Andor has been a slow burn from the beginning. I felt the pay-off coming during the terrific "heist" episode, but as the episodes have rolled out since then, it seems I was mistaken. The payoff is a lot more than what the series' most action-packed installment could deliver. Andor is exploring themes we have never seen before in any Star Wars adaptation. The last two episodes specifically have illustrated the evil of the Galactic Empire in an entirely new and terrifying way. Along with the addition of the brilliant Andy Serkis, these have been my favorite episodes in an already well-done and worthy addition to Star Wars. Without Jedi, Sith, popular major characters or The Force, Andor is becoming the best Disney-era Star Wars has to offer.
30 Reviews
For the first time ever, the Empire actually terrifies me.
poseyfan2 November 2022
I have never been as on edge watching anything Star Wars. Period.
What the writers have done with this show is nothing short of phenomenal. The acting is unmatched; the script puts other Star Wars projects to shame; the characters are so inexplicably well-written. I'm nothing short of amazed.
The overwhelming atmosphere of the jail and the eerie totalitarianistic egos of the Imperial Security Bureau are some of the biggest highlights of this show for me. For the first time ever: the Imperials seem unceasingly and head-crushingly competent. Palpatine, Vader, Tarkin, Thrawn etc. All were great villains, but this show has taken the Empire to a whole - seemingly unreachable - new level. I actually get the chills when I see stormtroopers. I get on edge when a Tie Fighter flies overhead.
Well done.
What the writers have done with this show is nothing short of phenomenal. The acting is unmatched; the script puts other Star Wars projects to shame; the characters are so inexplicably well-written. I'm nothing short of amazed.
The overwhelming atmosphere of the jail and the eerie totalitarianistic egos of the Imperial Security Bureau are some of the biggest highlights of this show for me. For the first time ever: the Imperials seem unceasingly and head-crushingly competent. Palpatine, Vader, Tarkin, Thrawn etc. All were great villains, but this show has taken the Empire to a whole - seemingly unreachable - new level. I actually get the chills when I see stormtroopers. I get on edge when a Tie Fighter flies overhead.
Well done.
Societal commentary that's worth hearing.
W011y4m52 November 2022
Yet again, the new "Andor" series continues to really make shockingly excellent use of Toby Haynes' demonstrable ability to capture the dark, politically relevant cynicism of "Black Mirror" (since he previously directed "USS Callister") here because his episodes in particular grow increasingly more macabre & disturbing with each & every passing week.
As if the story wasn't already unsettling enough, writer Beau Willimon & creator Tony Gilroy have frankly, somehow found a deliciously sinister way of making the imperialistic "Empire" in "Star Wars" universe as dystopian as you can probably get on screen (without compromising the suitability rating for audiences), intellectually exploring the brutal, inhumane reality of what it means to maintain their flawed perception of "order" & the consequences its preservation it has on working class people, who predominantly suffer under its tyranny. Furthermore, it's this unflinchingly mature manner in which the themes are approached that continually catches me off guard, as the filmmaking fearlessly confronts the true horror of the harmful ideology many possess with a startling honesty that feels uncomfortably familiar & bold for a project airing on Disney+. This isn't just another mindless addition to a well-known sci-fi franchise (made to cash in on devout fan's loyalty to the brand); in grim installments like these, the season has a clear, distinct purpose, a voice - with a statement make - & it's not afraid to use it.
As if the story wasn't already unsettling enough, writer Beau Willimon & creator Tony Gilroy have frankly, somehow found a deliciously sinister way of making the imperialistic "Empire" in "Star Wars" universe as dystopian as you can probably get on screen (without compromising the suitability rating for audiences), intellectually exploring the brutal, inhumane reality of what it means to maintain their flawed perception of "order" & the consequences its preservation it has on working class people, who predominantly suffer under its tyranny. Furthermore, it's this unflinchingly mature manner in which the themes are approached that continually catches me off guard, as the filmmaking fearlessly confronts the true horror of the harmful ideology many possess with a startling honesty that feels uncomfortably familiar & bold for a project airing on Disney+. This isn't just another mindless addition to a well-known sci-fi franchise (made to cash in on devout fan's loyalty to the brand); in grim installments like these, the season has a clear, distinct purpose, a voice - with a statement make - & it's not afraid to use it.
Evil empire on the job
spoofmasterc4 November 2022
Dedra Meera character is great. The actress who plays her has a great twitch smile when pleased with her evil doings.
Getting to know the Empire as much as the rebels has been a very rewarding approach.
Along with the wealthy contributors among the complacent, the working class complacent too busy to see what's happening in front of them, and the 'I'm just doing my job' cogs of the Empire, this is much closer to the obvious comparison to real-world societies of the past.
The dangerously mentally ill fellow with Norman Bates vibes is a creepily nice touch.
The only thing that bugs me is the same reason this show works so well: lack of droids. Their slave existence was an underlying theme never played out in this universe. But as Andor said, people are cheaper and easier to replace.
Getting to know the Empire as much as the rebels has been a very rewarding approach.
