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ANDOR - Disney+ Series - A General Discussion Thread — Page 16

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yotsuya said:

Mocata said:

This show was… good. It wasn’t an uneven mess and knew what it wanted to be. It had things like suspense and characterisation which have been missing from recent SW content, if it was ever present before in these terms. It also had some proper acting talent and proper dialogue instead of the nonsense in recent shows. The tone made sense and people behaved in ways that made sense. It didn’t feel cheap and wasn’t full of cringe references, despite a few name drops.

So it came as no surprise that people hated the pacing and the lack of action. Because for better or worse (it’s the former) this isn’t really SW at all in terms of things like escapism and adventure. SW as a continuation of THX or the crime dramas of the 1970s. After the awkward choppy flashbacks in the first 3 parts it all fell into place. So I fully expect season 2 to be tampered with to make it more appealing to a wider audience, i.e. things like Darth Vader and more deepfakes.

It’s these sort of things that mean I can’t yet accept this as enriching Rogue One after the fact. At least not fully. They could give three episode arcs to Saw and Jyn or to Maze and his pals, but it still leads to creepy CGI faces and Darth Vader’s ‘totally epic’ murder spree. Maybe LFL should avoid this and work towards common goals of quality output instead of just handing out jobs to everyone that is in vogue. It depends on if they recognise what they have here. Disney don’t because they buried it on the app front page.

I watch a lot of shows. The only Star Wars item I am looking for connection on with this is Rogue One. The title of this series is Andor so it should be mostly about him and what led him to the character we see in Rogue One. There is a lot of extra stuff in this series that isn’t related to those events. It is tying into the Rebellion in general and that ties into the Skywalker Saga. Mon Mothma is part of the Skywalker Saga. Luthien is not, but I don’t feel his character had much development and he should have been the focus. Instead we know way more about the culture of Mon Mothma’s family and world than is useful to a tighter story of Cassian Andor.

Given that Mon is in Rogue One, it wouldn’t surprise me if we see other figures from the RO Yavin scenes show up in Season 2, which surely, in addition to being about Cassian’s life, will be about turning a vague network held together by an antiques dealer into a real, functional military. Andor is a prequel to the Rebellion side of that movie, so in addition to K-2SO, we’ll probably see Bail, Jan Dodonna, Davits Draven, Raddus, etc as the season progresses. Also, maybe we’ll see why Saw got kicked out (unless Rebels covered this?)

Did you know that Melshi (Cass’s prison break buddy) was in Rogue One??? I just learned this from Wikipedia.

ROTJ Storyboard Reconstruction Project

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I’m hoping we see Admiral “It’s a trap!” Ackbar talking to Mon Mothma.

Saw Gerrera has got to be severely injured before the end. It could be Luthen who sets up a trap for Saw.

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I don’t ask a lot of TV Star Wars, and am typically just glad to have something to watch. And or has been a wonderful slow sizzle, and a welcome break from whiz-bang action and “I KNOW WHAT THAT IS.” It was refreshingly dull! It felt like proper television, and I embrace this about it.

My stance on revising fan edits.

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Hal 9000 said:

I don’t ask a lot of TV Star Wars, and am typically just glad to have something to watch. And or has been a wonderful slow sizzle, and a welcome break from whiz-bang action and “I KNOW WHAT THAT IS.” It was refreshingly dull! It felt like proper television, and I embrace this about it.

I don’t expect all Star Wars TV to be the same. I just hope for something as interesting as the source material that sparked it. In this case, Rogue One. And something of above average quality. I felt there was a gem here hidden by too much excess. The last episode really showed this. The show shines when it is about Andor and sloggs when it becomes about others. Luthien is an interesting character who we don’t seen enough of. Too much Mon Mothma, too much time with Imperials, too much time on setup of the heist and too much time on the running of the prison before the breakout. The big payout on Ferrix languishes as we stray elsewhere.

Again, the one line from Rogue One that should inform a series named after Cassian Andor is “I’ve been in this fight since I was six years old”. Too much of this was him NOT in this fight.

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I initially thought that too, throughout those first three episodes. “They messed up the line!” Well, in retrospect, seeing the arc that he’s gone through, he now realizes that all of the fights in his life have always been the same fight - the anti-fascist fight, the anti-oppression fight, and that you can’t run away from it. That’s what that line means now and, even if not what we might’ve initially expected it to. I quite love it. Lenin’s Nemik’s manifesto played a big role, and it’s when I really got the angle they were going for. Great show.

