- Also known as Star Wars: Andor and Andor: A Star Wars Story
- Created by Tony Gilroy
- September 21, 2022 to present
- Based on Star Wars created by George Lucas
- Disney+
Main Cast
- Cassian Andor-Diego Luna
- Luthen Rael-Stellan Skarsgård
- Mon Mothma-Genevieve O’Reilly
- Bix Caleen-Adria Arjona
- Syril Karn-Kyle Soller
- Dedra Meero-Denise Gough
- Vel Sartha-Faye Marsay
- Cinta Kaz-Varada Sethu
- Kleya Marki-Elizabeth Dulau
- Orson Krennic-Ben Mendelsohn
Guest Cast
- Brasso-Joplin Sibtain
- Eedy Karn-Kathryn Hunter
- Perrin Fertha-Alastair Mackenzie
- Major Partagaz-Anton Lesser
- Tay Kolma-Ben Miles
- Davo Sculdun-Richard Dillane
- B2EMO-voice of Dave Chapman
A thief becomes a revolutionary and eventually joins the Rebellion.
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The first season of Andor was like nothing before in Star Wars. It took the feel of Rogue One and really ran with it. Yet it fit nicely into the realm of Star Wars. It was just a different corner of that world. It gets right so much that others got wrong and gives us something that’s connected yet stands alone.
I have high hopes for this coming season of Andor. Season One impressed me. I hope to feel the same about Season Two.
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One Year Later
- Directed by Ariel Kleiman
- Written by Tony Gilroy
- April 22, 2025
One year after the Ferrix revolt, Cassian is sent to impersonate an Imperial test pilot to steal a prototype of a new TIE fighter that the Empire is developing.
Andor begins with Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) having infiltrated an Imperial facility as a test pilot. No big action sequences. No crawl. Just a quiet establishing shot of a tech working and some very weighty dialogue between Andor and his contact.
I am bothered by the perpetually scruffy Diego Luna passing as a test pilot. Name the last time you saw a poorly groomed Imperial character. Never. Not even on a backwater planet. For me it is a nuisance. But the episode doesn’t eschew the standard Star Wars tropes. What it does is give them a unique Andor spin. He encounters trouble as is often the case in Star Wars and must fight his way out in a way that feels very Star Wars yet much more serious.
While Andor is most certainly the main character, this episode effortlessly switches between multiple stories and cast members. The episode moves between several separate stories yet never feels it’s shortchanging any of them. Each is given enough time to breathe before moving on leaving you wanting more.
Mon Mothma (Genevieve O’Reilly) was a pretty minor character in A New Hope but continues her rise in importance and growth in complexity. Her story is about intrigue mixed with personal complexities. Orson Krennic’s (Ben Mendelsohn) return was welcome. Not necessarily my favorite character but a worthy and logical addition to the show. You almost really couldn’t do a second season of Andor without him making at least a brief cameo.
With it being a Star Wars show with a significant cast there were scenes on several planets in this episode alone. I don’t think it is necessary to name specific areas on these planets. Just give us the planet name to let us know you’re in a different location. I don’t need to know that it’s the such and such a pass on a particular planet.
For depth One Year Later touches on energy independence and how propaganda is used to sway public opinion to the side of the government. When has Star Wars ever done that? It’s very meaty for an episode of a television series built around a space opera! There is no deep philosophical discussion but adds to the complexity of the narrative.
If there’s anything wrong with this episode it’s that it doesn’t provide enough of a recap on what happened in the prior season. I found myself a little lost on who characters were and their connections to others. It’s my own fault for not re-watching Season One but some blame is at the feet of the people behind this for not doing something to refresh our memories. You should not need to do a rewatch to understand.
One Year Later was excellent. Different yet a perfect fit for Star Wars.
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Sagrona Teema
- Directed by Ariel Kleiman
- Written by Tony Gilroy
- April 22, 2025
The situation among the members of the Maya Pei Brigade degrades as the group splits into two with Cassian being held prisoner.
Sagrona Teema dives into the chaos of the stranded Rebels on the planet (Yavin 4) where the exchange of the prototype fighter was to occur. These are not competent people even though they are a known group. They easily turn on each other and have no real idea of fighting. It almost makes you wonder how they even became known. After a while it became hard to take them seriously.
The storyline involving Imperial Security Bureau supervisor Dedra Meero (Denise Gough) is more interesting. Major Partagaz (Anton Lesser) is still interesting since he is just doing his job. He’s not necessarily evil or good. His relationship with Dedra is virtually fatherly. He gives her sound and solid advice on her position. It’s great acting and great writing.
The storyline on Mina-Rau is good but the weakest. A lot of talking because of the Imperial audit going on as Bix, Brasso, and Wil try to remain hidden. It does get as much as it can from it. Mon Mothma (Genevieve O’Reilly) and her husband with the tension rather authentic. She is also facing serious personal issues.
Sagrona Teema does what the last episode did and gives attention to multiple storylines without shortchanging any of them. We even get a dive into Dedra and Syril (Kyle Soller) who are now married. This episode engages in some great world building and great acting. Together it makes something that should be relatively boring because of its talking and significant lack of action that’s not boring.
Despite my issues with the incompetent Rebels, Sagrona Teema is a nice continuation of this particular corner of the Star Wars saga.
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Harvest
- Directed by Ariel Kleiman
- Written by Tony Gilroy
- April 22, 2025
Cassian learns his friends are in danger on Mina-Rau
Harvest dives a little more into the personal conflicts and focuses on Dedra (Denise Gough) and the tightly wound Syril (Kyle Soller). I had forgotten completely about his mother Eedy (Kathryn Hunter). What a delicious character and quite the antithesis of the general Star Wars character. But the whole dynamic in this portion of the episode is unique. I could’ve watched a single episode about that alone.
The acting in the dialogue was biting. Barbs were used without being done openly so. Syril and Dedra interacting with another was interesting. She cares for him but almost in a paternal way which is the antithesis of what his early life was like. Poor Syril is clearly irreparably damaged.
Implications of sex are one thing but overt instances of sexual assault are another. Star Wars built itself on being family friendly in a way that didn’t talk down to the audience but treated children and adults on the same level. It’s one thing to imply it happened. It’s another to actually show a guy trying to rape a woman. That idea was not wrong. It was the showing thereof.
Up until this point Andor was something you could watch with your kids or by yourself. A more serious and mature Star Wars but still something that you could sit down without having to explain much of anything to your kids. It was well done, but I don’t think it was appropriate for this fictional universe.
The storyline on Mina-Rau gets into undocumented immigration. Star Wars was originally a good versus evil story with the Empire clearly being Nazis. It was rare that it got into something deeper but on Mina-Rau the Empire stands in for ICE while the Rebels are undocumented immigrants though in reality they’re just fugitives hiding from the Empire.
The Mon Mothma (Genevieve O’Reilly) storyline is good for the political intrigue though it ends weirdly at the wedding party with her dancing to electronic techno music. All she’s missing are some glow sticks. Was she hitting some spice from Kessel? Just because this is science-fiction doesn’t mean a rich person of importance would askew musical instruments in favor of off brand Sy Snootles and the Max Rebo Band music.
I am conflicted. I like some but other aspects not so much. Not a deal breaker yet.
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So far I am enjoying season two of Andor. It’s a darker side of the Star Wars universe that doesn’t feel completely out of place with complex characters and difficult situations that touch on real world elements to give it added depth.
Though concerned, I look forward to the rest of the show.
Warren Watched A Movie 