Star Wars: Andor (April 22, 2025)

[jye4ever]

Well played.

After this latest episode, I gave some thought to that question of "is this Star Wars?" What I came away believing is that the answer is dramatically different in November of 2022 than it would've been in November of 1977. For three full years, the entirety of Star Wars was mostly about a plucky rebellion standing up to a tyrannical empire and going against the very long odds that came with that. That's Andor. Sure, there was the fantasy space wizard element, but this show is set at the point in time where that stuff hadn't yet resurfaced. The war was the issue.

So, is Andor actually Star Wars? Yes. But maybe admittedly much moreso for people old enough to remember Star Wars existing before it expanded and changed so dramatically. In terms of being more like the ANH version:

• The focus is again on standing up in rebellion.
• There's again a selfish rogue who becomes a selfless rebel.
• There's again unscrupulous interigation tactics where the door slams shut before we can witness the full horror.
• Again a breaking out of imprisonment in a seemingly impossible setting.
• Again a young man is seen staring out toward a sunrise while frustrated about his life being stuck in place. Heck, that was even followed (again) by a breakfast table scene where the parental figure pours him some blue milk.

SW is now associated with so much more, and those associations are largely generational. But SW was a cultural phenomenon before Jedi/Sith, fallen Jedi, clones, Mandalorians, midichlorians, twirling lightsaber dance-offs, Force gods on some mystical planet, space whales, and every new story being a variation on youngster-with-older-guardian learning from one another. Andor would have seemed much less of a departure if it had been released, say... in place of the Holiday Special.

Holy crap that is an epic post.

 

[Wor-Gar]

Did anyone else think, that during the elevator scene for a brief second

Spoiler

Lonni was Luthen's son? I got that feeling for a second from the way the conversation was going at the beginning. The ultimate sacrifice?

I think this is one of the great disservices Star Wars has become encumbered with -- the expectation that everyone is related.

People suggested the Syril's "Uncle" might be Tarkin or someone. There's always this "who's related to who" precedent ever since we learned Vader was Luke's father... all the way to Rey being Palpatine's granddaughter. It's become almost comical, as when people joking suggest that Lando has potentially fathered all the black people that populate the Star Wars universe.

 

[Johnny Utah]

When Sam Jackson joined the PT I totally thought he was Lando's dad.

Still I do remember getting my first Mace figure in 99. The likeness was great.

 

[ScoutingForToys]

Well played.

After this latest episode, I gave some thought to that question of "is this Star Wars?" What I came away believing is that the answer is dramatically different in November of 2022 than it would've been in November of 1977. For three full years, the entirety of Star Wars was mostly about a plucky rebellion standing up to a tyrannical empire and going against the very long odds that came with that. That's Andor. Sure, there was the fantasy space wizard element, but this show is set at the point in time where that stuff hadn't yet resurfaced. The war was the issue.

So, is Andor actually Star Wars? Yes. But maybe admittedly much moreso for people old enough to remember Star Wars existing before it expanded and changed so dramatically. In terms of being more like the ANH version:

• The focus is again on standing up in rebellion.
• There's again a selfish rogue who becomes a selfless rebel.
• There's again unscrupulous interigation tactics where the door slams shut before we can witness the full horror.
• Again a breaking out of imprisonment in a seemingly impossible setting.
• Again a young man is seen staring out toward a sunrise while frustrated about his life being stuck in place. Heck, that was even followed (again) by a breakfast table scene where the parental figure pours him some blue milk.

SW is now associated with so much more, and those associations are largely generational. But SW was a cultural phenomenon before Jedi/Sith, fallen Jedi, clones, Mandalorians, midichlorians, twirling lightsaber dance-offs, Force gods on some mystical planet, space whales, and every new story being a variation on youngster-with-older-guardian learning from one another. Andor would have seemed much less of a departure if it had been released, say... in place of the Holiday Special.

Great Post.
Andor fits nicely into pre-PT, pre-TCW Star Wars. It fits into the OT and the older EU stuff. When Star Wars had plenty of room for scum and villainy and a rogue with a blaster.
When Jedi were rarer and not so op with ever expanding powers.
To many now though, it's not Star Wars without the Jedi swinging glowsticks and using the Force like superpowers.

 

[Darthrazz]

I think this is one of the great disservices Star Wars has become encumbered with -- the expectation that everyone is related.

