**This review may contain minor SPOILERS**
Watch the SPOILER review on YouTube
Entering the already crowded Star Wars television landscape with mostly lesser-known and new characters, “Andor” had its work cut out for it and the bar set quite low. But thanks to fantastic writing, a lived-in world full of fleshed-out characters, and a story structure that consistently pays off slow-burning story arcs, the dark horse series excels to some highest levels for any Star Wars media.
One of the smartest decisions is how the series is structured. Essentially four “blocks” of story that build slowly, introducing new characters, environments and challenges for Andor until the pressure reaches a boiling point and it explodes into some thrilling and well-earned action sequences. It’s impossible not to get invested in the journey of a character we’ve only met once before.
Diega Luna is solid here, making Andor likable when he should be unlikable. It makes his arc work that much better. While Stellan Skarsgard and Genevieve O’Reilly also crush it in the acting department, and their stories are gripping in their own right, they struggle at times to feel relevant at times compared to the life-and-death crises that Andor is facing. (Although that’s nothing compared Syril Karn’s story that often feels out of place and has a weak payoff.)
The show looks great, with massive sets and practical effects used whenever possible. The series keeps the Star Wars tradition of a gritty, lived-in world. However, instead of no-name background characters and faceless Stormtroopers, “Andor” gives heroes, villains and supporting characters rich, naturalistic dialog. Making them feel like actual people and not just target practice for the big shootouts. (In fact, it’s quite a few episodes in before we even see a Stormtrooper.)
“Andor” combines great scripts, strong acting and fleshed-out characters to tell one of the most compelling Star Wars stories. The pacing is slow at times and doesn’t always pay off some of the side stories, but each arc builds on the last to come to more and more thrilling conclusions.
****1/2 out of *****