What is “Andor”, the new Star Wars series available on Disney +, derived from the spin-off film “Rogue One” worth?
WHAT IS IT ABOUT ?
In this dangerous age, Cassian Andor walks a path that will make him a hero of the rebellion.
Andor, created by Tony Gilroy with Diego Luna, Stellan Skarsgård and Genevieve O’Reilly. Available on Disney+.
WHO IS IT WITH?
In the Star Wars timeline, Andor is the prequel to the movie RogueOne, itself considered the prequel to George Lucas’ original trilogy. Already present in the credits of Gareth Edwards’ feature film, Diego Luna returns to the role of Cassian Andor, this lawless mercenary destined to become one of the pillars of the future Rebellion.
At his side, we find a cast of newcomers to the Star Wars galaxy: notably Stellan Skarsgård, in the role of Luthen Rael (Andor’s mentor), Kyle Soller in the skin of Syril Karn, an ambitious officer of the imperial army, or even Fiona Shaw, who plays Maarva, the spiritual mother of the hero.
But faces well known to fans of the Star Wars universe are also making a comeback: the rebel senator Mon Mothma, played by Genevieve O’Reilly, or the emblematic Saw Gerrera, played by Forest Whitaker.
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THE BEST STAR WARS SERIES?
Let’s say it up front: Andor is arguably the best Star Wars series to date. Like Rogue One, considered by many fans to be Disney’s most successful Star Wars film, this new production stands out from other series. live-action previously broadcast (The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, Obi-Wan Kenobi) for its darker and more mature side.
The series opens in the slums of a seedy neighborhood on a distant planet. After a clash with several customers of a brothel, Cassian Andor does not hesitate to seize his weapon to kill the two acolytes in cold blood. Bad luck for him, the latter were none other than imperials determined to have a good time during a leave.
Never before have we seen such a Star Wars version, neither in cinema nor on television. A real tour de force because, it must be admitted, Andor was not – on paper in any case – the series that we expected the most among all the projects developed by the Disney + platform.
Clearly, series creator Tony Gilroy (who previously oversaw Rogue One’s numerous reshoots) was given complete freedom, including being given the opportunity to write a story about new characters, without being imposed the presence of more emblematic heroes for the sole pleasure of satisfying the fans.
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In many ways, then, Andor doesn’t feel like your average Star Wars series. Bringing complexity to its plot, and nuance to the notions of Good and Evil, the series chooses not to follow a single hero, but on the contrary several characters, and thus to explore both the beginnings of rebellion than those of the imperial army.
After four episodes, Andor therefore appears to us as everything we could hope for it to be, and perhaps even more. In addition to its fascinating plot, the series is also more accomplished visually than the previous ones, due in particular to the choice to shoot it in natural settings (and not exclusively in studios, with LED screens to recreate outdoor settings).
We have to admit it: we had lost hope that Star Wars would free itself from its Jedi stories and its lightsaber battles. It is therefore an understatement to say that Andor will offer new hope to those who thought they could no longer be surprised by the saga since its acquisition by Disney.
There is no doubt that the most unconditional Star Wars fans will therefore not shy away from their pleasure in front of this series which one would almost dare to describe as a little television gem.
Darker and more adult, Andor on Disney+ is the best Star Wars series!