queen, her twin children are preparing for their futures and the kingdom is safe (having hidden itself away behind a mystical barrier) and life is good for everyone. Madmartigan is missing, a story choice necessitated by the illness of Val Kilmer, presenting one of many mysteries. What happened to Ellora Danan, the baby at the heart of the film? Why has magic been banned and what became of Willow Ufgood?

Ayrk, the lovable but somewhat feckless Prince, falls for one of the serving girls, naming her Dove, who has a way with recipes. He proposes to her and she agrees to marry him. His sister Kit trains with Jade, one of the palace guards and a woman she is clearly in love with. Unfortunately Kit has been betrothed to a Prince, played by Tony Revolori from the Marvel Spider-Man films. Neither Kit or the Prince is enthused by the situation but agree to go ahead with the wedding. It is during these festivities that the palace is invaded and Ayrk is kidnapped.

This sets in motion a quest to rescue Ayrk from acolytes of The Wyrm, an ancient evil that threatens to destroy the world. The kidnappers are allies of The Crone, a witch who gave original villain Bavmorda her powers and the enemy who feared the birth of Ellora. Queen Sorcha sends Kit, Jade, the Prince Graydon and Thraxas, squire of Madmartigan, to travel beyond the barrier and find Willow. He knows of The Crone and can tell the adventurers where they can rescue Ayrk. Unbeknown to the heroes, the serving girl has also left to find and rescue Ayrk.

Finding a deserted and spolied Nelwyn village, the gang find Willow is now the High Aldwin of the Nelwyn and is living with his daughter. Life hasn't exactly gone as Willow would like. He fell out with Sorcha over the training of Ellora, with Sorcha making the decision to hide her true identity from her and banishing magic. Sorcha is concerned because Bavmorda's spirit still exists, within herself and her children.

Willow agrees to help everyone find Ayrk. He will take them beyond the lands seen in the film to parts of the world where evil survives. It is around here that we learn that one of the travellers is the hidden Ellora Danan (most will have a pretty good guess at working out who she is) but is concerned that he has had multiple visions of a final battle where in order to defeat the evil of the Wyrm, Ellora must die.

Willow as a whole is a decent fantasy show with plenty of action and adventure, characters who have proper arcs and a good mix of practical and CGI effects. What lets the series down for me is some strange choices in the writing. This is a fairy tale world so it is very jarring when characters suddenly speak like they've stepped out of some US teen drama, or behave like they are in a totally different franchise. We have a whole episode with trolls who act like amateur dramatics Lord Of The Rings Orcs and sound like they've stepped out of a Game Of Thrones parody. It just does not work and doesn't fit with the overall tone of the film and series.

The other choice I found strange is the decision to suddenly drop in a well-known rock/pop song (original or cover) generally at the end of an episode. Again, it doesn't fit with the type of series this is.

Overall Willow is a franchise with potential and the door is left open with a cliffhanger and several unresolved plots for a second season, which I hope it gets. It just needs better writers who understand the source material.

Give Willow a chance.

I really wanted to like this show as I really enjoyed the original movie. The first two episodes, I was like OK its a bit cheesier than I would like but let's hang in there. The third episode was what did me in, some of the worst sword play I've ever seen. It was truly horrific.

Not only is the acting just terrible, the writing terrible, but the stunts are also terrible. I honestly don't know how this made it out the door without serious re-editing or something.

It really didn't offer any allure the original movie had. I can handle poor cheezy stunts if for instance the story is interesting. Buts it's just a huge snooze fest.

Very disappointed!

This show is not nearly as terrible as the reviews have made it out to be. I've seen the original willow and yes, I love it, but it's dated and cheesy as 80's fantasy movies go. The new willow is just a modern fantasy with some pretty good scenes and dialogue. Die-hard fans might have a problem with it but, me who's scene the original only a couple times, this series holds up pretty well so far. It's made for a different generation obviously to bring in new fans and I like it. A lot! Warwick is still there and some other cameos and that should be enough for the old-schoolers. People forget the original barely had a fanbase until vhs came along. It's not 1988. And I think that's a good thing. Plus, the three female leads. Terrific! Give those ladies some props. The rest of the cast is good as well. By far one of the best Disney shows to come out for the streaming service.

People come on here to complain and tear down a show that is only two episodes into the series. People have a lot of negativity in their heart for when something is the way they want it to be. If something isn't for you, fine, move on. Don't try and ruin it for others.