Along with the wealthy contributors among the complacent, the working class complacent too busy to see what's happening in front of them, and the 'I'm just doing my job' cogs of the Empire, this is much closer to the obvious comparison to real-world societies of the past.
The dangerously mentally ill fellow with Norman Bates vibes is a creepily nice touch.
The only thing that bugs me is the same reason this show works so well: lack of droids. Their slave existence was an underlying theme never played out in this universe. But as Andor said, people are cheaper and easier to replace.
Gilroy deserves an Emmy for his teleplay
fellowsjb3 November 2022
Man I love this show, it's a huge step up by Disney for Star Wars. It makes Marvel and Pixar look meek with the recent releases they've made.
The quality of this show is A grade, where everything is on point; the acting, the production and sets, and my personal favourite, the writing.
There's not one filler episode and neither is this one. Gilroy is doing a masterclass on how to keep multiple stories retain a heartbeat whilst keeping it interesting, intriguing and makes you look forward to the next episode immediately. As usual, Diego and Serkis are absolutely brilliant and as the series has proven thus far, every 3 or 4 episodes is a biggie so can't wait for next week.
Awesome episode.
The quality of this show is A grade, where everything is on point; the acting, the production and sets, and my personal favourite, the writing.
There's not one filler episode and neither is this one. Gilroy is doing a masterclass on how to keep multiple stories retain a heartbeat whilst keeping it interesting, intriguing and makes you look forward to the next episode immediately. As usual, Diego and Serkis are absolutely brilliant and as the series has proven thus far, every 3 or 4 episodes is a biggie so can't wait for next week.
Awesome episode.
The Empire Goes Full Psycho
MamadNobari972 November 2022
The show continues to be one of the most engaging and intense Star Wars pieces of media and tv shows as a whole without any explosions, and lightsaber or baster action scenes.
Meero steals the show once again and all of her scenes, especially Bix's interrogation, are just brilliant.
They're doing too good of a job of showing The Empire is not just a cartoonishly evil bad guy with troopers that can't aim, and they actually manage to make them menacing and meticulous and a bad guy that gets the job done.
Showing the inner workings of ISB and how they run things is just the cherry on top.
The prison scenes are just as brilliant and Andy Serkis has a nice little character arc and development in this episode and the writing and editing of these scenes are just great.
Andor is slowly planning his escape but they run into some problems in this episode. The whole prison arc is just bigger and more well-written than I thought it was going to be and it's just a joy to watch.
We get some great scenes with Mon too and the actress is just great, in fact, every actor has been great since episode one. There is another surprising reveal in the Mon Mothma plotline and it makes the whole story more complex. The plot is thickening in a great way.
All in all, I thought this was another great episode from this Star Wars show that I'm actually enjoying watching, which it has been a long time since the last time that happened.
With the brilliant writing team and just everyone behind this show, I'm confident they're gonna do a great job with the rest of the season and hopefully the next season too. Can't wait for the next week's episode.
Meero steals the show once again and all of her scenes, especially Bix's interrogation, are just brilliant.
They're doing too good of a job of showing The Empire is not just a cartoonishly evil bad guy with troopers that can't aim, and they actually manage to make them menacing and meticulous and a bad guy that gets the job done.
Showing the inner workings of ISB and how they run things is just the cherry on top.
The prison scenes are just as brilliant and Andy Serkis has a nice little character arc and development in this episode and the writing and editing of these scenes are just great.
Andor is slowly planning his escape but they run into some problems in this episode. The whole prison arc is just bigger and more well-written than I thought it was going to be and it's just a joy to watch.
We get some great scenes with Mon too and the actress is just great, in fact, every actor has been great since episode one. There is another surprising reveal in the Mon Mothma plotline and it makes the whole story more complex. The plot is thickening in a great way.
All in all, I thought this was another great episode from this Star Wars show that I'm actually enjoying watching, which it has been a long time since the last time that happened.
With the brilliant writing team and just everyone behind this show, I'm confident they're gonna do a great job with the rest of the season and hopefully the next season too. Can't wait for the next week's episode.
One of the darkest Star Wars experiences
snoozejonc2 November 2022
Dedra continues her investigation into the rebellion, whilst disturbing news is heard on Narkina 5.
This is another high quality episode.
The themes in this story are some of the darkest portrayed in the Star Wars franchise so far and they are depicted in a plot that is ramping up the tension, particularly on Narkina 5.
The detail covered about the complexities involved in securing an empire and developing a rebel insurgency, are everything that I ever could have wished for as a Star Wars fan.
As a long time fan, the best aspect of Andor is how it explores the details of concepts introduced in the original movies. The Empire and the rebellion have largely been mythical notions outside of the dealings of the elite characters on both sides, however episodes like this help bring it to life.
For me the best scenes involve Dedra and Mon Mothma as they are well plotted and give plausible faces to both sides of the conflict. I feel a sense that they are exactly the type of people who would be drawn to each ideology.
With Dedra and the scenes involving imperial officers, it portrays the horror of a totalitarian system (as well as fiction can) including aspects like torture, mass murder and euthanasia and does it with great tribute to George Lucas' legacy, such as the homage to the Princess Leia interrogation scene in the original Star Wars movie, complete with doorway/footsteps transition.
