Reviewing Andor
This is a whole new side of Star Wars.
Rogue One is one of the best Star Wars projects to be released since Disney acquired Lucasfilm – and it might be the very best. Packed with action, high stakes, and strong ties to the Skywalker Saga, Rogue One still told its own story that could be enjoyed on its own. A lot of people praised the character of Andor in particular for the sacrifices he’d had to make in the name of the Rebellion. Much of the Skywalker Saga deals in absolutes – the good guys are good and the bad guys are bad, except when they change their minds. Rogue One opened the door to more options in a big way, showing us characters who started fighting dirty in order to achieve a greater good. And that really paved the way for Andor.
If you thought you’d seen the ugly side of the Galactic Empire, Andor is here to tell you otherwise. This show really highlights how the lower class are being absolutely bullied by their galactic overlords – the rich are getting richer while the poor are being ground into the dirt. From Andor’s childhood homeworld Kenari to his grubby new home on Ferrix, to Morlana One (where we start), Aldhani (the robbery arc), and Narkina 5 (the fantastic prison arc) – every one of these locales feel distinct and yet unified in the way that they have been corrupted and sullied by the Empire. The season is a rhythm of tension and release, where ordinary people are continually pushed to their tipping point, and then rebellion strikes. Each story arc focused on a different group, and none of them disappointed. The prison arc in particular (episode 8-10) has got to be one of the best Star Wars stories of all time. Engaging characters, a tightly-written and self-contained narrative, and yet another show-stopping performance from the great Andy Serkis. I’m sure there will be no shortage of fan theories about how his two appearances in the Star Wars universe are somehow connected, though I think this was more about bringing Serkis back to do his thing and less about creating an origin story for Supreme Leader Snoke.
The general consensus seems to be that this show is vastly superior to any other Star Wars project as of late – and I definitely think this trumps Obi-Wan Kenobi and The Book of Boba Fett in terms of narrative quality. Obi-Wan was more fun, but I can’t deny the stupidity of how many times characters escaped certain death. Andor easily rivals The Mandalorian, which is a crown gem of not just Star Wars, but Disney+ itself. While both are excellent, they’re both attempting very different things. The Mandalorian seems intent on making fans’ wildest dreams come true – and to its credit, it’s done this exceedingly well. Andor is more about telling a great story first and listening to the fans later – if at all. There’s no major cameos (unless you count Forrest Whitaker), and the ties to the Skywalker Saga are fairly minimal. Where some have compared The Mandalorian to a couple of kids making up wild situations together with their action figures, Andor is the kid in the dark corner of the room with one toy who refuses to play with anyone else. It’s hard for me to say which is better quality, because they’re both so different. Again, Mandalorian is certainly more fun. But that prison arc was legendary.
Even if you’re not a fan of Star Wars, anyone who’s into political thrillers, spy flicks, or science fiction would be missing a ton to not give this a chance. It’s thought-provoking, gritty, and just plain great storytelling. What a time to be alive!