The first two episodes are setting up the plot, characters and twists to come clearly. Let's give it time to play out first. It is obvious what direction they're going and does lean into kid a friendly story line. If you want something more adult watch The Witcher on Netflix. This is a light hearted series that gives me nostalgia from the original film.

I know the show is no longer available on Disney+. This makes my review retrospective and reflective.

The show has some redeeming qualities. The sets are generally lovely. The acting, while not wonderful, is passable. The diverse cast is also a positive. It was good seeing Willow again.

It also has some weaknesses. 1. Writing quality -- absolutely abysmal. I'm not exaggerating when I say I've read material written by creative, but not particularly remarkable from a literary standpoint, 10 year old children that is vastly superior. 2. The story -- also abysmal. Getting through the show was painful. 3. The odd mixture of accents. They didn't make sense. Sure, this is fantasy, but there should be some sort of consistency.

There were many more problems with the show. Overall, the show was not as bad as many people say, it was worse. If you like the movie, you probably wouldn't like this show. If you like good writing, you will not like this show. If you like a good story, you will not like this show. If you want some escapism into fantasy, there are many other shows or movies to watch instead. Disney was 100% correct in removing this from Disney+. They shouldn't have made it in the first place, but it was made so nothing will change that.

This series has been an absolute joy to share with the family. We've eagerly tuned in each week to watch (and rewatch!) each episode. Asa fan of the original movie, it has been an interesting return; certainly it is a twist in time and style, but I consider it refreshing and important for tales to grow with the times. Warwick Davis is phenomenal and hilarious in his return to perhaps his most well-known role, and the new cast is excellent and endearing. We're eagerly awaiting the announcement of further seasons; we can't wait for more Willow! If you haven't checked this series out yet, do yourself the favor and rectify that today!

I must preface this review by saying that the original film is an absolute classic and my favorite movie of all time. It is difficult to compare the new show to the original film; however, being a huge fan of the original story and characters has made this show exciting and even a blast to watch. While the script and characters are definitely more geared for a modern, 'teeny bopper', Disney-oriented audience, it still did not disappoint in the realm of fantasy, magic, love, friendship, human experience, and humor. Overall, I found that it is fun, entertaining, dramatic, and has tons of connections to the original film, which really keeps me most interested in watching it. I also thought that while the story and plot were pretty simple, they were also clever, especially in regards to Elora not knowing who she was and what she was capable of - and watching that discovery and growth unfold throughout the series. The new, distinct characters that go together on the quest, despite acting like awkward and maybe even annoying modern teenagers, are actually pretty fun/ny as well as those they meet along the way. I enjoyed seeing all of their interactions and growth throughout Season 1. Warwick Davis, as Willow, remains true to his original character. And I love how "what happened to Mad Mardigan" remains a mystery so that he is actually honored as a vital part of the new series without necessarily starring in it. While the series does not have the same vibe as the original film it is based on (especially with its more modernized, adolescent take), it is still a fun, creative, and entertaining way to keep the story going - and I am really hoping for and cannot wait for Season 2! Thank you, Disney and Lucasfilm for bringing the fantasy and magic of the story of Willow back into our lives!

After 3 episodes, this show resembles the Willow movie in name only. The tone, atmosphere and characters are completely different in style. It's silly and irreverent. The Willow movie had humor but it fit naturally into the plot, it knew how to balance dark and light moments. This show seems completely tone deaf.

There are throwbacks to the original but stylistically it is unrecognizable. It also doesn't contribute anything unique to the genre. It's very generic.

I really wanted a show that fleshed out the world of the original movie in a sincere way (like The Dark Crystal Series) but this is not it. The chatacters are all insufferable. The plot is bland and disjointed. The pacing is all over the place with very little sense of continuity or logical rhythm from scene to scene. The tone is more like a modern teen drama than it is a classic fantasy.

The reveal of the iconic characters from the original is done in the least interesting way imaginable. The is no payoff. There is no sense of intrigue. All of the characters speak their feelings non stop in a way that is so unbelievable it is jarring. None of the characters seem to have nuances. There was so much potential to make Elora a complex and interesting character but thus far she comes across as self righteous, entitled and shallow. Her personality exists in contrast to her upbringing.

There were a handful of good scenes throughout the first few episodes but there is far more bad than good. I don't even blame the cast because the script is so unnatural I doubt any actor could make it work.

For people who like the Netflix show Cursed and shows like Riverdale, this might be enjoyable. I have trouble seeing how anyone hoping for a genuine expansion of the original film could enjoy this.