Every Easter Egg You Missed in ‘Willow’:

Disney+’s newest series, Willow, is the streaming service’s first go at a live-action fantasy TV series since the recent boom for the genre. It is a sequel to the 1988 Lucasfilm movie of the same name. As a sequel, the series builds off of the film. The series refers to the film as a prologue, recapping it at the beginning. It also brings back many familiar faces, like Willow (Warwick Davis) and Sorsha (Joanne Whalley). But more than that, the series references the film at every opportunity.

Airk

The references to the film start with the name of Sorsha and Madmartigan’s (Val Kilmer) son. Airk (Dempsey Bryk) is named after old Madmartigan’s friend Airk Thaughbaer (Gavan O’Herlihy), who commanded the Knights of Galladoorn. He assisted Willow and his friends in fighting Bavmorda (Jean Marsh). Airk Thaughbaer sacrificed himself in the film’s final battle, and Sorsha and Madmartigan named their son in his honor. This Airk appears to be more like his father than his mother. Airk has a non-princely attitude and the reputation of a heartbreaker. The series focuses on a rescue mission after Airk is kidnaped.

Galladoorn and the Shining Knights

Another subtle reference to the series is the kingdom of Galladoorn itself. Much like Airk, Galladoorn had fallen to Bavmorda in film. The kingdom was no more, but the knights of the Shining Legion fought on. The series introduces a rebuilt Galladoorn through the character of Graydon (Tony Revolori), who is the prince of Galladoorn who Kit (Ruby Cruz) is supposed to marry. Notably, the Shining Legion is still around as they accepted Jade (Erin Kellyman) as a recruit, though she decides to go on a quest rather than leave for Galladoorn.

Boorman’s Imprisonment

Boorman (Amar Chadha-Patel) doesn’t appear in the film but fulfills a Madmartigan-esque role. His tendency to look out for his own interests first is very like Madmartigan. Formerly Madmartigan’s squire, Boorman is the rogue member of the quest. His introduction mirrors Madmartigan’s first appearance in the film. When Willow first runs into Madmartigan, the swordsman is trapped in a cage for a crime. After some resistance, Willow sets him free. Similarly, Boorman starts off imprisoned in Sorsha’s dungeon. For what, we don’t know. But Sorsha offers Boorman his freedom if he guides the quest, like Madmartigan got freedom for looking out for baby Elora (played by Ellie Bamber in the show). Hopefully, Boorman does better with the quest than Madmartigan did with the baby.

Sorsha’s Sword

In the film, Sorsha has a very distinct-looking sword that she carries throughout. The blade has one serrated edge making it more threatening than the average weapon. When the castle is attacked in the series, Sorsha brings out the same sword to protect her kingdom. The sword goes on the quest with Sorsha’s daughter, Kit.

The Bone Reavers and Kael

The Bone Reavers chase the questers, killing Jorgen Kase (Simon Armstrong), the knight meant to be leading the quest. Though the Bone Reavers don’t appear in the original film, they wear armor reminiscent of Kael (Pat Roach), Bavmorda’s right-hand man. Kael follows Bavmorda’s instructions, going after the baby Elora and generally serves as a henchman. The skull-like helmet is the most instantly recognizable comparison.

Episode 5 explains the helmets by revealing that Kael was the first Bone Reaver. The series also gave him a backstory, explaining that Bavmorda made a pact with the enslaved people of Galladoorn to give them freedom in exchange for their loyalty. After Bavmorda fell, these people developed a civilization in the wildwood. The show introduces Scorpia (Adwoa Aboah), one of Kael’s daughters who now leads the Bone Reavers. She references Kael’s death at the hands of Madmartigan in the Battle of Nockmaar, as seen in the film. But that isn’t even the most significant reference to Kael. Scorpia reveals that Jade is her sister. As the Bone Reavers fled, Jade was captured and raised to believe the Bone Reavers killed her family. But in truth, Jade is another legacy character.

Cherlindrea’s Wand

The High Fey, Cherlindrea (Maria Holvöe), gives Willow a magic wand in the film. This wand plays a significant role in Willow learning magic and during the climactic battle. The series brings the wand back. During the series, it is still in Willow’s possession. He brings it along on the quest, though, like his magic, he avoids using it. He refuses to let Elora use it in her lessons, claiming she isn’t ready, though he used it when he first learned magic. The wand is a powerful magical tool and is certain to play a large role in the series.

The High Aldwin’s Tricks

The film introduces the High Aldwin (Billy Barty) as the leader of the Nelwyns. He is a somewhat oblivious magic user. In the film, he uses two tricks in particular. One is referred to as the “finger trick” and is meant to identify potential apprentices. In the other, he attempts to read the future from bones. The series features both tricks, this time performed by Willow, who has become the High Aldwin himself. Willow attempts to read Elora’s future in the bones but can’t see much. He also performs the figure trick, which, like Willow in the film, Elora fails. Willow even reminds the crowd of his failing the trick, as seen in the movie.

