Andor

[Riva]

Watched it and loved every minute of it. By far the most realistic Star Wars series and the best on currently on air.

Mandalorian is Fun. You want to be in it, be him. But Andor, you feel it. It gets under your skin. You are dragged into the story, the characters and the emotions and you want the characters to survive because you feel like you are a part of them. You feel them.

Out of all the recent Shitty Star Wars movies the only exception was rogue one. This being its predecessor is doing a fantastic job.

When you move the Jedis out of SW you realize how cruel and suffocating the universe is.

 

[Riva]

The amazing writing of this show made me question what the hell went wrong in the recent shit show movies.

If you are going to spend 100 million dollars on a movie please spend some money writing, rewriting and getting feedback from controlled audiences/readers before making the movie.

Fuck the recent movies were terrible. Can't believe they brought back Palpatine because they ran out of ideas. Pathetic

But Disney I forgive you after watching the recent shows.

 

[Julius_Van_Der_Beak]

Supernatural is on in the waiting room. I think the idea is that he's reaping with a female Death. It's more philosophical than I thought.

 

[Totenkindly]

Welp, the gauntlet has been thrown. I hope she's right!

 

[The Cat]

And now we play the waiting game.

 

[Totenkindly]

Good news? The critics were given the full season for review. It's apparently stellar.

‘Andor’ Season 2 Early Reviews Flood Social Media — Here’s What Critics Are Saying

Critics rave about the best Star Wars ever created as Andor's Season 2 social embargo lifts.

www.forbes.com

 

[Totenkindly]

Uggh, I'm gonna have to watch Andor Season 1 in the next week so I can catch up with Season 2 before it finishes. But damn. Also, I'm glad we are getting more of characters (like Saw Gerrera and Mon Mothma) we didn't get enough time with in Rogue One or S1.

 

[SearchingforPeace]

I just finished my Rogue One and Andor Season 1 rewatch last night with my two oldest. We watched Rogue One first and noticed references in Andor to the movie throughout, adding depth. I can't wait for Andor season 2 to complete so I can rewatch Rogue One again.

Andor season 1 was incredible in how even the most minor characters felt like they had depth.

Gilroy is leaving Star Wars and TV and going back to movies. I can't wait to see what he does next.

 

[Totenkindly]

Finished S1E3 again last night. I really like the montage cuts at the end with young Cassian (Kasso) and adult Cassian leaving their respective planets. It was kind of moving, with the music, and just how Maarva pulled him out from his own planet (when she caught up smashing the Empire ship controls -- he had been emotionally hurt by them even at that age), albeit somewhat against his will, and then Luthen taking him away as an adult, although here he gets to make more of a choice as much as flight from (again) being killed by the Empire being any kind of real choice.

And that was cut with Maarva's tears at losing him the second time.

it's almost like Cassian was driven into the arms of the Empire's enemies multiple times through his life, despite his initial reluctances. It was almost fated to happen. And seeing it reflected in the eyes of the boy and then the eyes of the man... Just imagine, Maarva's act of compassion (which seemed cruel at the time, but she was probably right about the Empire just slaughtering Kasso's people... I don't remember if we find out more) at adopting Cassian ended up enabling the Rebellion to win eventually, although a lot of shit goes down before then. (Cassian IS finally killed by the Empire, ironically, but he's at peace with it and it drives a fatal blow into the Empire's heart.)

I again really like the look and feel of the town there, and the metal striking to mark end and beginning of day, and also all the small alerts done by the makeshift network to warn of trouble.

It's kind of hilarious to look at the emerging joy in Syril Karn's face when he thinks that (despite going against his superior) he's managed to bring down a terrorist on his own.... and then the despondency as he realizes he's been totally outplayed as a child would be.

 

[SearchingforPeace]

S2 e1-3..... good start. The costs of Rebellion.....

 

[Totenkindly]

Finished my rewatch of Season 1 this morning. Just lovely.

The only huge mar on the season was Disney not permitting Maarva to say "Fuck the Empire." Because frankly that's what the whole speech built to, it is an act of verbal rebellion in itself, it shows you are "awake" and not asleep, and it is exactly what she meant to say. But Disney didn't have the balls to actually go there. If there was ever a moment to violate one's milquetoast standards, that was the moment... and we now see where Disney stands and again the cowardice at the core of their creative approach.

But basically Season 1 is hitting home in a whole new way for me now, it feels so relevant to what is happening here now. All the comments about authoritarianism inadvertently expressing fear of rebellion at its core (driven by fear of NOT being in control), along with the other idea that sloppiness derives from arrogance and is a vulnerability in that you can rebel in ways they did not expect... Yeah, just kind of a brilliant commentary. So much is applicable. We are seeing the same asinine behavior now and the same petty oppressions and overreactions to minor pushbacks, along with the same blends of incompetencies.

