IR TV Review: ANDOR - SEASON 2 - EPISODES 1, 2 & 3 [Lucasfilm/Disney+]
The motion of "Andor" in Season 2 as far as the first 3 episodes is creating a context of a baseline that signals the progression forward into "Rogue One". There is a balance of power balanced with chaos and a hopelessness and a hopefulness at the same time. The texture is baked into the actual societal structures which is many ways speaks to the time between World War I and II. Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) has found something to believe in but it also blinds him to what he might lose...and that is what this is pushing towards. The action has a time jump for the first two episodes but not too far. The series does start off with an action sequence and this one and the one that marks Episode 3 are stark but nonetheless powerful in their own way. The second because more because of its brutality, again owing to certain runs of World War II.
The only thing that plays against this idea is apparently what the pricetag of the series is. Now this has dogged "Rings Of Power" as well. The series is good but it still shouldn't cost that much. That is no aversion to its quality but it depends where it goes since this is not "Rogue One". It is a different monster. That said, the situations it examines, like season 1, are interesting. One context shows the difference of opinion in the characters, even at the ground level, and how those are diverging. What is interesting is how certain ideologies can sneak through the cracks even if there is a certain point good intentions. Desperation makes people do unusual things. Mon Mothma (Genevieve O'Reilly) also is growing but is stuck in an expectaton rut which also displays the fascist underpinnings that are populating her world. The way her face moved from forced joy to dread in a celebrating scene is one of the more engaging quandaries that the characters have to face.
Andor himself is in many ways just bitter, struggling to find something to live for which he eventually does with Jyn Ersso whom we hopefully might see. Stellan Skaarsgard is obvioulsy an inherent mastemind but he is also as two faced in certain ways as The Emperior, simply from the opposite side of the spectrum. There are some subplots including those of two imperial officers which make sense but ultimately need to be beefed up. Tony Gilroy's approach of course is sound but the reason Andor works is that it knows its beginning and end but it is filling with dynamic human moments that make sense. "Obi Wan" worked in the same way but there is still more stories to tell there as long as they make constructive sense. "Andor" Season 2 Episodes 1 through 3 is about laying back down the baseline for a story that will seemingly grow more dynamic and intense as the people (and the season) go on. B
By Tim Wassberg
