1988’s Willow was one of Ron Howard’s less successful film, so he’s led this reboot as a series. The Witcher (starring Henry Cavill) was such a big swords-and-sorcerer series for Netflix that they’ve released this prequel.
Willow This takes place 20 years after the original film with Warwick Davis returning in as the title character. He leads a group of misfits on a dangerous mission that includes encounters with various evil creatures. So far, not much original in the fantasy adventure mode. Fortunately, there’s some personality in the performances and a few moments of wise cracks. The visual design is expected and the effects are fine. In other words, this series is OK without being special. 
(3 / 5)
The Witcher: Blood Origin This prequel takes place a thousand years earlier, when outcasts from the Elven world join forces against the ruling empire. Since the plot is interchangeable with other fantasy adventures (demons, dragons, evil forces), it’s the production that sets this apart. The design is simply gorgeous (much more than The Witcher). There are strong action sequences, cool efx, fun character moments and beautiful cinematography. Another advantage is that there are only 4 one-hour episodes, which means it’s tight without a lot of overwritten dialogue. It’s also not necessary to have watched The Witcher to enjoy this expedition. 
(4 / 5)