Willow Series Review S1 E8

In this video, Randy and Amber discuss, from the perspective of storytellers, Season 1 Episode 8 (the finale) of the new Willow series on Disney+. We love debating the craft of writing a good story. Please comment to tell us your thoughts.

We hope you enjoy, like, subscribe, and visit our channel again soon, as we have plans for regular uploads on other writing topics.

Referenced Channels and Videos:

********

#willow
#disney
#disneyplus
#finale
#warwick
#valkilmer
#fantasy
************
Randy is a Published Author and Teaches Creative Writing.
Amber is a Freelance Editor and Student of Great Storytelling.

[thewriteadvice]

[Amber here] I accidentally allowed a typo in Disparu's handle. It is unchangeable, as far as I can tell (unless someone out there knows how to edit footage that has already been uploaded... without completely deleting the old upload and re-uploading a new edit). Disparu's real handle is @disparutoo. Please forgive my oversight. I had gone nearly 30 hours without sleep when I did my final check.

[charlesmcmanus]

They CAN’T have a scene where Kitt has an “inciting incident” to change herself, because that would require the writers/directors/showrunners of the show to acknowledge that Kitt was being a selfish character throughout the whole series. She was the epitome of a toxic human, but the creator’s egos won’t allow them to admit that.

[thewriteadvice]

[Amber here] For everyone who comes to watch this, even though we published it much later than usual, extra big thank you 💜 We are working on figuring out how to not spend over 30 hours editing and publishing a video.

[Beau_The_Yo]

The scene where Boorman puts the Mcguffin armor on Kit and tells her that this is her moment, she's special, and that it's her story felt so slimy. She in now way deserved it. It would have been far more meaningful if Boorman, by deciding to protect his friends and not himself, became worthy of the armor. But the show just gave Kit whatever she wanted like she earned it somehow

[lancealot]

In Australia we had two presenters that covered movie reviews in a show that ran for some 20+ years across multiple local networks called "At The Movies" (it also had other names through its run, including "The Movie Show"). The two critics, David Stratton and Margaret Pomeranz, always had great rapport and could even discuss movies they had vastly different opinions on with civil and entertaining reviews. You two are capturing the same vibe as those two, so I hope you can continue for a long and entertaining time with the same candid exchange between each other.

[CMCustom]

Your channel has been the best thing to come out of watching the Willow Series. Glad I am not the only one slowly losing my mind on this thing. If you think about it, the show is so Insanely constructed that it is beyond critique. How can we as mere mortals even try to judge a masterpiece as this? Its beyond Human understanding, and therefore the HIGHTEST form of art. Who could have predicted that the writing and directing of Willow Season 1 would be the last Key to unlock Hell on Earth? All hail the New Flesh! Congrats Lucasfilm, you did it. Now if you excuse me, I need to remove my eyeballs with a grapefruit spoon. For no other visual delights will ever match this experience.

[lahazard]

I know there was no "song and dance" at the end, but using "Money For Nothing" as the final music!!! It was almost the same for me. I burst out laughing as soon as the easily recognizable notes of that song started playing. I kept waiting for the characters to be turned into blocky graphics as the credits rolled. (Just like the MTV video.)

[CoHostColby]

when the crone said b***ch i was like where did that potty mouth come from lol

[tikidale]

Thanks for the shout out you two! ❤ I think the only reason Willow didn’t jump was because they couldn’t figure out how to film Warwick Davis jumping off a cliff dramatically. Are there any magic spells that could have carried them down? Did he walk away wondering if the others were dead?

This would’ve been better if they’d made a Muppets Willow movie.

I’d love to talk pointers on starting a channel sometime, especially if it takes 30 hours to edit a video.

[jeffreybrege]

Thank you both for your efforts, I tapped out after episode 2. Your videos were far more entertaining, than anything that Willows writing team came up with. Thanks again.

[saku]

Thanks for reviewing all episodes. Professional and very on point review. I hope you guys do more. There is still a lot of Bad written stuff out there.. She-Hulk.. Rings of Power.. and many more

[GaunteroDimmm]

The biggest thing that jarred me was the sporadic use of modern stuff in a fantasy show. Woodswomen in literal denim overalls? Rools daughter Ganoush in a literal rock band T-Shirt? Modern music to play out the episodes? Man it was not comforting.

