‘Star Wars: Andor’ Season One is Finished and We’re Desperate for More
From self-interested smuggler to fully radicalized rebel recruit, Andor season one is over. And we’d like season two right now, thanks.
The first season of Andor has officially come to a close, post-credit scene and all. And as of November 20th the second season has already started shooting, so we have the continuing story of Cassian Andor to look forward to. This was a show that felt like the backlot for the rest of the Star Wars galaxy. It was full of small references, and big moves throughout the galaxy, and explored characters and parts of the Star Wars story we don’t often look at. And personally, I loved it.
This article is full of spoilers for season 1 of ‘Andor’, so proceed with caution!
The Good
Star Wars is usually easy to predict. The stories are circular and full of references and like poetry, plot points always seem to rhyme. Sometimes it makes the stories dull and predictable. But at other times, when it’s done right, it makes for a story that’s truly beautiful. Andor was sometimes predictable (we all knew what those widgets they were making in the jail were for, right?) but this was almost always in a way that felt like singing along with an old song. We know where it’s going even if we don’t have all of the words.
At other times, it was entirely impossible to predict. Only three or four characters were wearing the plot armor of appearing later in the Star Wars timeline and rebellions are messy. People were going to get hurt. And they did. Andor didn’t shy away from this. This was a show that was rooted in Star Wars‘ closest approximation to realism. Characters we liked died, quietly had panic attacks, or dealt with bad family lives. There was prison slave labor and a fascist occupation and spies who were afraid for their families. Star Wars as an IP usually gives us space wizards and stories so hopeful that they may as well be fairy tales. But Andor showed us the bleaker side of the same war and the side that much more accurately mirrored real events in our own world.
This show also did a lot to make us understand the different cultures around the galaxy. The costuming alone whispered entire stories about the characters wearing them. Vel and Luthen’s wardrobe transitions depending on where they were and who they were talking to was brilliant. Every character’s style was incredibly purposeful, though. And in twelve short episodes, we’ve almost learned more about the cultures of Ferrix and Chandrila than we learned about Tatooine since 1977.
The Bad
Andor suffers from the same issue Wandavision did: it starts really slow. Slow enough that I had to tell people (my parents) to sit tight through the first three because the rest will make those worth it and more. Everything that happens in those first few episodes ends up being important and comes back around at the end; there’s no wasted time or meaningless lines in Andor. But if you’re hoping the beginning will hook you, it honestly probably won’t. And this can be a problem. Nobody wants to force themselves to plow through an hour and a half worth of television in the hope of something more enjoyable after.
My hope is that- like Wandavision– seeing where the entire thing is going and coming back for the first few episodes a second time will help us see all of the pins they were setting up for the brilliance they were. I suppose time, and a rewatch, will tell.
There are also a ton of characters and different plot lines. It can be a lot to keep organized in your head if you aren’t a huge fan of the galaxy already. For the most part, characters are contained with one or two through-lines. But While The Mandaorian and Obi-Wan Kenobi focused on a small cast of core characters, Andor showed us how big the early days of the rebellion truly is
The Rating
I’ve been saying this for weeks, but Andor may be the best live-action thing to come out of the Star Wars camp in years and years. Every week I looked forward to seeing the next episode, and every week I was left wanting more. Including the season finale. This was a Star Wars show that relied very little on big character cameos and audience hand-holding. Everything about this season felt purposeful, no matter how subtly done. And every time I realized exactly where the show was headed next felt like a gut punch. I so infrequently finish a show and immediately think, “I’d like to watch that again right away,” but I want to watch Andor again right now.
What did you think of this season of Andor? Are you already excited for season two and maybe the introduction of Kaytoo? Will you be giving Andor a re-watch? Let us know in the comments!
May The Force Be With You, Adventurers!
