Why Star Wars Andor is GREAT - Andor Season One Review
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- čas přidán 24. 11. 2022
- Andor's first season is complete! So let's talk about the entire story and whether or not it works. (Spoiler alert: It really, really does)
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This is not only the best Star wars show but it’s simple one of the best Star Wars things period.
I thought it was pretty mid. Not much happened in 12 episodes.
@@ryanjohnson3392 post this as your own comment
@@ryanjohnson3392 If you think "not much happened," you either weren't paying attention or all you care about is lasers and explosions, because there was a metric ton that happened in this series.
Not even “great Star Wars” - it’s great for any genre.
@@ryanjohnson3392 Give it another try. Maybe watch the three-episode arcs altogether; that might help some people who have trouble with the pacing.
This is legitimately one of the best shows I've seen in awhile, let alone star wars.
It made me fall in love with the on screen characters again and made me care about Cassian to the point where he's one of my favorites.
It actually breaks my heart that we're most likely never getting a physical release of this show. I want to out it up there with all the other star wars stuff that is close to my heart
It's the most I've enjoyed a show since season 3 of the Expanse
It's like the cast and script and production values of Game of Thrones seasons 1-4 had a love child with John le Carre that was born into the Star Wars universe
Dear Lord I just want a steel book of this wonderful show
@@nevilleneville6518 I like that analogy.
the next star wars celebration should air it in its entirety.. 6 episodes one day, and the last 6 the next day. its probly mind-blowing in a theatre. wish all cities could do that actually, just for one weekend for sw fans (like Toronto did for Kenobi)
“Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. ” - Nemik
There will be times when the struggle seems impossible. I know this already. Alone, unsure, dwarfed by the scale of the enemy. Remember this. Freedom is a pure idea. It occurs spontaneously, and without instruction. Random acts of insurrection are occurring constantly throughout the galaxy; there are whole armies, battalions that have no idea that they've already enlisted in the cause. Remember that the frontier of the Rebellion is everywhere, and even the smallest act of insurrection pushes our lines forward. And then remember this: the Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks. It leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that. And know this: the day will come when all these skirmishes and battles, these moments of defiance will have flooded the banks of the Empire's authority, and then there will be one too many. One single thing will break the siege. Remember this: try.
The dynamic between Cassian and Jyn has been elevated exponentially because of this series, Rogue One has been elevated, the Empire has been elevated as well. This series has done exactly what I wanted it to do and more. Enhancing the universe in the best way possible. Nothing felt random or out of place. Every character felt real and had a purpose. The show is so good that any problems I have are pushed to the way side. This story was very much Star Wars. No Jedi or Sith were needed to tell a great story. Showing that Star Wars can be done in this way if in the right hands.
The whole dynamic between Cassian and Jyn is interesting after this because Cassian sees himself in Jyn.
There's a subreddit called 'the empire did nothing wrong'. After Andor I just can't look past the atrocities we saw in Andor and it's no longer a funny antimeme to me.
You're so right about it elevating the Empire. In every other iteration of Star Wars, we get the idea that the Empire is evil. But we never really see it. Starting with A New Hope, Lukes family seems to be living a relatively good life. Hell, Luke want's to join the academy. Andor shows exactly how evil and oppressive the Empire is. There is no doubt that they are the bad guys.
@@Kelpwoud which is hilarious since they blew up a planet in ep4 x) But yeah on screen oppression of 10 people will always be more powerful than a tennis ball exploding
Saw Guerrera too as a character was made better
Nina Gold is a casting genius. She knows talent. Also works for HBO, so some GOT alums and Chenobyl folks popped up and are fantastic. This was a great series.
who was in the show from Chernobyl besides Stellan Skarsgård?
@@iamunamed5800 Jared Harris. Many other good actors, including the guy who plays the ISB/rebel informant and the guy who played Maester Luwin on GoT.
@@BigMikeMcBastard
*Qyburn, not Luwin.
@@BigMikeMcBastard forgot the gut who played Lord Royce
Andor's brilliance in that just having good characters, lacking superpowers, in the Star Wars universe just trying to make their way in a cruel galaxy is so entertaining. It was interesting in all moments 9.5/10
I like that we didn't see the empire at all in the first 3 episodes and preox morlana was the villain fraction. I want more of that.
I loved it too and it certainly built the world out more. I don't know if it would be smart to keep the ACTUAL empire out of many episodes in the future of Andor or other pieces that take place during the imperial reign. It was a bit of a turn off for many. I personally think those people are simple minded in what they like but I would like the shows to have more broad appeal in aspects like this.
