I’d say it is the best mature star wars piece of media ever made. Because I (today still, but especially my younger self) do love me some good lightsaber fights or large scale space battles, which we didn’t get here. Andor not including those is for the better, but I wouldn’t want to completely go without them either.
It’s obviously inspired by quite a few EU books and comics. Which are not worse.
(One thing I like about it, it manages to pretend Disney sequels just didn’t happen, and makes looking directly at Disney SW things optional. And makes a lot of EU references.)
Maybe if you mean on screen, then yes. I still think it’s not better than 1977 and 1980.
Eh, we’ve had books involving characters like Mon Mothma, Garm Bel Iblis, Wedge Antilles, Tycho Selchu, Korran Horn and many others. We’ve also had comic books. We’ve had the “Death Star” novel, the previous version, so to say, of how those plans got out initially. The EU path involved a few hops at each of which the rebels were barely able to slip it further, with a few very lucky coincidences. Ending in the transmission to Tantive IV. Except the Rogue one moment with Vader literally having seen the ship and tried to board it, IIRC, was kinda inconsistent with how they talk in the 1977 movie, as if it’s still perfectly plausible that Tantive IV has nothing to do with the plans.
I appreciate Rogue One for trying to tread the same path, leading to a good story and maybe more good stories with the same approach, but its not the first on it.
I wasn’t saying it was the first. I was just saying that THIS back story, Andor + Rogue One, makes it good in a way that the OT stands worse off without. Andor especially with just how god damn well researched, written, cast, and acted it is. The rebellion is given body, history, and character instead of just existing because it has to because the empire exists. The Jedi’s story is improved because of the story of the non-superpowered people on which their quest is given merit and a foundation.
I’m not a big enough SW fan in general to spend my precious little reading time on SW comics and books. I’m sure there’s lots of merit in them, but not for me when there’s so much else to read in far more interesting universes.
I’m not a big enough SW fan in general to spend my precious little reading time on SW comics and books.
Yeah, well, your first paragraph reads so impressed that I’m certain you haven’t read at least X-Wing books (all my favorite, Stackpole’s ones are sometimes too comfortable, Allston’s ones are sometimes cringe in technical and logical regards), the Thrawn trilogy (the part of the EU usually recommended first) and the Death Star (to compare the old and the new). I liked Andor, once again, and I would like it without Disney’s dark years, but those things were very good and deep too.
I’m sure there’s lots of merit in them, but not for me when there’s so much else to read in far more interesting universes.
Absolutely. This along with Rogue One are the best Star Wars content that have ever been made. Some episodes might feel dragging, but trust that it’s all worth it once you finish it.
Hard agree. The original trilogy has some truly great moments, but nothing on the level of Luthen’s “sacrifice” monologue, or “one way out.”
I consider Rogue One to be a very good, but very flawed movie (IMO the last act does a lot of work to make up for a weak middle, but the last is so very good that it actually does make up for it), but Andor is basically flawless.
Andor is a documentary about radicalization, resistance movements, and fascism set in the Star wars universe. It is VERY true to life and based on real revolutions.
It did an excellent job showcasing real politics and social dynamics. Tons of characters and they all had depth.
The first season is very good, the second season is, IMO, some of the best political drama ever produced. It’s also highly entertaining.
It was good at all levels - not only did the characters had real human depth as did the story, but it even had details like creating a Gorman language and an actual detailed Gorman fashion, so the Production quality matched the quality of the Script, Direction and Acting.
It’s unsurprising that some (maybe many) think this is the best Star Wars ever, at least adult Star Wars.
I saw Rogue One again just after the last episode of Season 2 and whilst they’re almost seamslessly linked, you can absolutelly notice the change of pace and story telling style from one to the other: you go from a story of people in the Rebellion to an Action rollercoaster with an almost symbolic bit of background story.
Mind you, both are a pleasure to watch in their own ways, though Rogue One is mainly “chewing gum for the brain” as entertainment goes whilst Andor is a far grander meal.
It took me 3 times of starting the series to push through the first couple of episodes. When it finally clicked though, I was so mad about not giving it a better chance sooner.
Same, I only committed to finish Season 1 after the Season 2 hype. Then I binge watched both seasons over the weekend (and am pulling down Rogue One to watch again)
I just introduced my parents to it. My dad especially is really not in to fantasy media, but he’s absolutely hooked on it. They’re 6 episodes into season 1. It took until about the 3rd, maybe 4th episode to really get into the swing of things, but after that it’s easily the best live action Star Wars has ever been.
Fwiw personally I thought Rogue One was extremely overrated. I didn’t particularly care for any of the characters, and I thought some (especially the bizarre “I am one with the Force, the Force is with me” guy) were actively grating. IMO for a lot of the broader public, Rogue One’s popular reception rests entirely on the awesome final sequence with Vader, and to a lesser extent on some of the great action leading up to that.
Agreed. Rogue One was basically redeemed with that final act, basically right when it became clear to everyone that no one was getting off that planet alive. But everything leading up to it (aside from the opening) was basically just okay in retrospect, and I found myself rolling my eyes a bit at some of the memberberry cameos like R2 and C3PO just having a random conversation, or bumping into the guy with the weird face from the Tatooine cantina. And uncanny CGI Tarkin, which I remember thinking was fine when I first saw it but now just really sticks out a bit.
