"The Empire cannot win" has been a line regularly used by the marketing for best Star Wars TV show (at least of the Disney+ originals) only goes further with its depiction of the brutality of the Empire, showing how people on both sides are beginning to crack, and irrevocably changing the subtext of Star Wars.
Andor season 2 is more about Diego Luna's Cassian Andor than season 1 is, but it still frames his story with a rotating roster of ing characters who denote that what's happening is bigger than one person, all with the ever-looming threat of the Death Star hanging over them. Intrigue and tension expertly build and boil over into action and catharsis with each arc. There is plenty more elegant dialogue and an emotional core that will move everyone watching, drawing upon strong historical and political inspirations.
Andor Season 2 Is Not Completely Devoid Of Pacing & Character Problems
People Are Definitely Going To Wonder If Andor Just Needed More Screen Time
I was impressed with Andor season 1 and season 2 largely lives up to expectations, so I will get the bad parts out of the way. There are occasionally illogical and irritating character decisions made — including one death that left a sour taste in my mouth — that disrupt some storylines. They are mostly minor flaws, though, since it is often at least possible to justify them. But the big one to discuss is this season's time jumps, ittedly with a nice nod to last season to herald each one.
Given how pressed for time the writers are, I really noticed it when something was dragging on, and I am still deliberating on whether this show needed a third season. It has to imply a lot that happens in the year that es between every three-episode arc, and I would have liked to see some of these events further clarified. Ultimately, though, Andor achieves what it set out to do in covering a broader timeline, organically showing how the Rebellion and the characters evolve, even if it's still missing out on a few valuable things.
Andor's Characters Go Through Some Heartbreaking Storylines That Serve The Bigger Narrative
Andor Continues To Show A Varied, Grounded Vision Of The Iconic Rebellion
Andor is still deeply invested in how rebellions happen on an individual and a collective level, maintaining its complexity with the turns Cassian's arc takes after season 1's seemingly definitive ending. In short, Cassian is still a multidimensional person who faces fresh horrors and is figuring out his place in this movement. Diego Luna portrays a seamless duality that demonstrates how Cassian is a ruthlessly good insurrectionist alongside all that inner turmoil. The arc for Cassian's love interest, Bix Caleen (thoughtfully played by Adria Arjona), is a welcome anchor for the overall story.
Yet despite all their missions of galaxy-wide consequence, there is a humanity to these characters with the small moments of happiness that puncture the dark tone.
Meanwhile, Genevieve O'Reilly has cemented her place as the definitive portrayer of Mon Mothma. Aside from her grandiose public speaking moments, there is that hectic, perfectly shot party scene, which I found to be representative of a theme in this season about the madness of rebellion. O'Reilly has delivered an essentially flawless performance of eloquence and vulnerability. Luthen Rael's arc, still deliciously performed by Stellan Skarsgård, ends somewhat subversively, finalizing this series' commentary on the revolutionaries who take extreme measures to bring about an empire's downfall.
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Andor's cast is brilliant overall, making the moments of doubt, heartache, and sacrifice work. A catalog of individual character moments grants us insight into personal codes and beliefs that form amid this war, which amount to a kaleidoscopic view of the Rebellion and its various avenues to victory. Yet despite all their missions of galaxy-wide consequence, there is a humanity to these characters, with the small moments of happiness that puncture the dark tone.
Andor Season 2 Depicts Star Wars' Biggest Unseen Event In Staggering Fashion
Andor Pushes Its Themes Forward With The Ghorman Massacre & Surrounding Events
The Rebellion is shown to have many moving pieces and agreeing is often difficult. Tensions of class and experience play into the plans of the Empire and Rebellion (a subtle element that could have been pushed further). However, the localized storylines are all unfolding against the backdrop of the Ghorman Massacre, which is undoubtedly the prison arc of season 2. It is another harrowing illustration of the nature of imperialism and fascism. The effect of the devastating event is then bolstered by this show's continued commitment to some of the best design and cinematography in the Star Wars franchise.
The localized storylines are all unfolding against the backdrop of the Ghorman Massacre, which is undoubtedly the prison arc of season 2.
While each episode flows smoothly — typically by cutting back and forth between two scenes for a while to offer thematic contrast (better at some points than at others) — the coverage of different people involved in one event in a single place is just as compelling and conveys the terror and chaos. The Ghorman arc is a credit to the entire writing team when it spans several episodes. Overall, Andor's detachment from the rest of the Star Wars mythos has allowed it to actually develop places like Ferrix, Aldhani, and Ghorman, making their losses a real tragedy.
Andor Leaves Its Mark On Star Wars Before Masterfully Handing Things Over To Rogue One
Andor Is Ultimately Beholden To Rogue One: A Star Wars Story & It's Only Better For It
I'm not entirely arguing that Andor season 3 was necessary because the sophomore outing is so perfectly framed, allowing it to stand apart from the first season while interacting with it and what comes next. As d, season 2 goes right up to where Rogue One begins and incorporates more characters from 2016's standalone film throughout. Because the Andor team avoids fan service and the traditional markers of Star Wars is a well-established aspect of the show, the obligation to acknowledge other projects is tricky.
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Director Krennic (Ben Mendelsohn), the villain from Rogue One, weaves in and out of the story in ways that make sense, and when he is at the top of the villain food chain in Andor's narrative scope, Mendelsohn is freed to be a bit more maniacal. Although underused, K-2SO (Alan Tudyk) and Melshi (Duncan Pow) show up pretty much exactly when we need them to save us from complete despair. Nothing feels like a forced Easter egg, but careful nods crafting a story of entwined people and ideas crossing paths by chance.
Andor season 2 certainly does change Rogue One, and how the two projects fit together is extraordinary. Thus, Andor finishes its work in doubling down on what Rogue One started, pushing Star Wars beyond its old boundaries for a potency and relevance that none of its other properties have ever achieved.
Andor is a Star Wars prequel series set before the events of Rogue One, following Cassian Andor as he navigates a world of danger and deception. The series delves into his transformation into a pivotal figure in the struggle against the Galactic Empire.
- Cast
- Andy Serkis, Anton Valensi, Brian Bovell, Clemens Schick, Gary Beadle, Josh Herdman, Kathleen Kennedy, Lee Boardman, Lee Ross, Lucy Russell, Malcolm Sinclair, Matt Dunkley, Michael Jenn, Richard Dillane, Rupert Vansittart, Stanley Townsend, Tim Faraday, Tony Gilroy, Chike Chan, Joshua James, Andy Gathergood
- Showrunner
- Tony Gilroy
- Franchise(s)
- Star Wars
- Creator(s)
- Tony Gilroy
- The arcs of how complex, human characters adapt to the Rebellion are never simple
- The framing of this season in the context of Rogue One only strengthens its themes
- Overall stellar production quality and powerful performances that heighten the intense atmosphere
- Still Star Wars? most gritty and realistic project, with evident historical influence
- The structure means that we miss out on some stuff, while a few story beats could have been tighter to make more screen time
