“Andor” is the show that Star Wars fans have been waiting for. It’s the “grown-up Star Wars,” perfect for longtime fans or those who gave up on the franchise years ago.
“Andor” follows the smuggler-turned-rebel Cassian Andor five years before the events of “Rogue One.” As he becomes involved with the Rebel Alliance, He meets characters like Luthen Rael, played by Stellan Skarsgård, a soldier-turned-conman working for the rebellion, and reunites with Bix Caleen, his love interest who chooses the rebellion for both herself and Cassian. Brix is portrayed by Adria Arjona.
The series is structured as a limited series with 12 episodes per season, divided between the four years leading up to “Rogue One” and the battle of Yavin in “A New Hope.” Season one spans a single year, featuring standout arcs like Cassian’s escape from Narcina 5, an imperial prison run by the Empire. In this arc, he teams up with Melshi, a fellow inmate who later helps him in the rebellion in “Rogue One.” Together, they discover how the prison operates, particularly the consequences for those attempting to escape.
Season two focuses more on how the rebellion begins and how poorly the Empire is run as it builds the Death Star. The season included several standout episodes, some of which will make everyone bawl their eyes out.
Some may argue that “Andor” isn’t the best “Star Wars” show of all time compared to “The Mandalorian.” I beg to differ. It has the best storytelling and character development of any series, with every character that wins the audience over, especially Dedra.
The reason for comparing “Andor” to “The Mandalorian” is that “Andor’s” two seasons are more compelling in terms of storytelling. In contrast, “The Mandalorian” lost its focus due to a lack of coherent narrative writing. The latter was geared more toward the new generation of “Star Wars” fans who will end up falling in love with Grogu and the more child-friendly tone.
Pedro Pascal is the best part of “The Mandalorian,” but a lot of the show just felt too cheesy. The dialogue versus the action scenes felt almost AI-generated in the latest season, making it predictable. Meanwhile, “Andor” stayed more interesting because the characters’ actions felt purposeful as they carried out their plan for the rebellion.
Another comparison can be made with “Ahsoka.” While “Ahsoka” has characters that are less compelling to the storyline, some of the acting, like Rosario Dawson’s fight choreography with the late Ray Stevenson, was not on par compared to the acting in “Andor.” One of the best pieces of dialogue that deserves to be studied in film classes is Luthen Rael’s monologue in season one, episode 10. In that scene, he tells Lonnie, a rebel spy for the Empire, “I’ve made my mind a sunless space. I share my dreams with ghosts.” The entire monologue is so captivating that it makes the show worth watching. “Andor” received eight Emmy nominations, including Best Drama series, while “Ahsoka” had five, including Outstanding Visual Effects.
When it comes to character development, “Andors” stands out from other “Star Wars” series. It features some of the most compelling characters, including cameos from “Rogue One.” For those who have seen both, the ending hits even harder.
The character development of Syril, played by Emmy-nominee hopeful Kyle Soller, and Bix is absolutely incredible. In season one, Bix experiences turmoil after being tortured by Empire enforcers. She spends most of season two recovering while helping Cassian as much as she can.
The same goes for Mon Mothma, played by Genevieve O’Reilly. Between season one and season two, her arc shifts as she tries to help the rebels defy the Empire.
Because Syril is a part of the Empire force, it’s harder to root for him in season one. But in season two, he stages an emotional redemption arc as he comes to terms with the truth.
“Andor” offers nostalgia to any “Star Wars” fan and reignites excitement around the franchise as a whole. It is the only show everyone will be talking about.
Author
As Rhiannon had done journalism in the past for her high school. She hopes to continue that path through the Collegian.
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