TV Review: Andor Season 2 (2025)

Andor Season 2 (2025) created by Tony Gilroy based on Star Wars by George Lucas 

In this follow-up to the first season, Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) is still running missions for Luthen Rael (Stellan Skarsgard), a well-connected conniver who opposes the expanding power of Imperial forces in the Galactic Republic. Rael has a lot of schemes going on which is eerily matched by the schemes of the Imperial forces. The season plays out over several years (a surprising number of episodes start with a "One Year Later" title card), with Cassian and Rael getting closer and closer to discovering the big secret of the Imperials while Imperial Lieutenant Dedra Meero (Denise Gough) hunts Rael and his conspiracy. 

The show distinguishes itself from other Star Wars content by its stark realism and maturity. The political intrigue and espionage are much more John Le Carre than Ian Fleming. These people get caught in tough situations, sometimes with no clear path to resolve conflicts or solve problems. Finding and keeping allies is hard; maintaining connections to family and friends is even harder. While Cassian and his side are clearly the heroes of the show, the Imperial characters also have complicated situations and difficult personal interactions. The show's lack of two-dimensional characters across the narrative is refreshing.

The show ends nicely with Cassian flying off to his role in Rogue One and a coda showing why what they do is so important. 

Recommended, highly for Star Wars fans.

As I publish this, the show is only available on the Disney+ streaming service.

TV Review: Andor (2022)

Andor (2022) created by Tony Gilroy based on Star Wars by George Lucas 

In this prequel to Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) is a down-and-out guy on an obscure planet that is more or less comfortable under the heel of the Galactic Empire. He does some black-market deals and winds up killing some Imperials who stumble onto his trail, bringing the wrath of the Empire down on the planet. At the same time, he is recruited by Luthen Rael (Stellan Skarsgard), a shadowy figure who wants to fight back against the Imperial Government. Andor reluctantly joins Luthen's latest plot--a plan to steal millions from the government when raiding a payroll stockpile. Nothing quite goes according to plan, forcing Andor to make some tough decisions and decide where his future really lies.

While the plot focused on Andor is central and fascinating, there's a lot of other stories going on around it. The Empire's secret intelligence agency reacts to various rebellious activities with interesting political intrigue among the agency higher ups. One of them, Dedra Meero (Denise Gough), seems to be following the right leads but others on the agency are wary of her working outside of protocols to get things done. Another very intriguing plot line involves Imperial officer Syril Karn (Kyle Soller) who tried to catch Andor for the initial killings; he loses his job but the story keeps following his downfall. He loses his job, moves back home with his overbearing mother, and gets a bureaucratic job, all the while hoping to prove he was right. On the capital world of Coruscant, Mon Mothma (Genevieve O'Reilly) works with the Imperial Senate and with Luthen, hoping to get the rebels advanced enough to become the Rebellion.

The overall plotting and characters are very interesting and not the same old space opera of the Skywalker storyline. This show feels fresh and mature, with new ideas and exploring new corners of the Star Wars. Cassian Andor's origin story is well-told and I am looking forward to more. Or at least, rewatching Rogue One.

Recommended, highly for Star Wars fans.