[Pretious]

Kind of surprised neither of you mentioned how out of place the end credits song Money for Nothing was. While having modern music throughout the series was already cringy, this choice was magnitudes of WTF.

[Rezzanine]

The Crone looks like Snoke's grandma. Boorman's circular logic justifying their 'stealth' approach made me chuckle. Not sure how Willow avoided the petrifying sandstorm to make his dramatic entrance - magic I guess? Wands aren't required to cast offensive spells, they just make it easier for their users to direct their magic. Fair enough, but the end result reminded me of characters throwing fireballs in Street Fighter (when Elora's winding up her spell at 29:50 in the video, she may as well shout 'Hadouken'). That's probably a 'me' problem though. Willow's vision definitely shows the fake Elora - I'm surprised they telegraphed this.

Overall, the story feels underdeveloped and consequently the ending does not feel earned. The underlying structure requires a lot of work. Elements like the Bone Reavers feel very much like they are setting up characters and storylines to be further explored in additional seasons (which may or may not happen), rather than forming a satisfying part of the current season. Overall, the writing feels very contrived and inconsistent - for example, in an earlier episode Willow was extremely reluctant to use magic, until Silas was killed. However, there is no explanation for his reluctance, and Willow's later ease with magic makes his earlier reluctance retroactively baffling. Did Willow just secretly want Silas to die? If so, why? Silas was hilarious and amazing. His delivery of 'jog on' in the first episode cracked me up.

Also, on the characters' return journey from the Immemorial City, how exactly are they going to ascend the waterfall? This series... Overall, I give the first (and only?) season of 'Willow' 2 out of 5.

Anyway, thank you both very much for subjecting yourselves to this series. Your reviews are more entertaining and certainly more insightful than the series itself. I hope the next work you choose to review is of much higher quality. Personally, I think 'Andor' definitely belongs on the list, as it's brilliantly written and executed, and after this, you both deserve something that's a pleasure rather than a chore to watch.

[TeracomConsulting]

I wanted to throw out a few more things that I think you guys are doing right.

- Excellent response to comments.
- Good focal length, nice framing of you two, good color balance to give a warm and friendly feel.
- Good lighting (Amber, see if you can do something about the glare in your glasses).
- Bright and colorful background... It needs something interesting in the middle though.
- Good Audio levels. Nice Micing. No Echoe. Everything is loud and clear.

Keep it up.

[stephenrice]

I'm generally team Amber on this one, which is odd, because I actually identify more with Randy. At least Randy repented of his desire to release the Kraken of season two on an unsuspecting world, so I guess he's free of whatever nihilistic force possessed him last time.

I tried watching Disparu on this, but he had so much footage from the show it was making me ill. I can't imagine how anyone could actually watch this.

The idea that editors cobbled the show together from essentially random footage was a dark epiphany. I don't want to believe it, but I have a horrible feeling it's true. This is why we can't have nice stories!

[pogotheklown]

Thank you so much for suffering through this trash for us! I've enjoyed watching y'all. Looking forward to the next show!

[sherylmccormick]

Graydon's back story was the most interesting thing to me in season 1 and they never got into it. Perhaps it is because Graydon will be the antagonist in season 2. If that's the case, I will be watching season 2 😞

[danandtab]

my main "like" is that Willow got to save the day and shatter the illusions, Grayden jumping in was great, but I'll add I wish Elora took that distraction to wand the Crone from behind and that's how that sequence ends. What happened after that was kinda yawn for me. You are right on how there is no buildup for a lot of what happens here, from Kit's attitude towards Elora being THIS way, Boorman acting like Kit deserves the derp armor, heck and even Elora actually being able to beat the Crone for any reason besides the story expects her to. All I can say is they have a lot of nerve setting up a second season and taking so long to do so.

[arklytte]

Been waiting for this!!!!

Haven't even started watching yet, but I clicked on the video and saw that it was nearly an hour. Immediately cackled, rubbed my hands together, and got up to get a snack.