Andor season 1

The force hasn't exactly been strong with Disney's Star Wars of late following their disappointing trilogy, not quite hitting the mark with Solo and a mixed bag of TV shows. However, there were two very enjoyable seasons of The Mandalorian (if we ignore the third) and there was also Rogue One, which survived a tricky production to sit proudly atop the list of Disney's best Star Wars content. So would a prequel TV series following Cassian Andor, called Andor, be any good? Diego Luna did a serviceable job in Rogue One but I wondered if there was really much of a worthwhile story to tell in this universe when we know where it all ends...

While the Empire is growing in power, the series follows Andor who is trying to reunite with his long-lost sister but soon finds himself caught in something much bigger than he expected, the foundations of the Rebel Alliance, who would go on to destroy the Death Star five years later. But this Andor is far from the one we come to know in the film; here he just wants to live a nice life and make his aging, foster parent comfortable. The Empire's super weapon remains unknown to all so he feels he can escape the oppression around him but Stellan Skarsgård's rebel sees potential in his skills and has other plans.

Going into Andor, I was aware that there was a lot of praise for Tony Gilroy's new show but I really was surprised by the quality and maturity we get here, which does not disappoint in the slightest, and is without a doubt a must-see for any fan of the original films. I read that Gilroy wasn't interested in the key-jangling fan service approach we have seen before and instead he has created a fascinating story that offers a refreshingly new perspective on the Empire, and all the characters who inhabit this universe.

The show runs for 12 episodes, with the first couple being the slowest, but the running times are tight enough which means it doesn't feel long before the story had me fully engaged through until the end. Much of this is in thanks to a great script and a fantastic Diego Luna who gives one of his best performances right here. The same credit goes to much of the supporting cast including Skarsgård, Forest Whitaker, Fiona Shaw, Andy Serkis and Genevieve O'Reilly, who is perfect as Mon Mothma, with all of which bringing their A-game. 

If I had to fault the show, it would be how it is needlessly stuffed with an excessive amount of minor characters. A wealth of characters can be great when building the universe but there were some who I felt could have been removed or some merged into one, and we would then have a stronger experience. This does become an issue when names are being thrown around and only a couple really stick in the mind. 

Regardless, I really hope the next season of Andor can maintain this quality and that Disney do not interfere with Gilroy's vision, as they did after the second season of The Mandalorian. This show feels different from the rest with its darker approach and I hope it stays that way. My interest in modern Star Wars was waning but Andor has been a diamond in the rough and I hope it continues on this impressive trajectory.