Roughly two and a half years after its first season aired, Star Wars Andor, the fiercely political sequence starring Diego Luna who reprises the function of Cassian Andor he first performed in Rogue One, has returned for its second and last season. Overseen by Michael Clayton director Tony Gilroy, the present has an uncommon launch schedule this season: every Tuesday for the following few weeks, three new episodes will drop.
This week’s premiere, which kicked off the season with its first three episodes, gave us masses to speak about, and left us excited to see the place issues are going to go from right here.
Ethan Gach: Cassian Andor has by no means felt extra relatable to me as when he acquired into the cockpit of that new prototype tie-fighter and couldn’t determine learn how to cease it from defaulting to inverted controls. Realizing he would hit “skip” in the beginning of each recreation’s tutorial as effectively appears like an essential window into his character.
Carolyn Petit: That was a wild and enjoyable second, one which made me need to play TIE Fighter once more! (I used to be fairly confused as to why Cassian hadn’t gotten coaching on learn how to fly the rattling factor beforehand although, however this wound up being defined later.)
And what I like about that complete intro sequence is that I feel it really works as a type of microcosm of what makes Andor such a compelling and sensible present. It has “enjoyable” moments which can be uniquely Star Wars however they’re supported by storytelling that basically foregrounds the political battle that has all the time been current within the sequence.
Proper earlier than that scene with the TIE, Cassian speaks to an Imperial technician who has aided him at nice private threat to herself. She asks him a really cheap query: “If I die tonight, was it price it?” He offers her an attractive reply, one that features the phrases, “You’ll by no means really feel proper except you’re doing what you’ll be able to to cease them. You’re coming house to your self.” It’s so true, I feel. So many people are struggling proper now with the potential threat concerned in standing as much as the malevolent political forces in our personal world, however on the similar time, not doing one thing means dropping ourselves as a result of we’re not being true to our personal ethical core.
Andor is aware of that performing in solidarity is gorgeous and that generally folks should make some horrible sacrifices. And it confronts us with all of this a couple of minutes earlier than giving us the virtually comical motion of Cassian making an attempt to come back to grips with the rattling ship and mowing down heaps of stormtroopers within the course of!
Zack Zwiezen: It was a very sturdy begin to the present that immediately reminded viewers of what Andor is basically about, confirmed us how a lot he has grown in a yr, and in addition allowed the sequence to incorporate a enjoyable Star Wars journey of stealing a TIE Fighter and barely escaping. Excellent opening to a brand new season. Different writers and showrunners ought to take notes.
EG: That second with the technician is without doubt one of the stronger scenes in your entire opening chapter (first three episodes) and an essential ingredient of humanity that type of underlies the entire mission and grounds it, which is that even the large dangerous galactic empire is stuffed with folks simply ready to be tipped over the sting into rebelling.
For each collaborator there’s somebody prepared to abandon. The opening episodes actually do a fantastic job of teetering backwards and forwards between hope and despair, not simply due to the insurmountable odds but additionally due to the grim, darkish, and even immoral sacrifices made to try to even them.
CP: That’s proper. It doesn’t attempt to cut back or simplify issues morally or in human phrases, one thing Star Wars, a sequence that’s broadly about good vs. evil, “mild” and “darkish,” has arguably achieved at occasions previously.
In actual fact Andor is all about acknowledging the complexities, the truth that solidarity doesn’t all the time imply working alongside folks you’re in complete ideological lockstep and ideal concord with; generally it means working with folks you might have fierce disagreements with about some issues, however you’re aligned on one key precept or purpose and also you let that be sufficient.
There positive are some terrible folks within the Empire, although; I proceed to significantly detest that smarmy bureaucrat Syril, as an illustration.
And I used to be stunned to see, in what I feel is a primary for Star Wars as a sequence, Andor referring to how the fascist oppression of teams of individuals and sexual violence in opposition to ladies traditionally go hand in hand, with that vile Imperial officer Krole trying to rape Bix. It was chilling, however I feel Andor’s severe dealing with of its subject material earned it the proper to go there.
As for these “immoral” sacrifices you talked about, what can I say? I like Luthen, and his willingness to do no matter he feels defending the Rebel calls for. Him telling Mon Mothma “How good for you” after he mainly tells her, in his coded approach, that he’s gonna should take a sure legal responsibility out of the image and she or he acts like she doesn’t fairly perceive what he’s saying is such a fantastic second, solely made higher by her making an attempt to lose herself in booze and music proper afterwards as some a part of her struggled with the painful realization that her dedication to this revolt had ethical calls for that went past even what she’d beforehand imagined.
