Star Wars: Andor Episodes 1-3 Review

By Ben Wright (@iamzavagno | www.xgeeks.co.uk)

This review is spoiler-free.

Visually and tonally, Andor is a very unique and stand-out Star Wars television series. It dares to take its time telling the stories and growing the characters. This bravery pays off after the three episodes, and I find myself having such a vested interest in the show already. Star Wars: Andor really puts you on the ground and immerses you in the realism of living in a galaxy far, far away. There are no Jedi or Sith, just average people desperately trying to survive in a galaxy full of oppression and dictatorship. It is also a much more mature Star Wars show than we have seen so far and I don’t think this is one for a younger audience. Personally, this is the type of Star Wars series that I have longed for!

While it’s only been three episodes, I already love the stories, characters and design aesthetic within Star Wars: Andor. The world feels cold, dirty and wet, which just adds to the blurred morals of the characters and the grey area of some of the storytelling. Star Wars: Andor does not really rely on ‘big pulls’ from the wider Star Wars universe in terms of characters or planets. Ok, we have Mon Mothma (Genevieve O’Reilly), but add up her screen time in all of the Skywalker Saga and it doesn’t add up to much. Andor is all about the ‘ordinary’ and new characters, and this ‘unknown’ element, despite being a prequel to Rogue One, means that the majority of the characters in the show are in constant danger – no one is safe. This just makes things much more interesting and suspenseful.

Speaking of the cast, Star Wars: Andor is overflowing with great performances. Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) is quite a different character from who we saw in Rogue One. He is angry, wreckless and willing to do whatever it takes, regardless of the cost. Syril Karn (Kyle Soller) is incredibly tense and driven. Soller’s incredible performance makes Syril such a compelling character to watch. Maarva (Fiona Shaw) may have had restricted screen time across these three episodes, but Shaw’s delivery ensured she left her mark on this first batch of episodes. Both Bix Caleen (Adria Arjona) and Luthen Rael (Stellan Skarsgård) are characters that I am really eager to get to know more as the air of mystery around them is very intriguing.

As for the design aesthetic and props, they have done an outstanding job of creating this incredibly ‘real’ world. I love the work in the Volume, but I think stepping away from this and using real locations and environments just fits so much better, given the unique nature of the show. Nicholas Britell’s score is simply breathtaking, it is so incredibly Star Wars, yet at the same time, it isn’t. The music draws influence from multiple cultures, and perfectly reflects and enhances the on-screen visuals, story and characters.

In terms of the negatives, I feel some may look at the pacing, but I personally enjoyed the fact that the show is allowed breathing time. In the way it tells its stories, it almost feels like Andor has taken influence from Star Wars: The Clone Wars, in which it uses a mini-arc approach as part of the storytelling method.

Mature, grounded and aesthetically unique, Star Wars: Andor is a refreshing, and welcome, entry into the Star Wars universe.

What did you make of the first three episodes of Star Wars: Andor? Let us know in the comments or find us on social media.