The Wingfeather Saga: Season 2 (Christian TV Review) 

Season two soars to new heights with a thrilling adventure story the whole family can enjoy.   

About the Show 

The Igiby family is back for another adventure in Angel Studios’ charming fantasy series, The Wingfeather Saga. Based on the bestselling book series by Andrew Peterson, season two soars to new heights by offering a wholesome adventure story the whole family can enjoy.   

For the uninitiated, The Wingfeather Saga is the sort of story you might get if you threw The Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia, and Harry Potter into a blender. That’s not to say it’s derivative (at least, no more so than any other fantasy story written in the shadows of those literary giants). Rather, it takes inspiration from the best characteristics of those tales and then fashions them into something that feels both comfortingly familiar and captivatingly original. It offers the epic world of Tolkien, the rich theological underpinnings of Lewis, and the whimsical sensibilities of Rowling. In other words, it’s comprised of some good stuff!   

I enjoyed the debut season (you can read my review here). In fact, the show enticed me to read the four-book series, which was well worth my time. Even so, the first season took a while to build momentum. That’s not unusual for this type of story. Its fantasy show counterpart, The Rings of Power, experienced similar growing pains in its first season before finding better traction in its second. Season two builds on the first season’s exciting concluding episodes.   

It may be a tired cliché that all sequels must be “bigger and better,” but The Wingfeather Saga follows that formula. The sense of stakes and danger has increased. With the Igiby family now on the run from the lizard-like “Fangs,” there are more opportunities to explore the world outside of Gripwood, the small town that served as the setting for most of the first season.  

Season two is also slightly darker (relatively speaking). No, it doesn’t follow the “grimdark” trend of “darkness for darkness’ sake.” Rather, the tone is more serious this time. There are real threats and consequences, including an emotional death. To be clear, there’s still nothing that should be too intense for young viewers (my nine-year-old sons had no problems with it). The show is very much a PG program. But the darkness isn’t sugarcoated, and the story is better for that.   

As I mentioned in my review of the first season, the show’s art style is an inspired choice. As a crowd-funded project, the series clearly lacks the budget to compete head-to-head with the likes of Pixar, DreamWorks, or any of the other big players in animation. But by utilizing a unique and charming watercolor aesthetic, it wisely circumvents those limitations, turning what might have been a drawback into one of its standout strengths. The character design work remains inventive, and several fun new characters have joined the cast, including Lord of the Rings alum Billy Boyd (aka. Pippen) as the voice of the villainous Overseer. In fact, the voice cast is excellent across the board, with returnees Jodi Benson and Kevin KcNally delivering great performances once again.   

For those interested, the season remains remarkably faithful to the source material, covering much of the content from the second book, North! Or Be Eaten. As with the novels, the story is built on a foundation of theological truth. But despite containing some didactic elements and wholesome themes, there aren’t any immersion-breaking moments during which the creators pause the story to sermonize. Some Christian viewers may want more overt Christian messaging, but I find the story-first approach refreshing (and because I’ve read the books, I know there are more theological elements on the story’s horizon).     

If anything holds this show back, it is a lack of resources and viewer accessibility. The seven-episode season is short, even by the current standards of shortened seasons. A 10-episode run would have better served the narrative and allowed more time for character development and worldbuilding. Furthermore, as I write this review, the show remains in “early access” on the Angel Studios app, meaning only “guild members” can watch it. The first season was available for free, and I’m assuming this season will eventually be released to the public as well. I don’t necessarily have any issue with the business model, but the fractured nature of the release rollout may prevent the show from earning the more widespread recognition it deserves, which is unfortunate.      

Overall, The Wingfeather Saga continues to deliver everything viewers could want. It builds on the strong foundation it established in season one by taking the story to a higher level in almost every way. If you haven’t checked out The Wingfeater Saga yet, you’re missing out on some quality and wholesome entertainment. I can’t wait for season three.       

Taking Responsibility  

At the end of the first season, Janner, Kalmar, and Leeli learn that they are the “Jewels of Anniera,” royalty from the great fallen kingdom beyond the sea. Much of the second season sees the three children coming to terms with the lofty expectations that come with that revelation. Primarily, Kalmar (the rightful king) and Janner (his “Throne Warden” and noble protector) struggle with their respective roles. Kalmar is enticed by the luxury and power that comes with being a king, but he is burdened by the weight and responsibility of his role. He responds by attempting to sidestep his responsibility. Janner, on the other hand, deals with the humbling task of serving his younger and ungrateful brother. The show (at least in this season) doesn’t necessarily provide “teaching moments,” but it allows the two brothers to struggle, fail, and learn from their experiences as they strive to do the right thing (or at least one of them does).    

Family   

One of the show’s most positive themes throughout both seasons is the importance of family and what it means to support and protect one another. Typically in these “coming of age” stories, the younger characters are inevitably separated from their parents or guardians, either because they are orphans (Harry Potter) or because they journey to a different world on their own (The Chronicles of Narnia). What makes The Wingfeather Saga different is that three generations journey together. They each face unique challenges, but they are sustained by their shared love for each other. Its positive portrayal of the family unit is refreshing.   

At the same time, the show’s conception of family isn’t unrealistic or idealistic. The Igibys represent the ideal, but not all characters are so lucky. At one point, Maraly Weaver, the daughter of a villainous outlaw king, chides Janner for complaining about his situation, given how difficult her own upbringing has been. Beyond biological families, the show also affirms the beauty of “found family.”