Andor Season 2 could not be better if it tried. We have reached the theoretical limit of good Star Wars storytelling.
I’m a bit behind on my reviews of Andor Season 2, and I often feel that releasing three 45-minute episodes in a single day is a bit excessive. However, after the explosive conclusion of the ninth episode, I must say that this is one of the best Star Wars stories ever.
Episodes 4-6 were a little slow. I admit that I got a little bored throughout, but I chalk it up to tiredness and sitting on my stomach with my iPad for three hours. We see the continued story of the plight of the Ghormans, as the Empire slowly (and insidiously) tries to take control of the planet so that they could crack it open like an egg and harvest its valuable minerals. For the construction of the Death Star, of course
THE GHORMAN PLIGHT
The Ghor were fleshed out in this show, given a sense of culture and language, even though they are just baseline humans. I really don’t know where I stand when it comes to humans speaking in an alien language. Galactic Basic (our English) is universally a human language, and many other languages should be spoken entirely by alien races. But then I think of Tony Gilroy’s intention of creating such a massive world, where it should be logical that other humans on other planets would have their own dialect, and that makes sense!
It’s what would happen in the real world, and I have to look at the bigger picture. The Ghorman language sounds “Frenchish” to my ears, and I would not be surprised if Gilroy had a linguist create an entire language for this series, just as James Cameron did for his Avatar franchise. The attention to detail is commendable.
I also love the retrofuturism aesthetic that Gilroy is passionate about sticking with. All the computers the characters use look like clunky analog computers from the 1970s, and while they have space travel, the whole setting feels archaic and “old-worldly.” Everyone has a British accent and dresses like Europeans from the 18th century. Even the Imperial riot officers carry plain glass portable shields as protection instead of glowing force fields. It’s quite an odd contrast.
CASSIAN CONLFICTION?
Cassian Andor’s character is a mixed bag for me. I feel like sometimes I get annoyed listening to Diego Luna. However, I also think he’s a great actor. Cassian works as a hired “hand” for the Rebellion, living in secrecy in an apartment on Coruscant with his girlfriend Bix. It takes on various “assignments” from the gruff and mysterious Rebel, Luthen. However, Cassian grows weary of playing soldier for the Rebellion and wants to be with Bix and start a new life somewhere on the frontier with her. It boggles the mind that it’s hard to hide from the government even when you have BILLIONS of potential planets to live on, when people on Earth could move to a different country and live a completely secretive life.
I like Bix and Mon Mothma very much, as they are two strong women who want what is right for the galaxy. I also find Syril deliciously awkward and weird, and oftentimes have an urge to punch him in the face when he talks. He is a die-hard Imperial with an overbearing raspy-voiced mother, and it feels very familiar when thinking of my Great-Aunt!
GHORMAN MASSACRE
The slowness of episodes 4-6 is offset by 7-9, as Tony continues to show that he is a master at juggling meaningful character interactions and Star Wars sci-fi action. The Ghorman Massacre felt so eerily like something that has happened in our own history (the military firing on protesting civilians), and I shuddered a bit each time a blaster bolt hit a Ghorman and cut them down. The movie technology has come a long way since 1977, and while I like ’70s blaster bolts, the newer iterations are awe-inspiring. I don’t necessarily appreciate the new blasters’ sound when they “power up.” It isn’t consistent with the Originals, but it’s just a minor complaint.
I also love how Gilroy made politics super-important towards the end of episode nine, but didn’t oversaturate the audience with the details or make it seem like it was dragging. Everything had just the right amount of measured duration that was needed to tell the story, without bogging us down with the superficial stuff. I don’t mind dry politics, as I come from a family that worked in politics. But many of the complaints about the Prequels stemmed from “boring bureaucracy,” I’m glad Gilroy could utilize it and transition smoothly to other parts of the story.
BAIL ORGANA
I just learned this week that Jimmy Smits, who originally portrayed Bail Organa in the Star Wars prequels, was replaced by another actor in the role. While I admit I was initially disappointed by this change, I must commend Benjamin Bratt for stepping in. He did an impressive job of embodying the character, truly capturing the essence of Senator Organa’s noble and diplomatic demeanor. Bratt’s performance added a fresh depth to the role, making it easier for fans to connect with the character’s complexities and commitment to diplomacy.
Lastly, I have also accepted the one-year time gap between each triad of episodes. At first, I thought it was rushing and not utilizing pacing well. Many previous Star Wars series take place over one year, and we are already in 2 BBY. Yet, I have realized this is okay, as again, Gilroy is giving us a very realistic depiction of a story. In life, things don’t happen every day—it can take months or years to see change. The last batch will be in 1 BBY, just 12 months before Luke Skywalker blows up the Death Star (give or take) and the real Galactic Civil War begins!
This show could not be better if it tried. We have reached the theoretical limit of good Star Wars storytelling.
The first nine episodes from Star Wars: Andor Season 2 are now streaming on Disney+.
Max Nocerino is a regular Staff Writer for The Future of the Force. He is a passionate Star Wars fan and loves the literature of the galaxy far, far away. Follow him on Twitter where he shares his love of the Force frequently!
