It’s been a big couple of weeks of TV for fans of the magical and mythical adventure escapades. Wednesday captured the collective attention of Netflix subscribers last week, and may have left folks wanting for a little bit more magic in their lives.
Willow has just hit Disney Plus, and it may serve as a remedy for the Wednesday-shaped holes in the hearts of fantasy fans around the world. Willow stars Warwick Davis as the titular character and sorcerer, Willow Ufgood. For the uninitiated, the new Disney Plus series also serves as a sequel to the 1988 film of the same name.
The question you may be asking before you commit to binging this series is: what is Willow about, and is the show worth your time? We’re here with some answers for you.
The premise of Willow explained
Willow follows a dwarf sorcerer named Willow Ufgood. It takes place across a vast fantasy world and follows on from the events of a 1988 film of the same name. Warwick Davis reprises the titular role from the original film.
In the Disney Plus series, Willow Ufgood and an unlikely merry band of heroes and misfits team up after a band of monsters called Gales capture a prince from the castle of a royal family. The family handpicks the rescue party, however it isn’t complete without a sorcerer, who are believed to all be gone. All except for Willow.
Willow is a tale full of magic, fantastical creatures, and enjoyable characters. In short, the 1988 film walked so that films and franchises like Harry Potter could run. So says Willow’s showrunner, at least. It’s a perfect, albeit less moody segway after you finish watching your way through Wednesday.
Should you watch Willow (1988) first?
While it is certainly recommended viewing before diving into the long-awaited sequel series, fret not – the Disney Plus show opens with a recap of the events of the original film to reintroduce and establish some existing characters and plot points, so you should be more or less up to speed after that point.