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Although there will always be the contrarians, nitpickers and also some people with closed minds or agendas, it is okay if Andor is not for certain fans, because it is very different to what has come before, but there is much more other Star Wars content to suit their tastes too. This show is indeed different, and refreshingly so.

And yet it is so very pleasing to see many Star Wars fans happy and enthralled with Andor. To see countless others enjoy Star Wars again. It is also pleasing to see that something new and different to what has come before has been so welcomed and warmly received. Both critics and fans love this show, wanting to see more at the end of each episode. Even the YouTubers and social media are full of praise.

Who would have thought this before it aired? About a prequel TV series based on a secondary lead character, who is often described by some as being dull (me included!), of a prequel film made to explain how the Death Star plans ended up with the Rebellion?!
 

A heist caper and political drama on the seeds of how the rebellion are sown. Yet it is a show so compelling, even when there is little or no action onscreen. And when it does bring us the action, it is different, fresh and surprising. Or just a visual joy, like the Eye on Aldanhi scenes. Overall the show is mature in tone, gritty, real and easy to identify, but also requires and demands the attention of the viewer.

This unique project, several steps removed from the what we have seen in other modern Star Wars releases; Andor consciously cuts down on easter eggs and fan-service, instead telling a tense story about the birth of the Rebellion. A relevance to this modern world, and also the world shortly before we see Luke and Obi-Wan meet up and go on their damn fool idealistic crusade.
 

It also gives a sense of just how dark the galaxy really was, how much of a gamble the Rebels really took against the Empire. The themes and concepts of the OT films in particular are given even more depth and power. This is what all the best prequel stories do, they stand on their own two feet, but also add weight to the main story.

No lightsabers and no Jedis, but the Force is at work there, if you look for it. But mainly it is a back-to-basics show that captures the essence of the original trilogy and actually expands upon it, giving us a deeper look at life was like for the regular people living under the regime of the Empire. The people who would rebel. Andor’s characters are deliberately designed to feel more like ordinary people struggling to survive under this totalitarian regime.

Making its statements with an unusual degree of boldness for modern Star Wars, and the dialogue is sharp enough to even draw viewers into mundane machinations of the Senate, and the family life of those that work there. Fantastic performance from Genevieve O’Reilly, like there is from all the cast, and even secondary characters, and even from the droids too! To see the reactions of fans watching the finale where B2Emo is kicked over by that Imperial captain, because of the work put in and earnt by the show in making the audience care; to even give a shit about this droid even among the tension and terror of what we knew was to come.
 

I could go on and bore myself and everyone else I speak to about this show, and I do!

The compelling story and intelligent writing, the skilled directing, editing and amazing cinematography, beautiful set design and costuming, strong and yet nuanced acting and casting, impressive set-piece stunts and VFX, clever use of sound and music, the stunning yet grounding world building, character building and arcs (especially for the main character I did call dull previously!), how he both interacts and effects the people around him, and also evolves and changes himself of over the course of the series. The gripping tension that built up to several nailbiting climaxes, followed by the brief gentle lulls before effortlessly ramping up more tension and greater anticipation in the next arc of the story. The triumphs and the sacrifices, the braveness in showing the finality of death and how quick and easy it is to pay the ultimate price. Not forgetting the beautiful and memorable dialogue and speeches throughout. Not a single scene or character wasted.

I give a standing applause to Tony Gilroy and everyone involved in the making of this show.

Everything about this is so fucking great and enjoyable.

Everything!
 

The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear.

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Everything Emre1601 said!

I would add for myself that I am one who didn’t really enjoy Rogue One. I liked the concept but found it a weird mix of gritty realism, fan-service, and underdeveloped characters.

I also admit that I never I wanted this kind of show from Star Wars. To me, the tone of the old trilogy was perfect and—-while I wish the story had been better planned—-I mostly enjoyed the soft-reboot sequel trilogy.

So Andor was not something I was looking for at all, and it blew me away. I didn’t realize they could make the grassroots of the rebellion so engaging. I couldn’t believe how thrilling it would be to see a character simply change their mind (“Never more than 12”, somehow my favorite moment of the show).

I loved watching Luthen and Mon Mothma delicately navigate their paths. Genevieve O’reilly was incredible, managing to convey such terror buried under a thin layer of composure.

Seeing how the imperial bureaucrats operate showed us how terrifying they can be, but also exposed their vulnerabilities.

