Ryan Shoots First: Andor (S1 Eps1-3)
In 2016’s Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Cassian Andor says a line about all the dirty things he has had to do for the rebellion. As soon as I heard that line I thought “Well that is something I would like to see”. Well, thanks to Disney Plus and Creator Tony Gilroy we are here. Today, Disney released the first three episodes of Andor on Disney+. It was a great decision to release the three at once as they all play together seamlessly to set the first chapter of the story. Andor is tense, thoughtful and well crafted. It’s nice to see some non-force user stories in Star Wars and as well see the oppression on the Empire. Over the years we’ve seen the rebellion fight the Empire but we always just were told how tight the grip was. We got a glimpse of this in Rogue One but Andor promises some more boots on the ground looks at the early days of the Empire and our down on his luck, everyman Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) forging his way.
The easy description of the show will be that Star Wars but “dark and gritty”. I don’t think I would go that far, it is grimy but that’s how it should be. Star Wars has always had a sort of lived in, dirty aesthetic and Andor showing a village under the thumb of a well-established Empire should be even more so. Even still there are pops of color and a sense of hope as the general public are beginning to show pockets of resistance to Imperial rule. It really is just an extension of the look of Rogue One which helps that Tony Gilroy the showrunner worked on that film. With that being said we do get some mentions of sex in a galaxy far far away as well as an English curse word!
I love that Diego Luna is being given this chance to reprise his role, he has gushed over his entire Star Wars experience since 2016 and to see him get to tell a more granular in-depth story of Cassian is a treat. Cassian is a street rat, he knows the streets, he’s always one break away from getting away from it all and he has a support system of those who care for him but simply cannot keep putting themselves out there for him. Starring alongside him is of course his droid companion B2EMO steals the show with his charm and dedication to Cassian. It’s easy to see why Cassian and K2 have such a bond years later. While these 3 episodes focus heavily on Cassian we have yet to see Mon Mothma or some others we will get later. We do in the final episode see Stellan Skarsgard’s Luther who is the recruiter that digs Cassian out of the muck.
Andor is certainly different than any of the other Star Wars series we have seen, much has been made of its use of practical sets and locations and less focus on the volume that other shows have used so much. It is cinematic, features a diverse and excellent score, and great performances on par with any of the other top streaming series out there today. If Disney has been looking for it’s best shot at some award love for its series Andor maybe it’s best shot yet.
These first few episodes set a great tone and I can’t wait to see once Cassian starts using his skills to help found the rebellion. It’s gonna be a great few weeks for us Star Wars fans!
Observations
- Love the “2001” like opening
- That may be the first time we’ve ever seen in a visual medium reference the BBY timeline
- Nice tone of a more rugged universe with mentions of sex and stuff but it’s not so over the top it doesn’t feel like Star Wars.
- Cassian don’t mess around
- Our new droid best boi for the season!
- I love him
- I know Star Wars has always had the description “lived in
- but man this world really looks lived in.
- Dude ain’t built for this life
- Welcome to tubes R us!
End of Episode 1
- Is this like a Lord of the Flies situation I don’t see any adults in their village.
- This boyfriend needs to mind his business
- Bell dude is all about that life
- Aww he still has his little plushie Bantha
- This dude wants to be an imp so bad.
End of Episode 2
- That yellow corpse looks like Christian Bale
- Imperial scrap yard is never not a good setting
- I know we mentioned how people walk all over droids but that step droid took it literally
- You threaten to torture a droid that’s instant bad guy
- I mean dude this is all your fault
- Ohh that dude is up to no good
- Told ya!
- A “Shit” in Star Wars!?! Not sure how I feel about that I guess we know Damn is a word and Hell from A New Hope. I still like the in universe curses
- Awwww did things not go how the wanna be Imp planned?
- I like these flash backs between his two mentors saving him.
