Star Wars: Andor – SPOILER discussion

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Starts Wednesday.

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There was a lot of humour in the episodes, the bickering of the shitty Rebels on Yavin, a lot of wordplay at the wedding, but it was all very wry and for the most part fit into the idiom of the show.  It’s the biggest change from series 1 so far.

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Ben, Todd

First, dropping three eps, constructed as a mini-arc, is a very smart move. Does it work? Yes, it does.

The opening with Cassian going from disaster to quick learner was funny, especially in a series where everyone seems to pilot with ease.

Did I recognise the moon he was on? Nope. Talking of, that strand with a load of idiot rebels was funny and sharp.

The wedding on Chandrila was a smart depiction of how the trappings of aristocracy can be a trap. Social mobility loses its lustre when you see what lurks at the top. Polite conversations masking murderous ambitions.

Talking of ambition, Krennic acting as if he is running everything only heightens the stabbing he’ll receive from Tarkin. The entire sequence in the room was well executed.

For an ambitious, climb over the corpses of her enemies, high-flyer, Dedra has a surprising blind spot in thinking she can say no to Krennic.  The later sequence with Syril’s mother could almost win you over, until you remember there’s nothing good about Syril, who’s swapping one predator for another.

Talking of saying no, the plot with Bix and Lieutenant Krole was superbly creepy. Having placed that gun on the wall, would they fire it? Yes, they did.

And then there was Brasso. Damn, that one hurt, as did the betrayal that led to it. Did Kallen get Lando’s choice? We don’t know. What we do know is Cassian inflicted a fitting vengeance on the Empire.

Running through all these is the sense of the Empire hanging over the galaxy, tightening its grip, while enabling casual cruelties. ANH’s breezy, speedy style obscured just how grim things are, Andor places that in full focus.

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Todd, lorcan_nagle

I watched all three episodes of the first batch tonight. I think it’s a really good, well-made show, and I think releasing them three at a time is a good plan given the pacing.

It’s just intelligently-written stuff that makes you care about the characters, and also illustrates nicely both the cost of resistance and the price of living under an oppressive regime. There’s some good characters development in there and I also think the humour is nicely judged – the meal with Syril’s mother was great.

I wouldn’t recommend this for kids but it’s a nice adult take on Star Wars and I’m looking forward to seeing how it all plays out. Plus the show looks incredible, very cinematic in places.

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Ben, Todd, lorcan_nagle

I read Brassos attack on Kellen after being captured as an attempt to help Kellen. He did not think that Kellen betrayed him, but wanted the empire to think that he did, so that they would see Kellen as a guy who would betray refugees rather than help them, and therefore not suspect him of any wrongdoings.

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Ben, lorcan_nagle