#Queen bavmorda

[agatharioscoven]

R.I.P. Jean Marsh 💔

[keira-incognita]

RIP Jean Marsh, who played not one but two of ‘80s cinema's finest witches, Princess Mombi in Return to Oz (1985) and Queen Bavmorda in Willow (1988).

[theconjurervfx]

Queen Bavmorda.

[gone2soon-rip]

JEAN MARSH (1934-Died April 13th 2025,at 90).English actress and writer. She co-created and starred in the ITV series Upstairs, Downstairs (1971–1975), for which she won the 1975 Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her performance as Rose Buck. She reprised the role in the BBC's revival of the series (2010–2012).

Marsh co-created the television series The House of Eliott in 1991. Her film appearances include Cleopatra (1963), Frenzy (1972), The Eagle Has Landed (1976), The Changeling (1980), Return to Oz (1985), Willow (1988), Fatherland (1994) and Monarch (2000). She is also known for three roles in Doctor Who: as Joan of England in The Crusade; Sara Kingdom, a companion of the First Doctor; and a villain opposite the Seventh Doctor. She was briefly married to Jon Pertwee, who played the Third Doctor in the series, from 1955 to 1960.Jean Marsh - Wikipedia

[pageofqueens]

Queen Bavmorda

[witchesnet]

Jean March as Bavmorda  Willow (1988) 🎞️️ Ron Howard

[knight-princess]

Ok so Boorman’s line “Bavmorda knew how to romp” in episode 4 was obvious levity intended to lift Graydon’s spirits but I cannot stress how much I had not seen the movie before watching the series and I was then watching the movie, being introduced to this character:

And suddenly realising the full absurdity and hilarity of Boorman’s line. This is 100% not a character you associate the word “romp” with. So it was kind of like the real life version of me going “hold on I need to look something up. Ok yeah this is funny”

[harrycosmo]

Fumito Ueda was inspired by… Willow (1988).

We get a brief backstory at the beginning of Willow with the following text - 'It is a time of dread. Seers have foretold the birth of a child who will bring about the downfall of the powerful Queen Bavmorda. Seizing all pregnant women in the realm, the evil Queen vows to destroy the child when it is born…' The child that the queen is after, a baby girl who has a distinctive marking on her arm, is placed on a raft to be carried down stream, out of danger. Willow finds the baby and throughout the movie, it's his task to protect her from the evil queen.

When Willow first encounters Madmartigan, a 'Lovable Rogue' who teams up with him, he's been imprisoned the same way as Yorda.

An army arrives with soldiers wearing helmets that made me think of the Shaman's Mask from Shadow of the Colossus.

An interior of Queen Bavmorda's castle and one from the castle in ICO -

At Tir Asleen, trolls climb around the ramparts, chasing after our heroes like shadow creatures.

Madmartigan takes down a two-headed monster in a manner I thought only Wander was capable of.

When Willow and Madmartigan arrive at Tir Asleen they find the people there have all been trapped in stone by Bavmorda. Willow is also in possession of magic acorns that turn to stone whatever they're thrown at. The queen in ICO has the power to turn people to stone.

Apparently, Willow did very well in Japan and I think some brilliant young artists and storytellers were in those cinemas.

[roseunspindle]

Queen Bavmorda

[bitchypuppystarlight]

For all of my childhood I though Queen Bavmorda

And Mother Superior

were played by the same actress.

[jackiestarsister]

Reactions while re-watching Willow: Episode 4 “The Whispers of Nockmaar”

Warning: spoilers ahead.

~ Having an entire episode where characters are trapped in a location, especially a haunted castle, is so symbolic and fascinating. St. Teresa of Avila compared the soul to a castle, and that kind of symbolism is also used in stories like “Beauty and the Beast.” The characters are forced to face aspects of their history and identity as they go through the different rooms.

~ This episode provides a lot of backstory, worldbuilding, and connective tissue between the movie and the series.

~ Didn’t Ballantine and the other soldiers survive mortal wounds because of their possession? If so, why are they talking about killing Graydon?

~ I think this is the first time anyone mentions the Wyrm���s vermiscous goo. It’s so quick it’s easy to miss. So that was what went into Ballantine and Graydon when they were wounded? That tracks with how it is eventually shown.

~ Naming a specific forbidden place/action is classic fairy tale setup.

~ “I hope you never have to” = foreshadowing of Kit having to fight Airk in the finale

~ Bavmorda’s promises sound like the baptismal promises made at Easter

~ Kit lighting the tapestry on fire ties in with the Wyrm’s fire imagery

~ When Boorman talks about his partner dying, does he mean Madmartigan? I didn’t catch on to that the first time I saw it.

~ I appreciate Elora talking about the woodcutters and still feeling guilty about them. She seemed to get over it a little too quickly in the previous episode.

~ Elora following a mysterious voice to a dark part of the castle is very much like Sleeping Beauty.

~ Why did Willow leave Graydon unattended? Did Graydon/the Lich fight or frighten him?

~ There is a lot of ambiguity about whether the things the characters see and hear are real, their imagination, an effect of the castle, or the action of the Crone. Airk speaking through Graydon could be real, as he is shown coming out of a cell at the end of the episode. But Mims’ voice seems like an attempt by the Crone to drive a wedge between Elora and Willow.

