A masterful tale of rebellion, presented with a level of tension, sophistication, and realism not previously seen in any Star Wars live-action.
Not only is this the best Star Wars show ever made, it may be the best to come out of the universe entirely.
SPOILERS
I can’t recall who advised me to give Andor a chance. Until that moment, I had completely written the Star Wards franchise off. The last three films were a huge letdown, and each new series that Disney churned out seemed to be increasingly more generic and shallow than the last. Andor I am pleased to say, has blown all my expectations out of the water.
This show stands out for many reasons. It may be the first time this iconic IP chooses to step back from its high-fantasy trademarks and have their classic characters and universe mostly as a backdrop for the deeper and more mature story that is being told. Themes of politics, class, and oppression are at the forefront, bringing with it genuine high-stakes tension that is executed with beautifully crafted, world-class cinematic screenplay.
Could this be the best sci-fi set design ever created for television? Rather than merely stepping into a piece of concept art, these locations felt as though they truly existed out there somewhere in the galaxy, inhabited by real people and experiences. Everything felt authentic, and the level of detail, from costumes to props, was amazing. It’s arguably the first Star Wars production to commit to this level of realism in such a deliberate way. Production designer Luke Hall has an insightful interview with The Verge that is worth reading if you want a deeper insight into the philosophy and approaches they took when establishing the world and lore.
*Most of it was shot on-site in the United Kingdom. The Scottish Highlands provided the backdrop for the heist in Aldhani, while Ferrix—a fully constructed town—was filmed at an abandoned oil refinery in Essex. Scenes were also shot in a Derbyshire quarry and a seaside town in the North East. We also finally get a fresh perspective on the inner workings of the Empire, portrayed in never before seen ways amongst the brutalist architecture of London's Barbican (representing Coruscant) and the futuristic spaceport located in Surrey's McLaren building. These different places have the same nostalgic and sci-fi feel that Star Wars brings, just this time it is much more grounded and gritty than ever previously seen before in this Universe.
Is this the first time we’ve seen the Empire brought to life in such a meaningful way? Watching the Imperial Security Bureau (ISB) in operation was a real treat. The Empire was no longer a one-dimensional evil but now an intricate and multifaceted consolidation of power that contained fully developed characters and arcs with nuanced journeys in their own right. It ushered an end to the typical Star Wars dichotomy, instead outlining complex relationships with the Rebellion, the inner machinations of its politics, and the tyrannical depths to which it is willing to descend to achieve its objectives. It was the first time I felt true feelings of injustice and animosity toward the Empire.
The script was also quality. You could fully buy into the motivations and transformations that were taking place with each character. Andor's journey acts like the match for everything to catalyze off, with a lead role that instead of absorbing the focus, ignites the characters and stories around him. Whether it’s the tension gripped members of the heist crew, the dances of Luthen, Mon Mothma, and Deadra, or the outstanding performance of Andy Serkis as Kino Loy in the prison, each character is truly consequential to the story and its development, supported by equally impressive and memorable acting performances from one of the best casts I've seen in a long time.
Time to talk about some of my favorite moments. When the TIE fighters are first introduced, shrieking across the grassy valley toward the dam I had instant goosebumps. I haven’t felt like this about Star Wars since I was 15. The tension during this episode, combined with this small punctuated moment of iconic Star Wars imagery, was just awesome, and the choreographed ending, as they escape through the Eye of Aldhani to complete the arc, was genius and visually spectacular.
The prison episodes were also exceptional. The set design and forced labout concept was great, made even more impactful by the ending credit clip that showed the manufacturing output being utilized in the construction of the Death Star. What’s amazing is that the events at the prison instigated by Andor would have slightly delayed its full completion and operational status, which, as we all know, has huge implications for the events in Rogue One. Classic writing!
The 12 episodes are structured into four self-contained story arcs: recruitment, heist, prison, and finale, each featuring dedicated directors and writers. This approach was generally effective; however, there were instances of slow pacing, and certain segments of the screenplay which felt like unnecessary padding that could have been trimmed or consolidated to help keep things tighter.
For instance, the two opening episodes and some specific midseason episodes were a little slower than necessary. Syril's storyline was arguably inconsequential and took up too much screen time, while the finale felt slightly anticlimactic and bordered on cheesy for my taste. Nevertheless, reuniting the various characters at the place where it all began—Ferrix—was great work by the writers, and the resolution, complete with Andor's transformation, felt satisfying when all was said and done.
Personally, I believe that a bit more grittiness and the introduction of a more memorable villain could have raised the stakes and taken this show to the next level. I think back to Game of Thrones and how brutal its villains were, and how they made us feel, and I see potential for Andor to give us something similar, albeit likely less depraved. Perhaps there is room for this in Season 2, which, if you believe the hype, may be a force to be reckoned with when it finally premieres in 2025.
VERDICT
At last, we have a TV series in the Star Wars universe that brings substance and pride to its existence. It adds to the history and lore in a meaningful way and offers the most realistic portrayal of the formation of the Rebels and their relationship with the Empire to date. We get brilliant casting and emotional character journeys that bring complex ideas and themes to life, with a stunning backdrop and production quality that are unmatched in television sci-fi so far. We can only hope that this masterful storytelling sets a precedent for future Star Wars series and perhaps for sci-fi shows in general.
RATING BREAKDOWN
Story
83
Directing:
79
Visuals / Production:
94
Acting / Dialogue:
88
Music / Sound:
78
BONUS
Production
FINAL
