Andor Official "Andor" Series Discussion Thread (Spoilers Allowed)

The Espo sergeant saluted the green deputy officer. I don't recall seeing a salute in SW before.

 

Talking about it in the dedicated episode threads and season 1 thread.

 

Wow... What a fantastic show!

 

Linus Mosk must be protected at all cost

 

They finally got to you!

 

Alright, yeah... I straight up loved that. I saw one article that compared it to Les Misérables in space, and I think that's a spot-on description. It's grimy and dirty and it beautifully showcases what an absolute dungheap the Galaxy Far, Far Away is to actually live in, with an embarrassment of immersive little details on display, and so much texture on the screen it's like you could drag your finger across the TV and feel it.

The supporting characters are all well developed enough, but Cassian himself and Syril are both impeccable. I'm excited to follow the former's introduction into the Rebel Alliance as he gradually begins to find a cause he truly cares about, but as for the latter... he's like a total counterpoint to Tarkin or Krennic. He epitomizes the "banality of evil. A low-ranking dweeb who personifies the "banality of evil" through a total willingness to be the absolute worst out of a commitment to his own career advancement. He's a total keener, and I can't wait to see him get what's coming to him.

 

I think Syril is a total dweeb and self serving but also extremely naive and not really evil? Seems more like a detail oriented guy maybe committed to the idea of law and order but is surrounded by either lazy slackers like his boss, or the cruelty of the various cops under his belt who shot Timm? I don’t seem him “turning good” by the season’s end, but I think he should have a pretty layered rivalry with Andor (who is sort of “evil” himself?)

 

I mean less that Syril is particularly evil himself, and more that evil, oppressive powers (be they the Nazis, or Soviet Union, or Galactic Empire) thrive off of oppressive and dehumanizing acts being committed by bland bureaucrats in a strict, hierarchical environment that rewards compliance.

 

Just finished the first three episodes and I enjoyed them! I understand after watching them why they dropped three episodes at once. It’s very much a slow burn show that probably wouldn’t have hooked most of us until episode 3, where the story finally takes off. I’m hoping they make up for the slow burn episodes with action packed ones here and there.
I’m not offended by the word sh!t showing up but it kind of took me out of the immersion of SW. I actually had to rewind it to make sure I heard him right. I don’t want the goofy made sci-fi curse words either. They could’ve just had him say “damn it” or nothing at all.
My only other issue with the show is the flashbacks. The show Arrow kind of ruined them for me. I enjoyed it in the first two seasons but it got old quick after that and I ended up hating when shows do that. One of the reasons I didn’t enjoy the first half of The Book of Boba Fett. I really hope the flashbacks are done in Andor or at least almost done.

 

I’m getting the sense that Syril will have a redemption arc, he’s not a bully, his heart isn’t in it. Maybe there won’t be a happy ending to his story, this doesn’t seem like that kind of show.

 

That's Ron Cook , he's one of those British actors that turns up in everything. Actually he was in Chernobyl too (seeing a pattern here!)

 

It was in the last half of the third episode, when the security officers realize they’re way in over their head.

 

was surprised they used the BBY legend , thats the sort of thing only us nerds would know.

 

I forget was Espo stands for. I know they are the Corporate sector police. Just don’t remember what it’s short for.

Do you think the Espo’s in this series have Stars End prison? The Han Solo Trilogy from the 70s made good use of the Corporate Sector Authority as villains.

 

Ok so this is something we haven't really seen before in Star Wars. But it was disappointing how little actually happened in three episodes. It was honestly slow and kinda boring at times. All this should have happened in like the first episode what now happened in three. I kinda appreciated the slow and steady take at first, but then they spent a lot of time developing boring characters of Timm and Bix and Timm didn't even make it. I think Bix will be important character later on, but that didn't make her any interesting to follow here.

They just need to have young female protagonist in every disney show now and she felt shoehorned in to fill that place. She was not interesting at all, they should've kept her as mere side character that becomes important later on, but I don't want to see her morning caf scene or closeup of her husbands socks when he watches her sleeping rather creepily, that's damn boring and sort of weird. That couple was not well-written at all and there was no chemistry so it felt awkward to see them alone together at home.

