Is Andor Actually THAT Good? (Yes, and here's why)

So Andor was better than I expected, I'd even say it's some of my favorite Star Wars period. In this video I break down why I love this show, what sets in apart from the other Disney+ Shows, and why YOU should watch it if you haven't already.
Video Written and Edited by Ben Arndt!
0:00-INSANE Intro
2:00-Andor Good??
9:45-Characters/Plot
16:00-Empire/Rebellion
21:05-Andor Matters
SW Theory’s full video- • Is Andor Good or Bad f...
Music In video:
Sunday Joyride- • Sunday Joyride (Upbeat...
Minh Xuân & Phượng Hoàng - Mặt Trời Đen (Black Sun)- • Minh Xuân & Phượng Hoà...
Episode 2 Ending Cover- • Star Wars Andor - Epis...
did you just say classical music is boring?!- • did you just say class...

[@A.M.Cinematics]

Thank you for the kind words and support everyone! A few things: A. Please don't harass or send negative comments to any of the channels mentioned. While I disagree with him, I still have nothing but respect for SWT. EDIT: nvm ya'll he's kinda cringe (but pls don't send hate regardless). B. I have been made aware that it is in-fact CINTA not CINTRA (close enough) If this is your first time here (Which it probably is who am I kidding) A House of the Dragon vid is on the way, along with some Godzilla related content! (And maybe even a Casper collab if we're lucky) Thanks again everyone!

[@RangerMcFriendly]

Godzilla content? Subbed!

[@A.M.Cinematics]

@@RangerMcFriendly lots of it too👀

[@case6668]

You’re very good at organizing your thoughts and I totally agree with your take on Andor and what it represents, I look forward to your future videos :)

[@namenloss730]

How is andor "anti capitalist"?

[@A.M.Cinematics]

@@namenloss730 it has anti capitalist elements (abuse of labor, environmental effects) but a better term would’ve been anti-industrial / anti corporate power

[@sirgoo9962]

- Comes out of nowhere - Epic music - Epic writing - Epic cinematography - 12 episodes - Doesn't elaborate - Leaves

[@balashibuyeeter2704]

Bruh fr

[@tam2237]

The funny thing to me is that many of us predicted that Andor would slap, I’ve been excited for the show given that I fuckin love rogue one, and everyone always asked why I was excited. All I could say was that I just had a really good feeling about it!

[@xavierjansen357]

@@tam2237 how very apt of you!

[@chrisgill4888]

@@tam2237 Ok Lebron

[@tam2237]

@@chrisgill4888 no, my name is Tam22

[@dymondfamily]

I too am frustrated by SW Theory and Josh's take. I suspect they are actually upset by such high quality being applied to a story they didn't want, about characters they didn't know or care about... It makes the lackluster Boba and Obi shows look that much worse. But if they don't encourage support for the sudden appearance of quality, how do they expect to get it in shows with their favourite legacy characters??? Baffling .

[@rabbitsfoot8]

feel the same...that star wars girl is also trashing the show..i'm like wtf

[@tobiaslawrence8928]

Those people are a prime example of why star wars can't do new things if it doesn't have nostalgia driving the show then it's not good. These are the same types that complain about focusing on the same characters and not on new ones.

[@tierfreund780]

they are right in a way, Andor doesn't "feel like star wars" but that doesn't stop it from being excellent.

[@ganjathecat]

I feel like they went into the show already predisposed to hating it, and that is why in the end SWT was grasping for whatever justification he could muster because the truth is, there's really almost nothing you could criticize.

[@laartwork]

Seems like they had an opinion formed and probably vocalized then were incapable of admitting they were wrong.

[@szelgorcs]

Seeing a galaxy ruling Empire not being incompetent feels just sooo good. It's the reason why I couldn't appreciate things like Rebels as much.

[@fluidthought42]

Not incompetent, but still emotionally driven by fear of freedom and a yawning inferiority complex deep in its soul. A very believable sort of oppression.

[@ryuined]

man i totally agree. also its not just the competency, but also just not having the empire people just be pure evil and do things just for shits and giggles. Andor really showed us their perspective and how they truly believed what they were doing was for the betterment of the galaxy. god it was so good

[@johnsonsmithson45]

It was just freaking amazing seeing that. God bless George Lucas but even in his films not just disney they always made the empire look like generic bad guys who are bumbling idiots and never know what they're doing

[@pcjenkin]

Good point. When the 'Ewoks' kicked the Empire's butt, I kind of said the same thing.

[@chicken.joe.]

to be fair, rebels did have thrawn in it, who is one of the most menacing guys in the empire

[@one_point21_gigawatts]

Wow, I can't believe Theory called it "boring." What was HE smoking? I chewed off all my fingernails it was so suspenseful LOL. Intelligent writing and amazing work by Filoni and crew. My wife hates starwars and LOVED it. Hope we get a season 2.

[@themajesticspider-man6116]

Was Filoni one of the writers? Because I know Gilroy directed the show, but I didn't Filoni worked on it at all. If so, that's awesome!

[@lexxihd5843]

@@themajesticspider-man6116 No Gilroy was the writer and Benjamin Caron was the director.

[@themajesticspider-man6116]

@@lexxihd5843 Oh shit, Tony Gilroy did write it. Nevermind lol

[@greenbrickbox3392]

Definitely a slow burn, but I am glad that there are Star Wars stories with drama and political/espionage intrigue which tries something new and actually has stakes and tension.

[@lorddaquanofhouserastafari4177]

I think those hair growth pills are messing with his hormones hahahaha 😅

[@jimberjamber8540]

People will sing the praises of KOTOR and Legends but as soon as a show comes out that matches the writing they want, all of a sudden it "doesnt feel like Star Wars". Like WHAT.

[@sundrelstriker7513]

My thoughts exactly

[@datzfatz2368]

well, as one of the people who will sing the praises of the EU and KOTOR all day long, this show is EXACTLY the kind of shit i always wanted to see. They only way in my mind this "doesnt feel like Star Wars" is that it doesnt feel the same as most of the Rest of Disneys output. And not feeling the same as actual, factual piles of shit and garbage is a very good thing^^

[@jimberjamber8540]

@@datzfatz2368 I couldnt have put it better myself!

[@sundrelstriker7513]

@@datzfatz2368 I 1000% agree

[@noahthonnard293]

This show more captures the feeling of Kotor 2 than pretty much anything else so far, it's captured the emotions and tone without having to make a clone of it. Honestly impressive work.

[@lettucejuuice8150]

That Star Wars theory clip of him asking what people are smoking is just unbelievable.

[@kenobikenobi180]

Exactly

[@maxeisenhardt8800]

Remember when he took great offense when Pablo Hidalgo mocked fans who cried over the season 2 finale of The Mandalorian? I'm not defending Hidalgo, but SW Theory turned out to be a hypocrite and a gatekeeper. "You have become the very thing you swore to destroy".

[@TheMuseSway]

He's the one who sucks on nostalgia bait and that's all he wants.

[@procrastinator99]

Literally, "how to tell me you're an idiot without saying, 'I'm an idiot,' lol."

[@JesseKonijnenberg]

@@maxeisenhardt8800 the thing is Hidalgo didn't even mock fans who cried, the opposite, he was making fun of the people who did.

[@gracescorner100]

To me, Andor is the missing link. It's the emotional development that provides reasons for Star Wars in so much of its entirety. Cinematography, visuals, music, etc. is all top notch, but it gives you an honest reason why the Rebellion began. The slow choking grip, an awakening of rebellion, etc. Nice tight story too.

[@willm4067]

It felt like I was watching the inception of the american revolution (i’m american and that’s what I relate to) the way grievances seem to build up and the empires desire to control its colonies led to its failure

[@zljmbo]

@@willm4067 lol american revolution, do you think rebels fight for their right to own guns and slaves? this is much closer to french and baltic revolution where poor people joined together in goal for real freedom not the american bs. freedom from (opression, pain, povety) not freedom to (own guns, subjugate others)

[@kinda_cold_in_the_closet]

EXACTLY.

[@malachite2506]

after episode 3 every character we've followed up to that point is either dead, irredeemable in a way where they could reintegrate with their past life, or just plain fucked. I agree that you kinda need these minor characters to make us care. Plus it's good to show the rebellion as being adaptable rather than just showing the empire being bad at their jobs

[@wolverinexo6417]

@@zljmbo Those are not the reasons for the American Revolution, those are the Souths reasons for the American civil war.

[@CableAnna]

You’re so right about the Empire feeling so much more evil. I believe in the past in Star Wars they’ve talked about how the TIE fighters were like a symbol of menace and the power of the Empire but in the show you literally FEEL it! Gave me chills multiple times.