Visually it is a superbly filmed episode with excellent production design. Particularly the scenes on Narkina 5, that also pay tribute to Lucas. These are very well made, but there is no real tension associated with Cassian's fate here as we know the outcome. However, the writers use characters like Kino Loy and other prisoners well. I do want to find out what happens to them given the depiction of their plight and how the episode ends.
The standout performances for me are Denise Gough, Genevieve O'Reilly and Andy Serkis.
It's an 8.5/10 for me but I round upwards.
This is another high quality episode.
The themes in this story are some of the darkest portrayed in the Star Wars franchise so far and they are depicted in a plot that is ramping up the tension, particularly on Narkina 5.
The detail covered about the complexities involved in securing an empire and developing a rebel insurgency, are everything that I ever could have wished for as a Star Wars fan.
As a long time fan, the best aspect of Andor is how it explores the details of concepts introduced in the original movies. The Empire and the rebellion have largely been mythical notions outside of the dealings of the elite characters on both sides, however episodes like this help bring it to life.
For me the best scenes involve Dedra and Mon Mothma as they are well plotted and give plausible faces to both sides of the conflict. I feel a sense that they are exactly the type of people who would be drawn to each ideology.
With Dedra and the scenes involving imperial officers, it portrays the horror of a totalitarian system (as well as fiction can) including aspects like torture, mass murder and euthanasia and does it with great tribute to George Lucas' legacy, such as the homage to the Princess Leia interrogation scene in the original Star Wars movie, complete with doorway/footsteps transition.
Visually it is a superbly filmed episode with excellent production design. Particularly the scenes on Narkina 5, that also pay tribute to Lucas. These are very well made, but there is no real tension associated with Cassian's fate here as we know the outcome. However, the writers use characters like Kino Loy and other prisoners well. I do want to find out what happens to them given the depiction of their plight and how the episode ends.
The standout performances for me are Denise Gough, Genevieve O'Reilly and Andy Serkis.
It's an 8.5/10 for me but I round upwards.
Dark, oppressive, evil - what you would expect under the heel of the Empire
schmicol2 November 2022
This show is killing it.
Great writing: the.tension continues grow with each instalment! Every moment is telling. Each event cascading in consequence.
The performances are superb. A dark foreboding score that hits the mark. The costumes and sets are lush. They and the cinematography are painstakingly true ti earliest (ie finest) Star Wars traditions.
And the direction is ... restrained but relentlessly taught. No there's not much humour.
I know people are saying "this isn't a Star Wars story" but it so very much is. No it's not a Jedi story. It's not even a Jedi adjacent story. And it is SO much the better for it.
This is a serious show about the desperate courage of real people trying to get out from under the heel of an authoritarian government. It is mandatory viewing.
Between this and Netflix's utterly brilliant All Quiet on the Western Front we have two powerful and timely studies into the horrors of conflict and oppression.
Great writing: the.tension continues grow with each instalment! Every moment is telling. Each event cascading in consequence.
The performances are superb. A dark foreboding score that hits the mark. The costumes and sets are lush. They and the cinematography are painstakingly true ti earliest (ie finest) Star Wars traditions.
And the direction is ... restrained but relentlessly taught. No there's not much humour.
I know people are saying "this isn't a Star Wars story" but it so very much is. No it's not a Jedi story. It's not even a Jedi adjacent story. And it is SO much the better for it.
This is a serious show about the desperate courage of real people trying to get out from under the heel of an authoritarian government. It is mandatory viewing.
Between this and Netflix's utterly brilliant All Quiet on the Western Front we have two powerful and timely studies into the horrors of conflict and oppression.
Pucker factor 11
vandykeu2 November 2022
Warning: Spoilers
I've been reviewing episodes of this show for several weeks now, and I cannot believe how it continues to improve. In this episode, Andor takes the ever-present tension and anxiety that the show always has, and compresses it like a black hole into a diamond of solid, cold, utter dread. This show has become uncomfortable to watch, and I would almost say that at this point it may not be for everyone. It certainly is not like Star Wars has ever been before, and is not 'for children' like Star Wars has always been before.
And yet, if I think about it, it really isn't that different. There is a torture scene here, and the remarkable thing is that A New Hope also had a torture scene, of Princess Leia. That scene was more implied, but Andor does a remarkable job of calling back to that scene, and then expanding upon it in a way that make sense. This is an important link- to those who would say 'this is not Star Wars'.... YES IT IS. Star Wars has always had a veneer of darkness, grittiness, and evil, but that veneer was overshadowed by the clear black/white good/evil hero's journey. What Andor is doing is stripping away those blinders and showing the universe for what it really is. And it is dark, uncomfortable, and terrifying.
