ANDOR, S2. The Rebellion Continues [REVIEW, Episodes 1–3]

Among the many elements that set the first season of Andor apart from other Star Wars productions (and earned it the nickname “Star Wars for adults”), some of the more observant fans noticed one particularly interesting detail. In one of the season’s final scenes, the title character reads a manifesto written by a young, idealistic rebel named Karis Nemik. Its key moment, addressed to anyone doubting the point of fighting the evil Empire, was simply: “Try.” Attentive viewers picked up on what seemed to be (allegedly unintentional) a direct counterpoint to Yoda’s iconic “Do or do not – there is no try” from The Empire Strikes Back, and thus a broader shift away from the saga’s traditional philosophy. This moment sharply illustrated the change in perspective brought by Tony Gilroy’s series—from the black-and-white Jedi vs. Sith conflict to a more nuanced narrative. The second season of Andor continues down this thematic path and deepens the issues previously explored.

A year has passed since the events of the final episode, and Cassian Andor and the other characters are still trying to fight for a better life, free from the Empire’s oppressive boot. In the opening scene, Andor convinces his comrade-in-arms that even if she dies during a mission, her sacrifice won’t be in vain. That line is perhaps the only glimmer of hope in the early episodes of the season—soon after, Gilroy pits the character’s words against the brutal reality of guerrilla warfare.

A series of parallel storylines—Cassian’s mission, his friends hiding on an agricultural planet from Imperial agents, and Senator Mon Mothma’s conspiratorial maneuvering during her daughter’s wedding—are all linked by the central theme of the “side effects” of rebellion. The most prominent of these is the growing paranoia—uncertainty over whether your friend will return from a mission, or whether a longtime comrade might suddenly (figuratively or literally) shoot you in the head. Each storyline explores this motif from a different angle—Cassian’s friends anxiously await his return while hiding from Imperial troops, and he himself lands in the middle of a power struggle among a group of rebels he’s only just met. Surprisingly, the most significant thread may be that of Mon Mothma, who is forced to arrange her daughter’s marriage to the son of a shady banker to secure funding for the rebellion.

On the opposite end of the spectrum lies the storyline of Imperial officers Syril Karn and Dedra Meero. Even though their narrative in the opening episodes mostly serves to lay the groundwork for later events, it still thematically aligns with the adventures of Andor and his allies. Once again, Gilroy highlights the absurd (and therefore even more striking) side of the conflict. Imperial briefings still resemble corporate meetings, where exploitation of defenseless citizens is planned over cookies and coffee (or whatever the inhabitants of a galaxy far, far away drink). A similarly ironic tone is found in a moment when a power struggle among rebels takes the form of a Star Wars version of rock-paper-scissors.

As a fan of Lucas’s saga, I always thought the label “Star Wars for people who don’t like Star Wars” was a bit unfair to Andor. But I have to admit that at this point in the series, there’s still nothing else in the franchise that comes close in terms of writing—and I don’t mean just the thematic maturity. The series also impresses with clear “mirror” motifs that give the story rhythm and cohesion. Some connect both seasons (like the final montage sequence, which echoes episode three of the first season), while others symbolically link the various storylines (such as the motif of “forced smiles” seen in Dedra Meero, Mon Mothma, and the rebellion’s “gray eminence,” Luthen Rael).

If you were worried whether Tony Gilroy could maintain the quality of Andor’s first season, you can breathe easy. The opening episodes of the new season raise the bar even higher and whet the appetite for what’s to come. The story of the galaxy’s turbulent rebellion origins remains one of the best Star Wars productions fans have ever had the chance to experience. And if, for some reason, you don’t count yourself among Star Wars enthusiasts—I suspect you’ll still find something here for yourself.

Written by Jędrzej Paczkowski