[@Wolfman7870]

And what I love is that the evil is so... mundane and matter of course. I've never been so keenly aware of how evil a beaurocracy can be.

[@Loy_Otterton]

My favorite scene is the funeral procession. It's kinda surprising to realize we don't really know the pride cities and communities have in the galaxy. This is the first time I know of where we see a glimpse into why people rebelled against the Empire. They had lived in relative peace, but now their culture and lives are being smothered by the plague of darkness. I 100% cried during Maarva's speech. She really was a true rebel.

[@presentfuture7563]

I loved the visible impact her words seemed to have on Luthen. If not for her, he might have killed Cassian at the end.

[@Loy_Otterton]

@@presentfuture7563 his reaction was subtle, but he definitely seemed to connect with her words. Maybe he'll be taking the fight head on instead of from the shadows in season 2.

[@olivervaldes4223]

I was sucking them in myself. Great show.

[@lawjef]

The problem is that no one wants to invest lots of hours in the SW universe when there is a real good chance that the next 3 or 4 shows will be a total abomination. Sorry Tony Gilroy, I'm not wasting any more time on SW or Marvel. P.s. Michael Clayton. 2 sequel when?

[@soakedbearrd]

Yeah it showed real culture, customs and origin. The city felt real. Amazing writing.

[@romank8603]

Andor is by far the best star wars project since the original trilogy and Genndy Tartakovsky Star Wars: Clone Wars. Its actually showing you why the empire is so scary and powerful.

[@anydaynow01]

Yep this and when Saw Gerrera finally met his end in RO. Can't wait for a Rated R Saw Gerrera series!

[@sauces_official]

This! - the Andor series is more about the themes than the characters, and how and why and where the rebel alliance emerges. This is so much more worth watching than most of the Mandalorian.

[@ploptimusgrime332]

It's weird how Disney Star Wars has only been good when Cassian Andor is part of the story.

[@tacktful]

@@sauces_official true, and also I really care about the characters for once, and am genuinely appalled but also fascinated by the Empire characters too

[@DanielVisOneCade]

@@tacktful that's because the showrunners/directors/writer's are taking the time to flesh them out. Usually if you don't have a Light Saber or be immediately connected to someone with said Saber your entire personality is summed up in your uniform or lack there of. Andor is doing a great job of breathing life into the mundane, bureaucratic & political quagmire that both the rebellion & empire is from literally top to bottom.

[@tallginger1256]

One of my family members worked at lucasfilm during Andor's development, and what you said about corporate oversight is completely right. The guy reporting back to her and everyone else at the corporate office from the set in London basically just said "It's going great!" and they didn't care enough to investigate themselves. I think this just shows that you need to make the story before the product and not the other way around.

[@haroldb1856]

I hope that the lukewarm audience response to Andor will not result in Lucasfilm executives putting the show under a microscope. The last thing the show needs is for Season Two to be written by committees and focus groups, or being forced to conform to a studio formula.

[@jwroot]

Wow, one of your family members works at Lucasfilm?! That's incredible. Love the info!

[@FlymanMS]

Kinda ironic how it resembles the Imperial lack of care and how it works in favor of (directors) Rebels.

[@davidpaw22]

You know it's a good when it makes you feel for every single characters that appeared on screen.

[@lorddaquanofhouserastafari4177]

Exactly dude they did what GOT season 1-4 did, made you attach to characters that weren’t really part of the main story

[@Tokmurok]

​@@lorddaquanofhouserastafari4177 Andor is better than game of thrones because Andor has a message. GOT only has political drama with no real lesson to learn. Also far less degenerate Andor is.

[@Dakotarunner2013]

Andor is a thinking man's and woman's Star Wars. The world building of this franchise doesn't require endless light saber battles (that got old a long time ago) and nonstop special effects. The world building does require a solid story peopled by characters you can believe in, and Andor delivers. The incredible set design, music, and costuming are bonuses.

[@nicholastheofrastou1953]

This finale was the best I have seen you in years. RIP Marva. So much cool stuff. What I liked about Rogue One was the beautiful slice of the SW universe, without being about the Skywalker's. This show turned that up to 11 for me. Best supporting cast ever.

[@joetheperformer]

I wholeheartedly agree with you, fellow thinking friend. It also counterintuitively makes lightsaber battles feel more gritty and real. Bc imagine a whole franchise of Star Wars shows/films without lightsabers… then you finally get ONE that has a lightsaber in it with a top tier force sensitive behind it swinging it like a badass. That would be too good.

[@Justanotherconsumer]

@@nicholastheofrastou1953 she’s not resting in peace. She’s resting with pieces of her lodged in the grey matter of some random imp.

[@soakedbearrd]

Agreed 100%. This is definitely something that has much depth than your usual Star Wars green screen hollow flair. It has meaning, and feels real.

[@r.fuentez1482]

Andor is for adults. All the previous, more recent works are to try and draw new fans, kids, and of course sell toys and amusement park passes. Andor is what really good Star Wars could be, if the creators focus on creating something worth watching; something with heart.

[@asiantaxevasion1042]

When people say "Andor is too boring" I think that's just another way of saying they don't have enough attention span for it. I think it's only frustrating when it comes from people who have a lot of film related content if not a central focus on film, so I expect them to be able to see the greatness of all the subtle storytelling that really makes it compelling but they just dumb it down to "it's boring." But I've yet to actually see anyone explain why it's boring in a way that doesn't say they have a short attention span

[@datzfatz2368]

It is kind of funny how very often these kind of blanket criticisms people have reveal much more about themselves than about the piece of Art they are criticizing^^

[@zinjanthropus322]

Of course tiktok generation doesn't have the attention span for good pacing anymore.

[@fundhund62]

It´s not about attention span. It´s about a very boring story, bland characters and almost complete abscence of world-building (99% humans in Star Wars 🤣).

[@asiantaxevasion1042]

@@fundhund62 except Andor has absolutely none of those. Especially the world building. At least the other 2 can be subjective, but Andor’s world building is objective. It explores the ISB, a small division of law enforcement never seen before in Star Wars filmography, they go to new planets and explore the cultures of Ferrix and Aldhani, they explore at least one of the prison systems, they explore the empire’s operation in at least one section of the galaxy. There is so much world building in this show that denying it is either disingenuous or, again, very telling of a short attention span.

[@bigwezz]

@@fundhund62 100% smooth brain.

[@leanlute7507]

"Every character has a story". Thank u for saying it!!!! Everything in Andor is almost perfect. The show built a powerful story from "lower characters" (no jedi or stuff like that): and there is where we find the real conclusion: Rebellion starts with normal people TRYING their best.

[@alexmaverick6647]

The Star Wars Theory clip of him calling Andor boring and then suggesting a fucking Grievous show was such pain.

[@augustsorenson3854]

It was an absolutely brain dead take

[@Andeh8]

I evaporated hearing it

[@gandalfandchill549]

I literally did a spit take. That was unironically hilarious.

[@dkcsi9256]

They just want actions figures being mashed together. They love Filoni’s current style of “this show is a vehicle for cameo’s and my OCs running into each other” and anything else that’s just fan service focused set pieces without substance beyond “ITS THAT GUY! YO HE’S FINALLY MEETING THAT DUDE FROM THE OTHER SHOW! YOOO HE REFERENCED THAT THING!”. If it ain’t that, it’s boring.

[@bf5175]

One thing that strikes me about Andor, and kind of sums up why it is so good, is that a simple expression in this show can communicate so many things. The look on Kino's face when he realizes he will never get out of prison. Luthen's transformation when he puts on the wig. Mon Mothma's look of strain when she uses her husband as cover for her money laundering. It's all brilliant acting and brilliant writing. I cannot imagine any bit of non-dialog carrying anywhere near as much weight in any other recent Star Wars story.

[@A.M.Cinematics]

Just fantastic directing/acting across the board. I was hanging on to every word

[@MadSlantedPowers]

Indeed, and when people say they the series could have been condensed, I have trouble thinking of what could be cut out. Scenes may seem boring with nothing happening, but dialog and body language is saying a lot. A scene someone thinks should be cut could actually be establishing something about the character that will be important later on.

[@whysoserious4274]

it's official andor is for people with a brain and know how to use it.

[@DuragDumask]

That clip where Star Wars Theory suggested that Disney make a General Grevious show/movie is so infuriating. It seems like all he wants to see in Star Wars is characters he grew up on. That mind set is what will cause stagnation in the franchise. We need new characters and new stories with different genres like suspense, thriller, and even horror. Just imagine the possibility of these kind of genres within the Star Wars universe. Yes, I still would love to see the traditional style of Star Wars represented but going back to old characters who've had their time to shine is unfair to all the other interesting characters within the Star Wars mythos. BTW, I'm a fan of Star Wars Theory and I've been subscribed to him for years now, but I feel that this mindset will only cause the I.P to die a slow and painful death. Sure, Disney/Lucasfilm has not been the best steward of Star Wars, but I truly feel that after the backlash towards the sequel trilogy they've slowly began to see the true potential of this universe. Great video! Edit: Wow! The above section was written before I watched the full video, but after watching it I see that you have the same mindset as me and many other fans when it comes to SWT's comment on Andor and the future of SW.

