Written By: Anna Sumner (’25)
At first glance, Andor seems like yet another Disney+ spinoff based on a semi-important character from another movie that few people have seen. If you were to make assumptions based on this formula, Andor would be mildly entertaining mediocrity. Andor is not that. Andor is a refreshingly mature take on the Star Wars universe that probes and deepens the franchise’s conventions by adding much-needed nuance. It is a prequel to Rogue One and acts as part political drama and part spy thriller. The only foreknowledge required for this viewing is familiarity with the Original and Prequel Trilogy. Andor follows the titular character Cassian Andor, played by Deigo Luna (reprising his role from Rogue One), and the rise of the Rebellion. It takes a closer look at the lives of (relatively) ordinary people under a totalitarian government (The Empire), and dives into the ultimate fragility of totalitarianism. Andor presents the Empire and the Rebellion less straightforwardly than the Original Trilogy. The Rebellion consists of disconnected acts of resistance, with the characters being just as much terrorists as freedom fighters. None of the characters feel cliché–they are grounded, nuanced, and conflicted. Even the characters on the same side experience a range of motivations, from the idealistic manifesto-writing Nemik to the cynical, do-what-must-be-done Luthen. The Empire is still portrayed as evil, but its oppression is shown in such personal and frightening ways that the writers must have drawn from history. The Imperial (or adjacent) characters span a similar range of motives and backgrounds. While all the characters are compelling, I would like to especially highlight the characters of Syril Karne and Dedra Meero, and how their desperation for power because of their youth and lack of status makes them especially frightening in their cruelty. In general, the Empire feels frightening and oppressive, in a way that few other Star Wars media captures. One particular highlight is the scene where the TIE Fighter flies overhead the rebel group. It created more anxiety and tension over a single TIE Fighter than I’ve felt with entire space battles in other Star Wars media. As with the rest of the Disney+ catalog, the visuals are stunning, but I’d like to complement the art direction, as things feel gritty, lived in, and have a certain weight to them. Another profoundly good aspect is the writing and dialogue, there are some truly breathtaking monologues. It’s realistic and carefully crafted, giving each character a unique voice. The pacing can be slow, especially in the first two episodes, as characters and the world are established and developed. However, this results in multiple climatic payoffs, and a deep understanding of the characters and world, with an incredible finale. As this is only the first season, some character arcs are left unfinished, but even as-is, the show is certainly worth a watch. ★
