‘Andor’ Episode One Review

In its first episode alone, Andor sets itself up as a very different kind of Star Wars show, which makes a lot of sense. The show was born from Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, which is also a very different kind of Star Wars movie. The show even comes from the same producers, so it would stand a reason that a story following the same characters would try to have the same style and tone. On that regard, the show is a success. It details the gritty life of one man in an otherwise expansive universe. When viewed through that lens, it follows a similar path to the film Solo: A Star Wars Story. The story doesn’t revolve around high ranking politicians or Jedi Knights in the upper echelon of the Star Wars hierarchy. It deals with common struggles associated with simply trying to survive in an otherwise cruel galaxy.

Obviously, anyone who saw Rogue One will know that Andor is a prequel. It follows the story of Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) as he tries to learn about his past — specifically what happened to his sister. Cassian himself is a tough dude, which often gets people into trouble in the Empire’s galaxy. The first episode largely deals with him trying to cover his tracks for a crime he reluctantly committed and the authorities hot on his trail.

For the most part, the episode moves fairly slowly. It has to build Cassian’s world and introduce Star Wars fans to something they might be a little unfamiliar with. But there’s still tons to love. There were a little Star Wars tidbits such as new aliens and droids. Cassian comes across as a character fans want to root for even though everything is stacked against him. This show is still a long way off from hitting its stride, but it has a lot episodes left. So, there’s still plenty of time to enjoy Cassian’s journey into becoming a rebel.

Andor streams new episodes Wednesdays on Disney+.