I really have to shout-out the nuanced performances that the entire cast is putting on, particularly in this episode. Diego Luna, Genevieve O'Reilly, Denise Gough, Kyle Soller, and Andy Serkis do incredible jobs with their characters in this episode in particular. They all use physical performances- their facial expressions, nervous ticks, etc. To convey what is going on in their heads. In the case of the imperials (Gough especially), it is a smug satisfaction of getting their job done and seeing the purpose that they are achieving. In the case of the rebels, it is the anxiety, dread, and fear of what they are facing, and trying to hold everything together in the face of that. Genevieve O'Reilly has an instant where she portrays a loneliness and fear so well that her lower lip trembles ever so slightly as if she is on the verge of breaking down in tears. Andy Serkis undergoes a complete change of character as events around him spiral out of the controlled little world he has built to maintain his own comfort. These are just examples that came to my mind, but the performances are, universally, masterful.
This show deserves all of the awards. There are no flaws that I can see to it. It really is that good. It should be more broadly appreciated outside of the Star Wars fanbase. It is like The Wire, or Breaking Bad. It is 100% on that level of series in terms of its quality.
And yet, if I think about it, it really isn't that different. There is a torture scene here, and the remarkable thing is that A New Hope also had a torture scene, of Princess Leia. That scene was more implied, but Andor does a remarkable job of calling back to that scene, and then expanding upon it in a way that make sense. This is an important link- to those who would say 'this is not Star Wars'.... YES IT IS. Star Wars has always had a veneer of darkness, grittiness, and evil, but that veneer was overshadowed by the clear black/white good/evil hero's journey. What Andor is doing is stripping away those blinders and showing the universe for what it really is. And it is dark, uncomfortable, and terrifying.
I really have to shout-out the nuanced performances that the entire cast is putting on, particularly in this episode. Diego Luna, Genevieve O'Reilly, Denise Gough, Kyle Soller, and Andy Serkis do incredible jobs with their characters in this episode in particular. They all use physical performances- their facial expressions, nervous ticks, etc. To convey what is going on in their heads. In the case of the imperials (Gough especially), it is a smug satisfaction of getting their job done and seeing the purpose that they are achieving. In the case of the rebels, it is the anxiety, dread, and fear of what they are facing, and trying to hold everything together in the face of that. Genevieve O'Reilly has an instant where she portrays a loneliness and fear so well that her lower lip trembles ever so slightly as if she is on the verge of breaking down in tears. Andy Serkis undergoes a complete change of character as events around him spiral out of the controlled little world he has built to maintain his own comfort. These are just examples that came to my mind, but the performances are, universally, masterful.
This show deserves all of the awards. There are no flaws that I can see to it. It really is that good. It should be more broadly appreciated outside of the Star Wars fanbase. It is like The Wire, or Breaking Bad. It is 100% on that level of series in terms of its quality.
Another amazing episode!
Izzy1292 November 2022
All episodes so far has been great. When the credits rolled my first thought was "how am I gonna wait a whole week for the next episode??" Because it's just so exciting, especially the prison storyline.
This show is like a breath of fresh air after all of the disappointing shows we've gotten previously. This actually feels like it's written for adults unlike some of the others shows, I mean the writing, acting and cinematography of this show feels very unique. I really hope this shoe gets a season 2, and even more after that. Can't wait for the next episode!
Also Andy Serkis is amazing as always.
This show is like a breath of fresh air after all of the disappointing shows we've gotten previously. This actually feels like it's written for adults unlike some of the others shows, I mean the writing, acting and cinematography of this show feels very unique. I really hope this shoe gets a season 2, and even more after that. Can't wait for the next episode!
Also Andy Serkis is amazing as always.
This episode is AMAZING
lujason-458223 November 2022
Warning: Spoilers
I usually don't write reviews. But when a man episode simply far exceeds my expectations, I feel compelled to write about it.
This is getting to Game of Thrones levels of suspense. Every subplot of the show is paying off. I had to pause multiple times just to go back to watch a scene to rewatch how well certain scenes are constructed + acted. The Prison arc, ISB sound torture, we see THE SENATE, Mon Monthma, Syril's interaction with the ISB lady, the arc where Andy Serkis' character says 12. It's all so beautifully done. Every. Single. Arc. Is engaging.
Tony Gilroy needs to join Dave Filoni and Jon Favreau as the big three who are allowed to make any star wars content they want.
This is getting to Game of Thrones levels of suspense. Every subplot of the show is paying off. I had to pause multiple times just to go back to watch a scene to rewatch how well certain scenes are constructed + acted. The Prison arc, ISB sound torture, we see THE SENATE, Mon Monthma, Syril's interaction with the ISB lady, the arc where Andy Serkis' character says 12. It's all so beautifully done. Every. Single. Arc. Is engaging.
Tony Gilroy needs to join Dave Filoni and Jon Favreau as the big three who are allowed to make any star wars content they want.
more filler
nerrdrage19 November 2023
This series really should have been 8 or 10 episodes long. Having to streeech it to 12 episodes has resulted in far too much filler, which kills the pacing.
I'm glad I waited till long after all episodes were up to watch it. The filler doesn't matter as much when you can click right onto the next episode. But to watch this in weekly doses would have been dire.
No wonder it's the lowest-rated Star Wars series that Disney+ ever did, even though some of them (Boba Fett and Obi Wan) have been sheer garbage, and this series has a lot going for it. Too bad.
