Spoilers Willow sequel series on Disney+

[Set Harth]

- if my TV had multiple custom profiles I'd make a "lighten up" one that blows out the brightness for all these dark fantasy shows we seem to get now where it's hard to see what's happening

Filmmakers should just stop making things so impenetrably dark. Sometimes I don't know what they're thinking. It's worth sacrificing realism so that the viewer can see what's going on.
One caveat is that I have a crappy TV which was a hand-me-down from a family member. It's got an auto-dimming effect which for some stupid reason can't be deactivated. ( You can, however, make it worse, including blacking the screen out completely. How this could be construed as a feature the customer would want is utterly beyond me. )
There's this place in Captain America 2 where he's about to jump out of a plane and he's talking to other people and I can't see anything at all. Just darkness. What always gets me is how this kind of thing doesn't match real life. How often do real people have conversations in utter darkness?
Though there was this one time in the 90s where I went to a house and a woman was sitting in one corner, and you couldn't see her at all. It was weird. There were lights in on the room but she was somehow just a voice coming out of a pillar of impenetrable blackness.

 

[Christopher]

I felt the humorous tone was a bit overused this week. I do kind of appreciate the defiance of convention by having the monstrous-looking trolls just be regular working stiffs rather than snarling beasts, but Sallis's personality was just too arch and comical.

And the wild coincidences continue. Kit and Willow get thrown in a cage, and the guy in the cage next to them just randomly happens to be an old friend of Madmartigan's. Are there any people in this universe who aren't directly connected to characters from the movie? Well, there were the two woodswomen a few weeks back, but they got quickly killed off.

I'm pleased with myself that I got both riddles ahead of the characters, although I'm not good with riddles, so it just proves that they weren't that hard. Anyway, I figure that Val Kilmer's voiceover in the vault was electronically simulated, since I gather he can't speak normally anymore.

The pretty woman at the end is bound to be an illusion created by the Crone, or the Crone herself in disguise. After Airk resisted going through the creepy door, he's lured in with a call for help and a hot babe asking him to free her? Yeah, that's gonna be the ultimate evil tricking him into freeing her.

- I'm not quite sure why Allagash had to stay behind other than Slater only being contracted for one episode. I've noticed this in a few shows lately where they don't really sell the need for making a last stand.

Well, if he hadn't held the trolls off from the gate, then the trolls would've followed the escapees and recaptured them. He was giving them a chance to get away. Also, I got the sense that he intended to try to follow Madmartigan through that glowing door thingy in hopes of rescuing him.

- Good Vibrations? The original Beach Boys version? I really didn't get this song inclusion at all.

Looking over the lyrics, they're about the singer's reaction to an alluring woman, so I think the song is meant to reflect Airk's reaction to the probably illusory sexy prisoner.

Either that or it has something to do with the "vibrations" Elora was giving off that created quakes in the mines.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

Well, if he hadn't held the trolls off from the gate, then the trolls would've followed the escapees and recaptured them. He was giving them a chance to get away. Also, I got the sense that he intended to try to follow Madmartigan through that glowing door thingy in hopes of rescuing him.

I think that might have been the case but the way it was executed it looked like he may have held them back a minute or two, maybe. At least that's how it seemed to me anyway. Maybe there's something to the last part you mention.

 

[Christopher]

but the way it was executed it looked like he may have held them back a minute or two, maybe.

Maybe that was all they needed to get a good enough lead that the trolls couldn't tell which way they went.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

I suppose, it's neither here not there, but personally I would've ended the sequence before they swarmed him and left a little more ambiguity to the outcome. That's my story and I'm sticking to it...

 

[Christopher]

I suppose, it's neither here not there, but personally I would've ended the sequence before they swarmed him and left a little more ambiguity to the outcome. That's my story and I'm sticking to it...

I was a bit surprised that they didn't do as you suggest. Then again, it's not like we saw them graphically ripping him apart or anything. They basically just buried him in a dogpile, something that is entirely survivable, or else football teams would need to replace their players far more often. So the door is open for him to return.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

Anyway, I figure that Val Kilmer's voiceover in the vault was electronically simulated, since I gather he can't speak normally anymore.