Something only older Brits might notice: Even bit part characters like the old man on the train are played by actors with impressive chops in the UK. That guy has starred in movies and here he is chatting to Luthan on a train for 3 short scenes. I could not love this show more. It's the Star Wars I've been waiting for all my life. I even started to write something like this in my teens about a Star Destroyer bridge crew who realised they were on the wrong team and wanted to defect. It's easily the most interesting period in SW history.
I love that Palpatine is not in this because it enhances that fact that the people in this world see them as a big faceless enemy.
I like that, Palpatine wouldn't even care about these people ans it makes his cruelty and oppression worse.
10:28 - I've heard from another youtuber speculating that there are fewer aliens because a lot of the focus in the environments were in Imperial controlled areas and there's a lot of xenophobia within the empire. You do see more aliens is less Empire controlled areas though.
It's sad how ignorant star wars fans are when it comes to the empire's xenophobia. This has been a thing in canon and legends for decades.
For me, the focus on and portrayal of Mon Mothma has been the most surprisingly enjoyable part of the show. She's gone from dismissed, passing character (in my mind) to I absolutely LOVE her.
I think the finale did for Stormtroopers what "The Tragedy" episode of Mando did for Boba Fett. In this case, it was showing Stormtroopers as the ruthless, brutal, efficient military assets that they're supposed to be, as opposed to the cartoony, buffoonish "paper targets" that they've otherwise turned into, including in the aforementioned "The Tragedy."
Stormtrooper who got kicked out of the tower was a chump.
The tragedy was one of the worst episode of the mandalorian. It took the stormtroopers who have already been memed into oblivion and turned them into their literal caricature.
Say what you will but we definitely know people like Brasso(real ones) and Syril(weirdo’s who still live with their mom). The characters feel real and relatable. And of course let’s not forget Kino Loy. So many memorable characters that someone’s favorite for different reasons. That’s something remarkable and special in my opinion.
Well said! 🙏
Syril doesn't 'still live with his mom', he moved in with his mom after losing his job. His defining trait is being a cold-hearted fascist who only cares about order, not justice.
I was so happy when Brasso escaped in the end as I didn't expect him to survive the uprising at all!
The thing you said about cameos I am bummed Bail Organa wasn’t in it but I have a feeling he could be in season 2 since it will be in Yavin 4! And I think Tony Gilroy wouldn’t wanna do cameos for fan service but give a reason the character returned. Bail has a reason to be included since news was heavily involved in the rebellion. Palpatine would be a fan service type but if Gilroy could show the political side of palpatine, being all polite and manipulative at the same time, it could work. I can see Tony do it well but I can see him saying no. Overall 10/10 show! Also, I loved the empire not being buffoons but feeing like a real threat!
So I have been reading some recent Tony Gilroy interviews and apparently the 2nd season is going to be 4 arcs with time jumps until the final arc leads right into the events of Rogue One. So yeah I expect the 2nd two arcs to deal with Yavin 4. Makes sense that we would start seeing Bail there, also I am not a super Rebels geek or anything but pretty sure it would make a whole lot of sense to get Hera Syndulla references or maybe even see her in live action at the base. She's there in Rogue One after all. But also Ezra, Ahsoka and others could be referenced. It would make a whole of sense in the earlier arcs for Luthen and Cassian to be getting intel from Fulcrum etc. Should be fun to watch it altogether. I am excited for the different arcs.
I believe there was a scheduling conflict that prevented Jimmy Smits from playing Bail in this series. He was filming Obi-Wan Kenobi at the time.
Andor S1 is the best season of Star Wars period, both live action and animation. Acting, writing, cinematography, score, editing, everything fired on all cylinders. The story managed to endear us to multiple POVs that seamlessly wove together into the best cross section of the galaxy ever and culminated in one of the best finales on Television. The themes were potent and true to the heart of Star Wars, the world building was exceptional, and the characters fascinating and memorable. Andor is sublime.
This is a new bar for Star Wars, not in mood but in care, talent, and ambition. Pulp does not equal bad but its too often an excuse for basic or subpar writing/acting/directing.
Dedra Meero is one of my favorite imperial characters
I read that in Syril Karn's voice.
@@IsaacKuo duuuuuuuuuuude. Can't unhear his voice now.
