I think what people really love about Andor is the quality of the writing and the attention to detail.
One example of the strength of Andor’s character writing from season one is Kino Loy. A lesser show would’ve made Kino an unquestionable antagonist or even an immediate ally planning a prison break from the jump. But Gilroy instead starts him in an antagonistic role and shows him slowly become radicalized. That was special.
I agree. Andor Season 1 was very good, and Kino Loy was a standout character. That whole section of the season was one of my favorite parts.
I haven't quite seen that sort of standout in Season 2. Still good writing and acting. Still watching it. But not the level of Season 1 or of Rogue One, in my opinion.
Within the continuity of Star Wars, it makes sense that the period of time covered by Andor would be less fantastical. The Force is almost completely gone. Tarkin tells Vader "The Jedi are extinct. Their fire has gone out of the universe. You, my friend, are all that's left of their religion."
Despite that, we still get the excellent scene between Andor, Bix, and the Force healer on Yavin IV.
I think where it hits a bit of confusion is that the lore doesn't agree with itself. Because then in other shows, there are numerous mentions of Jedi who have gone into hiding or are secretly doing things or have gone off the rails entirely and and started their own thing. This is true of the EU (or "Legends"...meh, EU is shorter to type), not just of the newer spinoff series. So that is a bit muddled, but really it's nothing that the creators can help. It's the water they swim in, with such a massive universe.
I think one thing that this season is missing is a "why" for me. It seems to have a fatalistic approach to it. People doing things because they are doing things because things have to be done.
"Rebellions are built on hope" according to Rogue One. And the Force moment was subtle moment of that, which I appreciated. And again, there are no debates about the quality of the show itself. But I think it held off too long on the need for something greater, to my tastes. There are no atheists in foxholes, it is said, and I think one part of Andor Season 2 that rang hollow to me was the amount of determined atheists in those foxholes. To hope in something larger is also part of humanity, and Andor...gets there...a bit. At the end. But I'm a bit doubtful about how it makes it so long with so many atheists earlier.
Andor takes place on the core worlds and midrim. Those planets tend to be more human dominant.
The only other show set around the timeframe of Andor is Rebels. I adore Rebels and it certainly leans more into the fantastical. However, that show deals with a single small rebel cell operating in the outer rim.
My central premise is that while there's undoubtedly a part of the audience that appreciates the lower fantasy of Andor, the strength of the writing, acting and set design are far larger factors in Andors success. A Star Wars show that had with strong writing, acting, and the gorgeous sets of Andor could do well even if it had a more fantastical focus.
I think what people really love about Andor is the quality of the writing and the attention to detail.
One example of the strength of Andor’s character writing from season one is Kino Loy. A lesser show would’ve made Kino an unquestionable antagonist or even an immediate ally planning a prison break from the jump. But Gilroy instead starts him in an antagonistic role and shows him slowly become radicalized. That was special.
I agree. Andor Season 1 was very good, and Kino Loy was a standout character. That whole section of the season was one of my favorite parts.
I haven't quite seen that sort of standout in Season 2. Still good writing and acting. Still watching it. But not the level of Season 1 or of Rogue One, in my opinion.
Within the continuity of Star Wars, it makes sense that the period of time covered by Andor would be less fantastical. The Force is almost completely gone. Tarkin tells Vader "The Jedi are extinct. Their fire has gone out of the universe. You, my friend, are all that's left of their religion."
Despite that, we still get the excellent scene between Andor, Bix, and the Force healer on Yavin IV.
I think where it hits a bit of confusion is that the lore doesn't agree with itself. Because then in other shows, there are numerous mentions of Jedi who have gone into hiding or are secretly doing things or have gone off the rails entirely and and started their own thing. This is true of the EU (or "Legends"...meh, EU is shorter to type), not just of the newer spinoff series. So that is a bit muddled, but really it's nothing that the creators can help. It's the water they swim in, with such a massive universe.
I think one thing that this season is missing is a "why" for me. It seems to have a fatalistic approach to it. People doing things because they are doing things because things have to be done.
"Rebellions are built on hope" according to Rogue One. And the Force moment was subtle moment of that, which I appreciated. And again, there are no debates about the quality of the show itself. But I think it held off too long on the need for something greater, to my tastes. There are no atheists in foxholes, it is said, and I think one part of Andor Season 2 that rang hollow to me was the amount of determined atheists in those foxholes. To hope in something larger is also part of humanity, and Andor...gets there...a bit. At the end. But I'm a bit doubtful about how it makes it so long with so many atheists earlier.
Andor takes place on the core worlds and midrim. Those planets tend to be more human dominant.
The only other show set around the timeframe of Andor is Rebels. I adore Rebels and it certainly leans more into the fantastical. However, that show deals with a single small rebel cell operating in the outer rim.
My central premise is that while there's undoubtedly a part of the audience that appreciates the lower fantasy of Andor, the strength of the writing, acting and set design are far larger factors in Andors success. A Star Wars show that had with strong writing, acting, and the gorgeous sets of Andor could do well even if it had a more fantastical focus.