Diego Luna's portrayal in Star Wars Andor series

Rogue One's impact on Star Wars Andor

Character development in Star Wars Andor

As a fantasy writer, I’m a big fan of stories that take me from this world and throws me into a galaxy far far away. Disney’s Star Wars offshoot Andor, delivered in every category that mattered. Below are five reasons why I love the series.

Diego Luna

One of the reasons why I’ve always loved Star Wars has been the character development. The first time I saw Darth Vader come on the screen as a child, my heart dropped in my chest and fear took over. I knew immediately I had found one of the most intense and complex characters I had ever seen on screen

The first time I saw Diego Luna in Y Tu Mama Tambien, I knew he was going to go on to become a great actor. That feeling was reinstated in Rogue One, which is without a doubt one of the best Star Wars related films you will ever see. The way he plays Cassian Andor, is meticulous and to the point. This is a character who has little room for emotions, because he had lost a lot and was willing to lose more for the cause. I knew Andor was going to be a hit because the man playing him never fails.

Tony Gilroy's influence on Star Wars Andor

Suspenseful storytelling in Star Wars Andor

Cassian Andor's journey in Star Wars Andor

Star Wars

The aforementioned Rogue One brought Cassian into our worlds and I for one do not want him to disappear anytime soon. When Disney got the rights for Star Wars, I suspected the films were going to be ruined because Disney has a habit of sanitizing everything to make it more kid friendly. I have to same I’m glad they stayed away from that and have largely allowed the creators to do their work in peace. My love for Star Wars meant that I would always give any story related to that universe a chance, and unlike The Book of Bobba Fett (which I found disappointing), Andor knocked it out the park.

The Writing

Part of the reason why I think the show is so great is because it was created by Tony Gilroy, who also wrote Rogue One. The writing in Andor is crisp like a movie script and less like a TV show. Every episode has a specific arc and a tension that was built and heightened. Just when you think Cassian has solved one problem, another one pops up. You get the feeling that he is destined for the revolution because the universe would not allow him to live any other type of life. this is all down to excellent writing without machinations to pull him out of trouble, but rather showing his own intuitive desire to live.

Star Wars Andor vs The Book of Bobba Fett

The writing style of Star Wars Andor

Humanizing the Empire in Star Wars Andor

Denise Gough's role in Star Wars Andor

Suspense

Will Cassian make it? Will he survive? Well, if you saw Rogue One, you already know exactly what happens in Cassian’s life. Yet there was still suspense built into the story. That’s part of the genius of the show. The storytellers know that you as the viewer already know what is going to happen because you saw Rogue One already, yet they still surprise you. For example, when he is in the jail in the middle of the water, what is happening on the other levels? You don’t know the answer until it is revealed, and then you get a clear view of why Cassian must succeed and ultimately does succeed in his attempt to escape.

The Empire

Ultimately one of the reasons why I love Andor is because of how the show humanizes the employees of the Empire. In the Star Wars films, these people are robotic and part of a bigger machine and move as such. In Andor, they have dreams and desires, and they’re ambitious. They’re not being crushed by the weight of Vader’s presence but rather by their own need to outperform one another. The character of Dedra Meero is so human and well played by Denise Gough. Despite her attempts at maintaining her hard icy exterior, there is a part of her that knows deep down that she might have bitten off more than she can chew, and it makes her such a well-rounded character compared to antagonists in previous Star Wars films.

If you haven’t seen it, I highly suggest you watch Andor. It is worth the time, even if you already know how Cassian Andor’s story turns out.

Cassian Andor's fate in Star Wars Andor

The genius of Star Wars Andor's storytelling

The tension in Star Wars Andor

Cassian Andor's emotional depth in Star Wars Andor

Impact of Disney on Star Wars Andor's storytelling