I think this review epitomizes what I have come to love about this channel. You can love a series and can accept that others might not like it. I personally love some SW films that others hate. And I'm fine w/ ppl hating it. What I'm not fine with is ppl who hate a movie not allowing others to love it. The prequels were not for me, but I'm completely fine with ppl adoring them. We must as a fanbase step away from the gatekeeping that naturally seems to happen with all fanbases. Alex & Mollie are so good at not becoming gatekeepers. A certain SW reactor is rightfully getting a lot of heat for their gatekeeping & this channel is a refreshing break from that sort of toxicity.
I just recently binged all of The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels so I could be more away of Ahsoka's history. Your older videos on TCW & SWR have been a joy to check out. I look forward to catching more of your videos as I look to watch S1 of the Bad Batch. Enjoy your vacation; you definitely have earned it.
I definitely agree on the point of all Star Wars not needing to be like Andor. Star wars should still be able to have big, grand, and mythical stories. I do think however one aspect of the show all Star Wars does need to adopt is the writing. The story, plot, characters, and dialog are all phenomenal. Even the smallest of moments felt huge and important. Most small moments in other SW stories can be easily missed or over looked bc there just isn't as much thought out in and build up for them. Andor took the time to build real, believable, and complex characters and events that we cared about more than almost anything in the big grandiose stories and characters of the movies. We need more thoughtful and well designed stories from here on out.
Frfr when old boy died just like that when they were robbing those credits kinda hit me
Its the best live action Star Wars stuff since the OT. Ive been yearning for something with this quality of writing and depth.
I like how this show adapted the various themes from The Last Jedi. Andor went from fighting for himself and not joining any sides to fighting to save what he loved (and those who fought to save him because they loved him). They contrast with some characters who stand against this ideal by fighting to destroy what they hate. Add to that the various sparks that ignite resistance and there were different points of view on how to do that (via manifesto, via action, or via making the oppressors oppress more).
I really enjoyed getting to know Molly and you through livestreams during the season. Feels good to be part of a positive Star Wars community.
the quality of the show was just stunning. so why can’t we get this kind of writing and directing from shows the majority of star wars fans want to see? i would love to see tony gilroy have a show based on jedi and sith. i genuinely think he’s one of the best to have touched star wars and he deserves creative freedom, if he desires more after season 2.
With the incredible reception this show is getting, I'm pretty sure you'll get your wish, in time. I agree with your assessment of Gilroy. This was prime Star Wars content.
I agree, but I don't expect to see Tony Gilroy do much with Star Wars for a while after season 2 unless Disney just gives him a blank check. A lot of his interviews he talks about how consuming and intense making this show was
It’s a ridiculous show for children. It’s beyond boring.
@@Fidelio116 maybe that’s because it’s not made for children? idk. just a thought.
This is a great review and summarizes most of my thoughts too. The thing I'd add is that the Karis Nemik character and his manifesto added some intellectual heft to the rebellion, providing a philosophical scaffolding for much of what occurred. I immediately thought of him as a Star Wars Thomas Paine and his manifesto and a combination of "Common Sense" and "American Crisis" in the American Revolution. The individual episode reviews were great too. Good work and keep it up.
It is one of the best TV Shows *PERIOD* of the past 10 years. Forget comparing this to Mando, this belongs alongside shows like Breaking Bad, Mad Men etc...
Annnnnd The Expanse!!
The moment when B2EMO was knocked over by the Imperial officer is the single most pivotal point across the arc of the Star Wars narrative. Andor gave the franchise desperately needed depth, which certainly at the very least should broaden audience appeal. It allows people to find their own comfort level.
That’s a horrible, generic, corny and melodramatic speech, filled with narcissism, that calls for an uprising which leads to a riot and many unnecessary deaths. It makes zero logical sense for her to record something like that. This show is really, really bad.
@@Fidelio116 But it worked.
@@Fidelio116 what do you think War speeches are? lol
I love using the screaming of alien children as a sonic torture device; that’s something straight out of a 70’s sci-fi novel
I love how much of what went off screen left us the viewer the time to figure things out ourselves, even if we don't always get the full answers. I liked this around the main character deaths of Marvaa and Salman Pak
On re-watch I've noticed that areas where the Empire has influence has less aliens and places where it doesn't has more aliens.
I think this is to point out the xenophobia of the Empire.
If y'all make a deep dive video exploring that Imma watch the hell out of it ❤️
Thanks for all the videos/interviews/streams during Andor, they have been fantastic!
Very fair review! And yes - Star Wars is so large, many kinds of stories can and should be told. I love The Mandalorian and Andor, both for different reasons. My only 'demand' is - quality.
