Willow month: TV Show (Full Series/Specific Episode) or Movie
Look you guys know the movie was a whole lot of fun and I absolutely adored the whole series, but for the sake of this event I decided to pick an episode to talk about in more detail instead of “the show was fucking awesome and made me loose my mind” (which I could do for days, and have been doing, how long have I had this side blog, six months? More? Who even knows and I still find things to talk about) and on top of that I’m gonna have to be predictable: Beyond the Shattered Sea
This is such a good episode. It was probably my most rewatched of any of the episodes of the show, with the Wildwood as a close second
All of the characters have important moments in their arcs in this episode, and the writing, directing and acting is on full display, and it’s all immaculate. From Elora and Willow’s training sessions (“so, what did we learn?”/“that you’re a little mean?”/“sure” lol have I mentioned I love their dynamic so much?) to Kit and Jade’s flirty sparring (I could watch for hours), to Boorman’s agonising over the Cuirass and the Lux (seeing him, alone, attempt to get it to work and it not work was such a goddamn heartbreaking scene) to Graydon’s beautiful love confession (he and Elora training together also: pure adorableness) and Kit and Elora jumping off the edge of the world, together, united, finally, I loved every minute of it. For the Glory instantly became a favourite song, Kenneth (“I shall name you Kenneth, after the protagonist of the romantic farce I’m writing” Graydon I love you), just all of it. Truly a stellar episode for the characters and the story
But it’s the setting that sets the episode apart for me
This. The Shattered Sea that no one has ever crossed, where all the maps end. Image credit to @hgstuff for the gorgeous headers. I cannot get enough of looking at these. From the stark and desolate emptiness to the breathtakingly beautiful, the Shattered Sea is a peak location for a pre finale episode. And then the way all the characters have to reckon with things deep inside themselves as they make their way across the vast unknown. The way they set off with the mudmander sleigh, but you can’t make it across that way: you have to walk it, on your own two feet. The journey across the Shattered Sea is your own to walk; no one can do it for you. The way it’s set up is great too. The foreboding, the ominous way it’s described and set up by Zeb, that he and his fellows walked for days, for years, till their swords rusted and they went mad and turned on each other, murdered each other . . . That the sea goes on forever. And then to be on it, the endless shallow water, far as the eye can see. The lack of discernible time. The way the unending, unvarying uniformity begins to feel oppressive - but, just as it is oppressive and smothering, so too is it beautiful
The way the starry sky is reflected in the water is one of the most gorgeous visuals I think I have ever seen in anything ever, and it’s backdrop to a lovely scene between Kit and Elora. It’s in this conversation you can really feel that connection, see it, that growing bond. The cliff at the edge of the world is wonderful and such an interesting premise, the leap of faith you have to take to get to the Immemorial City. And the way Kit and Jade have their romantic moment silhouetted against a sunset just exploding with colour. It’s a beautiful, fascinating setting and I adored every bit of it
So yeah. Fabulous episode all round really
