Andor S2 |OT| Remember Star Wars?

Cassian's 'who are you?' was a great line. Imagine being in that massacre getting a boss fight thrown at you out of nowhere from some random guy.
 
Im watching ep 9 now.

This show is something else. Among the best star wars content that's ever been made. Not cautious about saying that at this point. It feels uncanny to see soemthin branded star wars be so meticulously consistent in greatness.
 
Toons said:
Im watching ep 9 now.

This show is something else. Among the best star wars content that's ever been made. Not cautious about saying that at this point. It feels uncanny to see soemthin branded star wars be so meticulously consistent in greatness.
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And dealing with some adult themes that are actually handled and written well
 
NotMyProblemAnymoreCunt said:
And dealing with some adult themes that are actually handled and written well
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Yeah I love the flashy lightsaber stuff and the fun goofy stuff. But I think this is a side of the world we've truly never seen represented in a mature manner, not just the politics but the people behind it. The effects of the "star wars" and how those wars change the people who choose to fight in them. Im not sure this is ever what Lucas envisioned on this level of gritty almost depressing tone; but there an undercurrent of hope and victory against insurmountable odds even as we know the guy were following is destined to give his life fighting this battle.
 
I resubbed to DisneyPlus after some of the reviews just to check this out. I'm glad I did. It starts slow, but then in part two and three it gets really amazing. Ep 8 and 9 are amazing. I think the Rebellion is now the most interesting part about Star Wars for me and that's because of Andor. It's really interesting storytelling and a deep dive on what a rebellion means. Heart wrenching.
 
Episodes 7, 8, 9

Almost everything has already been said. Episode 8 is clearly a step above the rest — the build-up since the start of the season reaches its climax, and thankfully, it really works.

As for that "off" feeling present in the earlier episodes, I finally figured it out: it's the editing. Everything fits together so well in this episode — it's clean, the pacing is perfect, the tension builds just right, and the character resolutions feel fitting. We also get powerful moments of vulnerability (the old Ghorman, Dedra, the radio voiceover, etc.). There are no dull moments, even outside of the action, and it almost makes you forget that episode 7 was just one long setup for what was about to unfold.

Gilroy handles the following episode well, turning it into a sort of spy-thriller set in Coruscant. I'm less impressed by the now-famous "monologues" though — they don't quite hit the same highs as in the previous season.

That said, the season overall has been a bit of a letdown so far. Personally, episode 6 of season 1 remains my favorite, though episode 8 here comes very close to perfection. But in season 1, the structure was clearer — you could really feel the shifts between the different arcs. This time, it feels like a long tunnel leading to episode 8. It's no longer two episodes of build-up for three of payoff, but rather seven episodes of build-up for one.

There are also a few recurring, slightly frustrating elements, despite Gilroy's strong writing:
  • A kind of romanticism around far-left revolutionaries. While there are some nuances, the portrayal still feels very one-sided. Not that the Empire under Gilroy is ever painted in a positive light — it's just that sometimes the Rebels seem to be made out as the default "good guys," regardless of internal dissent. It's a bit much at times.
  • Wilmon is a textbook example of forced messaging about mixed-race representation. Of course, all his relationships are with white women. That's a trend in most recent shows — it's anything but subtle, no matter who the director is. There's clearly a checklist in play. Every "white man with white woman" relationship is dysfunctional or suspicious. It might sound trivial, but it's honestly cringe-inducing at this point.
  • The lack of environmental variety is noticeable, with too much build-up happening in one location.
  • Compared to the arc in episodes 4–6 of season 1 — which handled it more efficiently in just three episodes — the secondary characters here are less compelling. That's a real shame.
Still, I don't want to sound too negative — this is far above average, and genuinely excellent in many ways. The Dedra-Syril scene stands out in particular. Syril's death felt a bit rushed to me, but in the end, he was neither a true Imperial nor a Rebel. He just no longer had a place in the story. For me, he had the best character development in the whole series.

As for Luthen, I'll hold off on a final judgment until tomorrow. Aside from a few strong moments, he's been a notch below expectations.


Anyway — really looking forward to the next episode.
 
Oberstein said:
Episodes 7, 8, 9

Almost everything has already been said. Episode 8 is clearly a step above the rest — the build-up since the start of the season reaches its climax, and thankfully, it really works.