The Word “Peck”

Throughout the film, Willow is referred to as a “peck,” which is a slur for the Nelwyn race. But with Willow having gained respect through his actions in the film, the word is thrown around significantly less in the series. Though it still shows up. When Commander Ballantine (Ralph Ineson) is possessed by dark magic and attempts to find Elora, he goes to the Nelwyn village. Willow’s daughter, Mim (Annabelle Davis), confronts him and Ballantine, and he uses the word.

The Pig Trick

Willow’s famous sleight-of-hand pig trick that he messes up in the Nelwyn village also gets a reference. Willow successfully performs the trick in the film’s climax, with Elora as the pig. With Bavmorda believing Willow teleported her away, the baby was finally safe. It’s not a trick expected of a great sorcerer, but it was effective in Willow’s time of need. Sorsha mockingly brings up the trick in a flashback, in which she and Willow argue about what to do with Elora. Sorsha’s comment is meant to diminish Willow’s power, but what did she do to protect the baby in that moment?

Elora’s Bluff

In Episode 3, “The Battle of the Fallen Lamb,” Elora is cornered. Surrounded and desperate for a plan, the young woman bluffs, claiming to be a great sorceress, despite knowing a single spell. She recites an incantation meant for growing plants, trying to scare off her captors, but they only laugh. The scene parallels the film in which Willow constantly claims to be a great sorcerer, though he knows no magic and no one ever believes him.

Nockmaar

Episode 3’s end is a cliffhanger as the team of heroes looks for shelter to save one of their own. No one knows where they are except Willow, who admits to being familiar with the area. He points out ruins and calls it Nockmaar. This place is better known as Bavmorda’s fortress, where baby Elora was nearly killed in the film. The location is significant to Elora, Willow, and Kit as Bavmorda’s granddaughter.

As Willow and the rest seek shelter there, they are haunted by the past. It is impossible for them to ignore the events that happened there. They discuss the events of the film, though the new characters have misconceptions of exactly how things played out. And Willow warns everyone against going into the High Tower as the portal opened in the film is still around. The series even mentions Bavmorda turning the opposing army into pigs. The reference is used to add a moment of levity in the dark episode, with Boorman asking if everyone was turned back. Willow says he thinks so, but regardless, the group puts aside the food (assumedly pork) they were eating.

Visions in Nockmaar

While in Nockmaar, Elora and Kit have visions of the past. Elora is nearly reunited with her mother or a specter of her. Seeing the moments before the woman’s death, Elora learns of the mother she never knew. The vision claims to feel Elora’s presence, but there is nothing Elora can do to change what happens to her. Elora also sees a vision of herself as a baby during the climax of the movie.

Kit hears the voice of Bavmorda as she swore herself to the Crone’s cause. While this isn’t directly from the film, it is a lead-in for Bavmorda. Throughout her time in Nockmaar, Kit struggles with the ghost of Bavmorda and how they may be similar. Boorman even accuses her of making her grandmother proud. The comparison requires Bavmorda’s actions to be recalled and, ultimately, drives Kit to differentiate herself.

The Ritual of the 13th Night

Episode 4 brings Willow and Elora back to the High Tower, where the film’s final battle occurred. Possessed, Graydon attempts to finish the Ritual of the 13th Night and banish Elora, just like in the film. The scene mimics the rites from the film, and it mirrors the film’s battle with allies bursting in to help Willow and Elora. It is here that Elora learns the truth of how Willow saved her: with a bluff. The show highlights the comparison by showing clips from the film as smokey memories, making it one of the more direct references in the series.

The Brownies

Another familiar face pops up in Episode 5: Rool (Kevin Pollak). The movie introduces two Brownies, Rool and Franjean (Rick Overton). At Cherlindrea’s request, they lead Willow to Fin Raziel (Patricia Hayes) and help him along his journey, though in truth, they most often fall into mischievous antics. In the show, Rool is retired and living near the Bone Reavers, though Franjean has moved south. Rool is happy to see Willow again and reminisces about old times, though he and Willow remember their journey differently. Once again, Rool agrees to help Willow and Elora but chooses not to travel with them. Even if he only has a few minutes in the series, Rool is always a welcome presence.

The Prisoner in the Cage

Yet another Madmartigan reference comes in Episode 6, when Kit and Willow are imprisoned in crow cages along with a mysterious man. The mimics Madmartigan’s introduction again, this time with the character calling himself Madmartigan. Yet it is too good to be true, the man is revealed to be Allagash (Christian Slater), an old friend and ally of Madmartigan. He used the name to fool the trolls that caught them, allowing Madmartigan to escape. While Allagash didn’t appear in the film, he is used as another Madmartigan placeholder.

Madmartigan’s Sword

Kit finds a second legacy sword on her quest. Madmartigan’s sword is left outside the magical door that he used. When Kit finds the sword she hears her father’s voice calling her name as well. This sword is less distinctive than Sorsha’s but looks like the one used in the film.