Surprisingly, other than the mere presence of some core characters, Andor didn’t rely on nostalgia bait at all and I think that really worked to its benefit.
I avoided all media about season 2 until after I had completely finished watching it and then went back and watched reviews etc. Seeing one reviewer who was watching week by week complain about gratuitous fanservice cameos that would turn out in later episodes to actually be core to the story was very amusing. This happened multiple times. To be fair to the reviewer, they didn’t say it was some terrible thing, and even at least once described it as being earnt, even if it was out of character for the show.
Spoiler: examples of the above
The reveal at the end of episode 3(?) that they were on Yavin IV, and the inclusion of Senator Organa (whose first episode was seemingly just a minor cameo before he becomes more important in later episodes) are the two that come to mind, but I think there was at least one more.
I’ve read that the first cameo was just to get people to spend THAT week talking about the Benjamin Bratt re-cast so they’d be calmed down by the time he had something important to do.
Oh that’s very interesting. Personally it never occurred to me as something to get upset by. Obviously the actor from 2002 is probably not going to be a great fit to continue playing the character in 2025.
Yeah I’m not that upset about it, but I was at least a bit disappointed that Jimmy Smits couldn’t make it work with his schedule. That’s all it was though, a scheduling conflict. He played the role as recently as 2022 in the Obi-Wan show.
I think this series can be really good for people that don’t know Star Wars, too. Anyone that enjoys spy thrillers and political intrigue should really get on well with it.
Yeah, that’s exactly why I introduced my parents. I had to assure them it’s a political thriller with no Force or lightsabres, and I’m explaining necessary prerequisite knowledge as it comes up (like who Mon Mothma is). I’ve decided not to tell them about Rogue One, but only episodes III and IV.
I’m been tempted to watch it. Imo rogue one is the best Star Wars movie (including OT), is this show for me then? As in, is the atmosphere the same?
Rogue One is basically Andor Season 2.5
Andor is, without hesitation, the best piece of Star Wars media ever made.
Yes, even including the original trilogy. I said what I said.
I’d say it is the best mature star wars piece of media ever made. Because I (today still, but especially my younger self) do love me some good lightsaber fights or large scale space battles, which we didn’t get here. Andor not including those is for the better, but I wouldn’t want to completely go without them either.
KotOR II is mature. Last of the Jedi books are mature. X-Wing books … vary, some are very stupid, but some are very good.
SW EU is kinda big, words like “best” shouldn’t be thrown lightly.
But yes, even with the old stuff being so burnt into my brain I can’t be impartial, I accept Andor is real Star Wars and it’s good.
It’s obviously inspired by quite a few EU books and comics. Which are not worse.
(One thing I like about it, it manages to pretend Disney sequels just didn’t happen, and makes looking directly at Disney SW things optional. And makes a lot of EU references.)
Maybe if you mean on screen, then yes. I still think it’s not better than 1977 and 1980.
I have to agree, really brings the whole universe alive for me.
Straight up makes the OT into a different, more meaningful story. The rebellion actually has meaning, purpose, construction, and politic.
Eh, we’ve had books involving characters like Mon Mothma, Garm Bel Iblis, Wedge Antilles, Tycho Selchu, Korran Horn and many others. We’ve also had comic books. We’ve had the “Death Star” novel, the previous version, so to say, of how those plans got out initially. The EU path involved a few hops at each of which the rebels were barely able to slip it further, with a few very lucky coincidences. Ending in the transmission to Tantive IV. Except the Rogue one moment with Vader literally having seen the ship and tried to board it, IIRC, was kinda inconsistent with how they talk in the 1977 movie, as if it’s still perfectly plausible that Tantive IV has nothing to do with the plans.
I appreciate Rogue One for trying to tread the same path, leading to a good story and maybe more good stories with the same approach, but its not the first on it.
I wasn’t saying it was the first. I was just saying that THIS back story, Andor + Rogue One, makes it good in a way that the OT stands worse off without. Andor especially with just how god damn well researched, written, cast, and acted it is. The rebellion is given body, history, and character instead of just existing because it has to because the empire exists. The Jedi’s story is improved because of the story of the non-superpowered people on which their quest is given merit and a foundation.
I’m not a big enough SW fan in general to spend my precious little reading time on SW comics and books. I’m sure there’s lots of merit in them, but not for me when there’s so much else to read in far more interesting universes.
Yeah, well, your first paragraph reads so impressed that I’m certain you haven’t read at least X-Wing books (all my favorite, Stackpole’s ones are sometimes too comfortable, Allston’s ones are sometimes cringe in technical and logical regards), the Thrawn trilogy (the part of the EU usually recommended first) and the Death Star (to compare the old and the new). I liked Andor, once again, and I would like it without Disney’s dark years, but those things were very good and deep too.
To each their own.
I started watching the original after Andor/Rogue One and it’s amazing how much more depth it adds to the existing story 100%
Absolutely. This along with Rogue One are the best Star Wars content that have ever been made. Some episodes might feel dragging, but trust that it’s all worth it once you finish it.