As for that "off" feeling present in the earlier episodes, I finally figured it out: it's the editing. Everything fits together so well in this episode — it's clean, the pacing is perfect, the tension builds just right, and the character resolutions feel fitting. We also get powerful moments of vulnerability (the old Ghorman, Dedra, the radio voiceover, etc.). There are no dull moments, even outside of the action, and it almost makes you forget that episode 7 was just one long setup for what was about to unfold.

Gilroy handles the following episode well, turning it into a sort of spy-thriller set in Coruscant. I'm less impressed by the now-famous "monologues" though — they don't quite hit the same highs as in the previous season.

That said, the season overall has been a bit of a letdown so far. Personally, episode 6 of season 1 remains my favorite, though episode 8 here comes very close to perfection. But in season 1, the structure was clearer — you could really feel the shifts between the different arcs. This time, it feels like a long tunnel leading to episode 8. It's no longer two episodes of build-up for three of payoff, but rather seven episodes of build-up for one.

There are also a few recurring, slightly frustrating elements, despite Gilroy's strong writing:
  • A kind of romanticism around far-left revolutionaries. While there are some nuances, the portrayal still feels very one-sided. Not that the Empire under Gilroy is ever painted in a positive light — it's just that sometimes the Rebels seem to be made out as the default "good guys," regardless of internal dissent. It's a bit much at times.
  • Wilmon is a textbook example of forced messaging about mixed-race representation. Of course, all his relationships are with white women. That's a trend in most recent shows — it's anything but subtle, no matter who the director is. There's clearly a checklist in play. Every "white man with white woman" relationship is dysfunctional or suspicious. It might sound trivial, but it's honestly cringe-inducing at this point.
  • The lack of environmental variety is noticeable, with too much build-up happening in one location.
  • Compared to the arc in episodes 4–6 of season 1 — which handled it more efficiently in just three episodes — the secondary characters here are less compelling. That's a real shame.
Still, I don't want to sound too negative — this is far above average, and genuinely excellent in many ways. The Dedra-Syril scene stands out in particular. Syril's death felt a bit rushed to me, but in the end, he was neither a true Imperial nor a Rebel. He just no longer had a place in the story. For me, he had the best character development in the whole series.

As for Luthen, I'll hold off on a final judgment until tomorrow. Aside from a few strong moments, he's been a notch below expectations.


Anyway — really looking forward to the next episode.
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Thanks for the lengthy write up. I agree with it for the most part. I'm amused on your use of AI to write it up, which is fine, I use it myself quite a bit. Not really to post here, but as a hobby/professional thing. Again, there is nothing wrong with that, people in this day and age have big problems with communication. I could wax on about the 'dead internet theory', but I digress. 😂
 
Dev1lXYZ said:
Thanks for the lengthy write up. I agree with it for the most part. I'm amused on your use of AI to write it up, which is fine, I use it myself quite a bit. Not really to post here, but as a hobby/professional thing. Again, there is nothing wrong with that, people in this day and age have big problems with communication. I could wax on about the 'dead internet theory', but I digress. 😂
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So every time there's a long, well-written post, it must be AI and a communication issue.

Thanks, doctor — I already feel better after this session with NeoGAF-chiatrist! :messenger_grimmacing_
 
Oberstein said:
So every time there's a long, well-written post, it must be AI and a communication issue.

Thanks, doctor — I already feel better after this session with NeoGAF-chiatrist! :messenger_grimmacing_
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What gives it away are the multiple bullet points and em dashes. I write prompts as a hobby. Plug this little gem into a GPT and it will help with that.

Write this content in a sincere, thoughtful tone as if it's coming from a real human. Avoid robotic language or over-polished corporate speak. Use natural phrasing, a mix of short and medium-length sentences, and conversational transitions like "For example," or "What I've learned is…" Show personality and lived experience, not just generic qualifications. Avoid bullet points and em dashes unless otherwise instructed.

Let small moments of humility, personal insight, or curiosity shine through. Avoid buzzwords and focus instead on honest, grounded responses. Make it sound like a person who has thought carefully about their work, values, and impact—not someone trying to impress with big words.