My problem with Alex's statement is he's confusing the criticism. People want variety AND quality. Pulp doesn't equal bad but its often an excuse for subpar writing or directing.
For example: The kickass movie "The Mummy" (1999) vs the spinoff prequel "The Scorpion King". They're both pulpy as hell but one is actually a great movie.
Here, here 👏! Well said
@@forrestpenrod2294correction they are both outstanding films. The Mummy 1 did to monster films as to how amazing The Thing was for pushing the horror genre forward
Scorpion King was a different type of story but better then prince of persia which is basically same exact film concept but better laid out
My only criticism is that there are only 2 seasons of this show with so many great character arcs, it rarely occurs that ALL characters of a series are great and acted phenomenally. Probs to this heavily underrated show
Speaking as somebody who loved Andor from start to finish, I too was hesitant about a show about Cassian, not simply because he was a character who died, but one who died in his first appearance. Darth Vader gets to pop up over and over despite dying in RotJ because he was such a big character in three films already. He's a pop-culture icon, whereas Cassian most certainly wasn't. This isn't to say Cassian is a bad character in any way, but if you show a random person on the street a picture of him I'd bet big money that they wouldn't be able to recognise him nearly as easily as they would a picture of Vader.
I agree that we could use more alien _characters_ rather than simply having alien set dressing. It doesn't quite follow to me that aliens have to equal pulpy, I really think that this team could pull off strange alien characters in a serious way.
And ultimately, I wholeheartedly agree that Andor is great, and Mando is also great in different ways. It's frustrating to see people start ripping on Mando, as if quality in Star Wars is some bizarre zero-sum game, and a show can only be good at the expense of every other show. The two shows are doing different things, neither one is an inherently better idea than the other IMO, and it's perfectly fine to like both. Or to like one and not the other, whichever way around that goes. I just wish some people didn't seem to think that it's _required_ to like only one.
Deserves an Emmy nomination in my honest opinion
I loved this show so much. Can't wait for season 2
If you guys haven’t been listening to Tony’s interview on “The Watch” podcast with Andy Greenwald and Chris Ryan, you definitely should. It’s great to hear Gilroy’s thoughts and some of the inside baseball talk on making the series. It also kinda helps cleanse the pallet of just “Star Wars Slog” and allows you to appreciate this as just good television regardless of its connection to a greater universe and lore.
Just watched the entire series over the weekend. Best things Disney's done with Star wars.
But what about the bricks and screws Alex? That has no place in a galaxy filled with hundreds of planets!
You're right, the world of Star Wars spans a whole galaxy, so the stories in it and the ways of telling them should be accordingly diverse. But I have to disagree with you on one point: Andor made the importance of good writing very obvious. The screenplays of future series or films will have to measure up to this, and that's a good thing.
Q/A for the people: Now that season one is finished and Catalyst and Rebel Rising is in the books (pun intended) Would you do a rewatch and do a review of Rogue One and reinterpret the movie in a different light, or would it be better would be better to wait until season two to get the complete Rogue One experience?
I'll definitely wait for season 2 and rewatch the whole story
I rewatched Rogue One after ruminating a bit on season 1 and it already feels better and more fleshed out. Probably will do it again after season 2 and see if it changes some more.
It’s a movie. Watch it when you want
What do you mean different light? Nearly everyone I know likes Rogue One.
@@litphaniusmcmelloy4275 I've already seen each Andor episode 3 or more times.
This show made the galaxy feel small, but in a good way. It presented from more of an individual-level in a way the movies and even other shows like The Clone Wars don’t
Totally agree!
(00:43) "It felt more like an HBO drama..." And THAT is exactly why this show was exceptionally good. Best SW TV series, and better than ALL of the Disney Star Wars movies.
Am re-watching this show...which did not even happen with GoT: House of the Dragon, as good as it was.
I loved the show. I agree that every episode really built upon the previous ones to the point that episode 12 just knocked it out of the park. I really hope that more people come around to it's greatness.