The aesthetics continue to be amazing. I just love looking at all the little details. A lot of money and talent went into this.
I really don't care about Cassian Andor as a lead character. The fact that he's just a gray cipher probably contributed to the low ratings. But Syril is interesting as an explanation why the Empire was able to take over, despite being so terribly eeeeevil. There were a whole lotta Syrils around.
And the ISB lady, whatever her name is. The scene between the two of them was very weird but intriguing. Since I know this show is getting another season, I really hope they both survive till the end. Frankly they could lose Cassian and just focus on those two and also Saw Gererra, who is delightfully crazy but also savvy.
I'm glad I waited till long after all episodes were up to watch it. The filler doesn't matter as much when you can click right onto the next episode. But to watch this in weekly doses would have been dire.
No wonder it's the lowest-rated Star Wars series that Disney+ ever did, even though some of them (Boba Fett and Obi Wan) have been sheer garbage, and this series has a lot going for it. Too bad.
The aesthetics continue to be amazing. I just love looking at all the little details. A lot of money and talent went into this.
I really don't care about Cassian Andor as a lead character. The fact that he's just a gray cipher probably contributed to the low ratings. But Syril is interesting as an explanation why the Empire was able to take over, despite being so terribly eeeeevil. There were a whole lotta Syrils around.
And the ISB lady, whatever her name is. The scene between the two of them was very weird but intriguing. Since I know this show is getting another season, I really hope they both survive till the end. Frankly they could lose Cassian and just focus on those two and also Saw Gererra, who is delightfully crazy but also savvy.
I'm not listening
vynyltracks4 November 2022
Getting worse ,,,, ,not better,,,, the plot is good, but some of the monotone voices,, now start to irrate. Prison scenes are better defined than the rest,,,,, too predictable are the others and repetitive fillers . We are left with little more than the prior episode's information alluded. The previous episode's had more body and more energy. Nothing artistic to the table and drawn out rants,,,,,maybe,, I expected too much. Not scared or goosebumps like previous reviews here,,,,not even on the level of Star Wars,,you had me til now,, checking in Wednesday , had popcorn and all,,,(here we are now,entertain us)
PRISON DRAMA
alexbigaliy2 November 2022
I definitely wasn't a fan when going into this prison arc, but with this episode it's really grown on me. Since the first Andor episode, I've been a fan of this realistic, gritty take on the Star Wars universe. I love this show possibly even more than the mandalorian but these past few episodes have made me understand why some viewers pass up on watching this show. Andor is a real slow-burn... mostly in a good way. This episode, however, nothing really happened and I understand they need to set up the finale to this arc but some bits really really drag. Luckily, the writing and acting just about keeps me interested in those bits. I just love Andy Serkis and his character SO SO MUCH, I'm so glad they cast him again even though he played Snoke. The final scene with Ulaf, Andor and Kino Loy literally gave me goosebumps... just great stuff! Obviously, next episode will be all about breaking out of the prison and I'm somewhat excited to see how they'll go about it. I have a feeling some characters are gonna be killed off in the next one.
Great political tension
waqars0403 November 2022
Wow, a political thriller Star Wars series and I am loving every episode. The depth in the story and characters is outstanding. I hope they build up on this and finish strong and Disney keep backing them up for more Rebel content.
So far, the story is building up to something big and I suspect it will be the first big reveal of an organized rebellion in the season finale. I hope we get to see some more of the Rogue One characters in the next three episodes.
Andor and Kimo characters are great and played by outstanding actors. The actors playing the bad guys are also top notched. Let's see what it builds up to.
So far, the story is building up to something big and I suspect it will be the first big reveal of an organized rebellion in the season finale. I hope we get to see some more of the Rogue One characters in the next three episodes.
Andor and Kimo characters are great and played by outstanding actors. The actors playing the bad guys are also top notched. Let's see what it builds up to.
This is the DS-9 version of Star Wars
ciobi-511792 November 2022
Well there are indeed not too much things happening in this episode and this looks like Battlestar Gallactica more than Star Wars because it is so dark and serious and aliens... well, you'll see it yourself, but this will make you to reflect of many deep things and i really don't think we will see this series becoming something like the first Doom movie or becoming something more fast paced or more funny and because of that, i will not be surprised if KS2O will not appear as a main character in the next season. However i still think they should use more classic Star Wars aliens and i still don't know how this story will fit in a tv show with only 20 episodes because it is clearly this story was meant for a tv show lasting at least 4 or 5 or even more seasons with 22 episodes on a season.
I am scared
memoiio5 November 2022
Warning: Spoilers
What an episode! This show is absolutely brilliant, for the first time ever I feel like the empire is an actual threat! This episode not only continued the story in a smooth manner but also delivered a twist that while obvious the execution made still made it insane to learn. I adore this show and I am constantly in awe at the writing, directing, visuals, acting, dialogue, etc ,etc.
I have never loved Star Wars like I am loving this show, this show his pure brilliance! If you haven't yet given it a shot you NEED to, this is arguably one of the best shows on TV right now and maybe even one of the best shows this year!
