The writer shares mixed feelings about Andor, a Star Wars fan’s dilemma when a show sits as a prequel to another prequel. They recall the feeling when Rogue One hit theaters and felt the same during the first episodes of the series. The TV series builds on characters from the movie, and after a hesitant start, a second chance was given because Andor was said to be exceptional. It proved to be far from slow or lightweight entertainment, and on a second viewing the viewer could dive deeper into the story and set aside earlier doubts. Star Wars has rarely felt as muddy as it does here.
The birth of the rebellion against the oppressive Galactic Empire becomes central. The story reveals there are no clear heroic figures or legendary Jedi knights, and even Darth Vader makes a surprising return that leaves the fandom unsettled. Cassian Andor, played by Diego Luna, is a survivor who does whatever is required to live under a regime that rules with tyranny. He is willing to spill blood to stay alive in a gray world where imperial power dominates. The character’s actions feel more like a survivalist approach than a classic hero’s journey, echoing a blend of relentless pragmatism with the grit of a thriller.
In Andor the question of who fired first becomes almost irrelevant. The moral line between good and bad is blurred more than in traditional space opera. Senator Mon Mothma, portrayed by Genevieve O’Reilly, navigates the treacherous network of high office, plotting to seed a rebellion that will challenge Palpatine’s rule. With Stellan Skarsgard involved, the audience wonders whether he’s a true liberator or a fanatic, adding a layer of ambiguity to leadership and conviction. Through this series, viewers are invited to explore parts of the Star Wars universe that have felt distant and unexplored. It is not another familiar game in the galactic saga but a more mature, character-driven exploration that may resonate beyond longtime fans.
Andor’s inaugural season stands longer than many spin-offs, totaling twelve episodes. Each installment pieces together a broader narrative: Andor’s exile from his world, a daring robbery, a high-stakes prison break, and Imperial maneuvers to capture rebel operatives. This portrayal highlights the political dimension of the conspiracy in a way unseen before in Star Wars. The Empire appears as a sprawling system weighed down by bureaucracy, intrigue, and inner power struggles where departments can be blind to each other’s actions, enabling prudent moves to dodge the Empire’s iron grip. Imperial officers exhibit a chilling likeness to historical tyrannies, and the series presents the stormtroopers with a new level of menace and purpose compared to previous films.
Rogue One showed how rebel spies obtained plans for the Death Star and, in a bold early moment, how a strike changed the course of the war. That outcome made continuing Cassian Andor’s story a natural move, and the prequel format elegantly extends the narrative. Tony Gilroy, a screenwriter for the film, helped transplant his characters into fresh television adventures. Andor’s focus centers on the origin of the rebellion and how the movement began to take shape under Emperor Palpatine’s shadow. The first season’s post-credits hint confirms that the construction of the Death Star remains a recurring thread. Across the season, familiar faces appear briefly, inviting anticipation for where the journey may lead in future installments, and questions linger about whether new chapters will introduce additional familiar figures.
Disney’s stewardship of Star Wars has stepped away from the Skywalker saga and continues to push into new ground. Each installment seems to break new ground, and some titles have delivered stronger results than the later entries of the third trilogy. While fans await the second season of Andor, the broader Star Wars universe keeps expanding with excitement, including the third season of The Mandalorian and other animated projects under Dave Filoni. The franchise continues to explore fresh storytelling avenues on the small screen, signaling a continued vitality for a galaxy far, far away.