After years of waiting and delays, the beloved Disney+ original series “Andor” returned to the streaming service amid great fanfare. The first season of the show, serving as a prequel series to the critically acclaimed Star Wars movie “Rogue One,” proved to be a desperately needed lifevest in a sea of bad “Star Wars” spinoff series Disney has produced for their streaming platform. While the second season of the show does not capture the same excitement and fascination as the first.
The most glaring problem with the show is the difficulty in remembering past events. Like all Disney original series, it has been years since most fans streamed the show, and many of the minor plot details, like the Mothma family wedding or Dedra Meero’s conflicts within the Imperial bureaucracy, are easily forgotten. There are several moments that leave the viewer confused about how different characters know each other, a problem that is only exemplified by the increased role the Maya Pei Brigade–which had a minor role in season one–now plays in the series.
Despite this, it is not impossible to jump back into the plot of Andor, and after the initial confusion subsides, the positives of the show really show themselves off. A common gripe many fans have with the later “Star Wars” adaptations–the focus on elaborate, CGI-pumped action scenes over plot substance and political maneuvering–is addressed by the series. While the fight scenes are exciting, the show’s subplot focusing on Imperial politics, both in the Empire’s intelligence services and its senate, gives plenty of smart contextual details that patch up questions raised from the original trilogy. As a result, Andor certainly accomplishes what most other “Star Wars” prequels have always failed to.
Like all other Disney series, the cinematography is fantastic. Wide shots showcase the grandeur of cities and remote environments, while close-ups of the forest in episode two really emphasize the claustrophobia the characters face, making it even easier for the viewer to immerse themselves in the series.
The casting of the show is also amazing. While there are some big names in the series, like Faye Marsay as Vel Sartha, the show also maintains fan favorites, like the casting of Diego Luna as the show’s main character, Cassian Andor, a decision that remains unchanged since “Rogue One” first came out in 2016. Despite the presence of big-name actors, the smaller roles, such as side character Bix Caleen, played by Adria Arjona, also shine, giving plenty of room for small actors to make their name known.
Overall, “Andor” season two is most definitely a show worth watching. While viewers may rightly have some initial reservations, it still picks up from the first season of the show with great efficacy, and is a rare example of a prequel series, much less one in an area as saturated as Disney’s “Star Wars” originals, being a genuinely enjoyable experience for both first time viewers and seasoned fans who want to delve even deeper into the world of “Star Wars.”
