A great prequel isn’t so much about the what, but about the how and why that lead to the events we already know. Rogue One took a small plot hole from A New Hope and not only fixed it, but gave it meaning. Over two seasons, Andor has delivered a truly spectacular lead up to Rogue One, filled with purpose and emotional resonance, further elevating the entire original trilogy in the process.
Season one played like a series of connected arcs - four smaller stories woven into a larger narrative. Season two, by contrast, is more singular in its focus. It has the urgency of a story heading toward a known endpoint, with a clearer sense of direction and finality. While there are still some detours and character-specific side plots, everything here feels more tightly connected to the series’ inevitable conclusion. These twelve episodes work overtime to bridge the gap between Andor and Rogue One, while never feeling forcibly tied to canon. It delivers more brilliantly detailed world building, and expands upon the driving factors behind both sides of its central conflict. It’s also far more character driven, giving the rebels and imperials more depth than any of the movies ever did.
In fact, that’s a big part of what sets Andor apart from any other Star Wars movie or series - This galaxy has never felt so lived in, and the characters that populate it have never felt so three-dimensional. This season delves further into the oppressive chokehold the Empire imposes across the Galaxy, as the rebels fight to break free of that sinister grasp. It’s still a story of light vs dark, but there’s a tremendous gradient of grey connecting the two sides. The characters don’t simply exist to serve a narrative or advance the plot - they are the plot. Cassian, Senator Mothma, Luthen, Dedra - these are fully realized beings with their own complex set of morals and beliefs. The care that went into each of them elevates this show to a new level. Destiny and sacrifice are central themes this season. For Cassian, it’s the slow acceptance that his life isn’t really his own anymore - that he’s part of something larger, something that will outlive him.
With a production budget of 290 million, this is the most expensive Star Wars project to date, and it shows. The wide variety of locations each carry a gorgeous level of attention to detail. Everything feels textured, worn and tangible, with an emphasis on real sets and props. Whether it be the glossy interior of a prototype Tie-Avenger or a medical centre on Coruscant, there’s a lot of work that went into bringing it all to life. Obviously there’s a ton of VFX as well, and the level of polish on that front is also most impressive. Stepping in for the brilliant Nicholas Brittell (who still composes the intro for each episode) to score the series is Brandon Roberts, who does excellent work building on Brittell’s work from season one.
Andor isn’t just top tier Star Wars - it’s an exceptional piece of science fiction set in the Star Wars universe. It treats its audience as adults, unafraid to slow down to weave a detailed, complex narrative over convenient plot advancement. It’s a brilliant companion piece to Rogue One, and the best Star Wars has been since the Original Trilogy.
4.5/5
Review by: Benjamin Garrett