Labyrinth 2 and 3 The Prequels

Generations love Labyrinth, the 1986 musical fantasy film directed by Jim Henson; they can’t get enough of it. There’s comics, novels, merchandise and more… But new fans who can’t get enough of the Henson classic may be unaware that intentionally (or unintentionally) there’s already prequels of sorts awaiting their viewing pleasure. 

Back when music television was king, David Bowie released many Labyrinth music videos. However, two tie in videos —namely Underground and As the World Falls Down; offer and expansion of the universe. 

Who was Sarah’s mother Linda Williams? What happened to her? Had the Goblin King met the characters before? There are hints in the film to her relationship with Jareth the Goblin King. Thanks to the late Bowie’s mythologic and artist approach a lot can be gleaned and answered…

It would appear that As the World Falls Down comes chronologically first with monochrome footage of Bowie performing the song in an elegant room accompanied by the character Hoggle from the film. 

There’s a connection in the film where you see a theatre promotion photos and magazines of Jeremy/Jareth (Bowie) and her mother Linda. In the video As the World Falls Down you see the seduction of possibly Linda (actress Charlotte Valandrey) intercut with Sarah’s own ballroom allurement, where she resists Jareth enchantment. 

It would appear that Sarah’s mother was not as strong to the Goblin King’s seduction. Close to the end of the video she is shown in the Labyrinth. 

This also may explain why Hoggle helps Sarah knowing the fate of her mother. Could it also be that Jareth is Sarah’s father… food for thought, eh?

Presumably Underground comes next and portrays Bowie as a night club performer who walks into an ominous alleyway where he encounters various puppet creatures from Labyrinth, including Hoggle and the Junk Lady via a crack in the wall. 

Jeremy or another incarnation of Bowie’s turns into a cartoon figure, stepping into an animated underground world, returning to the Labyrinth. His transformation back to the Goblin King who Sarah would later meet.

These two videos raise as many questions as they answer, it’s all up for interpretation; but they are a great expansion and opportunity to see some of the characters again if you can’t get enough of Labyrinth.