Fighting on Top of a Cart

One of the Willow film’s most memorable sequences is Madmartigan’s fight on top of the cart. While escaping with Willow, Madmartigan, still dressed as a woman, fights off their enemies in a high-speed chase like in a classic action film. The show took its time recreating this sequence, but the season couldn’t end without it. In Episode 7, “Beyond the Shattered Sea,” the questers must work together to fend off their pursuer while standing on a cart. Though this cart goes through the Shattered Sea rather than over land, the fight brings Madmartigan’s escape to mind. The new terrain and a magical enemy give the moment a more fantasy-like twist, but it’s the same in the end.

Elora Danan’s New Protector

Before his disappearance, Madmartigan claimed that his family would finish what he started, and Kit rises to the challenge. In the season finale, she hears her father’s voice telling her she is now Elora’s protector, fulfilling the role that Madmartigan took on in the film. Willow entrusts Elora to Madmartigan after he promises to care for the baby in exchange for freedom. Like her father, Kit struggles with the job before finally embracing it.

Dual Wielding

Once again, Kit recalls the image of her father as she fights the possessed Airk with a sword in one hand and a knife attached to her magical armor. In the film, Madmartigan defeats General Kael with a sword and a shorter blade that looks very similar.

Snowball Madmartigan

Briefly, Willow can be heard asking if he’d told the younger questers if he told them the story of when Madmartigan rolled himself into a snowball. While the story isn’t told in full, it can be seen in the film as Willow and Madmartigan escape General Kael’s camp.

The Eborsisk

In the final scene, a dark version of Elora has an army of evil creatures. There’s one, in particular, that may be familiar: the Eborsisk. The two-headed dragon-like beast is a result of Willow’s magic. To protect himself from a troll during the battle of Tir Asleen, Willow transforms his attacker into this creature.

The first thing to note is the characters that overlap. As the name suggests, Willow is the protagonist of the film, and he will play a significant role in the series. Joanne Whalley’s character, Sorsha, appears in both the movie and the series as well. The series gives a spotlight to Sorsha’s children and their friends, so her life is thoroughly explored. The roles Willow and Sorsha play in the series are different from the film, as the two stories are separated by more than a decade. But the characters will be familiar to those who watch the film. Because of their appearances, the series contains spoilers for these characters’ endings in the film, and that’s not the only spoilers seen in the series. As is the nature of a sequel, the show builds off the plot of the film. So the events of the film are referenced in the series. It even provides a summary of the film at the beginning. Of course, it cannot explain the entire two-hour film, but it gives the highlights. The series is far from spoiler-free. But it is not reliant on the film for a basic understanding.

The show does make sense on its own, with the help of a few explanations of the history here and there. It takes the traditional fantasy quest plot line, so even if the world is new, it’s somewhat familiar. The new viewer must be willing to accept the fantasy elements and magic that are prevalent in the story, but that’s not asking too much. However, without the context of the film, understanding the magic system would take time. Magic is a rare ability in the world of Willow, and several rules of how things work are glossed over in the first few episodes of the series, as they are explained in the movie. But, with plenty of episodes left in the first season, these explanations may come.

If you skip the movie, there is a certain amount of world-building that you won’t understand. The film characters journey far and wide in the world, meeting different creatures along the way. No doubt the show’s journey will tie in, so some of the lore would be lost. As a fantasy series, the lore will play a significant role. The series will explain what’s necessary, but some things relevant to the film will likely be left out. For a more complete understanding of the lore, it’s best to start at the beginning. The plot of the movie sets up the series as well. As the references to the events leave out the details, the context will expand the world. Additionally, knowing what’s missing adds stakes. The series has one notable film character missing: Madmartigan (Val Kilmer). Because of Kilmer’s health, he is not in the series, and Madmartigan’s absence looms large. The discussion of what happened to him will seem insignificant to those unfamiliar with his character, but if it becomes a bigger plot, watching the movie will be essential.

Whether to start with the movie or series is really a matter of opinion, though the series contains spoilers for the film, so be warned. If you want the most enjoyment out of the show, then start with the film. Otherwise, the series won’t carry the same level of excitement. To explain with another Lucasfilm movie, it would be like starting the Star Wars saga with The Force Awakens. The plot is more-or-less self-contained, but Harrison Ford coming on screen dressed as Han Solo doesn’t have the same impact if you don’t know who he is. For those who want the best understanding, start with the movie. But if you’re satisfied to figure it out as you go along, start with the series if you prefer.

With improved technology and modern special effects, the series has the opportunity to introduce the world to a new generation of viewers. And Willow the series is certainly accessible to new audiences. But without the movie, some things may not be clear, though the general story is understandable. In the end, whether to watch the film first depends on how invested each viewer is. There’s no wrong way to begin. Watching the movie first is not strictly necessary but greatly enhances the viewing experience. Like the series, the film is available on Disney+, so if you’ve got the show turned on, why not head over before and first experience the magic of Willow from 1988?

View this article at Collider.