Andor (Season 2) (Disney+) (2025)

The reason this is the most adult Star Wars project isn't due to inappropriate content. It's because the characters speak to each other like real people do instead of like sci-fi archetypes. It's the only Star Wars project that takes the premise seriously and gives it real weight. You can argue this should have happened LONG before this (and I won't disagree) but it happening here is the precise reason the show is refreshing and in my mind The Best Star Wars Anything Ever.

There has never been a Star Wars movie as good as this show, much less another TV series or cartoon. It doesn't beg you to take Star Wars seriously. You just now do, without them even having to ask.

The weirdest most unsettling moment to me was the supervisor getting ALL of these important Empire bigwigs together for a top secret project that demands the utmost secrecy. And to explain it they... run an old-timey commercial for Ghorman's fabric. It's actually kind of humorous. Another way this show is adult is it suggests for many of the people in this Universe, their lives are not exciting blast-'em-up adventures. They are quite dreary and mundane.

Still, Cassian's escape in the tie-fighter at the beginning was quite the pleasing clusterfuck.

Supposedly Season 2 is even better than Season 1, which strikes me as appropriate, it being the last one. How great it is to have a perfect Star Wars project that will actually make us miss it instead of sticking around long enough for us all to get sick of it? Talk about refreshing! 5 stars.

Those castaways were SUCH freaking messes they decide leadership based on a game similar to rock-paper-scissors. I am not surprised Andor stole the ship out from under them and got away clean. What I AM surprised at is it took him two fucking episodes. These guys are clowns.

Loving the Dedra and Cyril ship.

The wedding intrigue however is doing nothing for me. Yeah, yeah, I know, "adult". But adults can be boring. Somebody, throw a pie!

Speaking of adult, the reason the scene with Bix and the inspector is so horrible is there is a threat of rape beneath it. He was never getting far enough with his menacing to actually do that, but the implication is clear of WHY Bix is in danger from this toxic asshole. Like I said, adult.

Not as great as the first episode but not all of the episodes need to be. That's an unreasonable demand. 4 stars.

Parts of it I liked, parts of it I really didn't.

First attempted rape in Star Wars history is NOT a good milestone for the franchise.

The creepy arranged wedding stuff from Game Of Thrones was awful and seeing them channel that here is no fun.

I love Brasso comforting the Droid B2. What an interesting and weirdly heartbreaking moment.

The high point of the episode for me was the stuff with Cyril and Dedra as they had dinner with his horrible mother. Them having to choose what to wear ahead of time is both amusing and another grim reminder of the pure banality of evil. Dedra putting a stop to Mama Karn's bile felt VERY good and was pretty much the ONLY thing in the episode that felt good and right.

One other thing I liked.

Mon Mothma: "I don't know what you're talking about."

Luthen Rael: "How nice for you."

It is VERY difficult to dismiss the show, even because of episodes (like this one) that I don't actually like, because of shit like that.

But I didn't like much of the episode. 3 stars.

Bad final scene for Bix.

If I were in charge of the Ghorman Underground I wouldn't invite Karn in for any reason. He'll bitch about the Empire, but he is a loyalist to the core. They are screwing themselves.

I liked the observation that his mother was terrifying.

Saw Gerrera is both alarmingly charismatic and scary as fuck. I always enjoy seeing more of him.

I still can't get enough of the office politics of the Empire. When the dude said they were arresting too many people I was like, "Interesting." Best Star Wars Anything Ever!

Great episode. 4 1/2 stars.

Saw Gerrera is crazy but he's convincing. Gonna get that kid killed.

Seriously. He's monologuing while the kid is having trouble concentrating not getting them all blown up.

Saw is such a bastard he plans to kill the kid because he's seen too much. It's a great twist that the dude who talked him out of it turned out to be a spy, and Saw replaced him with the kid (via a shocking blaster shot) right in front of him.

I love Andor calling Enza on her carelessness.

I also love Bix flipping out when she sees Luthen because she assumes something bad has happened to Cassian.

Speaking of Luthen, he doesn't take bad news well.

Karn says THIS is the best day of his life. Red flag! Red flag!

Why does Dedra insist on turning out the lights?

There are trashy morning talk shows in Star Wars. I'm wondering if this level of realism is actually for the better, or if it's for the (much) worse.

Another dynamite episode. 4 1/2 stars.

Had anybody mentioned this is the most tense and exciting Star Wars Anything Ever? Because that might come up later on in the quiz.

Bix going dark at the end. She did good.

