Andor Season-Premiere Recap: Do the Wrong Thing

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When “Andor” debuted in the autumn of 2022, it was the third live-action “Star Wars” series airing new episodes that year and was somewhat overshadowed by Ewan McGregor’s return as Obi-Wan Kenobi during the summer. However, a well-received run coupled with a timeline shift on-screen to reflect the show’s season opening “one year later” has significantly changed its standing: it is now widely regarded as the top live-action “Star Wars” TV series and potentially the last bastion of quality in that domain. Yes, more shows are expected, but given that “Andor” seems miraculous even making it to air, it’s challenging to imagine another show matching its caliber. The series itself appears to have barely made it into production.

In the upcoming second season of Andor, they’re condensing a four-year timeline into just 12 episodes, which will be released in a unique manner compared to other streaming platforms. The season will consist of three-episode arcs, each separated by a year, that will air together over the span of four weeks. Despite the fact that last season’s storytelling approach was successful and the current season features longer episodes, this release method means that viewers who are deeply invested in the series may perceive it as essentially four separate feature films. However, we will be providing individual episode recaps because at its core, this is still a television show.

After handling the necessary details, let’s move on to BBY 4. Now, in today’s Star Wars era, even a straightforward explanation might need a footnote. BBY stands for “Before the Battle of Yavin,” a term used by both fans within and outside Lucasfilm to refer to the time the Death Star was destroyed at the end of the original Star Wars. Essentially, Star Wars serves as our year zero, with all other events measured relative to it. The first season of Andor covered parts of BBY 5 in Cassian’s life and those of other characters. The initial three-episode arc unfolds in BBY 4; the second takes place in BBY 3, and so on, leading up to Rogue One, which is set approximately BBY 30 seconds before it (as hinted by the popular Naboo band, 30 Seconds to Yavin).

After wrapping up the housekeeping tasks, the debut of Andor season two begins with a captivating sequence. Cassian Andor, formerly a thief but now a rebel spy, has infiltrated a Sienar test facility undercover as a test pilot (Sienar Fleet Systems is a company known for producing Imperial ships and weapons). The atmosphere within the building is tense as an employee carries out regular checks on a TIE fighter set for testing tomorrow; it’s revealed that she’s helping Cassian with his plan to steal the ship. She’s visibly anxious, yet instructed not to acknowledge him. Cassian speaks directly to her, offering words of encouragement. It’s fascinating to ponder how many other rebel agents have been inspired by Diego Luna’s gaze.

Cassian appears less proficient when it comes to operating a TIE fighter, as he displays an unrefined escape maneuver that seems reminiscent of a scene from Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge (a compliment). In a hasty retreat, he careens around the bay while stormtroopers pursue him. Eventually, he exits the building and embarks on a chase across Sienar’s snow-covered peaks. Despite his initial struggles, he eventually gains control of his flight enough to escape the planet completely. This sequence takes up approximately a quarter of the episode’s duration and showcases one of Andor’s strengths in delivering a captivating, self-contained adventure filled with tension.

The narrative progresses, maintaining its pace by employing an extended first-person perspective shot, as an unknown individual stealthily approaches a yet undisclosed house during the dead of night. This mysterious figure turns out to be the Empire’s ghoul who previously tormented Bix Caleen (Adria Arjona) in the previous season. Bix abruptly wakes up, terrified and screaming; it appears to be a terrifying nightmare, and not an isolated incident. However, for now, she seems to be safe, residing among other former Ferrix inhabitants, Wilmon Paak (Muhannad Bhaier) and Brasso (Joplin Sibtain), in Mina-Rau, the Outer Rim. They are covertly anxious due to an anticipated Imperial inspection that could potentially expose their hidden status. Interestingly, B2EMO, the droid, appears to be exempt from such documentation troubles, which further highlights his informant nature by showing a keen interest in logging Bix’s restlessness for Cassian.