And those lulls you mentioned just made the tension builds more intense and arc climaxes more satisfying.

Even watching Syril Karn battle with his mother gave me glimpses of what a “regular” life might be in this universe, while also knowing the mere fact this idealistic fascist is still in the show had me on edge, worried about what he will do or become.

Just loved the show!

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A couple of interesting videos about the series:

Just Write - Andor: Anti-facist Art https://youtu.be/2gnKDSPBcb8

This also includes a thoughtful critique of the failings of Kenobi & The Book of Boba Fett.

Thomas Flight - Why Andor feels so real: https://youtu.be/UhgXXhcPQEM

Which explores how Andor’s use of real life locations - from the Barbican Centre in London to the Scottish Highlands - enhances the themes explored in the story.

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I’m rewatching it with my brother - I loved the first arc way more on a rewatch, and it also gave me further appreciation for the last couple episodes, since I’d forgotten pretty much who everyone was in Ferrix by the end. Great, great show. I think the flashback stuff would probably have worked better as a cold, pre-title opening and then just have the rhyming bits with Maarva & young Cassian and Luthen & present-day Cassian in their respective places, but it still works. Can’t wait to rewatch the rest of the stuff.

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GuardianoftheWhills said:

A couple of interesting videos about the series:

Just Write - Andor: Anti-facist Art https://youtu.be/2gnKDSPBcb8

This also includes a thoughtful critique of the failings of Kenobi & The Book of Boba Fett.

Thomas Flight - Why Andor feels so real: https://youtu.be/UhgXXhcPQEM

Which explores how Andor’s use of real life locations - from the Barbican Centre in London to the Scottish Highlands - enhances the themes explored in the story.

I’d also recommend:

Morphologis - An Architect Reviews the Architecture of Star Wars: Andor https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hU4LfjaqV5M

Forum Moderator
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And another thing…

Season 1 was about Cassian’s conversion, obviously. Will Season 2 feature someone else’s conversion? One possibility, entirely speculative, is that Dedra will turn. The Empire has started to fail to live up to her expectations (not taking prisoners from Anto Kreegyr’s group, for example), and I could imagine that learning of the Death Star would somehow push her over the edge.

I assume that ISB does not yet know of the Death Star; it will be interesting to see if Dedra’s attempts to regain status after her total failure at Ferrix will somehow lead her to discovering its existence.

ROTJ Storyboard Reconstruction Project

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I do think we’ll see someone else turn. Having it be an ISB officer would be interesting. She’s far and away one of the strongest parts of the entire series (for me), so her turning would be fantastic.

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Just an observation but there seems to be a huge gap of quality between Star Wars produced in the UK vs L.A/US.
Any one else get that?

Peace is a lie
There is only passion…

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Andor has grabbed two nominations at the Critic’s Choice Awards: Best Drama Series and Best Actor (Drama) for Diego Luna. The Golden Globes, just announced today, only nominated Luna.

Part of me wishes they nominated Stellan Skarsgard or Genevieve O’Reilly.

Hopefully it grabs more award noms at the Emmys.

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Spaceman’s 15 minute review video Andor Is A Star Wars Masterpiece From 1978 more or less puts my thoughts into better words than I ever could come up with.

It is a drag we have to wait until 2024? to see Andor’s 2nd season, but for this quality a show, I will happily wait. The first time since 1983 that felt a believable, compelling and expansive part built upon OT universe. With honorable mentions for R1 and Solo in parts.

I also find it refreshing to see people from all across the fandom enjoy the show online too. To see that love and appreciation for Star Wars once again.

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What I love about Andor. thinking about the comment immediately above, is that they tried this pre-emptive thing saying “a lot of people are probably not going to like this” and most people love it.
And it deserves all of that love.
(cue “not all of us” in 3…2…1…)

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Marooned Biker Scout said:

Spaceman’s 15 minute review video Andor Is A Star Wars Masterpiece From 1978 more or less puts my thoughts into better words than I ever could come up with.

It is a drag we have to wait until 2024? to see Andor’s 2nd season, but for this quality a show, I will happily wait. The first time since 1983 that felt a believable, compelling and expansive part built upon OT universe. With honorable mentions for R1 and Solo in parts.

I also find it refreshing to see people from all across the fandom enjoy the show online too. To see that love and appreciation for Star Wars once again.

Thanks for that recommendation; what a terrific YouTube review that is.

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Finally binge-watched this.