ZZ: I additionally liked the way in which Andor continues to indicate that the revolt wasn’t some completely organized group of individuals all on the identical web page within the combat in opposition to the Empire.
Watching that ragtag group of rebels break into arguments after which get right into a protracted stand-off was an ideal reminder that a part of the issue you face when preventing big organized fascist empires is that you just are likely to have numerous numerous folks and concepts making an attempt to work collectively. And that may trigger individuals who needs to be on the identical facet to activate one another
I additionally suppose it’s fascinating that for a present named Andor, he’s not that large part of the primary three episodes.
CP: Yeah! In that sense, these first three episodes did really feel a bit like set-up, placing Cassian himself to the facet a bit so they might each concentrate on laying the groundwork for Mon Mothma’s arc (I proceed to be so impressed by the complexity of Genevieve O’Reilly’s efficiency) and with a purpose to plant the seeds for…one thing (ahem) to occur on Ghorman afterward.
ZZ: Man, O’Reilly’s efficiency in that is so good. Who may have guessed that the actress George Lucas picked to play Mon Mothma—primarily as a result of she seemed so related—for just a few scenes that had been principally deleted from Revenge of the Sith would go on to be so unbelievable 20 years later.
Additionally, they need to completely add that scene again into Revenge of the Sith. It’s a superb scene and it will join the films to Andor in a enjoyable approach for folks going again and re-watching them post-Andor.
CP: It was actually cool (in a horrifying approach) listening to these Imperial propaganda consultants speak concerning the methods by which they manipulate galactic opinion about Ghormans by leaning into and perpetuating unfavourable stereotypes, one other factor that Andor takes proper from the historical past books about how fascism works.
And I do suppose these three episodes efficiently generated suspense round Cassian’s absence, along with his associates (and, in fact, poor B2EMO!) feeling the stress rise as they awaited him. I do hope he will get to decisively shift right into a extra outstanding and energetic function with the following three episodes although!
EG: Let’s discuss that marriage ceremony.
CP: NIAMOS!
ZZ: DJ DROIDBOT! I used to be impressed and loved that opening “oner” shot that walked us by way of the folks on the marriage ceremony and revealed Luthen on the finish.
EG: Think about having a number of principals on set to movie on the similar time!
ZZ: Think about having a set that large!
CP: And discuss distinction. Superficially there’s the glitzy dancefloor, the wildly costly statue, the efficiency of pleasure and celebration, however all of the whereas there are such high-stakes political dimensions at play, and we actually really feel Mon Mothma working to remain targeted on her political objectives that are a lot bigger than herself, whilst she’s coping with the very actual ache of a daughter who receives her coldly.
It’s grand and intimate unexpectedly, balancing the human and the political dimensions very successfully which I feel has lengthy been a talent that units Tony Gilroy aside.
EG: She’s making an attempt to create a greater future for her daughter who may be very content material to reside her snug life beneath the Empire.
CP: Sure!
EG: In the meantime she’s bought out her childhood good friend for being within the midst of a late-life disaster.
I additionally preferred the delicate look her husband offers her when she’s drunkenly dancing, like “Lastly she’s doing what all of us need her to do, simply shut up and have enjoyable.”
ZZ: Sure, that second together with her dancing and her husband watching caught out to me. It is a facet of Mothma we’ve by no means seen earlier than. Even the actress mentioned in a behind-the-scenes video that after doing that she discovered extra about Mothma. And I feel all of us did, too.
Now, for an element I didn’t like: The demise of huge man Brasso.
To be clear: I don’t thoughts the present killing characters. It is a revolt in opposition to an evil empire. Persons are going to die. However I feel it was simply achieved actually sloppily. I wasn’t even positive what occurred. It was a uncommon second in Andor the place I felt just like the course simply didn’t work. I used to be confused by the second. Wait he’s useless? How? When? He was shot? I feel? I don’t know… didn’t work for me.
CP: Agreed; as a personality, Brasso deserved to exit higher (or not less than extra clearly) than that.
ZZ: I get that the possibly the thought was, “Hey, look, heroes like Brasso can die simply as randomly as nobodies.” Certain. Effective. That’s a superb level. I get it. However yeah, what a complicated demise for an superior character.