Include real-sounding phrasing, like "I've found that…" or "In my experience…" and allow occasional informal transitions if appropriate to the tone. Keep grammar correct but not stuffy. Make the response feel authentic and trustworthy.
 
Great finale to the series. People working for the authoritarians took the path of least resistance and ended up with just deserts. The rebels on the other hand sacrificed so much and generally ended up in a better life position either for themselves or someone they cared about. In that sense, this series honestly works great as a standalone cautionary tale. Rogue One is just a cherry on top, its not the payoff.

Luthen and Kleya are all-time greats. I dont watch the cartoon shit so its nice to have some notable rebel characters besides uh Biggs and Wedge lol
 
Sub_Level said:
Great finale to the series. People working for the authoritarians took the path of least resistance and ended up with just deserts. The rebels on the other hand sacrificed so much and generally ended up in a better life position either for themselves or someone they cared about. In that sense, this series honestly works great as a standalone cautionary tale. Rogue One is just a cherry on top, its not the payoff.

Luthen and Kleya are all-time greats. I dont watch the cartoon shit so its nice to have some notable rebel characters besides uh Biggs and Wedge lol
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Ending made me cry 👀

What a beautiful scene to end it on
 
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WOW.
I just finished Episode 8...this is some of the best entertainment to come out of Disney in ages. Where did this come from? I don't remember S1 being this good.
 
The show redeemed itself in the end. The bitter end we know the Rogue One to be softened by the last scene of the show. This show captured what I've always wanted Star Wars be. And keeping the force shit in the background....as its always been the worse part of it anyways. All in all very happy how it all turned out. Now have to watch Rogue One again.

Ps.. Glad how they chose to end the Luthens journey. If this would have been the Kathleen Kennedy Abrams shlock hes ending would have ben light saber battle with 20 jedis and shit.
 
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Watched the finals eps. This is peak SW for me. It makes the world of star wars so much bigger and real. The way they build tension and thrilling scenes even though yoy know what has to happen. Every part requires so much effort, nothing is easy. Makes Rogue One even better, because you know how hard the struggle was for regular people.

The way they handle the machine that is the empire is also such a treat. Real people, ruthless, but still have a humanity about them, fascinating.

I9QL4oZ.jpeg
 
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Wonderful show. Great Sci-Fi. Shame it has ended. I knew the final scene will happen, I had a hunch that's why she left.

It was def crying that it ended, and now, Andor no more.

And prob nothing of note from Disney.
 
Wasn't as good as Season 1 and I felt like they over indulged a little bit. But it was definitely good and I so enjoyed the Tie Avenger. Good TV and I'll re-watch it in a binge. Beautifully shot though and Andor was more interesting than he probably had any right to be. Time to re-watch Rogue One now and see how it hits.

The speech from season 1 is probably one of the best Star Wars moments I've ever seen. I found Mon's speech to be lacking.

This and Skeleton Crew, such different shows but equally good Star Wars in their own ways.

Shadows of the Empire TV show please ..
 
Wrong time for me to watch a show about standing up to an Imperial regime with scary security branches. I guess even when SW manages to be good, it fails to be escapism.
 
Ok so it's just not me. I ended turning this off with 10 minutes to go on the second episode. I can't remember any of the characters other than andor, the Swedish old guy, the female imperial officer and he simp who follows her around.

So far it's just boring.. and this bizarre subplot on the planet where andor crashed with these morons who have a combined iq of 72. I have no idea what's going on because it can't hold my attention.
 
I liked episode 8. Most tense episode of the season. I did not like where it ended. I think they should show whatever happens and resolve that situation in the episode. I will finish it up tonight.
 
For those who ended up bailing after the first few episodes of season 2 I highly highly highly recommend finishing. It gets so good again. As good as season 1 if not better. The last 6 episodes are fucking awesome. Just premium TV. Such a great ending to a great series. I can't believe how much I ended up loving Kleya. She became one of my all time favorite Star Wars characters just because of this short little series. Credit to the writers and the actress who apparently has very little acting experience. At least in TV or movies. I'm gong to watch Rogue One again next.
 
Oberstein said:
Episodes 7, 8, 9

Almost everything has already been said. Episode 8 is clearly a step above the rest — the build-up since the start of the season reaches its climax, and thankfully, it really works.

