ANDOR: A FRESH TAKE ON STAR WARS

BY KEVIN SIGRIST

Editor-in-Chief of Print and Production Executive

On Sept. 21, 2022, Disney released the first three episodes of an all-new Star Wars series titled Andor to their subscription service Disney+. The remaining episodes were released weekly following the premiere, coming to an end on Nov. 23, 2022.

The series follows mercenary-for-hire Cassian Andor, played by Diego Luna, and serves as an origin story for the character as he is a member of the main cast in the 2016 film Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Those who watched the series offered seemingly unanimous praise. But the unfortunate reality was that many did not even notice it, so it therefore was not discussed anywhere near as much as other titles. This reality is rather unfortunate, as Andor is arguably the best piece of Star Wars content put out since the original trilogy, as well as some of the best sci-fi television in recent years.

Andor does many things that are different from other recent Star Wars projects, almost all of which are great adjustments and decisions. For one, the show is entirely lacking big cameos or appearances from iconic characters in the universe. This may be thought of as a bad thing to some, but what’s become apparent from other recent Star Wars projects, such as The Book of Boba Fett from early 2022, is that some series have ridden off the backs of cameos to remain interesting and relevant. Andor proves its validity as a standalone project through its ability to keep audiences captivated without the use of Jedi, Sith, Skywalkers or other notable fan-favorite aspects and characters of the main storyline. Almost all characters introduced in the series are entirely new and never-before-seen. Because of a lack of Jedi, Sith and the more magical aspects of Star Wars, the series also feels more grounded and practical than past projects. Andor lacks the ability to explain a plot point solely through the force (Star Wars’ magical power similar to telekinesis that is seen in most projects), so it has much more pressure to be interesting and thought-provoking, which it succeeds in doing. A lack of fantasy elements makes the characters’ lives feel far more valuable and their deaths even more impactful.

Andor tells the story of the very beginning of the rebellion and the characters who started it.

Given the situation the characters are in, attempting to go against the major power that is the Empire as a small few, it’s to be expected that things will go wrong, and this is where Andor excels. In recent Star Wars projects, the ideas of death and sacrifice are poorly handled and often resolved unrealistically to cater to a more family-friendly audience. In Andor, characters like the fan-favorite Luthen Rael, played by Stellan Skarsgård, are seen making terrible but necessary decisions in the heat of war and conspiracy. This far more serious topic, as well as the lack of gimmicky, fantasy-like concepts, creates a new and refreshing feel to what has become a dull franchise.

Its uniqueness is not the only thing that establishes it as entertaining, however. It features some of the best cinematography of any Star Wars production, and instead of following a more episodic approach, plot points are spread amongst multiple episodes to create a much more digestible story.

Another aspect that makes Andor’s storytelling all the more interesting is the decision to tell different elements of the story from several unique perspectives. The main storylines that are followed include those centered around Cassian Andor, a mercenary; Luthen Rael, a leader of the newly formed rebellion; Mon Mothma, a senator; Dedra Meero, an Imperial officer; and Syril Karn, a government police officer. These characters are all protagonists, but because of this the viewer forgets they aren’t all the “hero.” This creates more conflict when these protagonists clash and come across one another.

Andor is not only an incredible show, but it is capable of reviving a Star Wars franchise that has been long forgotten. Since Disney purchased Lucasfilm and therefore the Star Wars franchise, Star Wars has lacked its original purpose in promoting peaceful and anti-war messages. Disney’s Star Wars titles have been severely underdeveloped, incoherent and inconsistent from project to project. Andor has established the precedent that they are capable of better quality and deeper messaging.

Overall, Andor is an incredible show on its own that also displays Star Wars’ capability for genuine quality content. The second season is set to come out in 2024, so check out the first one before it starts again.

“I base my self-worth on my success because I feel if you push yourself hard enough you will always be successful.”

“I base my worth on my athleticism because I do cross country and track. The team I am on [really] helps me realize my worth and is very supportive.”

- senior Emma Perry

“I base my self-worth on how kind I am to other people. I am aware when I say something nice because it makes people happy and then I know I did something good.”

“I base my self-worth on my athleticism because I like staying active. I am able to have fun with my friends and do stuff like playing sports because I am active.”

“I base my self-worth off of the sports I [play]. If I feel I am not doing well in softball, then I feel like I am not doing well in general.”

“Mine is based on my academics because it makes my parents happy when I do well [in school]. I care a lot about [my parents] and want to make them proud.”

“My self-worth is based on my accomplishments. I feel [accomplished] every night when I go to bed because I know I did something.”

WE ASK, YOU ANSWER ON WHAT DO YOU BASE YOUR SELF-WORTH?

BY ANDREW VALENTINI