His son is listed in the credits.

EDIT: found this
https://decider.com/2022/12/28/willow-episode-6-val-kilmer-jack-kilmer-madmartigan-voice/

“We actually recorded with Val and we used his performance as a guide track,” Kasdan said. “Then Jack was given Val’s performance to listen to and then copy what his dad had done in terms of you know, the performance elements of Val’s thing.”

 

[JD]

This one was a lot of fun. The trolls were not at all what I expected after the two more wild trolls in the movie. The leader and his lieutenant were really funny.
Christian Slater was great as Allagash, and I'm really hoping he managed to survive and will pop back up later.
It was nice to get some more details about what happened to Madmartigan.
I knew that it was pretty much inevitable that someone was going to stumble upon the wand after Ellora dropped it, there was no way they were going to get rid of it.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

I'm late to the show because I wanted to (re?)watch Willow before this series and I just haven't had the time (and then I got sick and then the holidays and...) until now. I'm fairly certain at this point I never watched the film before, but despite not having the kind of 80s nostalgia connected to it like I do with Labyrinth, The Neverending Story, The Dark Crystal, etc., I have to say the film holds up pretty damn well on its own merits and has aged mostly well. It was certainly enjoyable enough to make me even more excited for the series...

...which I'm loving every second of. From the eclectic characters performed by an excellent cast and each of their character arcs to the sweeping overall story and the various mini-adventures that forms it. I'm greatly enjoying how this show has recreated and expanded the world of the film into something unique that stands on its own in the midst of so many fantastical universes of today. I particularly enjoy the show's willingness to lean into lighthearted and subversive humor to deconstruct certain fantasy tropes.

Since I'm still playing catch up and all, I'll reserve deeper thoughts on characters and story arcs for the final two episodes with everyone else.

 

[JD]

One other thing I forgot to mention in my other post, is that it was nice to get back to what's going on with Arik. The girl at the end was definitely some kind of illusion or something, it can't be a coincidence that she popped up right after he drank from the fountain, which didn't appear to be filled with normal water.

 

[TRON JA307020]

My biggest problem with the show is that it's called Willow but Warwick Davis isn't being given enough to do. I figured the first few episodes would deal with the new characters and setting them up but they've really taken over. Also, not much on what's going on with Arik. I'm still enjoying it despite this stuff. I just think they can do better.

Kristian Harloff, a YouTuber brought up one of the writers said in an article that studio people (non creative people) have too much input in the writing process. The writer also worked on the movie and said there was a big difference between George Lucas and Disney + people.

Yeah at the beginning not much of willow it seems but the last few episodes he's coming into the forefront. After the truth plumbs I think it's going to focus more on Willow standing up trying to find his place as a sorcerer. After the attack Elora was yelling for Willow so she's starting to see him as a mentor and someone she can trust even after she finds out Willow himself doesn't feel much like a successful sorcerer and more of a fraud. But as the original movie showed and what sorsha Saud on the first episode its Willoes heart that is what makes him a good protector. In the movie he used a plain magic trick to protect Elora. He instantly bonded with the baby after she was found. I think Elira will help him as much as he's going to help her in this show. The show had a slow start but is really picking up and getting better.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

Some more clarification on Madmartigan's voice:

https://twitter.com/JonKasdan/status/1608363506159747073
Jon Kasdan @JonKasdan
TIDBIT: For the moment when Madmartigan calls out to Kit from beyond the seal, we recorded @valkilmer for the performance, then combined Jack Kilmer's voice (an uncanny match for his dad) with the AI technology Sonantic developed for Val, woven together by@DavidWCollins

Also, I stumbled on this at Youtube and think it would've fit in well with all the other cover version we've seen earlier in the series:

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[Mr. Adventure]

Episode 7, it’s hard for me to be objective, these are my favorite type of episodes with the long dreamy journey through fantastic lands. I can forgive a lot when it comes to these.

It does seem crazy to be wrapping up next week. They probably should have sprinkled Airk/Arik more throughout the series run then get invested here late in the game but I suppose he’s been the McGuffin. Was also surprised with Grayson’s latent magic.