[@diinouhothead9362]

Poor Theory, he's got half the fanbase after him. At least he's being honest.

[@BoardWalkToke]

SWT lost a lot of credibility for me after Andor. He speaks like he is the ambassador for StarWars and his ego over the years has made it difficult for him to look at anyone else's opinion other than his. His views on what is needed for StarWars is just nostalgia fuel which is the last thing we should be doing.

[@uckluck]

The ironic part is prequel era is certified trash by anyone over 30 it just aged well with nastolgic 5 year olds when they came out

[@icarus2oo21]

@@diinouhothead9362 I cant watch them, its like torture and brings out the spacenazi in me. If they are rebels then freeze me in carbonite and send me to Palpatine coz "I'm joining the empire baby and I'm doing Gods work!"

[@ganjathecat]

@@diinouhothead9362 I watched his reaction video after his screws and bricks comment went viral and to me he came across as being disingenuous and petulant. Confronted with the fact that he was wrong, he can't even straight up admit to it without going on another long winded justification. It was petty nitpicking, considering that he even went as far as saying he'd rate the show 10/10 it it was outside of the Star Wars universe. He's displaying such hubris and ego that I can't help but wonder why he has such a huge following when there are better voices out there more deserving of support from the SW fanbase and yet can't break the 1M subscriber count barrier.

[@MR.ICE.]

I can’t stress enough how much I actually needed this. It’s a beautifully written and acted show. I can’t wait for season 2.

[@jwroot]

Hardcore Agree.

[@grumpus5248]

The galaxy is huge, with room for a million stories that *don't* contain a Sith or a Jedi. Andor, like Rogue One, took a host of new characters and got me to care about all of them while telling a cohesive story.

[@auroralee3934]

What i love about Andor is that it doesn't treat its viewers like idiots. It has the perfect mix of show- don't tell. Most of the shows and movies produced nowadays take their audience for granted, by the time the movie or show is half way through we already figure out what the next move is gonna be. We are never on the edge of our seats or feel anxiety through our characters on screen. I love this show as a whole but Ep 6 is the one which I will re-watch over and over again!!

[@zhuljens]

I found that right in the first episode, when police had Andor's mugshots but didn't know if he was the guy and the hostess from the brothel walked into police station. Nothing more was needed, I could connect the dots in my head that she will recognize him and police will know they have the right guy. Lesser shows would show the interrogation or not even include this scene and just show police blindly confident that Andor is the killer.

[@shepherdgoesnuts]

I was so, so happy about the scenes of Luthen and Saw Gerrera just having political discussions. That was something I have been missing for the longest time, because you can not have an entire franchise based on movies that were about a literal revolution without ever discussing the politics behind it. Sure, the goal is the same for all factions involved in the rebellion (destroy the empire), but how they achieve this, what tools they use and what they want to eventually replace the empire differs, just like in any real world political movement. So seeing those two actually discuss it, seeing Saw throw his little tantrum about the other currently existing rebel cells and their political views was just great and long overdue. This show did so much to highlight the dirty underbelly of the rebellion and making it all the more realistic for it. Loved the show, for that reason and many others.

[@jeremywalsh5666]

Agreed, it was so smart. Really the high water mark of the whole series was Luthens sacrifice monologue. The writer of that deserves every award they can heap on him. A close second we’re the dialogues between Luthen and Saw, it gave substance to a long vapid universe

[@peterschattmann8298]

And let's not forget to praise the over the top excellent acting. The scenes between Skarsgard and Forest Whitaker are cracking!

[@rodgerbright3764]

I had given up on SW. just so unexcited about everything after rogue one except the cartoons. THIS is the best Star Wars content made since empire IMO, and is one of the best shows made by any measure in the last ten years. If you tweaked it and pulled it out of the Star Wars universe, it would still be incredibly interesting, cinematically beautiful, superbly, well written, and directed, as well as amazingly acted. That’s the ultimate test for me, if people like to show very obviously, just because it’s in the universe, they appreciate, that does not make it a good show, it just means hard-core fans of that show like it because it is associated with a franchise. They already have a love for. I am utterly surprised at how good the show is, and I’m so happy that it was allowed to be made in a really meaningful complex slow burn deep dive, character depth methodology.

[@cass7448]

This whole show is unapologetically political and I love that.

[@mmayo24]

Andor was just absolutely phenomenal. It was very, very good. I agree the writing was above and beyond anything seen in Star Wars yet. Just fantastic. Performances from Stellan Skarsgård, Genevieve O'Reilly, and Andy Serkis were just *chef's kiss.* I can't wait for season 2.

[@Yojack872]

This Andor has been such a breath of fresh air - I can't stop thinking about how genuinely awesome it was.

[@chriscarlson516]

Andor will be The Wire of Star Wars.

[@vice2versa]

I can't tell if its the wire of star wars or the game of thrones of star wars. there are scenes from Andor that remind me of Both the wire and game of thrones. Syrils Karns Introduction scene felt like dialogue you would get from the wire, had a weird sense of realism that stands out and Mon Mothma's dinner party scene gave me game of thrones vibes.

[@SwagSwagSenate]

The Breaking Bad of Star Wars

[@cymbolic_space1832]

i mean andor is good but those are pinnacle tv programs. i think Disney would need to work a hell of a lot harder than they are to give us The Wire of Star Wars. maybe one day. when Disney sells the rights.

[@chriscarlson516]

@@vice2versa The scene in the final episode where Clem talks to Cassian about valuing what's in front of you even if it's old, and how most people just buy something new is taken straight from a scene with Prop Joe and Two-Face Andre in season 5. Also the scenes at the ISB reminded me of Comstat.

[@chriscarlson516]

@@cymbolic_space1832 I'm saying that it's The Wire of Star Wars. Not saying its The Wire, but within the context of Star Wars. Critically lauded, not great ratings. We'll see about the Emmy nominations...

[@bryanzaring6904]

Andor reignited my love of Star Wars after I had basically given up hope. The only reason I discovered your video is because I'm constantly searching for Andor content on KZbin. I can't get enough of it right now and I haven't been able to say that about new Stars Wars content in a long, long time. I immediately rewatched the first season within a week of the last episode coming out. The Andor formula was a home run in my opinion.

[@midgetkungfu]

That's exactly how I found this video as well.

[@FickenSpieler]

Me too Lol

[@liamsloan5410]

You might even call it "a new hope".... I'll see myself out

[@thomasbeckmann8939]

Same here, and nice one, Liam :)

[@thebaptistwasher]

Rebellions are built on hope.

[@henryhudo8604]

I think Meero had an amazing character arc. You really felt for her struggles as she tried to break free of the monotonous routine of the empire’s complacency in their authority. And then the shift to her becoming this proactive antagonist to Cassian and the beginnings of the rebellion completely subverts the original empathy for her.

[@Meishach2112]

Andor is the first Star Wars I’d watched since walking out of Episode 2 about 45minutes in, in the theater in 2002. Didn’t feel like I was missing anything. Grew up loving Episodes 4-6. Andor was absolutely outstanding. Great writing, great plot, ZERO throwaway characters, outstanding acting in big parts and small, no stupid stunts to sell action figures to morons. One of the best seasons of television ever made.

[@mikegaskin5542]

You should watch Rogue One also.

[@bebbifett4746]

Rogue One you to watch have! Yoda would say...

[@austingreen1274]

Spot on! 👏

[@ikesters6697]

Did you ever watch episode 3 and if so what do you think about it today?

[@noahbrown6961]

I thought the seen in the tenth episode where Luthen was explaining to the undercover agent who was pretending to work for the ISB, what he had sacrificed for the cause was one of the best scenes in Star Wars. Just straight badass

[@vtdemocracy7520]

I also loved the scene where Luthen is laughing maniacally after Andor swears his allegiance. He's ecstatic because he finally found a true comrade to share in his struggle without pretense. It's a fantastic closing scene.

[@marcosmartins7581]

It's an excellent monolog indeed but it's only one of 4 quality monologs in this series... Can you find the other 3?? 😉👍🏾

[@willm4067]

@@marcosmartins7581 Kinos speech over the intercom, Maarvas funeral speech, and maybe when Cassian was talking to the heist crew??