EG: Brasso had worse luck dodging blaster fireplace than the Jedi mowed down by Order 66.
ZZ: Too quickly, man. Too quickly.
CP: Every part else concerning the state of affairs Brasso, Bix and the gang endured there actually resonated although.
I like that Andor is a present that, on one hand, we will write enjoyable lists of Star Wars Easter eggs about, and on the opposite, retains providing direct parallels to how precise oppressive and fascist governments work.
The language the Imperials used about them being not simply “undocumented” however “unlawful” had me desirous to scream “Nobody is unlawful!” on the display, and Gilroy and co. are completely not being shy about making these connections as specific as potential; that fucker Krole says one thing like “The Councils want the assistance or there’s no harvest. The assistance is undocumented,” driving house how migrant employees which can be completely very important to industries like agriculture are sometimes focused.
In the meantime, one factor I assumed was actually enjoyable: the informative video about these spiders on Ghorman. It had the texture of the sorts of government-produced academic movies I’d generally see at school in elementary faculty.
ZZ: I liked it! But additionally, I’m undecided why Krennic confirmed a lot of it. Possibly he actually likes spiders!?
One thing I actually appreciated concerning the assembly with Krennic and the opposite Empire members is how they aren’t all onboard, however others can type of persuade them to be worse. It’s delicate, nevertheless it reveals how these selections can occur. Even individuals who would possibly suppose they’re good, with sufficient energy and within the incorrect place, can conform to some horrible shit. After which they’ll say, “Properly, it was a gaggle resolution.” Or blame it on the Empire and never themselves.
Okay, we’ve talked sufficient about themes and writing and course and so forth and so forth. Can we discuss that Yavin-4 reveal?!
CP: Completely!
ZZ: I’ll admit it: I made a noise. Andor is a present that so not often does that type of stuff that I squealed a bit. I’m a Star Wars sicko. And I liked that reveal. I used to be so distracted by what was occurring that I didn’t even discover the very fact they didn’t reveal the planet’s identify he landed on. After which I used to be like “Oh, you bastards!”
CP: I’ve to confess, it was fairly cool.
I’m not somebody who will get enthusiastic about references for the sake of references however this felt earned one way or the other; it’s cool understanding that this seemingly random planet really goes on to change into a spot of significant significance within the Rebel’s future. It appears like yet one more factor that deepens Cassian’s legacy as a personality whose experiences and actions echo on into the longer term, even when he doesn’t personally reside to see how.
ZZ: Additionally, I suppose the rebels are going to should kill numerous big lizard pig aliens issues? Possibly that’s an entire episode. Andor and the gang searching hogs.
(Additionally, pushes up glasses, it’s not a planet. It’s a jungle moon. Come on)
CP: Hahaha my dangerous! I all the time recognize the depth of your Star Wars knowledge.
EG: Deep minimize to the primary plot level of Return of the Jedi.
How are we felling concerning the three-episode drop construction? It type of extends the arc of them a bit, and makes for weaker particular person episodes, however a probably extra nuanced and impactful 150 minutes? I’m not totally bought on it however I may additionally be too caught up within the excessive highs of season 1 which actually didn’t kick in till mid approach by way of.
CP: I feel it is sensible. These first three episodes actually felt like that they had their very own self-contained arc for me, and I anticipate the remaining three-episode drops will as effectively.
ZZ: I feel it labored for me too. It mainly is sort of a new Star Wars film each week.
I additionally suppose it helps keep away from an issue Andor had with some folks in Season 1. That the present was too sluggish or took too lengthy to get to large moments. Personally, I didn’t love the slower tempo of the primary two episodes of Andor season 1 however the third episode bought me on the present. So I feel dropping them like this helps.
CP: It’s additionally the type of factor which will make extra sense looking back, because the arcs of every three-episode cluster change into clearer, with every group being set in a unique yr, if I keep in mind proper, as they depend all the way down to uhh…assist me out right here Zack, BBY 0, is that proper?
ZZ: Technically we’re constructing to BBY1 as BBY0 is A New Hope. It’s bizarre. (And will get weirder once you notice that OBBY and 1ABY are type of the identical time interval however not. Don’t take into consideration these items.)
I’m glad you introduced that up although, as a result of I feel that is the primary time we’ve ever seen BBY present up in a present or film. I’m wondering how many individuals had been like “What?”
