‘Andor’ Season 2 Completes the Best ‘Star Wars’ Story of the Disney Era: TV Review

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The 2016 movie “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” was both critically acclaimed and financially successful initially, but it didn’t leave a significant impact on popular culture over time. Originally conceived as a prequel to “A New Hope,” with the opening crawl serving as inspiration, “Rogue One” was intentionally designed to be less enduring. The subtitle signaled that it was part of a series of standalone films intended to fill Disney’s release calendar; however, when this initiative and the troubled origin story film “Solo” failed, “Rogue One” became largely overlooked and forgotten.

One notable achievement in the Disney+ series “Andor,” which is nearing its conclusion in the upcoming weeks, is that it significantly elevates “Rogue One” from a minor detail to an exhilarating finale. As a prequel to a prequel, “Andor” seemed even less significant than its origin point. However, this insignificance proved to be the show’s greatest asset. The limited story scope and definitive ending provided creator Tony Gilroy with the freedom to fully express his creative vision. Furthermore, these elements became the focus of a narrative primarily exploring the ordinary, unrecognized, yet crucial characters on both sides of the conflict between rebellious insurgents and oppressive fascists. The first season of “Andor” was already the most engaging product of the Star Wars franchise’s streaming TV era. With Season 2, “Andor” solidifies itself as the benchmark for what modern Star Wars can aspire to.

A length of two seasons might appear unusual for a series – too extensive to be considered a miniseries, yet too brief to establish a consistent rhythm. Yet again, the show “Andor” bucked the trend. The initial installment, broadcast in autumn 2022, portrayed Diego Luna’s titular character evolving from a self-serving outlaw into a dedicated revolutionary. The concluding part bridges a five-year gap between these occurrences and “Rogue One,” dividing the 12-episode sequence into four segments, each occurring one year apart. (The distribution of three episodes every four weeks aligns with this narrative structure rather than merely catering to Emmy eligibility.)

The final block in this series primarily serves to introduce the characters and setting of “Rogue One,” rather than concluding its own storyline with a climax. Interestingly, this choice seems more about linking “Rogue One” to “Andor” instead of vice versa. Gilroy oversaw reshoots for “Rogue One,” and he’s credited as the writer and director of the ending where nearly every main character sacrifices themselves for their cause. In Season 2, “Andor” continues emphasizing themes of sacrifice and the balance between choice and destiny, while continuing to explore the practicalities of resistance and oppression, as seen in Season 1.

Andor” showcases the intriguing details of less dramatic corners of the galaxy, often overlooked in typical blockbusters. For instance, at a wedding hosted by Senator Mon Mothma (Genevieve O’Reilly), we delve into the meticulously planned traditions of her home planet Chandrila. A scene featuring Syril Karn (Kyle Soller) preparing dinner for his girlfriend, Dedra Meero (Denise Gough), introduces exotic yet relatable ingredients. Despite its contrast with traditional “Star Wars” tropes, the series is too immersed in its setting to appear indifferent or critical towards the broader saga.

Apart from that, tranquility rarely lasts. The focus of Season 2 shifts to the planet Ghorman, a modest textile manufacturing hub unlucky enough to have valuable mineral resources desired by the Empire for its covert weapon. (It was hinted at in the closing lines of the previous season that Cassian’s imprisonment involved making components for the Death Star – repetitive, oppressive labor serving as a means of authoritarian manipulation.) To create a pretext for aggressive resource acquisition, Meero suggests inflaming “a radical rebellion you can rely on” to “perform unjust acts.”)

The plot positions Ghorman between Meero and rebel leader Luthen Rael, who was instrumental in Cassian’s training and recruitment. However, unlike the clear-cut moral dichotomy often associated with Jedi, “Andor” doesn’t present a straightforward good versus evil narrative. Instead, it maintains a realistic perspective on complex ethical issues. Among the rebels, there are intense discussions about whether to adopt peaceful protests or take up arms, and a shift from a loosely-knit guerrilla group to a structured Rebel army. This political turmoil is portrayed through well-developed characters such as Cassian, Bix (Adria Arjona), who has been deeply affected by torture and lives in hiding.

The Ghorman time bomb ultimately detonates in a grand manner, mirroring various aspects of France. This includes attire (beret-style hats designed by costume designer Michael Wilkinson), tradition (preserving ancient crafts), speech (a unique language developed for the show), and even echoes historical events such as World War II Resistance, Revolution, and “Les Misérables”. The creators of “Andor”, including Beau Willimon, Dan Gilroy, Tom Bissell, Ariel Kleiman, Janus Metz, and Alonso Ruizpalacios, are deeply invested in history, which might lead one to suspect they’re drawing from current events. However, this isn’t the case as the scripts for Season 2 were penned years ago. Instead, “Andor” seems to predict future events by focusing on enduring aspects of power and societal transformation.

While “Andor” stands as a fulfilling conclusion in itself, it marks a pivotal moment for the overall “Star Wars” saga following Kathleen Kennedy’s departure from Lucasfilm. However, the team behind “Andor” has paved a path for the franchise to evolve, even though not every “Star Wars” production needs to be an adult drama delving into political theory. Instead, they can concentrate on specific aspects of George Lucas’s vast universe, trim away unnecessary elements, and blend the remaining pieces with the creators’ unique perspectives. Leslye Headland’s “The Acolyte” serves as Disney’s most significant attempt to emulate this strategy; despite its flaws, it merited more than a sudden cancellation after just one season. Maybe, like “Andor,” “Star Wars” can draw inspiration from its history and progress accordingly. Haven’t past successes proven beneficial?

In the upcoming season 2 of “Andor”, the initial three episodes will be released on Disney+ on April 22. From then on, you can expect new episodes every Tuesday, with each release containing a set of three episodes.

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2025-04-21 19:17