[@willowpets]

@@willm4067 last one is probably Nemik’s manifesto

[@isolemnlyswearthatimuptono5016]

@@willowpets I would think that your right. Excerpts from Nemik's Manifesto was played throughout different parts of the show. It was a pretty important piece.

[@ColerfulOfficial]

What's sad is that I loved every episode of Andor but after every great episode I was desperately scared that they were going to screw it up. Because "how are you supposed to make a good star wars show nowadays". But I was pleasantly surprised!

[@shammuk02]

Andor is truly a masterpiece no other star wars shows come close in terms of the writing or film making

[@JDoe-gf5oz]

Just because it's not hot garbage like the other Star Wars shows doesn't make it a masterpiece.

[@shammuk02]

@@JDoe-gf5oz well ure obviously no film major

[@nullunit]

Haha! Perfect. I am old, closing in on 50. I grew up with Star Wars and was a hardcore fan through all the EU years. I have probably seen the original trilogy hundreds of times. The Prequels killed my love for a bit, Clone Wars revived it some but as you point out it has been a lot of ups and down for a lot of us old fans. Andor really is the most interesting Star Wars thing I have seen and I was totally not expecting. I just assumed it would be more funky fan service like Mando but It shed light on things I wondered about when I was kid. It is by far the best produced show they have done. It's wild to me that late season Clone Wars, Rebels, and Andor are probably the most interesting Star Wars content has been since the golden age of the EU. Those talking heads that just shit on the show prove themselves to be myopic and ignorant. They think Andor is not "real Star Wars" I think they are not real fans; or at least that they have no bloody taste.

[@MMbiza]

Legends did a lot of experimental things to Star Wars and the fanbase always praised it like "This is what Star Wars need to be, gritty and dark, unlike the new Disney canon" But when Disney does the thing, suddenly some of them turn their backs and begging for more shows about the prequel characters

[@NinjaTyler]

I miss the Dark Horse era of Star Wars where we got great dark gritty comics all the time and many more mature games and stories as the franchise grew with the audience so there's always be something for us older fans to come back for.

[@user-xx6vy9ri8p]

Dooku's backstory in Tales of the Jedi was surprisingly good. But Disney shows have been mostly bad.

[@ohartradio]

As a dude who grew up during the prequels and seen the original trilogy as a kid, Andor is honestly a huge breath of fresh air for the franchise. Andor seems to cover the base of the fandom that grew up, are adults, and want something more grounded and less gimmicky. We all know the Skywalker, Jedi, Sith, etc stories. But this series covers so much more of the SW Universe without the need for all the flashy extras that we already know. I hope we get more stuff like this.

[@RyanCunningham]

I like how it shows the political drama that was going on within the empire, the senators that were seeing the damage that the empire was doing to the citizens, and the corruption of the government. The money laundering, the uneasy negotiations, it shows how much the show has grown over the years. They were trying to tackle the same thing in the Clone Wars series

[@flowersthewizard9336]

My parents stopped watching at episode 3 of andor bc they got bored, me n my grandparents loved it! (Parents born after 1970 and grandparents born after 1945)

[@eugenux]

@@flowersthewizard9336 you have awesome grandparents!

[@evilparadigm]

@@RyanCunningham This show actually makes us understand how the Empire can actually run the galaxy. It makes the Empire competent, cunning, and intimidating. If they were all bumbling fools like the last three movies, they could never take over anything, let alone run planetary governments.

[@Butterfly-ql4pg]

Andor was honestly the most fun I've had watching Star Wars in a while. The writing felt mature and sophisticated. I was invested in almost every single character I saw on screen, regardless of their allegiance or how much screen time they got. And it actually managed to make the Empire feel scary. It's even become a source of inspiration for a novel series I'm currently working on

[@vader1137]

This is the best reaction video regarding Andor that I've seen. And I totally agree with you that the fandom is so attached to lightsaber duels, and heroes that have been there since day one, that they can't see others coming along. Other point is that Andor is not an action movie, is a series of spies, because that's how the Rebellion started, as something really minor almost negligible that as in the first episodes you see the Empire doesn't really care about. Andor is a masterpiece of a show, and everyone that doesn't see it that way, it's because they are not as meticulous as we are with series/movies.

[@shawndidstuffbeforehehadki806]

I love that they show the bare bureaucracy of the Empire in Andor: the infighting of the agents, the data analysis, the slow approval of new ideas, and the blasé approach to torture. Watching Andor get caught up and lost in the gigantic system of the Empire was incredible and just plain good storytelling. AND the near-sighted, disorganized alignment of the rebellion funded through a variety of means was a great element. I would argue that Andor is a non-Star Wars, Star Wars show. In other words, you don't need to know intimate details of Star Wars to appreciate it.

[@soakedbearrd]

Last sentence is on point. It’s a universal story built on the SW universe. You don’t need to know the lore to appreciate this show and that says a lot about the writers because this could have easily been a show that started out another sci fi franchise and I say that with the highest kudos.

[@A.M.Cinematics]

I personally think it’s still pretty Star Wars-y. But I agree, it’s easily the most accessible piece of Star Wars media after the original

[@soakedbearrd]

@@A.M.Cinematics Yeah it’s the heart of star wars (liberty vs tyranny, love vs fear) while the force and Jedi/sith is the philosophy or soul. The mind would be the politics behind it.

[@LordTelperion]

Mmmm... I argue this is the ultimate Star Wars, Star Wars show. You have to know about at least the original trilogy to appreciate, for example, the gravity of being in Mon Mothma's presence (as a viewer), etc.

[@shawndidstuffbeforehehadki806]

@@LordTelperion I had to google Mon Mothma... I agree that it is the ultimate Star Wars show bc of those subtle layers. Although having watched Rogue One a loooong time ago, I didn't even remember who Cassian Andor was going into this show! LOL! I just saw it was getting amazing reviews. I really enjoyed Andor, but devoted Star Wars fans probably enjoyed this on a totally different level that I can't. I'm cool with that!

[@thiagoolive28]

Andor makes me feel excited about Star Wars again! Finally directors and writers are trying to actually tell a story, they´re not begging for you to love the charachters.

[@vice2versa]

Andor makes me beyond excited. I feel like Andor is correcting the way this universe is portrayed. It's giving us a proper indepth look into how the empire operates on a deeper and more human level. You can really feel the evil the empire gives off in this series, even the rebellion. It expanded the universe in such a unique way that I think really helps this franchise imo. I feel like this show was exactly what we needed.

[@fernandoalvarado7248]

What I like the most about Andor is what moves the characters. The common people resist the empire not because of the great ideals of the republic or the struggles of the jedi and sith, but rather they experience oppression in their lives and want to stop it. The empire's shortcomings are explained by its internal structure that promotes bureaucratic dispute rather than mere incompetence. Finally, a masterpiece.

[@bes-art]

The show is 10 out of 10 and your analysis too. The season finale gave me goosebumps and thats quite a lot considering that the last time I had a similar feeling was when I watched Chernobyl. And yeah, House of Dragon, Queens Gambit, Mandalorian, Westword etc are all good to say the least but Andor and Chernobyl are masterpieces in every aspect! They are treated as movies and the actors (and creative team) talent flourishes.

[@Master-of-Thunder]

The best detail I noticed is, that the prisoner's suits on Nakina 5 have the colors of X-Wings later. This gives the Rebellion a deeper meaning when fighting the empire. Look they are fighting against the people they have suppressed-brilliant detail in the show.

[@overtenemy69]

did not realize that

[@JoJoJoker]

It’s satisfying to see so much Andor praise after the finale. There was far less discussion while it was streaming.

[@ethanknifsend9775]

The Leia chase scene from Kenobi is probably the most unbelievable thing I've ever seen in my life. I was actually in shock that I was watching that in a real show that Disney released.

[@franzxiya]

You know its a well written story when you are watching the show and u dont question the actions of the characters.

[@JDoe-gf5oz]

Can't question it if you didn't watch it.

[@franzxiya]

@@JDoe-gf5oz edited my comment.

[@dangermouse9348]

Gilroy and his entire cast and crew have done a magnificent job with this series. Top marks to them all. They've set a standard that will be very difficult to beat.

[@BoardWalkToke]

You are not alone. Kenobi was the last straw for me as it completely killed any interest in StarWars until I kept hearing about Andor being good even from the most critical people. I reluctantly gave it one shot in Ep.1 and was floored by the writing quality. The longer I watched the better it got. Finally, StarWars content that I can take seriously and feels original. The people saying Andor isn't "StarWars" (SWT) imo have terrible taste and their views would only stagnate the franchise like it already has been. StarWars has been around for 50 years. It's about time we got something that takes a deeper look into the sacrifices and brutal reality of a rebelian. There is a cost to freedom. And The Empire feel like an actual threat instead of just incompetent bad guys to give the heroes something to do. This is Star Wars. I am still worried for the franchise as one good show doesn't mean everything else will be this quality but its a damn good start. On the flip side, any other StarWars media that can't follow Andor's quality is going to be severely mocked even more now.