I LOVED Vel telling that punkass kid not to cry and to look at her. What a powerful dramatic moment. Cinta's death was devastating. 

Meero is working behind Karn's back? Whuh uh.

I love when the dude says it's an honor, Partagas is like "It's an assignment. Measure your enthusiasm." I love that Partagas is NOT impressed with suck-ups.

Another great episode. And me with no fingernails left. 5 stars.

Starting the episode one year later in pretty ballsy. But this is a pretty ballsy show. And the canon is on a clock.

Things getting tense for Cassian at the end. On the upside, the bellhop remembers him, likes him, and appears to have his back.

If I was in Andor's position I would have been equally freaked out by the psychic healing woman. Bix asking him to simply accept it is unreasonable.

Cyril's arc is amazing to me because I have no idea where it is headed. At this point, I'm not even sure if he's good or bad.

Meero is referred to as a monster. She would call herself a bureaucrat. But considering what she's signing the paperwork for, is there really a difference in the Empire?

I am about to compliment Star Wars and trash Marvel. Deadpool is pretty good, but when Marvel decides to do an "adult" series, it's due to graphic violence, sex, and cursing. Like Daredevil. Or the various R rated projects based on Marvel Comics.

When Star Wars decided to do a series for adults, they made the scenarios complex and political. It's the same TV-14 rating as The Mandalorian. For whatever reason the people in charge or Star Wars have a very different idea of what an adult project entails than do the producers of Marvel. stuff. And it's definitely MUCH closer to my own thinking.

Tense. 4 stars.

I'm struggling with this review. There's so much I want to say and I don't know where to start.

I guess Andor taught me something about myself I didn't know until it came along.

I don't like Star Wars.

I never have.

I have toys, I have Blu-Rays, but the truth is I don't relate to it.

Until now. Andor is what I've been missing in the franchise.

Modern Star Wars gets nothing but shit. Quentin Tarantino, before seeing a frame of it, derisively called it "That Disney shit". Look in your heart. When George Lucas was running things was there EVER anything so heartbreaking or emotionally resonant as this? Moreover, think about Palpatine's obvious and stupid double-entendres during The Clone Wars, which somehow escape Yoda and Obi-Wan's notice entirely. Did you EVER get ANY sense of realistic political cause and effect from that level of storytelling bullshit?

It says the evil of the Empire is down to one man.

Bullfuckingshit. That's not how evil OR fascism works. There are cogs moving the monsters in the direction of genocide and horror and it could not happen without the willful participation of all.

I sensed Cyril was a dead man. The Imperialist hardliner finding his conscience upon learning the monstrous truth? There is no place for him on this show anymore.

And it's to this show's eternal credit that despite the fact that he's sickened by this, he's not a good guy. Him wrapping his arms around Dedra's throat is shocking enough. But what galled me is immediately afterwards it didn't phase her or change her wants for them to run off into the Coruscant sunset together. Which says she's far crazier than he is. And what stops him from killing Andor at the end and leads to his demise? Andor simply asking him who he is. Because he is so insignificant to Andor he doesn't remember him, while he's essentially focused his entire career on Cassian. But he's not even on his radar. He realizes he doesn't even have a good answer for who he is HIMSELF before receiving a blaster to the brain.

Everything about this genocide was tightly orchestrated and planned. When he eerily walks into the waiting room filled with battle Droids even he senses there is something fucked up going on.

Cyril Karn wound up this series' cautionary tale. And I thank the series for going there.

And I thank Star Wars for going there. And Tony and Dan Gilroy. And yes, Kathleen Kennedy. I will agree most of the other Disney stuff is hit or miss. I tend to be more lenient on it than other fans but I see why something like The Book Of Boba Fett would make people mad. But before Disney, Star Wars was NEVER this. And it was SO far below this in every single respect. The Empire Strikes Back is considered the best Star Wars movie. Comparing it to THIS in hindsight is laughable to me.

Ultimately I do have concerns about Andor raising the bar so highly. It might be too high. I simply might never like another Star Wars project not at THIS specific level ever again.

Avengers: Endgame also hit the right notes for me. But unlike other fans, I don't begrudge Marvel movies worse than it coming after it. It was the grand finale of the Infinity Stone arc. It was SUPPOSED to be the best thing ever. Expecting an average Marvel movie to top it is not just unreasonable. It's fucking crazy.