*The show in its entirety is such a great show! Had me running back every Wednesday getting up at 2:30am to prepare to watch the show by 3am. A few of the episodes had some stuff that I didn't like this season. But, the show as a whole was great writing & great acting & visually nice! I can't wait for season two in a couple of years.*
I agree. No gatekeeping in Star Wars. I personally feel that Andor is the best thing Star Wars has ever done. It's like they literally made the show for me personally. 🤣
I hope in season 2 we finally get to meet the famous Uncle Harlo that Syril's mother keeps mentioning 🤣🤣🤣
I find it hilarious that some people don't like that we get backstories of characters we see once or not very often in a media source. I was on the fence about seeing Captain Pike in Discovery season 2, but I quickly lost those feelings when I saw how awesome Anson Mount was in the role. I wasn't too thrilled about the Fantastic Beasts movies but I really did a 180-degree flip after watching the first movie three or four times.
Just because we don't get much info of a character when we first meet them doesn't mean we can't get more info and like the character more as the lore progressively increases! Just look how much the fan-base exploded after getting the Mandalorian Wars comics or the Revan novel after Kotor finished.
Best Star Wars show, period. Best SW content in general since ESB. I have a feeling awards season will be generous to this production.
Great slow burn. Doctor Zhivago meets Cold War type spy thriller. How did the rebellion start with regular ppl? How did the spies become spies. How did the Empire’s spies work against the growing dissent? So well done. Don’t even get me started on Andy’s Kino. His end was crushing and poetic. This really brought a lot of Star Wars home. No Jedi and no force powers. Regular people oppressed, unhappy and fighting back. Watching Cassian grow, seeing Mothma working and struggling. Luthen, what a great, new character. A good man who will sacrifice it all for the cause. It’s not straight good vs evil, but those horrible shades of grey. What trade offs and sacrifices need to happen for success. This is the great writing Star Wars needs. I can’t wait for season 2.
I agree. Andor is personally my favorite installment in Star Wars EVER! But I also love the Mandalorian and I don't want ALL shows made in the mode of Andor. I do wish that shows like Obi Wan and Book of Boba had a much "care of story" as Andor. But I am fine with the tone being different and the style being different. But lets get good writing, story and scene design in ALL the live action shows. Then if you want them to episodial, campy, funny, what have you... so be it. There is a place for that. Andor has just showed what care and attention looks like. Hope Disney takes notice.
Imo Mon Mothma and her acting was the hidden powerhouse and pleasant surprise of this series (among many…like, I knew Skarsgaard would be good … if THAT good?!?). How she rises to the top of the military chain in the rebellion will be fascinating. Took a vanilla character before and made her come alive!
I loved Andor, looking forward to season 2
This series definitely deserves 5 seasons. Such a flawless show goddamn
5 seasons is too much, 2 seasons is enough since Cassian died in Scarif and it happened 5 years after the season 1
Have the same writers work on other parts of Star Wars
I do love the original plan for 5 seasons-one for every year before Scariff, but I also don't think I would be patient enough to wait that long to see his story play out.
Five seasons would've been crowded
Two 2 Season Is Good Enough
Two are enough honestly. I didn't really got out much of only one.
I still desperately want a Mon Mothma spinoff.
I think this show is up there with A New Hope, Empire Strikes Back, and last couple seasons of Clone Wars as the best the franchise has so far. I loved Andor so much, and it is partly because it is different than everything else and uses the galaxy established to tell a great story. If everything were Andor, it would get old eventually. So keep on making different and creative things in the galaxy far, far away, and I'll keep loving it all
Wow.. What a first season. Mr Gilroy take a bow sir
I love that Andor is allowing Star Wars to branch out tonally and structurally
Yet I’m so frustrated why Disney didn’t allow this sooner with Boba Fett or Obi-wan, boxing them into shallow plot-driven all-ages fare.
Imagine making an Obi-Wan show for all ages 😂😂😂
This show is the best thing to happen to Star Wars in decades. And it’s actually made Rogue One a better film in my eyes.
I concur with your biggest criticism. Felt like each episode left me wanting more- not because they were bad, but because the characters and writing were so electrifying that we wanted to spend more time with them
It's really a good thing, that you liked the characters in this show, no irony here. I personally didn't really emphasised with the large majority of them.
Andor is my favorite Star Wars Disney+ Show alongside The Mandalorian and The Bad Batch and I also love Bix Caleen from the show and Adria Arjona in general. I know she didn’t get a lot of screen time in the episodes before we get to the scenes where she was taken into custody and getting rescued by Cassian in the last episode, but I know she will play a bigger role in Andor Season 2 and I can’t wait to see more of her in future Star Wars Projects and I’m also down for a Bix Caleen Spin-Off Show!
As someone who long ago gave up on the franchise, Andor was a very pleasant surprise. I loved it in a way I haven't enjoyed anything Star Wars related since Empire. That said, I agree that its more mature, darker and deliberative storytelling won't and probably shouldn't become the new norm. I only hope they keep this tone and high level of quality for the duration of the series.