[@A.M.Cinematics]

So nice to see that I’m not alone

[@soakedbearrd]

What this has that many of the newer projects don’t is substance, depth and heart. It’s someone’s vision that cared, and respected not only the audience but the lore. The characters feel real, the scenarios seem plausible, the pain of tyranny feels felt, the sacrifices of the rebels (or pre rebels) seem weighted. The villains have nuance and real emotion, fears and sense of duty. This is what true story telling means. Not flash, not cameos, not fanfare, not cheesy humor bits interjected, or some writers political ideology crammed down your throat. The women characters seemed real believable and strong (not overdone) the poc were real and not props or a quota, in fact I didn’t even notice they were POC they were humans and well written (I’m latino btw) the men weren’t useless or dumb or overly cartoonishly toxic masculine. I mean this felt like real characters finally.

[@MartijnVos]

Kenobi was a show that I really felt wasn't necessary. His story had been told already. There's barely any room left to tell anything about Obi-Wan Kenobi. The way he was dragged into that story made no sense; having a Jedi come and rescue young Leia would draw way too much attention (and it did), and would make Bail Organa's position impossible. Seeing Young Leia was the main saving grace of that show; she was great. I don't hate the main antagonist the way some people seem to do, but those confrontations between Obi-Wan and Vader shouldn't have happened. They make too little sense in the whole Star Wars continuum. In the end fan service was the only real reason for that show, and that's just not good enough a reason.

[@frankiegutierrez3847]

@@MartijnVos i was of the belief that he main antagonist should’ve gotten the show instead. Reva I think it was? She had a Skelton of a good character. Her motive was there and it should’ve been her building up her strength only to meet the same fate as all the others around her as a child. Instead we got her kinda running around and being evil for the sake of it. He flashbacks with her character made me hope for more. Little Leia was nice two although her early scenes were terrible… I just wish the show was better lol because again the skeleton was there

[@frankiegutierrez3847]

@@soakedbearrd you lost me at the political ideology stuff, mate the series is called star wars it will always be political. The politics in this were anti-capitalist, anti-colonialism, anti-authoritarian. Politics aren’t when *insert minoritized group here* are shown. The galaxy is vast and there are gonna be people from many backgrounds. It helps it feel alive, and is great when they become characters. But I do agree that these characters need to be written with care! Mainly just because there is an Oversaturation of just bad Disney stuff out there. But hey, andor was amazing

[@philipquenault5102]

Andor has given me something I knew but hadn't fully acknowledged that I had been missing from shows today. A deep, interwoven and character driven story. I remember the characters in this show even the ones that died in episode 3 during the heist because the show gave me time to actually know them a bit. The problem with a lot of todays media on streaming platforms is they are designed for binge consumption and then just as quickly forgotten about. Even series with an series spanning story arc are usually episodic in nature. Andor slows down that pace, with the overall story arc being Andor and the casts journey but the smaller story arcs span multiple episodes before flow into the next. It has been so refreshing to see a story unfold where I feel like I am reading a novel at a comfortable pace. Rather than speed reading.

[@NursissisticOfficial]

I was truly blown away by Andor. It was how I chose to spend my May 4th celebration and I have zero regrets. Thank you for this thoughtful review. I wholeheartedly agree with your thoughts.

[@flynngames4703]

It’s one thing to tell people why you don’t like something. But it’s weird and off putting to me when people try to convince others to hate it also. Much less tell them why they are wrong. I find myself only watching people that put out positive content. Good video btw 👍🏽

[@Peter-jl4ki]

To be fair, Disney Star Wars has a few products, where the majority of Access Media "reviewers'" takes are somewhere between braindead and deeply dishonest, and desperately needed correcting. I'm not saying the Disney trilogy should be hated by anyone, or that people can't enjoy trash. I'm pointing out that saying trash is trash is fair, as is calling out those who are paid to lie about it.

[@j-money1354]

Bro your second point is exactly the same as mine...Andor was needed to make the Empire look what they actually were...An intellectual, brutal, oppressive regime...And how through their ruthlessness the Rebellion was born...

[@NinjaTyler]

Not just their ruthlessness but their arrogance too, they were so secure in their power they believed nothing could truly threaten it and it lets their cruelty grow and the complacency grow, it's how the early rebellion was able to survive they played the empire against itself abusing it's complacency and power grabbing nature, pitting sector overseer's against eachother to sneak under their noses.

[@MeanLaQueefa]

I put off Andor due to the previous Disney series like Kenobi. I just finished it last night, I binged the whole series. Holy smokes, this is what I wanted, fantastically done, and I loved the 3 episode arch build up, character development etc… Star Wars theory and gatekeepers like him need to embrace and promote this type of grownup material. I’m 39, and to me this is the best Star Wars since the OG trilogy. If anyone wants another great Sci-fi series watch the Expanse.

[@andrewfortmusic]

Honestly, when it comes to "fanservice," one line in Andor made me more excited than the entirety of Kenobi or The Mandalorian or the Sequels combined. When Luthen gave Cassian the crystal as collateral, he said, "It's a Kuati Signet. Blue kyber. Sky stone. The ancient world. Celebrates the uprising against the Rakatan invaders." The way to my li'l nostalgic Star-Wars-loving heart is references to the KotOR games and Andor found it. I don't need or even particularly want fanservice---especially when, like Andor, there is a story so incredible and well-knit that I was glued to the screen, with cinematography that made me feel the environment, with acting that felt real and raw and spontaneous, with music that immersed me in their emotions, and any number of praises i could sing. But there were little beautiful cherries of internal references on top. SWT is just so focused on legacy characters, I think, that anything without them "doesn't feel like Star Wars." But Andor felt like the Star Wars I felt in Empire Strikes Back, Rogue One, and especially in KotOR 2. Immersive, operatic, exhilarating, but subtle and clever and gray. Even without Force-wielders, I felt more like I was in Star Wars than I have from a piece of Star Wars media in a long time.

[@Forever_orwhatever]

Andor is hands down a masterpiece! It’s a show that has me thinking and analysing long after the credits roll. It’s not a cheap thrill easily forgotten like a lot of content lately. Your video analysis is fantastic and I can’t wait for season 2!

[@jenniferfernandez8340]

Thank you for this take. I'm an elder millenial, born a few years after The Empire Strikes Back was released, and grew up loving the OT. I have since become completely tired of this franchise to the point where I didn't watch any of the shows on Disney +. My husband, also a fan, was more tolerant and watched all the shows and one episode of Andor but he'd gotten burnt out as well and we got rid of Disney +. After reading all the reviews of Andor I decided it was important to support quality so I re-signed up for D+ and convinced my husband to watch it with me. We're both blown away. This show has rekindled my love of the franchise which I at one point thought was impossible.

[@brianwill5929]

I'm so glad!

[@za.307]

I was a teenager when Strikes Back came out. We had one screen at our Cinema and the queue stretched down the road. I queued up hours before hand. When I left, I had that feeling that I saw a film that was beyond my expectation.

[@sandracorbitt75]

I couldn't agree more. I have loved Star Wars, since I was a child. Saw the OT in theaters when they were re-released and I enjoyed the Prequels. I was concerned when Disney purchased Star Wars, but I thought at least we'll be getting new Star Wars movies. I was severely let down by the Sequels, to the point that I had no interest in Mandalorian and didn't see Rise of Skywalker. Mano brought me back and I made me excited for BOBF and Kenobi. However, those shows were like a kick in the gut - I couldn't get through them and was going to cancel Disney Plus. However, since I had done the pre-payment special for 3 years, and Andor was coming out I thought, why not give it a try. Since Andor isn't a legacy character, I figured Disney couldn't mess it up too much. I liked Rogue One so I gave it a try and boy was I happy I did - it blew my mind and made me not only like Star Wars again, but reignite my passion for it. I am loving all the content - the videos by Star Wars Explained, Thor Skywalker and Generation Tech - helps me to get even deeper into the show and appreciate it even more. Found A.M Cinematics on a comment on SW Theory - so glad I did. this was a great breakdown and expressed my feelings about the show. This is a good show and I have recommended to everyone - Star Wars fans and people who are just looking for a good show to watch.

[@ChrisHCxx]

Yess, same here. I need more Andor!

[@hommedetowne4253]

@@za.307 I'm with you.. while I was only 8 when it came out, it moved me so deeply that it made a fan of me for life. Rogue one and now more lately Andor It's thé kind of content I've literally yearned for since 1981. Even Return of the Jedi didn't move me as much as Empire strikes back. Nothing else did until rogue one.. Until Andor, that is. Now The Mandalorian was awesome, so was Kenobi. The Force Awakens had problems but potential too.. But neither were in the league of Rogue One. Or Andor.

