The origin of Rebel Alliance intelligence officer Cassian Andor and what drew him into the great combat is on the fore of Disney+’s newest live-action Star Wars collection, which is a slow-burn espionage story value sticking with.
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Premiering this Wednesday with its first three episodes of 12 (I’ve seen the primary 4), Andor — save for some flashbacks to a formative incident from the title character’s childhood — is about 5 years previous to the occasions of the 2016 heist drama Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. (Season 1 will span a yr in time, whereas Season 2 will cowl the remaining 4.)
The premiere finds Cassian (once more performed by Rogue One‘s Diego Luna) skulking around the red-light district on the planet Morlana One, where he is furtively asking around about someone who disappeared from his life. Following a most unfortunate series of events, Cassian flees home to Ferrix, with Deputy Inspector Syril Karn (Poldark‘s Kyle Soller) of the Imperial corpos hot on his tail. With the action switching to Ferrix, we meet Maarva Andor (Killing Eve‘s Fiona Shaw), Cass’ adoptive mom; Bix Caleen (Emerald City‘s Adria Arjona), a salvage yard mechanic who has a complicated past with Cass; and B2EMO, a uniquely charming droid who has been at Maarva’s aspect for years.
Maarva with B2EMO
Cassian’s extraordinarily precarious state of affairs leads him to request a favor from Bix, who by her enterprise exploits has an “in” with the well-connected Luthen Rael (Chernobyl‘s Stellan Skarsgård). Other cast members include Genevieve O’Reilly (reprising her Rogue One/Revenge of the Sith function of Mon Mothma), Denise Gough (Under the Banner of Heaven), Faye Marsay (Deep Water) and Ebon Moss-Bachrach (The Bear), whereas Forest Whitaker will reprise his personal Rogue One function of Saw Gerrera.
What makes Andor stand out from most Star Wars TV collection that got here earlier than it’s that it’s not right here to reply some burning query steeped in mythology from any movie trilogy — e.g. “How did Boba Fett escape the Sarlaac Pit?” “What was Obi-Wan Kenobi up to between Episodes III and IV?” Instead, it takes its time in establishing its personal world and a medium-stakes state of affairs, steadily steering its imperfect hero towards an unplanned future.
Luthen and Cassian
Judging by the measured reader response to TVLine’s Andor coverage-to-date, maybe you don’t think about your self innately vested within the story to be advised right here. Yes, it’s a little bit of a sluggish burn within the early goings — the choice to launch with the primary three episodes, which run simply 35-40 minutes every, was a prudent one — however by the top of Episode 3 (and completely on the shut of Episode 4), you’ll be most anxious to see what occurs subsequent. Rogue One co-writer Tony Gilroy serves as showrunner and penned Andor’s first three episodes (in addition to Eps 11 and 12), and you’ll fell the identical, good, caper-based tone he dropped at Cass’s big-screen introduction.
In discussing what distinguishes Andor from The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett and Obi-Wan Kenobi, we should additionally discuss its look. As TVLine reported, Andor did not use The Volume, the super-HD digital backgrounds that present backdrops for Disney+’s earlier Star Wars collection, and the distinction isn’t solely refreshing, however frankly staggering. The streets and alleys of Morlana One and Ferrix really feel gritty and tactile. Backgrounds have precise depth. Valleys are lush. Earthen paths should not putting-green good. The result’s a very cinematic look that Mando et al certainly consider they’re emulating, but to not this diploma.
Hapless DI Karn has questions
The solid surrounding Luna is strong. Shaw with each look/trade conveys the depth of Maarva and Cass’ top-secret bond, Arjona is a delight because the spirited Bix, O’Reilly clearly reveled within the likelihood to discover what makes Mon Mothma tick, and Skarsgård will get a selection of notes to play because the enigmatic Luthen. Soller, taking part in the overly formidable (however little-regarded) Imperial lawman who’s dogging Cass, arguably serves because the sparse comedian reduction, as does B2EMO’s sorta-sad disposition/line readings.
THE TVLINE BOTTOM LINE: This is the Star Wars collection you’re on the lookout for. Don’t sleep on it.
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