The series plotting and throughline is a bit haphazard but I like the characters. I’m glad they used Willow a little more, sometimes it feels like he’s just tagging along with our party rather than being a part of it.

 

[Timelord79 (he/him)]

This was the best episode yet, in a way.
They stripped the characters naked, figuratively speaking, much more than when they were party a few episodes back under the influence.

they didn’t confess to anyone else, they finally confessed to themselves and showed who they really are.

And Airk chose to give in to the dark side and do the Empor.. er, the Crone’s bidding.
he got corrupted by her and turned against the one he loves as a weapon against Elora.
I think he is meant to become her downfall.

can we savely say, it’s not going to work because both Airk and Elora never truly loved each other.

Craydon will prove to be much more deserving of her love, hero or not, while Airk either accepts his weakness and desire for adoration or succumb to it.

 

[Christopher]

Warwick Davis impressed me more with his acting here than he's done up to now. He played Willow's angst quite well.

It took me a couple minutes to notice, but Elora's reverted to her natural hair color at last. (Elora's natural color, that is -- I don't know what Ellie Bamber's natural color is, since she displays several in her Google images.) I'm not sure if it's just that the dye's worn off/washed out through her adventures and I just didn't notice before, or if it was her powerful use of magic to save Kit that caused her natural color to reassert itself.

Of course, the painful irony is that if Elora had just taken a few seconds longer to save Kit, she could've dragged Airk with her too and they could've all gone home. So she kind of scored an own goal there.

 

[Timelord79 (he/him)]

Yup, I wasn’t sure at first if it was the lighting, but the hair actually changed. And no one acknowledged it on camera

 

[The Nth Doctor]

I noticed her hair color change almost immediately once they arrived at the Shattered Sea but I hadn't really thought about why the change. I agree with the notion that she was coming more into her own magically is what brought it out.

This was the best episode yet, in a way.
They stripped the characters naked, figuratively speaking, much more than when they were party a few episodes back under the influence.

they didn’t confess to anyone else, they finally confessed to themselves and showed who they really are.

And Airk chose to give in to the dark side and do the Empor.. er, the Crone’s bidding.
he got corrupted by her and turned against the one he loves as a weapon against Elora.
I think he is meant to become her downfall.

can we savely say, it’s not going to work because both Airk and Elora never truly loved each other.

Craydon will prove to be much more deserving of her love, hero or not, while Airk either accepts his weakness and desire for adoration or succumb to it.

I also loved this episode and its focus to look inward for all of the characters, Airk included. I agree with everything you said here.

 

[JD]

Yeah, this was a great character based episode, it was nice to really take a deep dive into the character's issues.
I loved Kenneth, he was awesome.
I'm curious if the story The Crone told Arik is her real backstory, or just BS to earn his sympathy. I'm leaning towards it being true, it seemed pretty plausible.

 

[Nerys Myk]

It took me a couple minutes to notice, but Elora's reverted to her natural hair color at last. (Elora's natural color, that is -- I don't know what Ellie Bamber's natural color is, since she displays several in her Google images.) I'm not sure if it's just that the dye's worn off/washed out through her adventures and I just didn't notice before, or if it was her powerful use of magic to save Kit that caused her natural color to reassert itself.

Her hair has been showing hints of red for several episodes.

 

[Reverend]

I hate to say it but I'm really struggling to enjoy this show. I really enjoy the cast and their characters, but the tone, pacing and plot are all over the damn place. It's like there's the bones of something there, but a lot of the usual connective tissue is just gone. It gives one the impression of reading a novel with a third of the pages of every chapter missing. Also really not a fan of the thing they're doing with the music.

And yeah, it's a little weird that her hair changed colour and nobody seemed to acknowledge it. I had to rewind to even see when it happened (during the spell right at the start.) It feels like this should have been a bigger deal.

All that said, I still hope they get a second season AND iron out whatever the hell is going on with the writing. Oh and ditch the needle drops and get a composer that can do something that actually sounds like a companion piece to Horner's work.