[@gisellecarr606]

Andor is what Star Wars really needs - it feels real. It feels like a genuine and authentic look at the Resistance and nuanced definitions of the dark and light sides of the force. I LOVED this series and I'm looking forward to another season.

[@toddbowers418]

I went into this sight unseen; only with Rogue One in mind. Watched in 4 nights and on the edge of my seat for most of it. Raw, gritty, real and so different than other releases I thought I was watching HBO. I was 10 when New Hope came out so I’ve matured. Likewise with Andor’s storytelling and approach; so good it hurt.

[@StuTheMoose]

So good to this comment, it exactly what i was thinking.. It didn't feel like Disney Star Wars at all, it felt like I was watching an HBO show. I've only just got round to watching it as I'd basically given up on SW after Boba Fett and Kenobi, both shows I didn't get past the halfway mark with. I hadn't consumed any media regarding Andor so had no idea what anyone was saying about it. SW was dead to me. Rogue One was the last thing I truly enjoyed. I was bored the other day and decided to give Andor a 1 episode chance to impress. I ended up binging the show over two evenings.. it's incredible! This is the Star Wars I've be hoping to see for the last 30 years. I was 7 when ANH came out and like you I wanted something in the SW universe that had matured as I had. Andor delivered that dream big time and then some.

[@thebarkyboy7779]

This is a phenomenal video essay. Everything you said was on point; from the way they split up the plots of the episodes, to the way we, the consumers, NEED to show Disney that THIS is the stuff a lot of us unknowingly have been waiting for for the longest time. Thanks for your brilliance in showcasing all this.

[@A.M.Cinematics]

Thanks for the kind words!

[@witendias5200]

ANDOR is a masterpiece. In time the audience of Star Wars will watch and realize how good this show is. We are fortunate to have watched first and when the awards started to arrive people will tune in. Congratulations to the showrunners, the actors, the magnificent soundtrack, the writers, etc for producing this SW show. I will be anxiously waiting for season 2 of ANDOR!

[@SnootchieBootchies27]

Andor is well written and executed. More like this please!

[@MrAroone]

Thank you for giving Andor the (Imperial) credits it deserves! I loved the show and it made me want to gamemaster Star Wars RPG again. Because you get a clear picture of the world, the different worlds. It gives flesh to factions, but most of all, it shows that you don't need to destroy planet sized weapons to create a good story. You just need good writing. This is a great series. And yes, more people should watch it!

[@eKoush]

Damn, Andor inspired Star Wars RPG - I'd be so down for something like this.

[@guynamedbob8374]

I like the tone of this show, I love that it doesn't feel like ordinary Star Wars. The tone, the plot and the dialogue are very well-written. Honestly, this is the Star Wars I wish we had in the sequel trilogy. I hope Tony Gilroy gets the chance to direct more Star Wars related projects.

[@jusapikachu5212]

Gilroy had all the opportunity in the world. Disney had apparently offered him a lot of stuff but he had turned it all down until he pitched Disney this show & they gave him carte blanche with the show, without a lot of the usual oversight that goes with Disney products. Hopefully Disney sees how genius that was & gives more creators this type of freedom.

[@GeahkBurchill]

15:38 ”Andor is almost TOO good at writing characters” This is even true of Rogue One, which I rewatched directly after watching the Andor Finale (ep. 12) and while I still think Rogue One is the best of the Disney Star Wars I was surprised at how hurtling and disjointed the pacing and characterization felt coming after Andor. I wonder if this is the problem Star Wars Theory was clumsily acknowledging. Maybe it doesn’t feel like Star Wars to him because it’s not quite shallow and disposable enough. It’s not pulpy. (Or should I say, ‘Palpy’) The sheer quality and care of Andor DOES put even the OT to shame at times. The groundedness could be a real issue for some folks. Personally, I adored every second. I couldn’t imagine cutting a single shot or scene in most episodes. I have been waiting for a Star Wars show this good my entire life.

[@CantankerousDave]

The weird pacing is because the movie's such a hodgepodge. Gilroy came on board and did tons of reshoots and re-editing. Andor is 100% his.

[@thomasffrench3639]

Star Wars is pulpy in general, I don’t see how that’s a problem. But Star Wars has enough room for both.

[@torstensommer4319]

I like the approach to introduce characters in Andor just to let them die some time later. That shows how dangerous rebellion is. You started to feel with them and then they die. Unexpected. Like it was in the Aldhani-Heist-Arch with Nemik, Taramyn and Gorn. Or Cassians "mother" Maarva.

[@mroxion8271]

I love this show and I've never been a star wars fan. Every character was so well developed, even the droid. B2 had the personality of a dog that can talk and I loved every scene he was in.

[@HEARTS-OF-SPACE]

I totally agree! That droid isn't getting the recognition it deserves. One of my favorite Star Wars droids.

[@91mattmac]

Your point on investing in new characters is spot on. People are stuck on this nostalgic train ride that’s killing creativity. In my eyes, this series has brought life into Star Wars it’s never had. This show actually makes you feel something. Rix Road and the “fu*k the empire” scene gave me Braveheart goosebumps and in my eyes the most meaningful thing that’s come out of the entire franchise. This show was extremely refreshing and was very nice not having my hand held the entire time.

[@sassenachdragon]

Here’s the thing, a lot of us do crave nostalgia and we want it so bad but the easy nostalgia of bringing back old characters doesn’t do it for us, what they’ve done with Andor is bring back nostalgia in a more clever way, they brought back the feeling of the rebellion in ANH by depicting the backstory. The problem with the simple nostalgia play is that the movies like the prequels and sequels are targeting the larger audience capture which needs to appeal to children but Andor isn’t going for the kids at all, they’re really targeting adults with adult themes that don’t appeal to kids and aren’t just going into those themes on a surface level. But as a person who is super into nostalgia I think they’ve hit on the perfect nostalgia recipe for adult super fans. That’s what really stood out to me with Rogue One and even more so with Andor.

[@91mattmac]

@@sassenachdragonkinda proving my point. That’s why the last 10-15 years of entertainment (movies and games) have felt so uninspired and unoriginal. I do agree that Andor was good, but I don’t agree with it being nostalgic, besides the empire and the building parts for the death star , there have been very few recycled concepts (Easter eggs don’t count) in this series which is exactly what makes this show so good. It’s time people stop living in the past, it’s really not healthy.

[@RGamingBlastoise]

@@sassenachdragon it captures what Star Wars is supposed to be at its core, not on the outside. At its core Star Wars is a heavily political series with heavily political themes. The force and lightsabers aren’t the thing that makes Star Wars, Star Wars.

[@sassenachdragon]

@@RGamingBlastoise I agree, a lot of people don’t realize just how political it always was from the beginning.

[@sassenachdragon]

@@91mattmac I wasn’t really disco with you except for the nostalgia point, I think they did the right mix of enough nostalgia and enough politics for the adult audience… it’s a perfect mix.

[@bennahlundquist9022]

Through the course of finishing the last episode of Andor, I’m not ashamed to say I cried. It filled me with a sense of awe and camaraderie with the characters, with how human they were, with how realistic their struggles and hopes and desires felt. I never thought Star Wars content could make me feel so strongly, and that’s due to the incredible attention to detail and care the writers put into the show. Thanks for this awesome video essay, spreading the word about this masterpiece of cinema!

[@HEARTS-OF-SPACE]

You and me both!

[@chocorenavfx4403]

i honestly teared up during the "ONE WAY OUT! ONE WAY OUT" scene

[@maxedoutvibes]

Andor is the first piece of Disney Star Wars live action that made me immediately jump into a rewatch after finishing it. And it expands on the universe in a new, previously unexplored area. And it was beautiful

[@topgrain]

I'll probably be on about the 50th viewing of Season 1 by the time Season 2 arrives. Ever had enough of something that you still can't get enough of? That's me and Andor.

[@franzxiya]

Same here.

[@GaryBonaducci]

Andor's secret weapons are their Cinematographer, Director of Photography, and Editor. Without these people, the show wouldn't be able to get away with the amount of lengthy dialog their characters have to say. You see this in Maarva's speech, in Luthen's terrific underground monologue, and especially in Dedra's "systems either change or die" scene. Excellent camerawork, editing, and cinematography keep the viewer completely immersed in the scenes. I'm sooo looking forward to seeing more of this in season 2!