Andy Serkis really nails his role in the few episodes he was in, and I like how he is committed to keeping the structure in place until it becomes clear that there is no escape... and then (even knowing he cannot escape himself, which he doesn't even bother to share) he ends up using that same force of will to inspire everyone to rise up against their bonds and flee the facility.

And I really like the shot of Luthen cloaked in partial darkness, his dark cape billowing behind him with his yet human face -- and talking about how he's had to take the tools of his enemy in order to destroy them. The imagery is so much of the empire, yet Luthen is their mortal enemy. And it was a perfect ending in how he planned to kill Cassian, except Cassian now is committed (and has been listening to the manifesto of his dead companion) and offers himself up -- "Kill me or take me in."

I also need to mention Mon Mothma and (as a TTRPG person) I find her such a great example of a diplomatic character with Society skills -- she has a veneer that she wears (and everyone knows it's a politician's veneer), yet she manages to apply it in such a way that they STILL overlook her guile. She's basically overtly protesting the Empire ineffectively on purpose, to convince everyone she's an ineffectual opponent, while underneath opposing the Empire in far more underhanded and potent ways. It's like hiding in plain view. In this, she outshines even Luthen's duplicity -- he just pretends to be a shallow foppish salesman while being a cunning spy under it all, his ruse very binary, hers has multiple levels.

---

So visually Season 2 looks even richer. I think in part it's neat because we get to see a LOT more locations now, with a variety of environments. I really like the opening fifteen minutes -- the sweet conversation with the young idealistic tech who knows she's made a huge life decision by helping Cassian steal a ship, and then the whole "comedy of taking off" that is both funny but also serious, and how believably Cassian manages to escape regardless. There's a lot of nuance in the scene, and false starts or mistakes.

I'm not sure where Cassian's run-in with the gang is going, but yeesh. He's playing that out to the end, trying to pit their own internal dissents against themselves.

Also, I'm now also picking up the bit on Leida, which might be revealed later in the season (but i'm only on e1):

Is she actually Mothma's daughter or is she Leia? She acts and looks like Leia, and you can see that blend of spunk/spite and nobility in her, strong-mindedness and social grace rolled into one. For some reason, did they double-hide her in the empire? Even the braided hair and general appearance makes me wonder. I mean, that name -- that can't be a mistake, for it to be so close to the spelling of one of the most important SW characters ever.

 

[SearchingforPeace]

S2 has been amazing so far.... the costs of rebellion, the personal toll.....e7-9 keep building and building.
I won't spoil anything. I enjoy the use of real world locations for so much of the show. It just feels so real.
And the acting....... the music..... the scripts..... the directing.... the editing.....
I can't believe next week is the end.... I don't think anything in SW will every touch this. I just wish they could do an extended Rogue One with deleted scenes to make it twice as long, an Andor s3.

 

[Totenkindly]

Just finished e2. While laughing at the incompetence of the gang that waylaid Cassian, I am thrilled by the reveal of where they actually were. I was wondering if that was it.

Also... a bit of a shock of which two characters meet in an apartment ....one with their hair down. Hmmm!

There's also a sequence where a lesser show would have resorted to a clumsy assault, but here it was more for implied threat rather than actually doing nasty things to the cast (at least for right now).

I appreciated getting a bit of favorable insight into Perrin (?), who has been set up as a foil to Mon so far. While he scans as shallow in some ways, he's not wrong in regards to his toast.

Also, while I think some of the comparison to Rebel Moon is overblown, here it actually LOOKS like a significant harvest to feed significant parts of the galaxy -- it's grain as far as the eye can see. I just couldn't believe the harvest in Snyder's film could feed a Dreadnaught crew.

 

[Totenkindly]

So e3 -- Syril's mom is such a little troll. I love the inherent humor in the Dedra/Syril scenes and especially this one -- so much is understated, so that it can be played for huge laughs while keeping the characters human rather than farcical in nature. I love how Dedra lays down the law and takes charge of the situation.

I'll also note how all of the Empire actors look (much of the time) like they've been told to pretend they are constantly sucking on lemons, they all have a kind of cheeks-bulging sour-faced appearance. So when Dedra smiles here, it's actually shocking.

Leida doesn't get many lines, but what she says here is just crushing.

Mothma is also realizing circumstances are getting away from her, things have a life of their own now and costs must be paid. She needs a moment to forget, because it's all too much.

And costs must be paid elsewhere as well. Sad but fair -- not everyone will have a happy arc.

 

[Totenkindly]

S2e4 -- glad to see us tracking different characters through the next time jump. A bit of momentary confusion over Syril but then it all made sense again.

Well, at this stage, if we're trying to turn Cassian into the jaded cynic we find in Rogue One, it's pretty clear what's going to happen:

Bix isn't going to survive this series. I mean, it's kind of a give me because she's not in Rogue One, but whatever happens to her is going to remove one of his last ties to his humanity.

It's nice to actually have a bit more substantial discussions about embargos and politics than the garbage-speak Lucas showered on us all in the prequels. We can actually understand and foresee what might happen, in the additional detail we get here.

