Gilroy cares.I don't think Disney cares.
Gilroy cares.I don't think Disney cares.
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.
And dealing with some adult themes that are actually handled and written well
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.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:
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.
- 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.
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.
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.![]()
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.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!![]()
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
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.
More spy in some cities.Does it still have that spy-in-space vibe this season? Loved it in season 1.
They did, it's called Rogue One.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.
That movie is great but the show is even better.They did, it's called Rogue One.
What did GAF think of the nature of Andor season 2?