[@koffieslikkersenior]

Pffff, I disagree, the writing is just good. People aren't spouting shit for no reason, they're not speeching. even the lengthy monologues feel like clever people could say what they are saying, and most importantly, every time we have a dialogue, it drives the plot forward. It creates tension, drama and even action. People think we need to see flashy stuff to stay entertained, but that just isn't true. You can have long pieces of dialogue, so long as it's relevant to the plot and so long as it keeps the plot moving. Like... Think of the first five seasons of GoT, think of HBO's Rome... lots of talking and still very interesting.

[@HEARTS-OF-SPACE]

​@@koffieslikkersenior I completely agree. Another example would be Tarantino's penchant for long (and I mean long) scenes that are almost completely driven by dialogue. Inglorious Basterds comes to mind with the opening scene and the pub scene, among others. When fantastic, compelling writing is in play, no scene is too long or "boring" because you become completely immersed in the setting and the characters, and I found myself feeling that way during my viewing of Andor. Andor has the best writing, acting, score, cinematography, set pieces, and production value I've seen in a while, and I couldn't be happier that such talent, care, and dedication was bestowed upon the Star Wars universe. I really hope the show becomes more popular over the next few months (hopefully through word of mouth) because it deserves all the attention it can get.

[@T_SDuarte]

I believe all of you are right because what you’re all saying can go hand in hand, it’s not one or the other. Andor is good TV, good cinema, period (and not just good SW) because it’s excellently written and SUPERBLY crafted. Every technical aspect of filmmaking is nailed hard, spot on, top notch.

[@heunam3593]

@@T_SDuarte there is also so much artistically to take away from it, I study architecture and the building designs and lore tie ins for the styles used for different cultures and places added so much depth to the storytelling, mixing and matching different elements and even using real life locations in some cases unlike the new disney cg norm without losing quality

[@JohnFreedman0]

@@koffieslikkersenior How dare you compare Andor to HBO's Rome. The writing, and characters from Andor aren't in the same league.

[@UnsortedSeeds]

I was hooked when I watched the premiere of this show. I felt like that, as a viewer, I was being shown respect by the writers and show runners for the careful and mature story they put out. There's so much texture and realness to the world and the characters they created, the small and subtle details that delighted the parts of my brain that hardly get attention when I watch other media, that I just adore this series. I find it frustrating and sad that I don't know anyone that watched it because I missed being able to excitedly discuss each episode with a friend in person. It makes a girl feel lonely haha.

[@LadyScaper]

Had the same feeling in the beginning, but around half way, my friends got into it and loved it.

[@SPEEDFORCE99]

Wanna talk about it now?

[@CorbeepDweeb]

that was my feeling too, that feeling of being respected as a viewer. it felt like the writers understood i was an intelligent person that didn't have to be bludgeoned over the head with someone directly defining what was going on in a given scene or how it was supposed to make me feel. i was allowed to come to those conclusions on my own using the pieces they set up to tell their story, and it was very impactful it definitely has a different vibe from most shows out there, it's really something special. trying to get all my friends to watch it as well haha

[@Moshington]

None of my friends watched it. Same boat

[@danielavillacorta_from_lvm]

This show completely flatters the original vision from George Lucas in giving a voice and allegory to those who live in oppressive regimes or building those stories that spark that spirit of rebellion, initiate change in a society. Star Wars is supposed to be a mirror of our world and I felt this show delivered that exquisitely. Watching it now as a 20 year and finding myself wrapped up in the political aspect of Star Wars helped reignite my love for it again.

[@geoff420]

I don't know how people can find it boring. I've watched it fully 3 times and it is one of the only shows I've watched in recent years that I didn’t do other things at the same time.

[@dallassurbaugh9270]

I actually think Disney should go away from old star wars characters and focus more on the ones they created and create more. They have that whole sequel trilogy era to explore with Rey and they aren't taking advantage of that. They could fix public perception of her if they tried

[@javiervidal366]

I also love the various layers in storytelling, that are subtle yet powerful. You mentioned one in this review that I hadn't thought about. Another is one of the prison episodes (I forget which) where basically every character is in their own prison. Obviously Cass, but also Mon as living in her own type of prison, and also Syril where he is seen as working in the Empire's version of a cubicle farm. It would switch from one prison scene to the next; providing a subtle yet powerful image of how the Empire imprisons people (albeit in different prisons).

[@A.M.Cinematics]

That’s a really brilliant observation, especially the comparison of the imagery of the Cubicle to the literal prison

[@javiervidal366]

@@A.M.Cinematics it's a truly beautiful work of art with so many layers. This series is worthy of a literary/cinematic analysis.

[@AdamBoothUK]

Then there is the line in Rogue One where Chirrut tells Cassian that he is carrying his prison with him. It takes on so much more meaning in light of what happens in Andor.

[@sugoruyo]

@@AdamBoothUKand is a sharp contrast to Maarva telling him the the Empire can’t get to her free place because it is within her. This is what you get when you give capable people creative freedom.

[@luthenrael4523]

With its venue, cast, music, and visual effects, Andor makes you feel it's a quality production. Best star wars show I've ever seen so far

[@nickarooroo6397]

Andor is the first show that has ever just blown me away like this...the acting, settings, scenes, music, atmosphere, on and on...top tier Star Wars. Amazing.

[@411bvRGiskard]

“I love him more than anything he could ever do wrong”…in the deeply emotive voice of Brasso. I literally heard Marva’s voice in my mind through Brasso as he was saying it! Only after replaying that did I appreciate that actor even more. I mean holy hell!

[@06raimondi]

I feel like the reason it didn't feel like there's fan service cameos in andor is because it is done so good. Instead of throwing a random cameo like cad bane/qui gon into the show, the cameos in andor make sense, saw (because luthen has a rebel spy network and he connects with other rebel leaders), mon mothma, she's not in the show just so someone watching at 0.25 speed can spot her in the background, shes actually a part of the story so it makes sense. The only kinda cameo in this is i guess wullf yularen, but since hes a high ranking isb officer, it makes sense why he's there.

[@eiden5778]

Qui gon wasnt a random cameo but otherwise i agree completely

[@06raimondi]

@@eiden5778 Yea I agree its kinda a bad example. A much better example would be leia being in kenobi, idk why I didnt think of that when I first typed that comment.

[@Moahawkzolo]

I think Saw Gerrera was a random cameo though. He didn't have much of an impact on the show and not much reason to be in it. Just saying.

[@eiden5778]

@@Moahawkzolo Its a prequel to rogue one which he is in, not random at all. It gives more backstory to the character and to the rebellion as a whole. The show is about the rebellion in which Saw is a huge part of, and it makes 100% sense why hes where he is. He will have a bigger role in season 2, if you’re wondering. But just because he’s not being a main character doesn’t make him a ”random cameo”

[@06raimondi]

@@eiden5778 Aside from that, saw is also one of the only rebel leader that we know of from previous lore. Aside from the guys in rebels, I don't think any other character is already established to be a rebel leader.

[@goelnuma6527]

I had no expectations for Andor at all... the detail in Andor is amazing

[@joeclaridy]

I instantly hated this series when it was first announced thinking it would be terrible. This was strictly in protest to the sequels and Boba. Boy was I wrong about Andor.

[@elpipetuanis]

Andor had some of the best acting and writing I have seen in a while out of Disney. The scene with Stellan Skarsgard and the guy in the elevator was some of the best acting I have seen in a long time. He deserves an Emmy for that portrayal.

[@allisontemple7726]

I think you're exactly right. Because Andor is a minor character and because he dies at the end of Rogue One, there's no pressure to meet fan expectations or work him into larger pre-existing canon. His ending is determined, so instead of setting him up for future epic adventures, they can meditate on the world around him before Rogue One begins. From a business perspective it's a low stakes undertaking for Disney, but that leaves room for greater creative freedom.

[@thanosmirgezoudis4987]

After the end of each episode, kept thinking this series is art. True cinematography art.

[@thrindalsgameroom6550]

💯 SWTheory has become very frustrating to me, to the point I can’t watch. You basically nailed it although I will say I was a huge Cassian Andor fan from the first moments of Rogue One. When he took out his informant so he could escape and prevent the informant from being captured I thought “We have not seen this is Star Wars before, I want to know more about this character.” I was hopeful Andor would be good and I’m ecstatic that it exceeded all of my expectations. I’m not saying all Star Wars should be like this but there is a place for this type of storytelling in Star Wars. Looking forward to Mandalorian S3 but can’t wait for Andor S2.

[@vice2versa]

agreed, his character was a darker take that we weren't used to seeing at the time and now Andor takes that tone up a notch higher with Luthen and how cruel the Empire actually is in this while still feeling very realistic. I'm looking forward to Mandorlorian s3 as well but I really wish they saved those two episodes in BOBF for Mando s3. I feel like BOBF dilutes mando s3 now because of that decision. it should have been made in mando s3.

