Up to now, “Star Wars” television shows have mostly been a mixed bag, with audiences and critics split on each new entry in this ever-expanding fictional galaxy far, far way. Some fans have even given up on the franchise altogether due to the uneven quality of the TV series and movies produced by Disney since buying Lucasfilm in 2012. With the arrival of “Andor” season 2, however, faith in the power of Force has been restored. The series currently has a 97% on Rotten Tomatoes, one of the highest ratings of any Star Wars property since the original trilogy.
Both seasons 1 and 2 of Andor are now streaming on Disney+. The series opens a few years before the events of 1977’s “A New Hope” and goes right up to the start of 2016’s “Rogue One.” It follows the titular character Cassian Andor, played by Diego Luna, who works as a pilot and spy under the command of Luthen Rael, played by Stellen Skarsgård.
Luthen is an antique shop owner and ruthless rebel operative who tries to tie up any loose ends no matter the cost, blurring the lines of what is right and wrong. Other stand-out performances include Denise Gough as the ambitious Imperial Security Bureau officer Dedra Meero and Elizabeth Dulau, in her first professional acting role, as Luthen’s clever assistant Kleya.
For fans of Star Wars, this show is must-watch TV, as it delves into the more grounded elements of this cinematic universe by showing the lives of average people living under the tyrannical rule of the Galactic Empire, which employs secrecy and infiltration to ensure that they get what they want. It also puts the Rebel Alliance, who are have always been the heroes in the films, in a less favorable light by showing how this organization had to make alliances with amoral figures to get money to fund their operations and how they occasionally took advantage of angry or desperate people to build support against the Empire. The show is also different from most of the Star Wars movies and series that have come before it; there are no lightsaber fights or epic space battles to excite younger viewers. Instead, its multiple, interweaving plots are geared more towards adult audiences.
Admittedly, the show does have issues when it comes to pacing. Some conversations and dilemmas last longer than they need to, and some characters make predicable decisions that aren’t necessary illogical but obviously are there to help to advance the plot. Fortunately, the show never strays too far from its spy thriller motifs, and it manages to raise some interesting questions about the morality of certain necessary actions when facing a more powerful, oppressive regime that can twist facts and manipulate the public to gain what they want. The series finale of Andor was recently released on Disney + and, if you haven’t seen it already, it is highly recommended viewing for Star Wars fans who are looking for a more mature take on a familiar story or for anyone who likes science fiction mixed with political intrigue.
