Andor is one of the very best TV shows of the year and as good as Star Wars has been in a long, long time.
Andor Season 1 reviewed by Simon Cardy. All 12 episodes are now available to stream on Disney+.
Wouldn't you rather give it all at once To something real andori Star Wars like You've never seen it before this ground Level view of a burgeoning resistance Movement is a fantastic Thriller that Snakes through corridors of Imperial Power and the homes of the Innocence They bring suffering to it's a slow burn At times shouting rarely but loudly with Memorable action sequences made even More impactful by the tangible Stakes Birthed in its quieter but equally Engrossing episodes it's one of the very Best TV shows of the year and as good as Star Wars has been in a long long time Set five years before the events of Rogue one and or charts the Journey of Cassian Andor from Nomad to Rebel who Very much finds a cause along that path The series consistently Surprises with The mature themes it tackles and the Emotional depth it explores making it a True breath of fresh air when it comes To Star Wars set drama there are no Jedi Or lightsabers here and arguably it's Barely a Star Wars show that just Happens to Star members of the film it's Building up to but in truth this is why I love it so much more than anything I've seen in that Universe recently it Sets itself apart by raising issues such As apartheid and class Warfare it Doesn't just flutter its eyelashes at Them either but instead explores them
Beyond the surface level reading of Course it's not a groundbreaking look Into subjects that play girl world nor Does it offer up Solutions as to how we Can fix Society but it does thrust them Forward more prominently than any other Star Wars project has done before and For that it deserves to be praised Creator Tony Gilroy is a modern Master Of the Espionage Thriller with his work On the original born Trilogy and Michael Clayton some of the best examples of the Genre the series isn't afraid to spend Entire episodes slowly loading the gun Before firing in spectacular fashion When the time is right some may find the Pace plodding at times but it's that Setup that makes the flurries of Violence all the more exciting actually Constructing a full-fledged narrative With defined characters and Conversations that feel like humans Naturally interacting and rather than Coming across like walking talking plot Devices there to transport you to the Next low stakes fight scene scripts have Never been of this higher standard at Any point in Star Wars history and with Rose tinted glasses removed there's a Genuine argument that it's never been as Good as this in general and or isn't Just a brilliantly made Star Wars show It's a brilliantly made TV show Full Stop thanks to the lovely Ambitions and
Clinical execution of each of its 12 Episodes it's a series of towering highs Made all the more dizzying by Meticulously constructed dialogue heavy Scenes that pre-face them these quieter Pockets work so well thanks to the Layered thoughtful writing on show Throughout and the new nuanced often Powerful performances from each member Of the cast The Empire has no moral Boundaries why should we not take hold Of every chance we can let them see how An Insurgency adapts well you have right The Empire doesn't play by the rules Weirdly for the star of the show Diego Luna is almost the unsung hero of Andor He's the glue that holds the series Together crucially in driving the plot Forward at all times but often letting Others take center stage in big moments Headlining that Stellar Supporting Cast Is stellen Skarsgard who plays the Deliciously mysterious luffum he's a Character with Incredible depth who just When you think you've drilled deep Enough into understanding throws another Curveball your way no matter feels out Of place in and or each pitching their a Game from Adria ariona who brings warmth And loyalty to the role of Bix to Fiona Shore who stars in some of the series Most impactful scenes then there are the Actors who come into the show for Extended cameos and end up stealing
Scene after scene like Alex Lover's Impassioned nemec or Andy circus's Powerful turn as Kino Loy any story is Only as good as its villains though and In dead Ramiro and Cyril Khan and or has Two very different but very effective Ones the former play brilliantly by Denise Goff is a force of Nature and a Reflection of the very worst Sensibilities of the Empire a snarling Face ready to spit vocal Venom at any Who Challenger she has very few Redeeming qualities making her the Perfect villain to root against Cyril Portrayed by Carl sulla is a very Different sort of presence a slimy Almost desperate sort of figure Searching for recognition from the world In all the wrong places Andor gets us Deeper within the Empire's walls than Ever before frequently exposing us to Just how evil they can be it's a Refreshing Peak behind the clinically White Imperial curtain letting us see More reflections of our world than we'd Be Keen to admit therefore granting us a More personal connection to the Atrocities being committed and evoking a Greater emotional response and or Doesn't only create engaging new Characters but also successfully Develops existing ones such as mon Mothma this is thanks largely to the Humanity that Genevieve O'Reilly brings
To the role her scenes in the heart of Imperial controlled chorus and an almost Game of thrones-like edge of political Entry to proceedings as she attempts to Play people off of one another while Remaining undetected as a rebel Sympathizer For long stretches and or presents Itself as a political thriller with Walks and talks for Imperial halls and Back alley deals taking place on more Than one occasion but that doesn't mean It lacks in action when it chooses to Click into next gear it never Disappoints highlights include exciting Street battles heists and Prison Breaks Each a wonderfully choreographed Sequence with genuinely tangible Stakes At play it never once looks cheap and Has some of the most gorgeously shot Star Wars scenes ever put on camera as Well as claustrophobic handheld sections That get you right into the action the Range of styles on display is exciting With each design to fit the style of Each Thriller each Act of the series is Tapping into when combined with Nicholas Bratel's astounding score it creates Something truly special his stirring Strings sound tracking the series more Paranoid pockets as well as the pulsing Percussion does its explosive moments It's an extra slathering of class on top Of a show already layered with so much
Quality Andor is one of the very best things to Ever come out of the Star Wars Universe It's a masterfully constructed political And Espionage Thriller unafraid to Tackle real world issues and challenge The oppressive nature of bureaucracy It's Jason Bourne and Michael Clayton Stood side by side wearing stormtrooper Armor Tony Gilroy's Vision has been Brought to life brilliantly thanks to Top tier Talent both in front and behind The camera with each line of Thoughtfully written dialogue delivered And captured in a believable way despite Taking place in a galaxy far far away a Slightly slow start may put some off at First but once it hits its stride it Never once looks back and develops into Something you cannot afford to miss Star Wars has never looked like this before And perhaps it's never looked better For more from outdoor check out Canon Fodder where we drill deeper into the Series and for everything else Star Wars Stick with IGN
