Why ‘Andor’ is the Best Star Wars Series You Haven’t Watched Yet!

by

Since the second season of Andor premieres on April 22, 2025, I thought it would be fitting to post my thoughts about the first season now. Here we go with the review!

Among the many things I cherish about George Lucas’ “Star Wars” universe is its immense scale, which allows for a diverse range of stories to be told within it. The Expanded Universe, in particular, offered this opportunity, even if not every tale resonated with me. A key factor was always whether a story contributed to the richness of George’s world. For instance, Timothy Zahn masterfully portrayed the Imperial forces as formidable adversaries, while Michael Stackpole’s “X-Wing” novel series delved into the thrilling exploits of Rebel and Republic pilots. More recently, the first two seasons of “The Mandalorian,” “Rogue One,” and portions of “Solo” have captivated me by making the world feel authentic and inhabited. Since then, I’ve found myself fully drawn into “Andor” as well.

In the creation and writing of Tony Gilroy, who is also renowned for directing Rogue One, comes the series Andor. This series narrates the transformative journey of Cassian Andor (played by Diego Luna), starting as a carefree rebel to one with a clear purpose. What a rollercoaster ride it is! The initial three episodes of this 12-episode series primarily delve into his roots: an orphan boy, adopted by scavengers Maarva and Clem Andor, living on the planet Ferrix. This Outer Rim world, known for its agricultural activities and dismantling of derelict spaceships in scrapyards, appears to offer Cassian little hope. However, amidst these humdrum circumstances, he pursues his long-lost sister’s search, an endeavor that sets him on a fateful path when he slays two corporate security guards who were bothering him. These incidents lead to a climactic showdown with corporate security, led by the ardent but inexperienced Deputy Inspector Syril Karn (played competently by Kyle Soller). Cassian eventually encounters an offer for employment from a clandestine Rebel spymaster—Luthen Rael, portrayed by Stellan Skarsgård. This initiates a thrilling journey involving a daring heist, an Imperial prison, and ultimately back to Ferrix, where it all started. Throughout this adventure, Cassian witnesses the Empire’s atrocities and resolves to become a rebel with purpose.

As Cassian’s story unfolds, we get a glimpse into the early stages of the Rebel Alliance and its various factions, with Senator Mon Mothma (Genevieve O’Reilly) being one of the main characters highlighted. She is clever, captivating, thoughtful, and resourceful, displaying layers of complexity in her character. However, her representation in Ahsoka seemed like a stark contrast—truly unfortunate.

From the Imperial perspective, we get a glimpse into the inner workings of the Empire that extend beyond its intimidating Star Destroyers and Stormtroopers. Since Palpatine’s massive army cannot be present everywhere simultaneously, security is delegated to corporations such as Preox-Morlana. The ISB (Imperial Security Bureau), the Empire’s covert police and law enforcement agency, is responsible for enforcing Palpatine’s wishes. In this context, we encounter Supervisor Dedra Meero (played by Denise Gough), a formidable adversary who climbs the ranks while pursuing rebels, eventually encountering Andor. The show effectively portrays Imperials as capable antagonists.

Instead of providing an exhaustive analysis on each episode, I’d prefer to highlight that this series is truly captivating, making it more than worthwhile to watch. Though some might argue its initial pace is leisurely, reminiscent of the slow development in classical music where themes gradually intensify into a magnificent climax.

As for the central themes, they resonate powerfully with George Lucas’ original creations: oppressive governments exploiting fear to control their people and the catalyst that fuels widespread rebellion—themes that have persisted throughout history. Characters like Luthen Rael and Maarva deliver speeches so compelling that they almost sway this Imperial sympathizer towards joining the Rebellion, though not quite yet.

I’d like to extend my compliments to the team behind the scenes and the talented cast for delivering exceptional work in this series. The acting is superb, and without reservation, I can say it surpasses other Star Wars series on Disney+. Particularly impressive are performances by Stellan Skarsgård, Genevieve O’Reilly, and Andy Serkis as Kino Loy. Notably, minor characters also deliver strong performances. Anton Lesser convincingly portrays an Imperial bureaucrat as ISB Major Partagaz. The visual sets are appealing and capture the essence of Star Wars. It’s clear that they made good use of their reported $250 million budget. Nicholas Britell’s score is remarkable; it successfully creates a unique identity for the show while incorporating familiar John Williams themes.

For me, one potential drawback lies in the mentions of places from future installments, as it hints at the eventual connection to those stories. However, I’ve managed to set that aside due to how much I enjoy the series – but it’s merely a personal issue I have with it.

Although it had a sluggish beginning and left a loose end unresolved, I believe this Disney+ Star Wars series stands out as the best-written so far. As an older fan, I value its more mature approach. Though the original trilogy remains my ultimate favorite, it’s gratifying to have this quality production to look forward to. I strongly suggest giving season one a watch, and I can’t wait to share my thoughts on Season 2 with you!

Read More

2025-04-14 23:15