Other actors I liked, even though it was bit funny to see recognizable british actors now in Star Wars like Rupert Vansittart or Ron Cook. Took me a bit out of the universe to see Lord Ashfordly as imperial. Sure many Star Wars actors were in Heartbeat too. My dad loves that show. I didn't get the point of Ron Cook's scene or character at all though. She was dressed in a weird way for a star wars character. Fiona Shaw was great and she felt she belonged in that universe, her aging and de-aging was also done in nice manner. She didn't feel like Petunia Dursley at all but new original Star Wars character and rather cool as well.

Ok but then if we go to pros and cons.

+ I liked the set pieces and general tone and feel of the show. It was gritty used future Star Wars look with some soviet-esque factory look.
+ Pace was not too fast and story was clearly character-driven, but now they took it into another extreme though
+ Many people and reactions were more realistic and less cartoony which I really liked. When guy was killed by Andor his companion was actually shocked. Soldiers were not too effective, but they weren't usual complete stormtroopers either. Mandalorian really has used stormies as laughing stock so much.
+ Traditional Star Wars elements were used rather sparingly and a lot of new elements were introduced making it feel unique and fresh take on the universe that has been mostly missing from Disney-era Star Wars

Cons however come pretty much from the same elements surprisingly
- Pace was far too slow. Third episode get bit better but still there were a lot of scenes where nothing really happened in episodes 1 and 2. I do understand they wanted to flesh out characters and create mood, but it was first time Star Wars felt just very boring to me. I hope they get rid of this slow pace when the show goes on.
-I think it would've been better with some more recognizable Star Wars elements though. Like star destroyer, stormtroopers, more R2-units or familiar aliens (seriously no twi'leks in brothel?). I was disappointed the big Venator wreck seen in the concept art was not created for Ferrix. It would've suited there well and been a great visual cue for Star Wars. I saw an Y-wing, some familiar aliens (mostly from sequels) and some R2 units, but very little what I can immediately recognize as Star Wars.
- It was unclear when did flashback take place exactly and it bothered me. They mention "Imperial mining accident on Kenari", but poisoned men had what looked like separatist symbols in their suits and Maarva mentions Republic so I guess it took place during the clone wars after all. They could've had some more clear visual cues like battle droids or republic ships shown there. Kenari people also seemed to say "Empire", while rest of their alien tongue was impossible to understand.
- I didn't like it how they first told Andor is from Fest and then revealed it was an in-universe lie. They shouldn't have told it is sourcebooks as a fact if it wasn't. It feels like pointless retroactive change anyway. Since they planned to do this show they shouldn't have revealed too much about Andor before it.

Overall it was promising and at times entertaining take on Star Wars, but as too slow-paced it was boring at times and I didn't like all the characters. Syril Karn, Luthen Rael and Maarva Andor seemed like cool new characters. Cassian was just as he was before, okay... I guess. He really needs to develop to be more interesting as main character though.

Good thing they released 3 episodes at once, it would've been very boring to watch them one by one. So little actually happened. Cassian got into some trouble and had to escape planet Ferrix where he was laying low. At times we saw flashbacks of his mysterious childhood alongside primitive Kenari people. We really didn't need 3 episodes for this story to play out.

 

I'm not sure that we'll see him in future episodes but if we do, I don't exactly see him getting a redemption arc but I could see that in the end he'll hate his bosses just as much as he hates Andor.

 

Love bringing back the text when introduced to new planets. Really helps becoming engrossed in the setting and the world building from the jump.

 

I think Syril is seen again. But not sure if he is going to be bad guy or good guy. He didn't seem like a bad guy at heart to me either. I would think he will become rebel at some point, but imperial is also possibility. They developed him a lot so they are going to use him more I think.

I agree, too bad there don't seem to be any. However it is in line with rebel alliance and Galactic Empire being mostly human in OT anyway.