 

[The Cat]

Victory
Andor
Death.​

 

[Totenkindly]

S2e5 -- I really like all the double and triple blinds going on right now, so much that I can't even quite tell who is being authentic or what Syril is actually playing. We know he's a dedicated stooge for the Empire but even some of his games leave you wondering what he actually believes at times.

I really like he and Dedra's relationship, it's like two people who feel some amount of affection for each other, where his is a bit more naked and she's trying her best to cloud that issue and pretend she doesn't at all care. I bet their steaminess is inversely proportional to the amount that we are allowed to see. "Turn the lights off."

We are seeing that Cassian still actually cares about other people in this episode, he's not completely ruthless -- yet -- like Luthen. He's got misgivings about the rebels on Gohrman because they are playing at being rebels but they are going to be crushed when their idealism runs full-tilt into the Empire's bootheel. He might come off as a dick here, but he's trying to keep them alive.

Great conversation with Bix and Luthen.

I like the additional backstory info about Grand Moff Tarkin and what he did here.

And finally -- Saw Gerrera. I am so glad Andor is giving him more screen time, since I felt rather robbed of his presence in Rogue One. He's crazy, but crazy like a fox. Completely insane, and yet tapped into some crazy spark of life that gives him the impetus to move forward. I was WONDERING about how that plotline with Wilmon's teaching Gerrera's man

especially when the guy insisted on knowing the specifics of which base would be hit -- and it was a fair angle to play, his request wasn't unreasonable -- and yet Gerrera sniffed him out entirely. It was shocking, yet kind of expected in an episode with blind vs double blind vs triple blind. Gerrera and Luthen both are fully committed and do whatever is necessary to be done for the rebellion to survive and thrive, they make the hard choices.

It looks like this arc is coming to a head in e6. I have a bad feeling about this, there are going to be more casualities.

 

[Totenkindly]

S2E6 had a lot of feelings of dread running amuck throughout. And there was good reason for that.

I liked the multiple plotlines playing out simultaneously that jacks up the tension. That whole bit at the private art collection just had my full body clenched. Kleya is so stone-cold, she gives Luthen a run for his money.

One of the series' best exchanges:
"It's an honor sir --"
"Really? It's an assignment. Calibrate your enthusiasm."

Major Partagaz cracks me up.
I've never forgotten he played Qyburn, the soft-spoken mad scientist sort for GoT.
Anton Lesser just has some great line deliveries.

So we've been seeing some counterpart romances here -- Dedra and Syril, Cassian and Bix, Vel and Cinta. The latter two pairings show more obvious heat than the massively self-controlled first pairing. But it's addressing how personal relationships and commitments run counter to the war that is being fought. They only bring either pain or betrayal in the end. It seems like you can't have both love and victory, your life can only be spent for one cause or the other. And each character has a legitimate point.

So it looks like Bix might have found a way to still the horrific voices in her head. It might be one of the few moments of grim satisfaction earned during this series, where the fates of the leads all seem rather doomed even if ultimately we know the rebels success in their goal.

 

[The Cat]

It makes me really glad to hear how well this show is doing. It is my new hope that there will be more star wars in this vein. I think it would be a really good thing for the franchise to go allllllllll the way back to the beginning origins of the jedi and sith back when they were all just one big chaotic emotional mess of laser sword masters and psychic monks, before the red sith alien Empire Strikes back. So blissfully free of Skywalkers. So far back in the past with so little original source material that they could try whatever bold new direction or experimentation they wanted for a real return of the jedi.

​

 

[Totenkindly]

It makes me really glad to hear how well this show is doing. It is my new hope that there will be more star wars in this vein. I think it would be a really good thing for the franchise to go allllllllll the way back to the beginning origins of the jedi and sith back when they were all just one big chaotic emotional mess of laser sword masters and psychic monks, before the red sith alien Empire Strikes back. So blissfully free of Skywalkers. So far back in the past with so little original source material that they could try whatever bold new direction or experimentation they wanted for a real return of the jedi.

​

Well, it really matters who you pick as a show runner.

Tony Gilroy basically writes decent action/thriller films, involving some amount of political commentary.
His brother Dan (a writer on Andor) wrote and directed Nightcrawler (Jake Gyllenhaal).
Beau Willimon is another writer from both seasons, he was the showrunner for House of Cards for the first four seasons.

But if you're into Star Wars because you like fuzzy little aliens and people running around with lightsabers and happy broadly painted emotions, it's not really the show for you.

Lucas didn't understand how to write political intrigue worth shit, honestly. That wasn't his schtick. (Nor would he allow someone else to write it for him, sadly.) He should have stayed more an exec producer and at most director, and meanwhile found other capable people to flesh out his ideas. Instead he kept trying to write his own stuff, and that wasn't his strong suit.

Disney meanwhile was usually just throwing out series and films to anyone without any regard for their ability or background, expecting the cash cow to bring in profits because of the property, nor did they coordinate their sequel series properly.