They're cramming a 5-season story into two seasons; you're not going to get episodes that focus on side characters no matter how much we like them.
Probably the best thing to ever come out of Disney Star Wars only rivaled by The Siege of Mandalore.
this was so well crafted!! Tony Gilroy is a true professional
This show actually made me want to rewatch Rogue One, which I remember enjoying (as much as one can considering how dark it was) but not latching onto very much.
It's been a great show, but I've also really enjoyed your insights into every episode. You've provided excellent analysis, commentary and opinions. I'm new to your channel but look forward to seeing what content you do between now and season 2, and of course taking us through S2. Thanks
Whether u love Andor or hate it, u have to admit using real world locations and sets was SO MUCH BETTER than always using the volume or vfx. Just visually, this show blew Obi-Wan outta the water, although I'd argue it also did overall too
In terms of Andor’s more grounded feel, I think the next series to get that treatment will be the Acolyte. I don’t think it’ll be a fun romp, it’ll have nuance and detail similar to what we saw here. The future of Star Wars is looking great with this much variety!
I think the apparent scarcity of aliens could be a budget thing. Alien makeup and prosthetics costs time and money.
When you leave the studio to film in the real world, then you have to bring as much of the studio with you as you can afford.
Bringing an alien makeup department is almost certainly a significant expense.
I’m guessing one of the decisions that had to be made was film in The Volume with lots of aliens, or film in the field with fewer aliens.
Arguably the greatest Star Wars content, EVER. Better than Mandalorian, better than the movies, better than all the shows.
Every episode, every actor, the dialogues, and choreography, it was all phenomenal.
brilliant insights, love your style, really sticks out!
Andor reminded me of both Blade Runner and Dark Knight stylistic. Its human, grounded and immersive.
Star Wars critics always sound like Star Wars is a catered affair where all consumption is made special for them.
You suppose to view Star Wars a little bit of prep and with fresh eyes to enjoy the series and movies.
Fine. Let's make our peace with there not being a third season of Andor, but now I want a Mon Mothma spin-off!
Andor perfectly demonstrated that a Star Wars series can be a great piece of television in its own right, and not just a trailer for upcoming projects, hundreds of Easter eggs, obligatory fan service, and shoehorned cameos.
I’ll be honest: I was hoping Star Wars andor was gonna be a show that gave a focus on the various rebel cells like the Partisans and Cloud Riders. Then we have some of the newer ones like Maya Pei, the ghorman front, the partisan alliance and more.
But for what it was, the story of a community and revolution was great. Could’ve used a few extra blaster fights as those are my favorites.
But I can say for certain Luthen is my favorite character.
Here, here.
Partisans, Cloud Riders? That's why he didn't get into those types of stories. Most people know nothing about them.
The empire doesn't even believe rebels exist at this point. What you want isn't going to be in 5 BBY. Maybe Star Wars Rebels is the show you're looking for.
@@TraceguyRune The last four episodes of Andor play during Rebels Season 2, but whatever.
I think the thing I adored about Andor more than anything was the opportunities it reveals for future Star Wars stories. We can have a pulpy Flash Gordon serial, we can have a western, we can have a tragic samurai story, we can have a grounded spy thriller, there’s so much opportunity.
I hope this is something Disney and Lucasfilm realize. I love the Mandalorian, I enjoyed most of Obi-Wan, I tolerated Boba Fett and I adored Andor, but all can exist together and complement each other. Take risks and give us more stories. Give us a horror or thriller movie in the unknown regions, give us a heist set on Canto Bight, give us a pulpy pirate adventure with Hondo, give us whatever, it’s all available and I feel like Andor helped break that mold and give us a whole new set of options for stories they can tell
Really, you nailed it again with a truly terrific analysis of the series and it’s context within Star Wars. Thank you so much for your weekly insights and thoughts, which for me added greatly to my watching and understanding of Andor….