~ Is that General Kael’s skeleton mask on the ground when they’re leaving the castle?

[agatharioscoven]

R.I.P. Val & Jean 💔💔

Willow (1988)

[evilsapphyre]

I just did Neve’s veilguard hero quest again. And Amelia’s way of speaking and voice nagged at me, and I realized that she really reminded me of Queen Bavmorda.

I have no clue if that was an actual inspiration, but that’s what I was hearing.

[1980sactionfigures]

Queen Bavmorda - Willow (Tonka)

[bberry005]

ALRIGHT EVERYONE guess what insane thing I did? I made a really rough concept for if the universe of Willow got the full Star Wars-esque saga treatment. I will say it's a lot more focused on characters and general plots than themes, but for anyone who wants to see it, here it is.

The Willow Saga (chronological order)

Kymeria, movies: movie series (maybe a trilogy?) about the fall of the Kymerian Empire and the creation of the Kymerian Cuirass. Could contain all kinds of narrative parallels to the Willow (2022) show.

Elora Danan Origin Story (Movie): A movie about the origins of the myth of Elora Danan and the past Elora Danans and all that fun stuff.

Paladins of Cashmere (series): TV series about the Princess of Cashmere and how she went missing, followed by the Paladins of Cashmere trying to find her. Provides a lot of cool worldbuilding about the other kingdoms in the realm.

Lands End (movie or 3 season series, depending on importance/vibes/plot): a tv show/movie about the war leading up to the fall of Bavmorda. About Madmartigan’s time as a knight of Galladoorn. Emphasis on the Battle of Land’s End because that’s mentioned multiple times.

The Princess (movie, working title): The story of Sorsha Tanthalos, from child to queen.

Willow (1988), movie: Nelwyn farmer Willow Ufgood finds a baby in a river and embarks on a quest to protect her after learning she is Elora Danan. He teams up with rogue swordsman Madmartigan and eventually together they defeat the evil queen Bavmorda and save the realm.

Tales from the Wildwood, TV series: Follows the story of teenage Venoma Scorpia and Thraxus Boorman as the Bone Reavers establish themselves in the Wildwood and the pair seek to find the rest of General Kael’s thirteen children.

The Cuirass, movie: Madmartigan, Allagash, and Boorman on their quest to find the Kymerian Cuirass in order to prevent Elora Danan from having to save the realm alone. Also shows some of life in Tir Asleen immediately after the war. Opportunities for tiny Kit and Airk. Willow (2022), 3 season TV series: Set approximately 20 years after the original movie, Willow (2022) follows Elora Danan as she undertakes her quest to stop the Withered Crone. She is joined by washed up sorcerer Willow Ufgood, a timid prince Graydon Hastur, valiant knight Jade Claymore, criminal and rogue Thraxus Boorman, and a cocky princess Kit Tanthalos.

[agatharioscoven]

I feel like Sorsha very much had in the forefront of her mind that she didn't want to become her mother when it came to her kids.

Yes Sorsha hurt the kids in different ways, but she very much was trying not to inflict on her children the trauma her mother inflicted on her.

She didn't want to marry Kit off, as you said, the conversation she has with Boorman proves that, but being the Queen of Tir Asleen after her mother she was probably trying to get in everyone's good books.

People will remember how Bavmorda ruled and Sorsha would very much be trying to show the people that she's not her mother.

Ok flaming hot take here: Sorsha was not a bad mother.

I've spent an unhealthy amount of time browsing the tags, reading basically every Kit adjacent fanfic currently available (AND I LOVE THEM DON'T MISTAKE ME), and rewatching the series (on a loop. Gonna boost the view numbers singlehandedly if I have to because I need season 2 and 3 to keep living) and in each and every fan iteration of her character people portray her as emotionally abusive and cold.

In the series we're introduced to her at her choice to marry off her lesbian daughter to a prince of the neighbouring kingdom. I would argue that King Hastur was the driving force behind that arrangement, when we see Graydons flashback of his dad screeching about having an heir with ties to Tir Asleen. Sorsha doesn't want to put Kit through that, as we see her confiding in Boorman. I would argue that if King Hastur had a daughter she would probably have pushed Airk to get married instead but as he had a son and heirs are the point of arranged unions, Kit drew the short straw for her kingdom.

Every attempt she has made towards keeping our young heroes safe (hiding Elora, not telling Jade who she really was) were all acts made out of a genuine place of love. Doesn't mean they were right, particularly in Jades case, and obviously best intentions and all that they still caused harm in the end, but it wasn't manipulative or cruel in intent.

When Sorsha is injured in episode 1 Kit is at her mothers side helping her, they have a real conversation about things when she's recovering and Sorsha treats her with respect.

When Kit sees wyrm-Sorsha she is filled with confusion which is why she isn't receptive to her reaching out initially, but she leans into her mother's embrace after a few moments because she's glad to see her even though part of her knows it's not real.

Anyway it's 1am and I had some thoughts and feelings and basically in the long list of fictional mothers Sorsha is one of the better ones in my opinion. Show me anyone with a truly positive relationship with their mother, this one at least feels realistic.