As a cinephile, I found myself immersed in the cinematic universe of this film, where my character, Cassian, encounters complications. I was meant to meet Porco on a forested planet, but the authenticity of my disguise as an Imperial pilot creates confusion. A motley crew of bickering, quasi-rebel factions assume I’m the genuine article, causing chaos that often overshadows my efforts to communicate and discover Porco’s whereabouts, who was supposedly in possession of a stolen TIE fighter. There’s a hint of wit, albeit somewhat somber, in their power struggles, making it difficult for me to navigate the situation.

The internal conflicts and criticism among unnamed rebels, who are essentially armed and hostile towards the Empire, contrast with the organized discussions within a secret Imperial meeting led by Director Orson Krennic (Ben Mendelsohn), overseeer of the Death Star project as shown in Rogue One. This meeting is focused on planning the Empire’s conquest of planet Ghorman, known for its silkworm spiders but rich in calcite, a mineral crucial for coating reactor lenses in the Empire’s projects. Krennic advises his key allies to spread rumors, portraying Ghorman as difficult and arrogant, to minimize resistance during an eventual takeover. Dedra (Denise Gough), despite her high-ranking position (even though she failed to suppress the Ferrix uprising last season), proposes additional actions. To ensure a successful conquest of Ghorman, they need rebels who can be relied upon to make the wrong decisions. She’s referring to those who, in essence, rebel, but could also be talking about the missteps with Cassian’s rendezvous, which contributed to the dissension within this unlucky group. The situation is troubling (and still somewhat amusing), but it poses a real danger to Cassian; the episode ends with him being caught in a storm of blaster fire, with no apparent escape.

Although the depth and intensity of Ariel Kleiman’s direction in Andor, especially during the scenes with Mon Mothma on Chandrila, often goes unnoticed, it is truly commendable. The director skillfully stages these scenes, particularly one that appears to have minimal screen time, where we check in on Mon Mothma as she prepares for her daughter’s wedding. This union, arranged strategically to control her rebellious activities, serves as a backdrop for the story. The camera follows Mon Mothma as she engages in polite conversations and furtive checks, all of which are disrupted by the sudden arrival of Luthen Rael (played by Stellan Skarsgård), a key figure in the rebel movement. His appearance startles Mon Mothma, and the interruption of the tracking shot effectively conveys this shock. Although we may not fully empathize with her feelings, the return of Andor feels comforting, even as it masterfully reintroduces authentic tension to the Star Wars universe.

Rebel Yells

I’m glad to see you back in Andor! I’m Jesse, your friendly neighborhood Star Wars expert, here again to recap each episode of the second season for you. Out of all the Star Wars movies, my favorites are Attack of the Clones and The Last Jedi. Among the characters, Obi-Wan, Rey, and Watto hold a special place in my heart. No further inquiries needed.

Regarding the other prequels: Tony Gilroy’s Andor is undeniably too focused on serious themes to be filled with the fancifulness of peculiar alien designs and recurring references. However, as a dedicated fan of prequels, it’s somewhat frustrating not to hear even a fleeting reference to the Geonosians, the insectoid creatures from Attack of the Clones, who were responsible for designing the Death Star in the original plot.

In the beginning, Cassian’s daring escape in his bulky TIE fighter resembles one of the most thrilling scenes from “The Force Awakens“. This is similar to when rebel pilot Poe and deserter stormtrooper Finn collaborate to snatch an escape vessel. Is this a conscious reference or foreshadowing of that event, or alternatively, could it be that Tony Gilroy hasn’t watched “The Force Awakens” yet?

It appears slightly more probable that Cassian’s unreachable pilot, Porco, shares a name with Porco Rosso, the protagonist from the Studio Ghibli film “Porco Rosso” who fought against fascists and transformed into a pig.

Gilroy’s humor in Andor has mostly been reserved, but his sarcastic remarks among the disorderly makeshift rebels provide some comedic relief.

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2025-04-23 05:56