Hard agree. The original trilogy has some truly great moments, but nothing on the level of Luthen’s “sacrifice” monologue, or “one way out.”
I consider Rogue One to be a very good, but very flawed movie (IMO the last act does a lot of work to make up for a weak middle, but the last is so very good that it actually does make up for it), but Andor is basically flawless.
If you liked Rogue One you’ll love Andor
Andor is a documentary about radicalization, resistance movements, and fascism set in the Star wars universe. It is VERY true to life and based on real revolutions.
It did an excellent job showcasing real politics and social dynamics. Tons of characters and they all had depth.
The first season is very good, the second season is, IMO, some of the best political drama ever produced. It’s also highly entertaining.
It was good at all levels - not only did the characters had real human depth as did the story, but it even had details like creating a Gorman language and an actual detailed Gorman fashion, so the Production quality matched the quality of the Script, Direction and Acting.
It’s unsurprising that some (maybe many) think this is the best Star Wars ever, at least adult Star Wars.
I saw Rogue One again just after the last episode of Season 2 and whilst they’re almost seamslessly linked, you can absolutelly notice the change of pace and story telling style from one to the other: you go from a story of people in the Rebellion to an Action rollercoaster with an almost symbolic bit of background story.
Mind you, both are a pleasure to watch in their own ways, though Rogue One is mainly “chewing gum for the brain” as entertainment goes whilst Andor is a far grander meal.
Dunno, the languages seemed AI-generated based on French and German, or something like that.
Would make them similar to Mando’a, so no complaints, not the first time in Star Wars.
But - for me it’s good because it resembles the old EU.
So if you have little acquaintance with the old EU and liked Andor - I recommend delving into it.
Pro tip, watch the first 3 episodes in one sitting. They go together and take a bit to get into.
The whole thing is told in 3 episode arcs.
Kinda. 3-3-1-3-2
It’s an old code, but it checks out
It took me 3 times of starting the series to push through the first couple of episodes. When it finally clicked though, I was so mad about not giving it a better chance sooner.
Same, I only committed to finish Season 1 after the Season 2 hype. Then I binge watched both seasons over the weekend (and am pulling down Rogue One to watch again)
I just introduced my parents to it. My dad especially is really not in to fantasy media, but he’s absolutely hooked on it. They’re 6 episodes into season 1. It took until about the 3rd, maybe 4th episode to really get into the swing of things, but after that it’s easily the best live action Star Wars has ever been.
Fwiw personally I thought Rogue One was extremely overrated. I didn’t particularly care for any of the characters, and I thought some (especially the bizarre “I am one with the Force, the Force is with me” guy) were actively grating. IMO for a lot of the broader public, Rogue One’s popular reception rests entirely on the awesome final sequence with Vader, and to a lesser extent on some of the great action leading up to that.
Agreed. Rogue One was basically redeemed with that final act, basically right when it became clear to everyone that no one was getting off that planet alive. But everything leading up to it (aside from the opening) was basically just okay in retrospect, and I found myself rolling my eyes a bit at some of the memberberry cameos like R2 and C3PO just having a random conversation, or bumping into the guy with the weird face from the Tatooine cantina. And uncanny CGI Tarkin, which I remember thinking was fine when I first saw it but now just really sticks out a bit.
Surprisingly, other than the mere presence of some core characters, Andor didn’t rely on nostalgia bait at all and I think that really worked to its benefit.
I avoided all media about season 2 until after I had completely finished watching it and then went back and watched reviews etc. Seeing one reviewer who was watching week by week complain about gratuitous fanservice cameos that would turn out in later episodes to actually be core to the story was very amusing. This happened multiple times. To be fair to the reviewer, they didn’t say it was some terrible thing, and even at least once described it as being earnt, even if it was out of character for the show.
Spoiler: examples of the above
The reveal at the end of episode 3(?) that they were on Yavin IV, and the inclusion of Senator Organa (whose first episode was seemingly just a minor cameo before he becomes more important in later episodes) are the two that come to mind, but I think there was at least one more.
I’ve read that the first cameo was just to get people to spend THAT week talking about the Benjamin Bratt re-cast so they’d be calmed down by the time he had something important to do.
Oh that’s very interesting. Personally it never occurred to me as something to get upset by. Obviously the actor from 2002 is probably not going to be a great fit to continue playing the character in 2025.
Yeah I’m not that upset about it, but I was at least a bit disappointed that Jimmy Smits couldn’t make it work with his schedule. That’s all it was though, a scheduling conflict. He played the role as recently as 2022 in the Obi-Wan show.
I think this series can be really good for people that don’t know Star Wars, too. Anyone that enjoys spy thrillers and political intrigue should really get on well with it.
Yeah, that’s exactly why I introduced my parents. I had to assure them it’s a political thriller with no Force or lightsabres, and I’m explaining necessary prerequisite knowledge as it comes up (like who Mon Mothma is). I’ve decided not to tell them about Rogue One, but only episodes III and IV.
It is the best Star Wars ever made.
The first 3 episodes are available on youtube, highly recommend giving it a view!