I have never loved Star Wars like I am loving this show, this show his pure brilliance! If you haven't yet given it a shot you NEED to, this is arguably one of the best shows on TV right now and maybe even one of the best shows this year!
Absurdly, consistently, excellent.
sevskirita10 November 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Yet AGAIN the Andor writers and team show that they have clarity of purpose and the talent and willpower to make this series the best of the best. Even within this excellent episode, we have standout scenes.
One of my favorite is finally seeing the Imperial Senate. The atmosphere building, where people are actively talking and leaving over Mon Mothma's speech was totally perfection. The dissent is palpable and makes you empathize very easily with Mon Mothma's obvious frustration, and it expertly communicates (in addition with the Vel scenes) how she feels like she's been forced between dancing on the emotional blade between trying to civilly voice reason in a democracy that no longer functions and feels more and more like speaking into a void, and struggling to maintain some morality yet somehow still actually do something against the evil of Sidious.
It is almost unfair then to rank any of Mon's scenes in order of favoritism, because others do this expertly as well. Mon's fear for her loved ones and for herself is extremely palpable, and her strained relationships. Everywhere you can see little touches that elevate these scenes, like Mon's slight slouch as Vel leaves her residence.
The prison and ISB scenes also deliver in abundance. The plotting, the subtle development of Dedra's assistant as becoming a threat to her position, the tension in level 2's mystery and the sadness of the death of Olef. This episode, as all the others, goes insanely hard.
Trying to say good things about this series is almost impossible, because where do you starr? Where do you end? The dialogue, body language, cadence, cinematography, costume design, set design, editing, music, etc. Is all at the peak of the game, every scene competing with the other to narrowly do it better. I hope the rest of the Star Wars writers take notes, but even if this doesn't become the norm in Star Wars again, I will treasure this diamond in the rough.
One of my favorite is finally seeing the Imperial Senate. The atmosphere building, where people are actively talking and leaving over Mon Mothma's speech was totally perfection. The dissent is palpable and makes you empathize very easily with Mon Mothma's obvious frustration, and it expertly communicates (in addition with the Vel scenes) how she feels like she's been forced between dancing on the emotional blade between trying to civilly voice reason in a democracy that no longer functions and feels more and more like speaking into a void, and struggling to maintain some morality yet somehow still actually do something against the evil of Sidious.
It is almost unfair then to rank any of Mon's scenes in order of favoritism, because others do this expertly as well. Mon's fear for her loved ones and for herself is extremely palpable, and her strained relationships. Everywhere you can see little touches that elevate these scenes, like Mon's slight slouch as Vel leaves her residence.
The prison and ISB scenes also deliver in abundance. The plotting, the subtle development of Dedra's assistant as becoming a threat to her position, the tension in level 2's mystery and the sadness of the death of Olef. This episode, as all the others, goes insanely hard.
Trying to say good things about this series is almost impossible, because where do you starr? Where do you end? The dialogue, body language, cadence, cinematography, costume design, set design, editing, music, etc. Is all at the peak of the game, every scene competing with the other to narrowly do it better. I hope the rest of the Star Wars writers take notes, but even if this doesn't become the norm in Star Wars again, I will treasure this diamond in the rough.
Every episode is better than the last
cxhphhjb3 November 2022
Characters, story, sets, music and dialogue. This is the best star wars thing ever. I don't want it to end. Each week is a new gift.
The build to what can only be an incredible conclusion is breathtaking. The empire's evil, but not cartoonish; the rebels' fears; the moments of action and the constant unrelenting tension. It's so amazing. Credit to Tony Gilroy and his team of directors and actors and writers for making a truly spectacular Star Wars series. There is character development across the board. Honestly this may be one of the best streaming series ever - not just Star Wars. Can't wait to see what they do with the last 3 episodes!
The build to what can only be an incredible conclusion is breathtaking. The empire's evil, but not cartoonish; the rebels' fears; the moments of action and the constant unrelenting tension. It's so amazing. Credit to Tony Gilroy and his team of directors and actors and writers for making a truly spectacular Star Wars series. There is character development across the board. Honestly this may be one of the best streaming series ever - not just Star Wars. Can't wait to see what they do with the last 3 episodes!
8 and 9 perfects episodes
dmorales-515183 November 2022
Until now this series is just an OK series.
Tony Hynes put this series on a higher level. These two episodes will make you remmember some elements of Stanley Kubrick's movies with others elements from the distopic future of Terry Gilliam's Brazil movie.
Some people will find these episodes a little slow, but the art of classic cinema is there.
You can feel the tention in the atmosphere, you can feel that everybody is running out of time.
I hope Andy Serkis's new character will have a long life in this series, because is starting to become a very interesting one.
At least for me 8 and 9 are the best episodes from the series, because of the acting and the extraordinary director skills.
Tony Hynes put this series on a higher level. These two episodes will make you remmember some elements of Stanley Kubrick's movies with others elements from the distopic future of Terry Gilliam's Brazil movie.
Some people will find these episodes a little slow, but the art of classic cinema is there.