I very much agree that in general, any type of genre can be utilized under the Star Wars umbrella if the story and characters are well thought out... Andor and The Mandalorian have proven that you can play in the sandbox (as cliche' as that saying is) and continue to build out the world while still adhering to what came before it. Even the crazier one off episodes and story arcs of The Clone Wars proved that. And though I have yet to delve into any of them, the Doctor Aphra comics and the recent trilogy of comic stories centering around Qi'ra seemed to have proven that too. People championing Andor (and The Mandalorian) saying "this is how you do Star Wars right" while hating on Book of Boba Fett and Obi-Wan Kenobi at the same time just seems the wrong avenue to go. Not saying people can't criticize or dislike shows (or aspects of those shows) or like certain shows better than others, just that the Star Wars world is an open world and not everything is going to appeal to everyone. I personally can't seem to get into Star Wars: Visions, I like the idea behind it and I really liked The Duel episode quite a bit, but some of the other episodes are just ok or so-so too me and I am not itching to watch them again... but I'm not going to tell someone else who enjoys that series more than me that their opinion or enjoyment is wrong or proves they aren't "real" fans because of it. I just like that we are getting more Star Wars on a regular basis.
At first I was on the fence about watching this show as I was rather indifferent towards Andor as a character after seeing Rogue One. But thanks to this series, I have changed my thoughts on him now which will make the moment I re-watch Rogue One have more impact.
It took its time to grow on me, I also felt it was slow because I’m way more used to Star Wars just being a quick, fun ride, and this series definitely took its time to create its world and characters.
I do think it paid off in the end, I think I finally understood what the series was trying to do and now I felt like it was really well done, I agree it’s not for everyone though
I don't want every Star Wars project to be like Andor, but I do want every Star Wars project to have the vision of Andor
I do want every iteration to be like andor. it's grown up, mature, written well, complex and has balance. The episodic movies need to be fun and pulpy, this is how you do a TV show for Star Wars. Probably the best star wars related content since 1980.
What’s amazing is how good the series is when you try re-watching. The details are incredible. Agree next level writing and I’m so glad they ended it correctly without overplaying fan service and stick to a great story.
This is the most interesting Star Wars ever been to me after I finished Knights of the Old Republic II in 2013.
Also, not all Star Wars has to be like this. If anything, it'll be boring. But it's very refreshing that for an entire twelve episodes we have nothing about the Force in Star Wars and focused on something we rarely see outside of the novels and the games.
Andor series is the Star Wars, we didn't realize we needed so much. And yes, deep stories are not by everyone's taste, but it is what the history remembers.
My personal opinion is Luthen is not a Jedi but a Guardian of the Whill.
It explains the Kyber crystal.
I agree. Andor is the best story after the original trilogy if not on par. Finally some good character writing. Honestly, I know Diego Luna's a good actor but he's killin' it this series. Love Cassian's arc so far. I hope season 2 is not a let down and obly keeps building on season 1 success.
And the senator wow I love her character.
We all know about Force ghosts in Star Wars. Mostly those ghosts are heard by Force users like Luke, Leia, Ezra, Yoda, and Obi-wan. But remember, everyone is part of the living Force. And in this last episode, Cassian hears Force ghost of his father, Clem, as remembers his words at the wall. He hears the Force ghost of Nemik thru the manifesto and, finally, the Force ghost of Maarva. Cassian is now ready to fight and become one of the leaders of the rebellion. In a way, Cassian is now one with the Force. In a way, if Luthen is a kind of Jedi Master, Cassian has become a Knight of the Jedi.
That’s certainly a way of looking at it
I think the most important part of andor was the writing. It was so well done. The production quality has always been high fo star wars but the writing has not. I don't want everything to be like andor going forwards but good writing is absolutely essential
This is the Star Wars that I'm looking for nowadays. They can keep making that other stuff but I'm not really interested in it anymore. I'm a long time anime fan and I've drifted away from stuff that I found really cute and goofy and fun and have gravitated towards series that have more interesting and unique storytelling and characters. But not to say I don't have some new series that are cool and cute now. Andor just really hit it off for me because it's a side of the universe that really didn't get attention. And that's the plight of the citizens who were oppressed by the Empire and have risen up to fight it.
The star wars show that we would not have imagined even in our most ambitious dreams.
When a cinephile friend asks you which series to watch, you can recommend Andor, even if the space monks seem too simplistic. Because Andor has everything that's good about an HBO drama, with the beauty of Star Wars aesthetics and philosophy.
Andor > Ambrosia ♥
Bravo! I love your assessment of the series and the creative possibilities of star wars.
I don't know if any other Star Wars fans has seen TV dramas like '24', 'The Black List', or 'Leverage'. In each of these genres, you had the protagonist who had to infiltrate the antagonist's world to gather information, find their weakness in the adversaries defenses, and finally bring total chaos when the antagonist feels most comfortable and in control.