People suggested the Syril's "Uncle" might be Tarkin or someone. There's always this "who's related to who" precedent ever since we learned Vader was Luke's father... all the way to Rey being Palpatine's granddaughter. It's become almost comical, as when people joking suggest that Lando has potentially fathered all the black people that populate the Star Wars universe.

I agree, but this time I think it might have made sense, He's sacrificing his son and his grandchild to the greater cause,, not seeing them, sneaking around and the possibility that they might be killed. As I mentioned, early in the conversation, I thought that's where it was going.

 

[Bleah]

I still haven't fired many guns in my life, but I have had my own little battles against common bureaucracy and petty authoritarianism from time to time.

Wor-Gar when asked to do overtime:

 

[Johnny Utah]

Prison break score.

 

[Prime Clone]

Well played.

After this latest episode, I gave some thought to that question of "is this Star Wars?" What I came away believing is that the answer is dramatically different in November of 2022 than it would've been in November of 1977. For three full years, the entirety of Star Wars was mostly about a plucky rebellion standing up to a tyrannical empire and going against the very long odds that came with that. That's Andor. Sure, there was the fantasy space wizard element, but this show is set at the point in time where that stuff hadn't yet resurfaced. The war was the issue.

So, is Andor actually Star Wars? Yes. But maybe admittedly much moreso for people old enough to remember Star Wars existing before it expanded and changed so dramatically. In terms of being more like the ANH version:

• The focus is again on standing up in rebellion.
• There's again a selfish rogue who becomes a selfless rebel.
• There's again unscrupulous interigation tactics where the door slams shut before we can witness the full horror.
• Again a breaking out of imprisonment in a seemingly impossible setting.
• Again a young man is seen staring out toward a sunrise while frustrated about his life being stuck in place. Heck, that was even followed (again) by a breakfast table scene where the parental figure pours him some blue milk.

SW is now associated with so much more, and those associations are largely generational. But SW was a cultural phenomenon before Jedi/Sith, fallen Jedi, clones, Mandalorians, midichlorians, twirling lightsaber dance-offs, Force gods on some mystical planet, space whales, and every new story being a variation on youngster-with-older-guardian learning from one another. Andor would have seemed much less of a departure if it had been released, say... in place of the Holiday Special.

But seriously...

 

[Wor-Gar]

Where is Ewan looking in that shot?

 

[jaztermareal]

Well played.

After this latest episode, I gave some thought to that question of "is this Star Wars?" What I came away believing is that the answer is dramatically different in November of 2022 than it would've been in November of 1977. For three full years, the entirety of Star Wars was mostly about a plucky rebellion standing up to a tyrannical empire and going against the very long odds that came with that. That's Andor. Sure, there was the fantasy space wizard element, but this show is set at the point in time where that stuff hadn't yet resurfaced. The war was the issue.

So, is Andor actually Star Wars? Yes. But maybe admittedly much moreso for people old enough to remember Star Wars existing before it expanded and changed so dramatically. In terms of being more like the ANH version:

• The focus is again on standing up in rebellion.
• There's again a selfish rogue who becomes a selfless rebel.
• There's again unscrupulous interigation tactics where the door slams shut before we can witness the full horror.
• Again a breaking out of imprisonment in a seemingly impossible setting.
• Again a young man is seen staring out toward a sunrise while frustrated about his life being stuck in place. Heck, that was even followed (again) by a breakfast table scene where the parental figure pours him some blue milk.

SW is now associated with so much more, and those associations are largely generational. But SW was a cultural phenomenon before Jedi/Sith, fallen Jedi, clones, Mandalorians, midichlorians, twirling lightsaber dance-offs, Force gods on some mystical planet, space whales, and every new story being a variation on youngster-with-older-guardian learning from one another. Andor would have seemed much less of a departure if it had been released, say... in place of the Holiday Special.

 

[e30ernest]

I do not mean this in a negative way towards Andor whatsoever, but this show has made the Jedi look very inept.

We know there are Jedi running around and if we're honest, the rise of the Empire is the Jedi's fault. Now we find out in Andor that the heavy lifting of the start of the rebellion is done by a dedicated group of "normal" people who sacrificed everything for the freedom of others. All of this while the remnants of the Jedi stay in hiding.