[@ellicel]

Even though season 2 production has started I’m afraid it will be required to conform to a more “SW feeling” as it underperformed in viewership. I really hope that the creators are still given a chance to continue what they started with season 1 and just let people discover it over time. I don’t expect that Andor will speak to everyone and I think that’s fine. I just hope Disney and LucasFilm still make room for it. Even with just one season, the show has already expanded our view of the galaxy and I would hate to give that up just to get empty cameos and silly Easter eggs.

[@timothychapman269]

@@ellicelI don’t think they will change the “style” as Tony Gilroy is his own man and won’t bend to any D+ desire to change. I believe in TG!

[@thrindalsgameroom6550]

@@ellicel Fair concern but I think Disney knows they have a quality show and because it is streaming my hope would be over time viewership will pick up. I think the good press will convince more to give it a try. That said I think we almost have more cameo's next season. Bail Organa, Leia, Admiral Dodonna, Krennic etc. Outside chance of some of the Rebels crew, if it furthers the story I am all for it but if it is shoehorned in just to do it it will be obvious and folks like you and me won't like it.

[@Fractured_Unity]

Disney is so arrogant that they could never imagine that someone like the Andor writers could be among them. Be in their production studio, take their funding, and use their marketing machine. All to produce something with a message so fervently against their own interests with their own tools. Andor is art on so many levels, especially in the irony of the corporate environment it was created.

[@moose6666]

This series is awesome, and Luthien's speech in episode 10 ranks up there with Jack Nicholson's "you can't handle the truth" from a few good men. Fantastic character development. The music is perfect!!!

[@portlandval55]

I just had to comment…thank you for this thorough analysis of the series Andor. I have been so frustrated by the die hard fans not caring about it. The complexity of this series defies the commercialism of mass market movies or characters. The art of this series is beyond comparing to anything else. Star Wars must continue to grow or it will stagnate. We should definitely support Andor. It is award worthy. Nothing wrong with being more mainstream Star Wars. But like fine wines there are Merlots, Chardonnay’s, and Blush varieties. Andor is Champagne. Something in the wine cellar for all types of fans. I will celebrate their tastes as long as they don’t bash mine.

[@TraceguyRune]

The people who hate Andor aren't die hard fans. They're posers.

[@jerrel.writes]

My god that Star Wars Theory clip was PAINFUL

[@BadGuyMcgee]

I watched Andor with my dad, and he liked it so much that he watched through the entirety of Star Wars and even started watching The Mandalorian.

[@Mathew269]

I feel like if they chose a different title for the show, something like "Rebellion: The beginning" or something like that, star wars purists would probably be more open to enjoy this show because it's pretty damn good

[@B1G_Dave]

The Rix Road speech still gives me Goosebumps. The writing on this show is absolute quality.

[@midgetkungfu]

Same! I actually shouted when Maarva's brick got used to smash that guy in the face. Maarva's speech was one of four speeches in the show that really hit me in the soul. I even took the time to write them down so I could study them.

[@JeremiahFrye]

@@midgetkungfu What were the other 2? I assume one was Luthen's sacrifice speech.

[@midgetkungfu]

@@JeremiahFrye Luthen's speech is probably my favorite. Nemik's manifesto "remember this" is breathtaking, in episode 12. In episode 10, Kino Loy's speech in One Way Out... that one made me cry.

[@JeremiahFrye]

@@midgetkungfu So many excellent speeches in this show!

[@midgetkungfu]

@@JeremiahFrye Right?! So many excellent quotes. I just can't stop talking about how amazing this show is.

[@emanuelmenendez2486]

Andor gives you a heist and a prison break… All while telling a Star Wars story that can be linked with the original movies. Eventually Amazing show and amazing actors throughout.

[@Xanaseb]

Andor's not only one of the best Star Wars productions I've ever seen, but possibly one of the best productions I've ever seen, full stop

[@mrmoviemanic1]

As someone who adores Star Wars, Andor is like that story that seems to just be sitting around doing nothing, but when you read it, it fills in so much of what you wanted to know about the actual lore of Star Wars, it doesn't want you to pretend that it's not trying to be out of the world of Star Wars, it fits in like a glove. I like a lot of things Disney has done with Star Wars (Specifically giving Clone Wars it's final season) But Andor is like they looked at Star Wars and said "You need to show us what makes the Empire evil, you also need to show us what makes the Rebellion something worth fighting for"

[@ry2fly666]

This man gets it. Oh man. I tricked myself into thinking Boba Fett wasn't that bad, then I had some qualms with Kenobi but brushed it off. And then Andor came out and washed my hopeful optimism away with brilliant writing, pacing, and stakes, since those stakes were for the beautifully written characters instead of the jedi or crime syndicates or sith or any collective. Chefs kiss on this analysis, my dude.

[@captainess]

thank you for a great video. nemik being crushed by the weight of imperial credit is such a powerful detail, didn't think about it that way. glad i've found your channel, gonna watch other essays too! a bit of personal perspective: i honestly can't stress enough how cathartic it was to watch andor from... russia. to me it wasn't just a fictional story but something surprisingly similar to my current reality. extreme police brutality, corrupt systems, parents who don't want to flee with their children, erasure of smaller cultures, resource pumping from blue-collar neighborhoods, revolts, etc, etc. everything in andor is painfully close to home. maarva's hologram speech about ferrix people being asleep and letting empire grow in the dark is just. yes. so on point. it's easy to overlook the bigger picture while everything you do from day to day is surviving and adjusting to new regulations from the top - and andor conveyed it flawlessly (i hope to see something on government propaganda in the second season though). i guess there's only one way out

[@Hummingbirder1]

I love your comment, since it comes from someone with experience. Many of Andor's nay-sayers are americans totally immersed in their own bubble. They don't see outside it. And, maybe they dislike what it shows of the inner politics of the US as well, and choose not to acknowledge it. I'm an old woman from Sweden, and I have seen the nasty policies raise their ugly heads here in our small duck-pond as well. And the Russia war has shaken us, and much of the west, to our core (at least the non-fascist individuals among us). Original SW has always been politic, something the Disney-era might have tried to lessen quite a bit. Not in Andor, though. Let's see if Tony Gilroy will have free reins in the next/last season as well! (Fingers crossed)

[@A.M.Cinematics]

Totally agree! And thanks for the support!

[@soakedbearrd]

Same here, and I live in the USA. It’s a show for the common man, experiencing a form of tyrannical overreach, whether subtle or overt. Power to the people.

[@evanpugh6836]

Hard agree with your comment. I would say that this perfectly matches the U.S. too. I live in the U.S. Minneapolis, Minnesota, specifically, and the details of the show feel so specific and accurate to the U.S. and to my city as well. SPOILERS: The way the contempt and overbearing response of the police escalated a community gathering into violence in the finale isso detailed and so accurate that I felt it in my body. It’s exactly what I experienced firsthand in Minneapolis and Brooklyn center time and time again. Not to mention the cultural erasure and economic pressures of Aldhani matching the history of how the Dakota people were forced to cede land time and time again in what is now my city.

[@midgetkungfu]

Your comment made me cry. When I read that you're from Russia, it really hit me in the heart. I have nothing like that to compare to. My heart goes out to you.

[@craiggallagher4461]

Having watched Andor now I can’t believe Theory’s words and general opinion of this show! His reaction simply baffles the mind…

[@videojames290]

The degree to which andor has elevated the series and the conversations people are now able to have about it has so dramatically soured my opinion of star wars fans

[@Camilothegodfather]

This series is a masterpiece. Everyone should give it a chance.

[@goldenageofdinosaurs7192]

It really is. Best thing Star Wars has done since ESB. I started watching it, expecting to be sadly disappointed (like I was with Obi-Wan) & was hooked within minutes. It’s light years ahead of anything else Disney has done.

[@fundhund62]

I gave up watching midway episode 8. It´s just a terrible show, the worst of the Disney SW shows so far.

[@LuchtLeiderNederland]

@@fundhund62You can’t call it bad if you didn’t even finish it.

[@fundhund62]

@@LuchtLeiderNederland I can´t say the milk has turned just because I didn´t drink the whole milk carton??

[@LuchtLeiderNederland]

@@fundhund62 You don't need to drink it in order to conclude it has turned. Turned milk has a different colour, and you can see every bit of that milk in the bottle, assuming it's from glass or see-through plastic.

[@user-yl4lf9mh1w]

Andor is pure 1980s Star Wars and I've been dreaming of seeing it again for over 30 years. Andor is home for me, and it's a masterpiece. I still can't believe it.

[@TheAcharyaa]

Honestly I’m actually very hopeful with the positive reception Andor has received from both critics and fans. There will always be dissenters with a fan base as large (and fractured) as Star Wars but Andor is as close to universal acclaim Star Wars will ever get in this day and age.