Excitement is ramping up for Star Wars' next foray into Disney+ original TV, Andor, which breaks the six-episode Disney+ mold and has the potential to be a unique and even incredible entry to the canon. Fans have had a good bit of information revealed about the series through trailers and press thus far, and there is plenty that fans should keep in mind going into the premiere on August 31st.
Andor may not demand too much essential reading beforehand, but remembering certain facts and stories may temper expectations and aid the viewing experience.
The Structure Of The Series
Unlike other Disney+ Star Wars shows, whose futures are often up in the air or announced after the release of a season, fans already know everything they will be getting from Andor. Remembering that will temper expectations and be good knowledge going into the first season.
Both seasons 1 and 2 will be twelve episodes long, double that of Obi-Wan Kenobi and the Marvel Disney+ shows. Season 1 will take place over a year between 5 BBY and 4BBY, whereas season 2 will take place over four years, jumping a year every three episodes, forming four arcs in the season from different directors, all leading into Rogue One. Season 1, while not noted as having a four-arc structure, will have different directors at the helm for three episode blocks: Toby Haynes, Susana White, Benjamin Caron, and then Toby Haynes again.
Another interesting tidbit is that Tony Gilroy has told Vanity Fair that it has a total of 1500 pages. So, assuming each page is worth about 45 seconds of screentime on average, each episode would hover around 45 minutes long on average.
A Lot Set At This Same Time
Season 1 of Andor will take place in 5 BBY, a crucial time for the Galaxy and one hugely important in the canon thanks to Star Wars: Rebels, which also kicks off at this time.
Watching Rebels before Andor would be great for all fans, as it would give everyone a good insight into the state of the rebellion and the Galaxy as a whole at that time, particularly on the ground amongst the citizens. Knowing this and the story of how the Specters joined the wider rebellion, it seems as though Rebels cameos are unlikely for season 1 but could well get integrated into the second season. Also happening in 5BBY is Saw Guerrera abandoning Jyn Erso on Tamsye Prime, a key event that could allow Saw to be another Rogue One character to appear in the series without Jyn by his side.
No K-2SO... Yet
Many may go into season 1 of Andor expecting Rogue One MVP and adored droid character K-2SO to appear and play a key role as friend and sidekick of Cassian, but at this point in time, this simply will not be the case.
Speaking to Collider, Alan Tudyk noted that he would not be in season 1 but would be brought into the fold should the show continue beyond that. Given that a second season has since gotten announced, he will undoubtedly appear in season 2, perhaps joining a whole host of other viable cameos and established characters. Season 1, though, will be without his wit. Since the story of how they met was already told in a one-shot comic, it will be interesting to see if that gets completely thrown out in favor of the vision of this show.
Cassian's Separatist-Alignted Past
In his younger years, Cassian was never officially a member of the Confederacy of Independent Systems, but he did fight against the Galactic Republic and protest with his family about the military expansion.
With flashbacks to Cassian's childhood and clone troopers confirmed, it will be fascinating to see Cassian's unique point of view on the Clone Wars and the state of the Galaxy. Both sides of the war were manipulated to make way for the Empire, and Cassian may have to come to terms with that in the series.
Mon Mothma's Story
It appears as though Mon Mothma will be a co-lead in the series, with her story probably coming together with Cassian's slowly in the final episodes of the season. Her arc promises to be fascinating with all the political intrigue, and remembering her overall story may be key going into it.
A good friend of Padmé Amidala and Bail Organa during their time as Republic Senators, Mon Mothma planted the seeds of a rebellion before the Empire even existed, as seen in a deleted scene in Revenge of the Sith. Mothma was a political mentor to Leia Organa and played her own role in the Imperial Senate, constantly fighting for peace in the Galaxy and working against the Emperor from the inside.
Perhaps the most crucial moment of her life to remember before the show is her speaking out against the Emperor in Rebels, officially defecting from the Imperial Senate, and becoming a rebel leader. Given that she is clearly in danger in this show, noting that "they" are watching her, this moment could become all the more impactful after Andor.
The Empire's Stomping On Civilian Necks
The year of and the years leading up to 5 BBY is a crucial time for the Empire, as high-ranking officers shuffle for positions of power, the Death Star continues its hugely secret construction, and they further expand into Outer Rim territories such as Lothal.
The majority of the first season looks to be taking place on confirmed locations like Coruscant with Mon Mothma and on Aldhani, which is presumably suffering from the Empire's pressure, something many fans will know is happening throughout the Outer Rim Territories. The Empire struggled for a few years in their quest to expand into the Outer Rim, but with Tarkin's doctrine and promotion to Grand Moff and Governor of the Outer Rim, their expansion saw great results. Many systems and many innocent civilians ended up feeling the impact of the oppressive organization as they imposed themselves with occupations, taxation, etc. Whatever awfulness happens in Andor to Cassian's planet is happening elsewhere in the Galaxy in some way.
The Rebellion Is Not Yet The Rebellion
The rebellion in the original trilogy is shown to be a fairly organized and competent group of underdogs, but it took a lot of work for them to come together as a cohesive organization. At the time of Andor, they are most definitely not yet there.
At this point, there are rebel cells like the Specters working against the Empire on various worlds. It would be a little while before they all come together, though. It was not until 2 BBY when the rebellion came together to form the Alliance to Restore the Republic, a lot of that being down to Mon Mothma. At the time of Andor season 1 - at least for most of it - fans can expect rebel cells that may not even know there are others fighting the same fight spread across the Galaxy, but also to see the likes of Mon Mothma attempt to build something bigger.
Cassian Is Not Yet A Hero Or Even A Good Guy
One of the most interesting things about Andor is the fact that the main protagonist is not necessarily this good person working for the greater wellbeing of the Galaxy. He does become that in Rogue One when he dies on Scarif, but at the start of this show, he is not yet there; as Tony Gilroy tells Vanity Fair, the show will tell that story.
Fans see the ruthlessness of Cassian when he kills Tivik in Rogue One, and this show promises to showcase more of that darkness. Fans cannot go into the series expecting to immediately see the selfless soldier willing to die for a cause far more significant than his own. That is the end of his journey with the rebellion; Andor will seemingly unfold the more complex layers of the character at the start of the journey.