Many fans are delighted to see the second season of Disney’s “Star Wars” spin-off, “Andor,” premiering on April 22. The series, a gritty prequel to the film “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” became an unexpected hit among fans and critics alike for its stellar storytelling, performances and themes. With the season’s release coming soon, and the official trailer having premiered, the excitement among fans is almost palpable.
The first season of “Andor” depicted the “Star Wars” galaxy in a much more grounded and realistic light, receiving praise for its sharp writing, compelling characters and pertinent themes of hope and the struggle against oppression. The newest trailer seems to confirm that the second season is poised to live up, if not exceed, the quality of its predecessor and provide an excellent conclusion to the “Andor” storyline.
The first installment was structured into four arcs of three episodes each, totalling a 12 episode season. These arcs were able to tell their own mini stories while combining to create one continuous plot that progressed the show. Season two is expected to follow the same structure, but with each arc representing one year.
It came as a surprise to many that a show about a relatively unknown character would perform so well. Cassian Andor made his first appearance as an agent of the Rebellion in “Rogue One,” and “Andor” depicts his backstory.
“So many shows about bigger characters like Obi Wan, Boba and Ahsoka were coming out that I think ‘Andor’ slipped under the radar for a lot of fans,” Lambert senior Surya Pottangi said. “But it really exceeded expectations.”
Before its release, the hype around “Andor” was overshadowed by that of other “Star Wars” shows set to release around the same time, like “The Book of Boba Fett” and “Kenobi.” While those high-profile shows struggled, “Andor” earned critical acclaim.
Some attribute “Andor’s” success to the creative freedom given to its creator, Tony Gilroy. Shows centered on highly marketable characters like Boba Fett and Obi-Wan Kenobi may have been constrained by corporate demands, while Gilroy was allowed to express his creative vision with “Andor” unimpeded. When writers are forced to cater to executives, artistic intent can be diluted by the demand to create broadly appealing and marketable content.
“I found the story to be really well written,” Pottangi said. “The way [Gilroy] split it into smaller parts was very smart; it let him tell four stories that all worked together.”
The strength of “Andor’s” writing lies in its arc based structure and how Gilroy used it to explore its themes with precision. A powerful example of this theming is in the third arc of the show, which depicts Cassian Andor sent to a maximum-security prison for a crime he didn’t commit. The prison is presented as an inescapable, unchallengeable epitome of control, where seemingly omniscient guards quell any attempt at insubordination with electrical flooring. Prisoners are deceived into believing they will one day be freed—only to have their sentences arbitrarily extended. The prison serves as a powerful metaphor for how power can be used to suppress people.
Despite the overwhelming odds, the prisoners unite under the rallying cry, “One way out!” The message is incredibly powerful; even the most insidious and formidable things can be changed. People, no matter how powerless, always have the power to change the world for the better as long as they have hope.
With season one of “Andor” presenting such powerful themes, season two has large boots to fill. From what has been revealed, season two looks promising. The trailer features some incredible looking action shots, meaning the coming season will have no shortage of excitement. Beyond that, it also confirms the return of many characters from season one like Luthen Rael, Mon Mothma and Saw Gerrera, all important leaders of the Rebellion. The trailer also teases cameos from fan-favorites like “Rogue One” antagonist Orson Krennic, who originally appeared in “Rogue One.” The second season’s use of the first’s arc format gives Gilroy the opportunity to continue illuminating the themes he presents in his first season.
“Andor” has proven itself to be a thematically powerful and thought-provoking series that serves as a stark contrast to much of what has come out of the “Star Wars” franchise recently. The bar for season two is undeniably high. However, with Tony Gilroy at the helm, season two may cement “Andor” as one of the best dramas to come out of the Disney “Star Wars” era.