When you combine those skits into the ANDOR world, you can see the slow, control, careful steps made in each episode. Cassian has to be educated about oppression, and helplessness so he could go from being a selfish survivor to a selfless revolutionary.
Cassian already knew how smug the Empire was. But he had to learn how callous, indifferent, but brutal the Empire's smugness could actually be. Killing 100 prisoners just to cover up one mistake. That was how the Empire felt about it's citizens...nothing. So if he and the ones he cared about are going to survive, the Empire needed to be eliminated.
Luthen already knew about the darkness of the Empire. He also know that You must embrace that darkness to get at your adversary and risk being consumed by that darkness. A leader must be prepared to sacrifice his troupes in the quest and hope of victory. But as the architect of this victory, he must always seek more soldiers to replace those sacrificed if victory is to be achieved.
Mon Mothma is a idealist in a world of sennics and skeptics. Overindulgence of self and indifference to the masses. Power corrupts. And that corrupting is squeezing in on her. He family will likely be it's next casualties. And she can't stop it because no one cares, not even her dear family; whom is desperately want to save as well.
On the other side of the chessboard, you have Cyril Karen, an overeager, but over-ignored underling who wants desperately to be seen and appreciated by those of great influence in the Empire.
Then there is Dedra Mor, a headstrong, take charge, all business, political climber. She is laser focused on her goals; which may blind her to the landmines being laid around her. But she has been warned to '....Watch Your Back!' I'm other words -- 'Trust No One!'. Not even if they save your life.
Agreed. On all points. Well said, as usual. It's so awesome finally having a piece of content like this, but I'm gonna be just as excited to see Mando S3 and Bad Batch.
Always an insightful and MEASURED analysis, unlike so many other SW content creators who feel the need to be passionately one-sided or negative. Very appreciated. Thanks for keeping it positive and on a straight path forward to a place where we can all just ENJOY Star Wars.
I always loved Rogue One, but I never really loved Cassian as a character. I mostly saw him as a means to an end in the movie, but this series made him, as well as characters like Luthen Rael, into some of my favorites in Star Wars, joining other characters like Captain Rex and Din Djarin. I never would have expected that from this show, but I'm really glad I was wrong.
I can understand why Andor hasn't gotten the kind of audience of other Star Wars shows like The Mandalorian. It's not as fun as most Star Wars productions, and it's not quite as smart as the more adult shows and films it's emulating. However, I enjoyed watching it, which surprised me, since I was not particularly interested in a show about Cassian Andor (not because I knew he died, but because he wasn't very interesting in Rogue One). All the performances were great, and it looked terrific.
I don’t think you’ll find fans of Andor are saying ‘This is the only thing Star Wars should be…’ but there are plenty of toxic comments saying it isn’t Star Wars. It is a false equivalence. I love all of Star Wars in all it’s forms and they all amplify each other. Fans know this. Andor has made all the classic films better by telling us what life under the empire was really like.
i was really tentative and not excited about Andor but i truly enjoyed a mature interesting character driven Star Wars show and i ABSOLUTELY LOVED the prison arc, i thought it was excellent and the type of show i love
Are you a Respawn Dev?
And Andor is not slow, it's intricate. Breaking Bad was intricate with interweaving plots and a lot of flushed out characters - all while maintaining the human element throughout.... that's why it's the best show to ever be. Andor implements A LOT of the same features. That's why it's so good. Those that didn't like it are the ones that prefer the Marvel type of story -overblown moments of expression being centralized. I do say that if Starwars were to evolve, Andor is the ideal way. There's no mistaking that it has that lasting effect on you after you've seen it. Just like the OGs. The music, the theming, characters, their interwoven fates, it's all golden.
This show is some next level SW content
On the idea of Palpatine eventually appearing - I do think that Mon Mothma's eventual Gorman Massacre speech denouncing the Empire would be SO satisfying if Palpatine is present in the Senate chamber. Mothma lays out all of his misdeeds to his face, and all he can do is sit there with a blank expression, seething while making a mental list of all of the things he plans to do to her afterwards. Then she escapes and he never gets to do any of it.
Otherwise, you really don't need much from him.
such a great show! Watching this after watching RRR (saw it 3x in a week, it’s available on Netflix) was so fantastic because they both are about the oppressed fighting back against imperialism, in both different and similar ways. Maarva’s strong speech in ep 12 inciting the big skirmish reminded me of Bheem’s beautifully poetic and emotional song doing the same in RRR. Two of the best things I’ve seen in ages.