The thing about Andor that will lead me to a different reaction to future lesser Star Wars projects is that Endgame was SUPPOSED to be amazing. None of us were surprised it was and indeed would have been pissed if it wasn't. But Andor? It never NEEDED to be amazing. It wasn't wrapping up the Skywalker arc or The Clone Wars. It is the Best Star Wars Anything Ever because it randomly decided to be. That makes every future lesser Star Wars project, especially if they are dealing with more important issues and legacy characters, seem weaker by comparison. How will I NOT think that?

I rave about this show but part of me doesn't like the fact that I love it so much. I sense I will be far more critical to Star Wars in general from here on out and NOBODY who reads these reviews will ever thank me for that. The thing about Star Wars gaining a legit standard of quality is I'm not willing to go back to Palpatine smirking over talking over Mace Windu's head. I think if other Star Wars fans are, they are plain weird. It's a weird fandom in general, but people who talk shit about The Acolyte and The Mandalorian don't hate those shows for real grown-up reasons. And I'm sensing that's where my upcoming anger and disdain will actually come from.

Don't get me wrong, I WILL still defend Star Wars against bullshit claims of Wokeness for it having the gall to point out people of color are allowed to exist. But in the future, that's probably as far as that defense will go. Andor has spoiled me so badly I fear I have soured on the rest of the franchise forever. 5 stars.

That was very much a political thriller.

It has been argued that Star Wars: Episode II: Attack Of The Clones was a thinly veiled slam at the Bush Administration by George Lucas. If it was, it wasn't a very precise one. This show seems to specifically be calling out Donald Trump and MAGA about reality and the truth mattering. It's a powerful message.

It's also wrong. Call me a cynic, but I don't believe the truth matters. In real life the Empire would not be screaming at their technicians to cut the feed on Mon Mothma's speech. They wouldn't need to. Even though she's telling the truth, the dregs THEY need to hold onto power would never believe her. Yes, deep into fascist Empires, free speech is outlawed and dissenting views criminalized. I've come to realize that wasn't just overkill. It's unncessesary. People are terrible, and more likely to believe the stupid lie than the truth that explains everything. In real life after that speech Hannity would be on the air calling Mothma a DEI hire and that would be the talking point, and she'd be roundly ignored not just by the people in power, but the media too.

In fairness to this show not understanding this ugly truth, it was written before last November. I honestly didn't understand that ugly truth before then myself.

Birth of K-2SO. I'm realizing I'm gonna have to rewatch Rogue One when this is all over.

The actual reason Cassian lost Bix? His decision was unilateral and he didn't ONCE ask for her input. If he had, she would have nixed it, and they could have stayed together fighting the Empire. Because he was thoughtless enough to take it out of HER hands, she had to be heartless enough to take it out of HIS.

I mentioned I gotta see Rogue One again? That! That!

Good stuff. 4 1/2 stars.

When Luthen found young Kleya, I think he might have been wondering whether to kill her. She saw him in an unfiltered vulnerable state no-one else ever has. His mercy probably surprised even him.

The "Don't," moment with the bomb was powerful, as was adult Kleya cutting life support. They'll never get what they need out of Luthen Rael.

I don't feel TOO badly about his death though. Because of the implication that he murdered Jung. I think it's about time the Rebellion moved on from Luthen Rael.

Meero is in trouble, which isn't a shock and almost about time.

No Cassian in the episode.

We learned the stuff on Ghorman was about finding materials to build the Death Star. Things coming full circle.

The "Tuck in your shirt" moment is small, but its realism is SO unlike the rest of the franchise. Touches like that are what make this the Best Star Wars Anything Ever.

Great episode. 5 stars.

Dedra's expression as Krennic grabbed her face was understanding a leopard was about to feast on it. This is what being a loyalist actually gets you.

She should still consider herself lucky. Darth Vader chokes people to death who mildly annoy him.

K's reactions to the betting game were quite amusing, but it's his One-Droid killing spree that held my interest. Let's see C-3PO do THAT!

How these dudes think they gonna hide something like the Death Star forever? Meero isn't the only incompetent Imperialist present.

Great penultimate episode. 4 1/2 stars.

Best Star Wars Anything Ever.

So reprogramming K-2SO was NOT a mistake. You're welcome. Also, humans are so confusing to wake up.

Bix and Andor had a kid! Great ending!

Meero's fate is left up in the air, but it couldn't have been good.

Partagaz's suicide was a bit of a shock, but it sort of makes sense. Wish Dedra had thought of that. Trouble was, she believed her own hype.

I liked the classic John Williams Star Wars Theme in the end credits.

Gonna rewatch Rogue One in the next few days.

This is my favorite Star Wars project of all time. 5 stars.