Andor Season 2 Review

    The second season of “Andor” is nothing short of extraordinary. As much as it is set in the “Star Wars” universe, “Andor” sets itself apart by showing the dark and gritty moments of a war about to explode.  

    Season two of “Andor” follows Cassian Andor as he helps form the Rebel Alliance by going on missions that no one else is capable of. Fair warning to those who haven’t seen season two yet, there are spoilers ahead. 

    Diego Luna, Adria Arjona, Denise Gough, Stellan Skarsgård, Kyle Soller, Genevieve O’Reilly, and the list could go on about how many great acting performances this show brings. Diego Luna plays the titular character Cassian Andor, and as Andor, Luna shows his great confliction about wanting to fight The Empire, and wanting to settle down with his wife, Bix Caleen, played by Adria Arjona. However, the best performance of this season might have to go to Genevieve O’Reilly. As Senator Mon Mothma, who she originally played in “Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith,” O’Reilly absolutely nails being a Rebel leader while still trying to get things done in a legal way. 

    One of the most anticipated moments of the season was the Ghorman Massacre. It was reported it would be shown before the season was released, and from the beginning of the season, it was being talked about. It was a systematic massacre, planned by Director Orson Krennic, played by the wonderful Ben Mendelsohn. In “Star Wars” legends, the Ghorman Massacre happens when Grand Moff Tarkin lands Star Destroyers on top of peaceful Ghorman protesters. 

    However, the Ghorman Massacre in “Andor” is about mining a special mineral from the planet of Ghorman. The mineral would be used to fuel the Death Star’s planet destroying laser. The Empire began mining for the mineral knowing that during the process, it would destroy Ghorman. Through increased mining, the Ghorman resistance grows. It gets to the point where the Ghor people are ready for all out rebellion, and the Empire gives it to them. Imperial troops march on the Ghor, shoot one of their own, and blame the protesters. 

    From this, Genevieve O’Reilly shows how powerful a simple speech can be. Every character shines during the massacre, and every acting performance is on point. 

    On top of acting, the visuals are simply phenomenal. The visual effects are top tier, not only for “Star Wars,” but for any current movie or running TV show. Something that helps with this is the set design. Recently, a lot of “Star Wars” shows have been shot on something called the volume which is a virtual production that uses large LED screens to create immersive, and moving environments. Shows that have been shot on this special set are shows like “The Mandalorian,” “Obi-Wan Kenobi,” and Francis Ford Coppola’s newest movie “Megalopolis.” 

    

    

    When this technology was first introduced with the first season of “The Mandalorian,” it was groundbreaking and innovative, but now it’s looked at as a cop out and lazy. The difference between using real sets like “Andor” has and using the volume is night and day. Somehow it has become incredibly satisfying to watch characters move around and interact with their environments. It also opens the door to more exciting and nerdy things when it comes to the filmmaking side of things. With real sets, characters can move in and out of the frame, the camera has the freedom to move, and all of these can lead to what is shown in the first arc of the second season: a two and a half minute take of real and genuine character interactions. 

    From great set design usually comes costumes and wardrobe, and “Star Wars” is one franchise that never fails. “Andor” is easily the most grounded “Star Wars” show or movie that has ever been made, but the costumes still stand out. From Mon Mothma’s extravagant senator clothing to Andor’s simple warrior attire, it never gets old, or repetitive. There always seems to be something different about what “Andor” accomplishes and it continues to prove that time and time again. 

    So why does “Andor” stand out amongst all other “Star Wars” media? There is really only one answer to this question. Yes, it has to do with the quality of the show, meaning its acting set design, and writing, but the answer lies within its themes. Fear and hope are two themes that stand out in all “Star Wars” content. The constant hope of the rebellion, versus the fear that leads people to the Dark Side as described by Yoda in “The Phantom Menace.” 

    Through “Andor,” the viewer is shown just how dark and how dangerous the empire really is. In most “Star Wars” media, the bad guys are nothing but a small inconvenience and the viewer doesn’t think much of them. However, “Andor” doesn’t allow that. Early on in season one, it is shown how much just a simple TIE Fighter means. While planning a heist, Andor and his team come across a TIE Fighter on patrol, and they quickly seek cover so as to not be spotted. This kind of fear moves into season 2. A big part of this is the costumes, the lighting, but it really came down to how effective Stormtroopers are. 

    Usually when deaths happen in movies or shows, they can be very drawn out to get the last few words of the dying character. However, that doesn’t happen in “Andor.” A blaster shot to the chest means a character is dead. No more, no less. That’s that. Time and time again, this is shown, and no greater than in the Ghorman Massacre. Again, thousands of innocent civilians were killed and it was the ultimate turning point for Mon Mothma. 

    But now onto the good part: hope. A common phrase in “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” is, “Rebellions are built on hope.” Considering that movie is where Cassian Andor makes his debut in “Star Wars,” it makes sense why it is repeated in this show. The big picture in “Andor” is that The Empire and Rebel Alliance sort of have a Yin and Yang relationship. Every time The Empire does something monstrous, the normal, everyday citizens look to the Alliance. With every act of rebellion, more and more people are able to find hope. This hope is shown by many different people. 

    Luthen Rael, played by Stellan Skarsgård, has hope that something horrible will happen that will ignite the rebel cause. In season 2, his hope is placed in Ghorman. Luthen wants the Ghorman operation to go poorly so others see what The Empire is capable of. When Andor confronts Luthen about this, Andor says, “It will go up in flames.” Which the response of Luthen is a very calm and collected, “And it will burn very brightly.” Fear and hope are at the core of every “Star Wars” project and none show it was well as “Andor.” 

   Everyone knows the Empire are the bad guys, but in “Andor” they come off as evil, but also more relevant than ever. “Andor” takes on real life issues like no other current show is doing. It’s able to speak on immigration, dictatorship being voted into power, and people in power taking advantage of those with none. 

    From start to finish, “Andor” is a show like no other. From the acting, to the sets, to the themes that are very clearly shown, it encapsulates what it means to be a part of the Rebel Alliance. Unfortunately, this show did have to come to an end, but it did in a way that will burn very brightly for everyone to see. Because of that, season 2 of “Andor” gets a rating of an A+. It’s a perfect season of television.