CP: I do know! I used to be stunned to see them put one thing principally solely recognized to the die-hards up there.
ZZ: “3 Years Earlier than Andor, the primary character of this present, fucking dies” was Gilroy’s first selection, I’m informed.
EG: Can they get Gilroy to remake Rogue One?
ZZ: We will’t wrap this up with out speaking about Syril and Meero!
EG: Oh proper, that complete factor occurred.
ZZ: I noticed some folks on-line suggesting they aren’t a pair, which appears wild to me. It’s very clear these two are having some actually aggressive and but bland intercourse.
EG: He lives together with her proper?
ZZ: I feel that’s what the present was implying, yeah.
CP: Proper, what do we expect is happening there? Him saying “We may…fake you’re not again” type of threw me off. Clearly the dynamics of their relationship are…odd, however I believe they’re collectively in some sense.
EG: I’m curious to see the place that complete factor goes. I care zero about his character, so I hope he’s used extra as a foil to deliver fascinating issues out of her or drive some surprising developments.
“We may…fake you’re not again” is what JD Vance’s sofa used to say to him.
CP: I feel Syril is fascinating as a result of he’s so loathsome. Only a gross nepo loser who thinks he’s doing nice and significant issues whereas taking a look at spreadsheets. Actually a villain for the DOGE period.
ZZ: I feel they’ll flip. He’ll find out about Ghorman and see it as a fantastic factor. She appears hesitant. She would possibly even flip on the Empire and him. Additionally, that second the place she smiles freaked me out.
EG: My favourite scene together with her is after the assembly when she’s strolling again on Coruscant together with her boss they usually present a transparent break up between the forms of the Empire and its autocrats.
Competent careerists who should stability the ideology of the mission and whims of their superiors with really getting the outcomes. Think about if we come out of this complete factor with an tried coup as a result of it’s clear the Demise Star is a very dumb concept.
“Push oppressed populaces to the brink to construct big weapon in area” is a reoccurring Icarus second for fascists within the Star Wars universe.
ZZ: I’d like to see a storyline like that. It’s one thing the films/reveals haven’t actually touched on. That the Empire was as soon as the Republic and never all of these individuals are out of the blue on board with worshiping a melted monster man wizard god and his creepy black-suited tremendous soldier dude.
The comics have touched on how the Empire’s numerous bureaucrats and troopers don’t actually get Darth Vader. Possibly Vader even reveals up within the present in some unspecified time in the future. He can be the one the Emperor would ship to quash a coup.
CP: I’ve been questioning if that may occur.
I really feel like that would go one in all two methods. It could possibly be superior as a result of sure, he’s such a strong determine, he looms so giant within the Star Wars mythos and tactically it will make sense, as you say. On the similar time, a part of what’s made Andor so nice is that it largely avoids the type of recurring main gamers from different Star Wars tales. Nonetheless, if Gilroy and co. determined to go that approach, I’ll be curious to see how they deal with it!
Earlier than we wrap it up, only one final thing: I need to shout out an excellent piece by Aftermath’s Gita Jackson that ran in The New York Instances just a few days in the past.
They make the essential level that merely watching a present like Andor is just not, in and of itself, activism or resistance, an essential factor to recollect in an period when many individuals do appear to view “consuming” the proper media as some type of significant act. Andor is finally nonetheless itself the product of a large company empire. However I do suppose we will completely acknowledge that truth whereas additionally letting ourselves really feel stirred and impressed by the craft and artistry of what Gilroy and all of his collaborators on this mission are doing.
I take into consideration how in season one, as an illustration, Cassian was incarcerated, sentenced for a number of years (really it most likely would have been without end) for no cause in any respect, despatched to a brutal jail colony that provided, finally, only one approach out. I feel if even just a few younger individuals are struck by parallels like these, really feel one thing stirring inside them, and be taught to know an evil empire after they see one, effectively, that may be fairly rattling cool.
ZZ: Andor followers, welcome to the resistance.
However sure, I’m so completely happy this present is again for thus many causes. It’s superb. It makes me really feel issues. It comes at an ideal time. And I get to speak to folks I find out about Star Wars for just a few weeks with out them going, “Bleh, Star Wars is so dangerous/boring/no matter now.” That’s good. So yeah, I feel I converse for all of us once I say it’s superior that Andor is again.
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