Andor Season 1 review
The first season of Andor, the latest addition to the Star Wars canon, is a departure from its fellow Disney+ series set in a galaxy far, far away. Lightsabertoting Jedi, evil emperors bent on ruling the universe, and cute merchandising opportunities are nowhere to be seen. It is a more grounded, mature affair than the pulpy science-fantasy that one usually finds in the mainline Star Wars films or shows like The Mandalorian. While that may be a detriment to some fans, Andor uses this new point-of-view to expand upon themes explored in George Lucas’s first three Star Wars films. It takes its time to craft a nuanced cast of characters and places them in tension-filled situations in which no one other than the titular Andor is safe. The result is, depending on if one does not mind the methodical pace that Andor takes to build its characters and world, some of the best Star Wars that has come out under the Disney banner.
Andor is largely shot on location or in handmade sets, and this goes a long way in establishing the more gritty side of the galaxy. Action set pieces are able to breathe, whereas they sometimes felt cramped and restricted in shows like The Book of Boba Fett or Obi-Wan Kenobi.
The acting in the show is also top notch, a necessity for a character-driven thriller such as this. Stellan Skarsgård as rebel mastermind Luthen Rael and Genenieve O’Reilly as senator Mon Mothma, somehow standout amongst a cast that does an incredible job convincing the audience of the authenticity of each of their characters.
Unlike its predecessors, Andor is a show that takes its time. Scenes of the Mandalorian blasting away faceless stormtroopers or a Jedi cutting down his hundredth battle droid are replaced with tension building character interactions. While this may lead to some getting bored, those who remain will be rewarded with some of the most intense action that Star Wars has seen. Each of the series’ arcs culminate in pulse-pounding, action filled finales that greatly benefit from the show taking its time to build the characters involved in those scenes before thrusting them into danger.
Andor explores similar themes surrounding authoritarian governments and imperialism as the original Star Wars films, but does so from the point of view of the galaxy’s average citizens rather than its mythological heroes. It depicts labyrinthian bureaucracies that can force ordinary people to commit atrocities while just following orders, trying to climb the bureaucratic ladder, or in an attempt to uphold a justice they know in theory alone. Unlike most of the stories told in this galaxy since Disney acquired the property, Andor has something to say, and its message, story, and characters are so intertwined it comes across in a masterful manner.
Score: 9/10