You can feel the tention in the atmosphere, you can feel that everybody is running out of time.
I hope Andy Serkis's new character will have a long life in this series, because is starting to become a very interesting one.
At least for me 8 and 9 are the best episodes from the series, because of the acting and the extraordinary director skills.
Nobody's Listening!
lassegalsgaard27 November 2022
As a collective "Star Wars" fanbase, we really have to thank this show for finally giving everyone something that they can just watch and enjoy. Every reaction for this show ranges somewhere between the "good" to "great," and it has given a lot of people that sense of a galaxy in peril that they've been missing ever since the original films came out. This is definitely a huge homage to the original films in its tone, but it's also a show that is so great on its own. This episode was another great addition to that, building tension at every possible moment to the finale.
The previous episode was definitely an homage to "THX 1138" in terms of its look and overall tone. This entire arc seems like it's going back to that style, and it feels great to see a show like this take time to come up with a great arc, while still paying their respects to the guy who made it all possible. And this episode may have been the least "Star Wars" of the show, because it puts the rebellion storyline to the side to just focus on building tension and preparing the audience for the big finale of the next episode. Only the beginning is really dedicated to get some breakthroughs in Bix's storyline, but for the rest, it mostly focused on Cassian in the prison, or the ISB trying to hunt him down. It's a great juxtaposition that these two storylines are pitted against each other, but they actually have Cassian under their watch. It all goes to show that if the Empire would just look for their problems, they'd know that they didn't have to look that far to find him. There's also a ruthlessness to this episode and the Empire actually comes off as incredibly scary, which is something that has honestly never been the case before. Whether its their means of torture, or just the fact that they're willing to destroy an entire wing because they don't do as they're told. This is a different corner of the universe, and it's one that we can only hope to see much more of.
"Nobody's Listening!" is full of tension and worldbuilding, preparing the audience for something that's going to be heartbreaking coming up next week. It's still clear on its focus of setting up the rebellion, but taking a little break from that and focusing on the ruthlessness of the Empire, only sets up the threat to greater heights.
The previous episode was definitely an homage to "THX 1138" in terms of its look and overall tone. This entire arc seems like it's going back to that style, and it feels great to see a show like this take time to come up with a great arc, while still paying their respects to the guy who made it all possible. And this episode may have been the least "Star Wars" of the show, because it puts the rebellion storyline to the side to just focus on building tension and preparing the audience for the big finale of the next episode. Only the beginning is really dedicated to get some breakthroughs in Bix's storyline, but for the rest, it mostly focused on Cassian in the prison, or the ISB trying to hunt him down. It's a great juxtaposition that these two storylines are pitted against each other, but they actually have Cassian under their watch. It all goes to show that if the Empire would just look for their problems, they'd know that they didn't have to look that far to find him. There's also a ruthlessness to this episode and the Empire actually comes off as incredibly scary, which is something that has honestly never been the case before. Whether its their means of torture, or just the fact that they're willing to destroy an entire wing because they don't do as they're told. This is a different corner of the universe, and it's one that we can only hope to see much more of.
"Nobody's Listening!" is full of tension and worldbuilding, preparing the audience for something that's going to be heartbreaking coming up next week. It's still clear on its focus of setting up the rebellion, but taking a little break from that and focusing on the ruthlessness of the Empire, only sets up the threat to greater heights.
Much too slow!
UncleBernhard3 November 2022
Andor does not work!
Torture scenes are not good television! Do not do torture scenes or dentistry scenes! I am not interested in them!
Star Wars should mean excitement! Andor is not exciting. It is unbelievably slow. The problem ist hat those slow scenes do not build up tension. John Le Carré or Hayao Miyazaki do slow scenes so much better.
The other problem is that we already know where Andor leads to. They blow up the Death Star. We have seen that decades ago. George Lucas, wisely, should us the exciting scene and not not the boring preparations.
The other problem is the main character. The actor is not charismatic but for such a role you need someone with charisma.
And the writing does not make me care about him. After 9 episodes we still don't know what he wants or fears or what his passions are. That's bad storytelling.
The prison scenes don't work either. Prison Break or Black Bird did it much better. In Prison Break we knew that the main character had a plan. And we followed him along. Andor does not have that.
The same is true for Black Bird. We are watching the two characters and every conversations has the goal to find out the killer's secrets. That's exciting. Again, Andor does not have that.
Where are the prison gangs, the smuggling, the Shawshank Redemption?
The ambassador scenes don't work either.
The whole money hiding scheme is not interesting. She is in no obvious danger, she has no real conflicts.
And the security personnel scenes don't work either.
What exactly are they planning? There is no clear path. Only scenes that are loosely connected with each other - without any path forward.
This was another slow episode in an incredibly slow and bad show!
Torture scenes are not good television! Do not do torture scenes or dentistry scenes! I am not interested in them!
Star Wars should mean excitement! Andor is not exciting. It is unbelievably slow. The problem ist hat those slow scenes do not build up tension. John Le Carré or Hayao Miyazaki do slow scenes so much better.
