The Star Wars universe has expanded greatly on Disney+ and The Mandalorian proved that the galaxy far, far away could go to exciting places when exploring unfamiliar parts of the franchise. Andor, Disney+'s latest Star Wars offering, created by Tony Gilroy, finds itself in a unique position. Shows like Obi-Wan Kenobi and The Book of Boba Fett cashed in on nostalgia for characters that audiences have known for decades, but others like Skeleton Crew and The Acolyte (both of which are set to premiere sometime in late 2023 or early 2024) will branch out from this pattern. The Rogue One prequel show (four episodes of which were provided for review) doesn't have the depth of nostalgia attached to it that Obi-Wan and Boba Fett do, but it is a spinoff of one of the most beloved Star Wars films of the Disney era, and it's quite possibly the best Disney+ series from the franchise yet. Andor is visually stunning, politically intriguing, and anchored by Diego Luna's steely performance as Cassian and a slew of fascinating characters.
Five years before Cassian Andor meets Jyn Erso and hands over the Death Star plans to the Rebels, Andor begins with a scene that feels straight out of Blade Runner. Luna's Cassian is looking for his sister on a rain-soaked neon planet. When he runs afoul of two prickly guards looking for a fight, the Galactic Empire begins tracking him, setting off a chain of events that will turn Cassian from reluctant revolutionary to rebel leader. Meanwhile, other factions are swept up in the growing rebellion and, as these disparate strands slowly come together, an uprising begins that will change the fabric of the galaxy forever.
Andor immediately feels different from any other Star Wars show, both for more obvious reasons and some subtler ones, too. It may just be Disney+'s most visually stunning Star Wars show yet. The show opted not to use StageCraft, the VFX tech developed for The Mandalorian, filming much of Andor on location and on meticulously crafted sets instead. The sweeping vistas of the oft-unexplored planets add a sense of grandeur to the series that other Star Wars shows are often lacking. These locations — of which there are many early on as the show introduces different characters that will be key to the events of the series — lend a sense of adventure that's been missing from the more staid Star Wars efforts of late.
The action in Andor imparts an immediacy to the series as well, underscoring the desperate times in which the show takes place. Andor begins with a brutal hand-to-hand combat sequence that feels, again, more like something one would see in a grittier sci-fi world than Star Wars. There are also shoot-outs and chase sequences in the first four episodes and the absence of Beskar armor, lightsabers, or Force wielders adds a layer of vulnerability and unpredictability to what occurs.
Of complaints, there are only a few. This is Star Wars' biggest television effort yet — Andor season 1 is 12 episodes long and the pacing of the first four episodes can feel a bit lopsided. How that will play out when the show resumes a weekly release format after its three-episode premiere remains to be seen, but as the show kicks into gear, these issues can easily be avoided. Another early problem is the villain. Right now, those chasing Cassian feel thinly sketched, with Star Wars once again relying heavily on the omnipresent Empire as a catch-all for villainy rather than the ominous and foreboding figures like Darth Vader or Rogue One's own Orson Krennic, played deliciously by Ben Mendelsohn.
Despite that, though, the supporting cast of Andor more than holds their own. Fiona Shaw's world-weary Maarva, an adoptive mother of sorts for Cassian, is great, as is Stellan Skarsgård as Luthen Rael. Genevieve O'Reilly continues to play Mon Mothma with a regality that belies her secret assistance to the rebels. The show promises to explore more of Mon Mothma's life in the events leading up to Rogue One, an exciting prospect for a character who has been a quiet presence in the franchise since a minor role in Revenge of the Sith.
Ultimately, Andor proves what many have long suspected: Star Wars is at its best when it tries something new. There's a reason that, despite going back to a familiar time period, Rogue One is the best Star Wars live-action effort to hit screens this decade. Gone are the desert planet landscapes, the fan service, and the feeling of the franchise playing it safe. In its place, Andor brings forth a mature, gritty, and political Star Wars series that, for the first time since The Mandalorian, feels like exciting new territory.
The first three episodes of Andor season 1 premiere Wednesday, September 21 on Disney+. The season consists of 12 episodes and will release weekly on Wednesdays.