Willow | Chapter 1: “The Gales” Episode Guide

A book named “Willow” opens. Queen Sorsha tells the story of how long ago, she, the Nelwyn sorcerer Willow, and the rogue Madmartigan vanquished the evil Bavmorda and saved Elora Danan, a baby destined to rise as the new empress. But shortly after this victory, Willow had a premonition: one day, an ancient evil would return and destroy the child. To protect her, Elora was hidden away, her true identity kept even from herself.

On a mountainside, two warriors duel. When one yields, they remove their masks, revealing themselves to be Princess Kit Tanthalos of Tir Asleen and her loyal friend, Jade Claymore. As they look to the distance, Kit ponders the future. “Tell me you don’t still think about that,” she says. “Going beyond the Barrier, having wild adventures!” The pair is soon interrupted, however, by a royal guard saying they must return home and prepare for dinner with a visiting kingdom.

Elsewhere, Prince Airk Tanthalos and a girl named Dove spend time together in the fields of the Western Wood. Though Airk has a reputation for womanizing, he maintains he’s “not that guy anymore.” Dove confesses her love for Airk and before he can reply, a guard arrives to bring Airk home.

In the castle, Kit teases her twin brother about his intentions with Dove. Queen Sorsha orders them both to get ready for the evening, but when they leave, she seems to hear a whispering voice. It calls her name and says “They’re coming.”

As the festivities begin, Kit stays with Jade, and seems less than enthused with this arranged marriage and her prospective husband, Prince Graydon Hastur of Galladoorn. Meanwhile, Airk flirts with two countesses while Dove, a kitchen-maid, looks on.

After a toast, Sorsha again hears the mysterious voice. She then goes to visit with a prisoner; they seem to have a friendship of some sort. Meanwhile, as Kit and Jade dance, Jade informs the princess that she’s been accepted to train with an elite order, and leaves tomorrow. Heartbroken, Kit storms away.

An emotional Kit draws the attention of the party as she tells the story of a princess who refused an arranged marriage. The display angers Sorsha, who sends her children to bed and commands that the wedding will go on as planned.

Dove comes to see Airk, ready to end their relationship. “What if I was ready to commit?” Airk says, proposing marriage. “That is definitely something we could discuss,” a shocked Dove replies.

In the night, Kit wakes Jade, informing her friend that she’s leaving Tir Asleen. “I’m looking for something,” she says. “It’s not here.” Kit passionately kisses Jade and departs.

Sorsha tosses as she sleeps, hearing the voice of Willow. “They’re coming,” he says. “You know what to do.”

As a fog rolls in, dark creatures with impressive powers — the Gales — attack the castle! Kit, Jade, and Airk enter the fray, and the queen frees her prisoner, the gifted swordsman (and criminal) Thraxus Boorman, to help. In the end, the invaders depart with Prince Airk as their captive.

The next day, the queen forms a search party for her son: Kit, Jade, Boorman, Prince Graydon, and Jørgen Kase. But to travel beyond the Barrier, they’ll need a sorcerer. “And I have a feeling he’s expecting you,” she says.

The journey begins. Days into the trek, they uncover someone following them: Dove. She demands they let her join them, offering up her skills as a cook.

At nightfall, the group discusses the Barrier. It was built to protect Elora Danan, who is prophesied to return and unite the kingdoms. By morning, Dove is gone, having forged ahead.

Dove reaches a gorge and must cross on a fallen tree. Meanwhile, the rest of the group comes upon an outpost, seemingly abandoned. As Graydon reads a warning written in blood, the earth seems to shake. Though the tree falls, Dove makes it safely across. In moments, she passes through the mystical Barrier.

The group catches up with Dove. Their testy reunion is cut short, however, when an arrow suddenly hits Jørgen, killing him. “Bone Reavers!” Boorman says. The skull-masked raiders chase the group on horseback, and Boorman leads the escape, jumping off the cliff and into the waters below!

While they walk, Graydon and Kit have a chance to talk. “I wanted to say I’m sorry about the way I behaved,” the princess says. Graydon understands. “One day you and I are going to be in charge,” he says. “And when that day comes, we don’t have to do things the way our parents did.”

They reach the village described by Queen Sorsha, but it seems deserted. Finally, Willow emerges. He says that Airk has been taken beyond the Shattered Sea — where all the maps end. “That’s where we must go,” Willow says. “Into the unknown.”

But he stops and looks toward Dove. Willow approaches the girl, placing a hand upon her arm and reciting a spell. When he finishes, a birthmark is revealed upon her arm. “You are Elora Danan,” Willow says to her. “And the world’s last, best hope against the evil coming to destroy us all.”

Overwhelmed, Dove seems to sway in the wind, offering a simple reply. “What?”

Principal photography on the first episode of Willow started on May 31, 2021, with scenes of Sorsha recuperating in her chambers.

The runic symbol on the storybook at the start of the episode matches the birthmark Elora Danan has in the original film. It marked her as the chosen one of the prophecy, destined to destroy the evil Queen Bavmorda.

The swordplay between Jade and Kit occurs in the upper reaches of the Canyon Maze, the labyrinthine expanse of rock that leads to Tir Asleen in the 1988 movie.

The Galladoornian maidens that Airk charms are named Niamh and Sakura.

The script, foreshadowing Jørgan Kase’s demise, points out that he is “two days till retirement” in his introductory scene.

Airk and Kit’s last name of Tanthalos derives from Tanthalos IX, the name given to the King of Tir Asleen in The Willow Sourcebook, published in 1988. Airk’s given name is a nod to the late Airk Thaughbear, friend of Madmartigan who perished in the battle of Nockmaar in the 1988 movie.

The Dag’s bird of prey form has a wingspan of over 17 feet 4 inches, as determined by measuring its visual effects model.

The symbol of Tir Asleen is the outline of a tree and root system. It can be seen clearly set in a circle at the top of Sorsha’s throne.

In the finished episode, the Mother’s Gate rangers’ barracks are abandoned; an earlier draft of the script would have started at the location, and we would have witnessed Commander Remar and his troops — Deak and Hootkins — assaulted by the Gales.

The Mother’s Gate arch is topped with a stylized sculptural depiction of Cherlindrea and Fin Raziel.

The Pnakotic language of the Wyrm is named for a dark grimoire, the “Pnakotic Manuscripts,” created by H.P. Lovecraft in his 1918 short story Polaris.