The other problem is that we already know where Andor leads to. They blow up the Death Star. We have seen that decades ago. George Lucas, wisely, should us the exciting scene and not not the boring preparations.
The other problem is the main character. The actor is not charismatic but for such a role you need someone with charisma.
And the writing does not make me care about him. After 9 episodes we still don't know what he wants or fears or what his passions are. That's bad storytelling.
The prison scenes don't work either. Prison Break or Black Bird did it much better. In Prison Break we knew that the main character had a plan. And we followed him along. Andor does not have that.
The same is true for Black Bird. We are watching the two characters and every conversations has the goal to find out the killer's secrets. That's exciting. Again, Andor does not have that.
Where are the prison gangs, the smuggling, the Shawshank Redemption?
The ambassador scenes don't work either.
The whole money hiding scheme is not interesting. She is in no obvious danger, she has no real conflicts.
And the security personnel scenes don't work either.
What exactly are they planning? There is no clear path. Only scenes that are loosely connected with each other - without any path forward.
This was another slow episode in an incredibly slow and bad show!
It's just getting better and better! Where will this end?!
moritzherz9 November 2022
Warning: Spoilers
After an extraordinary start into the new arc the second episode evwn tops that and prepares all for maybe the best finale of the show so far!
The focus is still completely on the prison, but Tony Gilroy creates something amazing. He cuts scenes with Mothma in her luxurious life on Coruscant right between scenes that show the hopeless life in the prison. This is masterclass cinematography!
But back to Andors life as a prisoner: After an accident at the second stage of the prison rumors occur that the prisoners of this stage all have been killed to keep a secret. No prisoner will escape the prison, they all will die in there. Andor has thought about this before and wanted to get his boss help him, but he did not want to believe him.
At Andor's table the old guy is sick because of the long work. He has only a few days left until he would get "out". A doctor comes but he can not save him, instead he gives him a peaceful death and than confirms the rumor. After this shock Andor's boss tells Andor everything he knows.
This set the finale is prepared. How will they escape?
The focus is still completely on the prison, but Tony Gilroy creates something amazing. He cuts scenes with Mothma in her luxurious life on Coruscant right between scenes that show the hopeless life in the prison. This is masterclass cinematography!
But back to Andors life as a prisoner: After an accident at the second stage of the prison rumors occur that the prisoners of this stage all have been killed to keep a secret. No prisoner will escape the prison, they all will die in there. Andor has thought about this before and wanted to get his boss help him, but he did not want to believe him.
At Andor's table the old guy is sick because of the long work. He has only a few days left until he would get "out". A doctor comes but he can not save him, instead he gives him a peaceful death and than confirms the rumor. After this shock Andor's boss tells Andor everything he knows.
This set the finale is prepared. How will they escape?
Andor gets Dark
mandolorian-2907416 November 2022
Stunning episode, Arguably the best live action episode in all of Star Wars, maybe even in animation too. Only a few minutes into you will see how dark this episode is. It surpasses it's 12+ and it's amazing. The music continues to be amazing and fits the vibe of the show. The acting was stunning and unlimited times better than Kenobi and BOBF. All the actors were great and it had me fully invested. You could tell how much effort they put into this. This episode showed a new side to a lot of the characters we have seen in previous episodes, and I loved it. The visuals were fantastic yet again. And I am excited to begin watching the next one, especially after the glowing reviews. Wholeheartedly recommend! Also the plot twist at the end was bloody brilliant.
I'm listening!
Trey_Trebuchet20 November 2022
This is such a good show so far.
Like others have stated, I'm not so sure the Empire has really ever been this intimidating and unsettling before. Darth Vader is one of the scariest movie characters probably ever, as are many of the other Sith Lords in my opinion. However, it's nice to see a much deeper, more disturbing look at what's all behind leaders and icons like him.
If for nothing else, this show has done a great b showcasing the multiple differences and perspectives between the rebellion and the empire, but also the differences within each. Rebels don't always see eye-to-eye, and neither do the people in the empire.
Acting is that was excellent. Serkis is as phenomenal as usual, and I continue to love Genevieve and Debra. I do hope something drastic and meaningful happens with Syrin soon too. I feel like that's building up to something really cool.
Production and pacing are great, but I'm also really in to to the tone and storytelling. This feels very different from all of the other movies and shows but not too different. I love it honestly.
Like others have stated, I'm not so sure the Empire has really ever been this intimidating and unsettling before. Darth Vader is one of the scariest movie characters probably ever, as are many of the other Sith Lords in my opinion. However, it's nice to see a much deeper, more disturbing look at what's all behind leaders and icons like him.
If for nothing else, this show has done a great b showcasing the multiple differences and perspectives between the rebellion and the empire, but also the differences within each. Rebels don't always see eye-to-eye, and neither do the people in the empire.
Acting is that was excellent. Serkis is as phenomenal as usual, and I continue to love Genevieve and Debra. I do hope something drastic and meaningful happens with Syrin soon too. I feel like that's building up to something really cool.
Production and pacing are great, but I'm also really in to to the tone and storytelling. This feels very different from all of the other movies and shows but not too different. I love it honestly.
See also
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