Weeks ago on November 23rd, Disney Plus’s new, high budget, spin off Star Wars show “Andor'' aired its final episode of its first season on the platform. The show follows the Deuteragonist of 2016’s “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” and takes place in the years before the revolution of the Original Star Wars franchise. Leading up to its release, there was little hype or anticipation for the series. Disney's previous attempts at live action TV (The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, and Obi Wan) all had far more draw. The Mandalorian examined the gritty underbelly of the Star Wars universe, an area with little exploration while the other two additions fringed on fan favorite characters. A show about the second most important character in a mere spin off certainly didn’t draw the crowds or attention as the other two but over the recent weeks as the show has aired it has quietly become Star Wars' answer to prestige television.
While it wasn't something fans “asked for,” it fills a void in the universe that has previously been vacant, the height of the empire. In the universe, we see glimpses of rebellion in Star Wars Rebels, a brief cartoon network show, as well as the beginning of the end in Rogue One--but to see the empire in all its glory is something almost frightening. We see the empire hang protesters, torture prisoners, unjustly arrest its citizens, kill its people etc. In the original trilogy, we hate the empire because we’re told to. We hate them because they are fighting our heroes. Yes, they blow up planets, and have ominous music, but we don't have a truly personal experience with the empire. This series makes it clear the empire is a force for evil. It gives us a reason to hate their imperialism in a way we haven't previously experienced.
In a series that has its roots in anti-fascist and anti-imperialist messages, Andor is the universe's most anti-fascist and most anti-imperialist to date. The slick, clean, stylish uniforms the various imperial officers are decorated in is reminiscent of the very Hugo Boss uniforms used in Nazi Germany. The efficiency, and bureaucracy too are certainly intentional. Despite the titular characters multitude of imperial crimes, his ultimate arrest comes for illegitimate reasons, reminiscent of the Bureaucratic and Oppressive world in Kafque’s “The Trial.” In a time when right wing authoritarianism is on the rise worldwide, the show's depiction of what is essentially fascism feels very necessary.
Beyond the basic air of prestige the show’s topic creates, the show is well made in every aspect. Episode 6’s “The Eye '' has one of the universe's most beautiful scenes since the original twin suns of Tatooine in 1977. The multitude of planets all have a unique sense of beauty. The cinematography and the show's sunset motif all shine due to the show's frequent on location shooting, from the Scottish highlands to England's southern shore, the setting makes the series seem so much more real. The show's most recurring set, Ferricks is a bleak and gritty hub of industry. Evocative of towns across the Midwest. For the first time in a long time, a planet itself feels like a character in Star Wars.
The show's writing staff includes writers from the Emmy winning “House of Cards” as well as the spy/action thrillers of the “Bourne franchise.” These two distinct perspectives on writing combine in the scenes of imperial spycraft of the show but also the behind closed doors politique of Coruscant. The acting too draws from the best, with Oscar winners like Forest Whitiker and Emmy winners like Stellan Skargard playing noticeable roles. With the best in the business at the helm the show is given further legitimacy.
It's better written, better acted, better shot, and more important than anything Star Wars has made in their time under Disney. Disney Plus as a platform has struggled, the reasons why are not exactly clear. Maybe it’s show quality, catalog, or price, but generally the platform has lost billions since its initial launch a few years ago. These problems, in part, led to the firing of Disney CEO Bob Chapek a few months ago. However, Andor shines as a glittering example of prestige TV in a sea of mediocrity on the platform. It’s better than the platform. Disney Plus doesn't deserve Andor.
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