“Andor” proves space wizards aren’t what makes “Star Wars” good
I know some of you clicked on this link just because I sent it to you. You don't care about "Star Wars." The terms Jedi, the Force, Sith, or lightsaber do nothing to excite you into watching a movie or TV show. If this is you, I beg you to stick with me here because if "Star Wars" is not really your thing, then I have just the "Star Wars'' show for you.
"Andor" follows Cassian Andon (Diego Luna.) and the birth of the rebellion that would take down the Empire in the original movies.
The things one traditionally associates with "Star Wars" are largely absent from this show. This show is not about the Jedi vs. the Sith. This is a show about how people responded to fascism and oppression. Even though this show was written and filmed a while ago, at times, it has scarcely accurate parallels to 2025. This show should not work. It serves as a prequel to "Rebel One," which is a prequel to "Star Wars: A New Hope." Cassion Andor is not even the main character of "Rebel One," and we know how his story ends.
And yet, it is one of the most engaging and well-crafted pieces of "Star Wars" media ever made.
A lot of the credit goes to creator Tony Gilroy. He did some rewrites of the "Rogue One" script and was the second unit director for five weeks of reshoots. His contributions made that movie what it was. With "Andor," he has Disney money and complete creative control. With the help of incredible writers and directors, he tells a compelling story of fascism and the growing rebellion to fight back. Season 2, in particular, has been something special. The episodes were released in four chunks of three episodes a piece, each set one year later than the previous one. The last episode takes us to moments before "Rogue One." It is beautiful.
"But Matt," I hear you saying, "I couldn't care less about Star Wars." Let me reiterate: You don't need to. It helps, but this is the story of many different real-world rebellions. The French resistance in WWII was the model for a group on the planet Ghorman. If the "Star Wars" elements were removed, I believe it would barely change the show. That is how well-crafted it is. It proves that "Star Wars" doesn't have to involve epic space battles or anyone named Skywalker just to be deemed worthwhile. This is gritty, dirty, street-level, and full of small acts for the greater good.
The characters are incredible and have much more depth than most in this universe. Cassian is reluctantly pulled into the burgeoning rebellion and, in this season, wants to get out and just live his life with his partner, Bix (Adria Arjona), but can't. Bix herself gets tortured in season one and almost assaulted in season two but ends up finding strength in fighting back. Luthen (Stellan Skarsgard) is the mind behind the rebellion, but he knows that for it to succeed, he needs to do bad things. In season one, he says that he uses the tools of his enemies against them, and he knows he is dammed for it. This show even manages to give us two compelling Imperial characters. Syril Karn (Kyle Soller) and Dedra Meero (Denise Gough) are steadfast in their belief that the Empire is right and don't see that they are pawns in a larger game.
"Andor" is one of the greatest TV shows of all time. It interweaves so many stories. We see the interworkings of the Empire as well as some of the darker things that needed to be done to combat them. If you enjoy spies, heists, political intrigue, and stories of hope in the face of a powerful enemy, then this is worth your time.
Both seasons of "Andor" are on Disney+
