Quality Television is a space for me to talk about returning series that are still worth your time. As such, expect some light spoilers for older seasons.
Cassian Andor’s destiny is to die. We’ve known it to be true from the start and it colors much of Andor, the prequel series that follows our hero right up to the events of Rouge One. Like any prequel worth its salt, Andor uses our knowledge of future events to drive home the tragedy. It also, wisely, puts other characters into Cassian’s path whose fates are less certain. This is a show primarily about the sacrifices one makes to achieve a brighter tomorrow, which means you can expect a certain amount of character death. With this second season also being the last, that number increases significantly.
If Andor season one was all about Cassian’s growth from self-serving smuggler to joining the cause of the Rebellion. Then, season two is about setting him on the path to being a full-fledged leader. To accomplish this, the writers make the bold decision to dive through his 4 years in the rebellion with a series of 3 episode arcs, each taking place roughly a year apart. These arcs trace not only Andor’s development, but countless other characters as well. It’s a testament to the show’s strong writing that these all flow together as well as they do.
The sheer number of compelling characters in Andor often leads to Cassian being perceived as a background player, a frequent criticism. This doesn’t change in season two, which features more prominent roles for Rebel informant Lonni Jung (Robert Emms) and Luthen’s assistant, Kleya (Elizabeth Dulau). Not to mention returning characters like Rogue One villain Orson Krennic (A delightfully campy Ben Mendelsohn) and radical Saw Gerrera (Forest Whittaker). Add in the current cast and you have a daunting ensemble for a 12 episode season. No wonder it feels like our titular spy is stuck in the backseat.
Despite the name, Andor is as much a story about the birth of the Rebellion as it is about the man himself. As he’s told late in this season, Cassian is a “messenger” and his message is resistance. Diego Luna continues his magnificently subtle work this season as Cassian struggles between the life he wants and the mission he’s sworn himself to. Andor understands the toll the Rebellion takes on normal people like him. He sees it in his partner Bix and in the people he loses along the way. The moments of doubt are crucial because they make the scenes where Andor is inspiring others hit even harder. There’s a reason our first glimpse of him this season is a pep talk he gives to an Imperial informant. It’s a moment of grace and humanity that Luna sells with sincerity.
Luna is the glue holding together an incredible cast of actors. Dulau’s work as Kleya further elevates her from the background player she was in the first season. Stellan Skarsgard continues to reveal new facets of Luthen, showing just how deep his hatred of the Empire goes. Genevieve O’Reilly gets her best showcase yet as Mon Mothma. Then, there’s the sickly warped Imperial couple Syril Karn (Kyle Soller) and Deidra Meero (Denise Gough). Soller gets to shine early in the season, but it’s Gough’s Deidra who remains the closest thing to a flat-out villain. Her ambition leads directly to the events of the series’ final arc and her eventual fate is one of the most deserved you’ll see on TV this year.
This is a show about sacrifice, but this is also a show about small actions that build to lasting consequences. Every character has a role to play and part of the series’ appeal is seeing how they intersect. As a wise man once said, “tyranny requires constant effort.” This season shows us the effect that has on the Empire and how it leads to their undoing. It’s a slow burn, but one that leads to incredible payoffs.
Andor remains visually stunning too. With a sharp eye toward the composition of a scene, the program is one of the best looking on TV. Whether it’s the terrifying image of a squadron of robots stalking towards protestors or a dark apartment illuminated only by the city lights outside, there is always something interesting on the screen. The action scenes also sizzle with a very real, violent feel to them, including the most intense hand-to-hand fight sequence you’ll likely ever see in a Star Wars property.
Often referred to as the “adult” version of Star Wars, Andor certainly lives up to that moniker this season. Creator Tony Gilroy and his team remain committed to showing the violence and terror that the Empire commits regularly. It feels visceral in a way that few shows manage and all too timely. The writers deliberately crib from human history in their depiction of both the Empire and the growing Rebellion. It deepens the world and adds nuance to what was once a straightforward conflict.
Ultimately, that’s Andor’s lasting legacy. A prequel that takes what we already know and enriches it. It’s the story of the people who don’t get to be the heroes of legend, but who pave the way for them. Not every part of this franchise needs to be gritty and mature, but they should carry this show’s spirit. The great character work and the tight plots that build to high stakes payoffs. It isn’t just a great Star Wars tale, it’s great science fiction television. Like all great sci-fi, Andor shows us the future while calling to the present. How we choose to respond is up to us.
Andor is currently streaming on Disney+.