As for that "off" feeling present in the earlier episodes, I finally figured it out: it's the editing. Everything fits together so well in this episode — it's clean, the pacing is perfect, the tension builds just right, and the character resolutions feel fitting. We also get powerful moments of vulnerability (the old Ghorman, Dedra, the radio voiceover, etc.). There are no dull moments, even outside of the action, and it almost makes you forget that episode 7 was just one long setup for what was about to unfold.

Gilroy handles the following episode well, turning it into a sort of spy-thriller set in Coruscant. I'm less impressed by the now-famous "monologues" though — they don't quite hit the same highs as in the previous season.

That said, the season overall has been a bit of a letdown so far. Personally, episode 6 of season 1 remains my favorite, though episode 8 here comes very close to perfection. But in season 1, the structure was clearer — you could really feel the shifts between the different arcs. This time, it feels like a long tunnel leading to episode 8. It's no longer two episodes of build-up for three of payoff, but rather seven episodes of build-up for one.

There are also a few recurring, slightly frustrating elements, despite Gilroy's strong writing:
  • A kind of romanticism around far-left revolutionaries. While there are some nuances, the portrayal still feels very one-sided. Not that the Empire under Gilroy is ever painted in a positive light — it's just that sometimes the Rebels seem to be made out as the default "good guys," regardless of internal dissent. It's a bit much at times.
Click to expand...

Rebels are *clearly* shown as being complex and some of them willing to do very bad things in this show. but they are still better than the Uber fascist regime yes


Oberstein said:
  • Wilmon is a textbook example of forced messaging about mixed-race representation. Of course, all his relationships are with white women. That's a trend in most recent shows — it's anything but subtle, no matter who the director is. There's clearly a checklist in play. Every "white man with white woman" relationship is dysfunctional or suspicious. It might sound trivial, but it's honestly cringe-inducing at this point.
Click to expand...

No? Syril and Dedra were getting along just fine until she did a lil genocide. And the ghorman leaders daughter was in a white on white relationship. And we literally see two white people get married lmao.
 
As I feared, it only gets better with episode 7 and then it gets really good. Season 1 had the same problem but it only started after 3 episodes. Season 2 is much worse.

Where you have to somehow get through the terrible episode 2 in season 2 and the first 6 boring episodes in general. Overall, it's a good Star Wars series that almost nobody will have seen. What a shame.
 
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Finished the series and it was good. I enjoyed k2 doing some stuff. He is the great eagle for andor. Saves you when you are in the corner.

First few episodes drag but the payoff is good.
 
Absolutely excellent in all.

I watched Rogue One again after this and its a better movie for it. Only issue I had was that Jin is a distraction now and I wanted to see more of Andor.

Best star wars since the OT by a mile. And Disney will never do anything like it again. Filoni will be bringing the slop from here on out.
 
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Andor + Rogue One is peak Star Wars. OT, Sequels, Prequels, extended universe, whatever - this is the top tier stuff.

I still can't believe Disney managed to do it. Nothing else they've done comes even close to this. They should just give up the license after this because they're probably never going to be able to repeat this.
 
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I didn't quite like the episodes that were focusing on Ghorman, but hot damn, once the season gets pass that it picks up it's track and it's banger after banger.

Peak Star Wars story telling without even needing to throw Jedis and Sith into the bin.

Shame it came to an end.

Plan to watch Rogue One again soon.
 
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Binged Andor season 2 + Rogue One and the OT this weekend. It felt like a farewell tour.....

I really enjoyed the show - it was a nice reminder of why I loved the franchise for so long.
 
Avoiding reading the thread but I'm catching up on season 1. Just finished episode 6 which was peak.

Why doesn't the directors/producers for this get a chance to make a movie?

This show is peak Star Wars.
 
Arsic said:
Avoiding reading the thread but I'm catching up on season 1. Just finished episode 6 which was peak.

Why doesn't the directors/producers for this get a chance to make a movie?

This show is peak Star Wars.
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They did, it's called Rogue One.
 
This edit is interesting:


Stitching in some of the cut scenes from A New Hope grounds Luke's life in a world much more similar to how we've seen the galaxy in Andor; a bored teenager on a remote planet who's never really even seen the impact of the empire, romanticizing the idea of the rebellion.
 