This felt like some old EU story written in 1993, with concepts like the “Imperial Security Bureau”, etc. It was awesome. I hate saying cliché crap like “It’s the best thing since Empire Strikes Back!™”, but it actually might literally be the case this time around.

The sci-fi prison scenario was probably the centerpiece, and the best sequence. Although, I originally thought that Andor would be freed from the prison by the ISB in order to interrogate him, and he would escape during the transfer or something. I didn’t expect a full prison-break scenario. That whole sequence was awesome, and Andy Sirkis was incredible, but I felt it was a bit unrealistic after two episodes setting up this impossibly hopeless dystopian sci-fi nightmare prison. In real life, prisoner uprisings in concentration camps almost never succeeded.

I felt this show was particularly political as well, in the modern sense of the word. The season finale was NOT your typical Rebel assault on Imperial Base #55423 featuring Gold Leader Standing By™, occurring concurrently with a ground battle to Disable the Shield Generator™. Instead, it was like a street battle in Portland with the cops. I’m actually surprised the Imperials were initially just beating people with space-batons instead of immediately shooting everyone. (Side note: did everyone in the Galaxy collectively forget that blasters have a stun setting? Seems like stun beams would be the Star Wars equivalent of tear gas or other forms of crowd control.)

Anyway, this show was really well done. This is the kind of material I was hoping for in a live-action Star Wars series. It finally provided a horrifying depiction of the Empire as the truly oppressive dystopia we imagined. My only complaint was that the series was probably a bit too long, with some sequences dragging on a bit (like the heist sequence to steal the payroll), but that’s the case nowadays with almost every streaming series.

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Absolutely fucking loved this STAR WARS show and can’t wait for Season 2. Finished the series one day after the last episode was originally on. Usually will wait to watch a few STAR WARS episodes in one go but this is one of them I was watching weekly. Glorious 4K HDR and it fits right in with the OT and of course ROGUE ONE. Glad this was 12 episodes instead of 6.

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IVE MADE ANDOR INTO A MOVIE OF SORTS CUT OUT THE BORING EMPIRE DRIVELL AND JUST KEPT TO ADULT ANDOR NO LORDS OF THE FLYS WITHOUT SUBTITLES FLASH BACKS JUST STICK TO THE STORY OF ANDOR AS A MAN

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GlastoEls said:

Marooned Biker Scout said:

Spaceman’s 15 minute review video Andor Is A Star Wars Masterpiece From 1978 more or less puts my thoughts into better words than I ever could come up with.

It is a drag we have to wait until 2024? to see Andor’s 2nd season, but for this quality a show, I will happily wait. The first time since 1983 that felt a believable, compelling and expansive part built upon OT universe. With honorable mentions for R1 and Solo in parts.

I also find it refreshing to see people from all across the fandom enjoy the show online too. To see that love and appreciation for Star Wars once again.

Thanks for that recommendation; what a terrific YouTube review that is.

I’ve really enjoyed watching some of the review videos on Andor. It is refreshing to see so many positive videos on it, covering everything from cinematography, to the acting, to writing, to design. Even on the sound editing and music in the series, or even those sometimes cringey “reaction” videos have had some good insights and thoughts on the series as it progressed.

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bobafatt1 said:

IVE MADE ANDOR INTO A MOVIE OF SORTS CUT OUT THE BORING EMPIRE DRIVELL AND JUST KEPT TO ADULT ANDOR NO LORDS OF THE FLYS WITHOUT SUBTITLES FLASH BACKS JUST STICK TO THE STORY OF ANDOR AS A MAN

BIG PASS FROM ME. Kill your cruise control.

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I agree with many of you, this show is amazing! Gilroy manages to expand the GFFA with new aspects and stories and make them interesting with great writing and the actors deliver with their performances. Tired, easy tropes are left in the background, we barely see x-wings, TIEs show up for a few moments and stormtroopers are in the background until the season finale. Gilroy not being a big SW fan really helped the show, as he probably had sort of a outsider eye for the whole thing. And they still have some hardcore fans in the production to make the world’s details match with what has come before. The fan service is organic and not in your face.

The first two episodes could probably have been edited down to one episode but otherwise I really liked the pacing too. This feels like a proper series it was developed as when comparing to Boba and Kenobi with their their six episode runs that still didn’t have enough plot (or it was stupid). This and The Mandalorian compete for the best SW tv, depending on the mood. Andor is way more original though and I have a big respect for it because of that.