 

[ZE_501]

I do not mean this in a negative way towards Andor whatsoever, but this show has made the Jedi look very inept.

We know there are Jedi running around and if we're honest, the rise of the Empire is the Jedi's fault. Now we find out in Andor that the heavy lifting of the start of the rebellion is done by a dedicated group of "normal" people who sacrificed everything for the freedom of others. All of this while the remnants of the Jedi stay in hiding.

LOL ... fair. The Jedi in the OT were powerful but they weren't superheroes as in the PT and other media; it always struck me as weird the way Lucas turned an order of mystic warrior monks into 'Generals' overnight who enthusiastically (albeit ineptly) prosecuted a galactic war.

Luke was a 'ringer' in Star Wars who dealt the killing blow to the Death Star but couldn't have done it without the sacrifices of many others.

In ESB he was on a personal journey and despite his unique abilities could only buy a little time here and there on Hoth. Yoda wasn't a fighter and the Emperor was a diabolical puppet master with Vader as an enforcer.

By ROTJ stakes were higher due in part to a confluence of events and dead Bothans -- but again, Luke helped cripple the Imperial leadership but without scores of brave rebel fighters, the war machine would likely have prevailed regardless.

Despite Luke's key role and heroism in the OT, victory was always bought with the lives of ordinary fighters.

 

[Johnny Utah]

Mark's evolution from whiny to mature in 3 films is still so great. The scene between him and Vader is epic.

I love the look he has when brought to Vader: 'this is the rebel who surrendered to us.'

 

[Khev]

Whoa!

 

[Asta]

Whoa!

View attachment 607368

Oof.

And there goes the neighbourhood...

 

[guyver1]

I just feel I’m just waiting for this to wrap up and I’ll just binge the whole series..is that wrong

 

[Sassafras]

I just feel I’m just waiting for this to wrap up and I’ll just binge the whole series..is that wrong

Just means you're not weak. With the way the script interweaves, it always feels frustratingly abrupt when an episode ends.
But I did re-watch them all over the last few nights - happily thanks to the great writing and performances, u can savor how carefully crafted the show is.
This show deserves awards.

 

[choombaz]

I don’t have much to add to what’s already been said. Truly amazing episode. I think someone questioned a page or two back over whether a second season will happen - there have been a number of reports in the past week that they begin filming this month so I think all is good!

I really love the continuing theme of climbing in this show which as someone pointed out comes originally from K2’s line in R0. Also, and I could be misremembering this, but didn’t Robert Duvall have to climb to get out in THX as well?

Finally, I truly love that Luthen scene as everyone has pointed out, but I really loved the Mon Mothma scene as well. It just solidified her character for me so eloquently and I’m sure Genevieve O’Reilly, yet another amazing Australian actress, never thought she would be given such an opportunity 17 years later!

 

[jye4ever]

I don’t have much to add to what’s already been said. Truly amazing episode. I think someone questioned a page or two back over whether a second season will happen - there have been a number of reports in the past week that they begin filming this month so I think all is good!

I really love the continuing theme of climbing in this show which as someone pointed out comes originally from K2’s line in R0. Also, and I could be misremembering this, but didn’t Robert Duvall have to climb to get out in THX as well?

Finally, I truly love that Luthen scene as everyone has pointed out, but I really loved the Mon Mothma scene as well. It just solidified her character for me so eloquently and I’m sure Genevieve O’Reilly, yet another amazing Australian actress, never thought she would be given such an opportunity 17 years later!

17 years later.

That’s crazy.

Then again Mandalorian is already 3 years old!

 

[Johnny Utah]

I don’t have much to add to what’s already been said. Truly amazing episode. I think someone questioned a page or two back over whether a second season will happen - there have been a number of reports in the past week that they begin filming this month so I think all is good!

I really love the continuing theme of climbing in this show which as someone pointed out comes originally from K2’s line in R0. Also, and I could be misremembering this, but didn’t Robert Duvall have to climb to get out in THX as well?

Finally, I truly love that Luthen scene as everyone has pointed out, but I really loved the Mon Mothma scene as well. It just solidified her character for me so eloquently and I’m sure Genevieve O’Reilly, yet another amazing Australian actress, never thought she would be given such an opportunity 17 years later!

IRISH Australian. Love her natural accent.