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I goddamn loved this entire show. I didn't have a problem with the first three episodes of season 2 either ... I loved it all. I didn't want S2 to end.

I loved all the characters and didn't expect to adore Kleya and Luthen so much. Even the minor characters such as Partagaz and Lonni were so great. Such a tragic and hopeful ending especially knowing what transpires in Rogue One. And Ben Mendelson's screen presence is something else.

I would love to see Grand Admiral Thrawn visiting Luthen at his gallery if there was ever a Star Wars What If anthology.

I also love Tony Gilmore: he gives no fucks in this interview, and was against diversity / idealised casting if it got in the way of his storytelling.

 
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IMG-6985.jpg


Andor is definitely intended for hardcore Star Wars fans, huge info on the empires "secret weapon" in the later episodes of season 2. Love the energy of Andor!

Orson Krennic GIF by Star Wars


Ben Mendelsohn's Orson Krennic.
The imperial angle made sense, using storm troopers, using the planet of Ghorman for resources etc. you have to pick up on things quickly with this show.

You have many characters going against the wishes of their employers (Dedra Meero), uses of force (Ghorman), following laws (senate) protecting protocols (Luthen) one thing that struck me was how established this Andor universe felt all without Jedi or sith and to me it shows the significance of good story telling.

What did GAF think of the nature of Andor season 2?
 
I was in and out of the hospital this year, so I was slow on the Andor uptake - which has been my favorite Star Wars anything for years now.

I just wanted to opine on s2 ep3. The way it juxtaposes life under the Empire with that of the rebels. How one part of the story focuses on the trivial "hardships" of Mon Mothma's daughter, how she laments being married off to some rich and powerful person to continue the long lineage of her family being rich and powerful. The other part is the horrific life of the rebels, just trying to survive as they're being hunted in earnest by the Empire.

It culminates with the people of the Empire dancing in adulation, to near psychotic levels of joy, apoplectic in dance, as the banging soundtrack keeps rising. Meanwhile Andor and Bix and their team are being assaulted, murdered, barely scraping by. It ends while the joyful techno music blasts to Andor's pained, broken face. Taunting.

I've said it before, I'll say it again: Tony Gilroy can write some subtext, man. God damn.
 
I'm somewhere around eps 8-10 and the show has become undeniably fantastic. But it was a looooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong slow burn to get there.

I have quibbles, becasue of course I do, but my main one is just how small it makes the whole empire feel. Folks zip back and forth from Ghorman to Courscant in like a few hours. The stylings and trappings of that planet are so "1920/30's Italy" that it really makes the whole empire feel like the size of western europe pre-WW2 versus an unimaginably vast landscape. The overall lack of aliens and droids, not to mention the total absence of even a reference to the Jedi means that with a few title card changes and planet renaming this could just be "sci-fi space opera 2025".

Still, for all that, its fantastic. ESPECIALLY the acting. Compared to most Star Wars shows of over wrought circular dialogue from a bad Shakespeare play and awkward delivery, here you see REAL acting, emotion, and tension. Dunno if thats just the director, the time they took, or what, but this feels like a legit show most of the time whereas stuff like Obi-wan or Ahsoka are clearly sub-par (and I imagine The Acolyte is even worse). Skeleton Crew is a lighter fun version of Star Wars I also liked, so these 2 shows are where I'd like to see Lucasarts spend their money (though I know that's very unlikely).
 
Oh yeah, for whatever reason this show is getting pulled from Hulu (in the US at least) in about a week. Not sure why, and I assume it will stay on Disney+, but if you only have Hulu and you wanna see this, get on it.
 
Damn, that ended STRONG. Gonna roll right into Rogue One with my kids today.

While I don't think the ratings were anywhere near where they needed to be to justify the cost of this show, I'm grateful Kennedy saw it through. The best thing for Star Wars in DECADES as it shows where they COULD go if they really want to court that old fan base. At this point they need to bifurcate the product, one line for the family and another for the grognard adults. I think it shows why an experienced director and writer team with an actual VISION are so important.
 
This series and Rogue One are the best original Star Wars content since the first trilogy. Really enjoyed it, even more than I expected to. A focus on adult storylines, with grounded actors and no over the top woke elements.
 
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