This is a spoiler-free review.
Summary
In its first season,Andorpresented a character whose dedication to a cause had not yet been fully formed. Cassian Andor (played by Diego Luna) was thrown through the ringer, with his journey further into the cause broken up into distinct chapters: recruitment, heist, prison, and full-blown rebellion. InAndorseason 2, Cassian is more of a full-fledged character, and his views on rebellion and the fight against the empire are far more straightforward.
Like its predecessor,Andorseason 2 is essentially a perfect season of television. Every character is given a meaningful and satisfying arc, every piece of the plot falls right into place, and the action setpieces are masterfully shot. The dialogue remains as crisp as ever, and Star Wars fans are once again given something really special.
AndorSeason 2 starts off with Cassian Andor neck-deep in the cause. His first task is stealing anImperial Tie Fighter prototype, which is the first thing that lands him in trouble, but not just with the Empire. The first conflict Cassian finds himself in is with disparate groups of Rebels who aren’t even sure who their enemy is, or what exactly they are fighting for. Andor’s time with this group is not the most explosive beginning to a story, but it does highlight the crux of this season: a rebellion still needs to be organized, and without proper leadership, the whole thing just becomes a mess of infighting and directionless anger.
That ties into the other important aspect of the rebellion: funding, which is the lens through which the show views Mon Mothma (Genevieve O’Reilly). Mothma has betrothed her daughter to the son of a shady businessman in order to secure funds for the cause. The Chandrilan wedding is a gorgeous example of whatAndordoes best:exploring parts of the Star Wars universethat would otherwise go unnoticed. The lavish ceremony and reception, however, is tainted by business. Luthen Rael (Stellan Skarsgård) is uneasy about Mon’s friend Tay Kolma’s lack of self-control. With everything he knows, there is only one thing to be done, and it is Mon who is tasked with the decision. It’s the first time she is forced to dip her hands into the other, more visceral side of the rebellion, and it’s an excellent first step for her character in this season.
Of course, the show alsocatches up with Dedra Meero (Denise Gough)and Syril Karn (Kyle Soller), possibly the best Imperial power couple out there. Dedra’s story finds her leading an extremely secretive initiative for none other than Orson Krennic (Ben Mendelsohn, reprising hisRogue Onerole), while Syril has worked his way up in the world of Imperial bureaucracy. Their jobs intertwine with the fate of an unlucky planet, Ghorman, a world that appears to be an amalgamation of several European countries and cultures, which makes plenty of sense from a storytelling perspective, as the Empire tightens its grip.
What showrunner Tony Gilroy and his team of talented writers have done this season is nothing short of brilliant. While the first season ofAndorwas largely focused on the build-up of the rebellion, season two plays much more like a good old-fashioned spy thriller, set against a backdrop meant to emulatethe early days of the Second World War., particularly the formation of the French Resistance. The tension of the season is consistently kept high, as none of the characters ever know if they are truly safe, or if what they are doing is the right thing.
Luthen is much more of a standout character this season, with Skarsgård giving it his all in the role. However, this season also gives more minor characters a greater chance to shine, particularly Kleya (Elizabeth Dulau), Luthen’s assistant. Kleya is far more developed this time around, showing a determination and work ethic that even seems to scare Luthen. Dulau’s performance makes her a rising star to watch, as Kleya’s journey this season may be the most emotional.
That’s not at the cost of other familiar faces, including Bix (Adria Arjona). Serving as much more than Andor’s love interest, Bix is dealing with her own trauma after being tortured at the hands of Dr. Gorst. Arjona has so many dimensions in this show, from happily purchasing ingredients for dinner with a paranoid Cassian, to constantly reliving the worst moment of her life. Bix is never a victim, and her strength is what makes her journey so meaningful.
Aside from all of the excellent character work, tense storytelling, and crackling dialogue,Andorseason two is just also gorgeous to look at. Star Wars has always been about exploring different worlds and showing the disparate living conditions of people throughout the galaxy, andAndordoes this masterfully. The season takes viewers from a farm planet covered in seemingly endless wheat fields to the bustling European city center of Ghorman, to the dingier anddecidedly less shiny corners of Coruscant. Each setting fits the story and makes everything feel far more real. The production design is also on point, with the show leaning even further into Star Wars’s used future aesthetic. IfAndorwasn’t connected at all to the Star Wars universe, it would still stand asa solid piece of dystopian sci-fi storytelling.
Andorseason 2 does a lot, and it does everything so well. It’s the perfect show to appeal to both longtime Star Wars fans and those who have never had that strong of a connection to the source material. It’s a rare thing for a TV show to put out two perfect seasons and then call it quits, butAndorhas done it. With season two, the show cements itself as perhaps the best piece of Star Wars media ever. Every piece of the puzzle fits so perfectly into place, and there is no wasted time. Not a single performance falls short, and the ending is both satisfying and bittersweet (particularly because of howthe story ultimately ends inRogue One). Ultimately, it’s going to be very hard for Filoni and Favreau to ever top this show.
