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Star Wars: Andor

JohnC

By JohnC,
in Film, TV & Radio

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Vulgar Monkey

Vulgar Monkey

Posted
Posted

Great payoff.

 

Was slightly jarred by

Spoiler

a couple of the deaths in the firefight being so unremarkable and lacking in fanfare, but that was mainly as we've been conditioned to expect a big deal about such things, so being quite matter-of-fact about it was refreshing and totally in keeping with the tone of the show. Similar to as said in above posts, the plan mainly ran into trouble due to their jammer being a bit dodgy (plausible for rebel equipment) and the comms guy actually being somewhat competent. All very grounded feeling.

 

Was a few other potential tangents I was watching that amounted to nothing - ie, I half expected the spanner in the works to be the locals deciding this was the year to kick off a fuss, or the fact that they left the hostages with the most stone-cold looking one of the gang who legit looked like she probably could kill the lot given a valid reason.

 

Also, am counting down to the SW right-wingers getting arsey that the only survivors were hero protoganist and the two female cell leaders.

 

Curious as to where this goes next - I have to assume the FSB lock-in turns up a lead.

 

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Pob

Pob

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The portrayal of the Imperials is so good in this.

Spoiler

No comical laughing maniacs, just that mundane evil that comes from holding dehumanising attitudes. Being that way doesn't mean you suddenly stop caring about anything at all. The commandant was concerned for the safety of his troops, the engineer risked his life to save a child. I liked that the troops didn't openly abuse the locals - that would be so hackneyed. Their militarised presence is enough. It's never been suggested that the Imperials would simply wipe out the indigenous population - that would be ridiculously over-the-top. The description of the methods used to control them was much more believable, and thus chilling. Then at the same time, we're suddenly presented with our rebel gang as robbers - threatening innocents, causing loss of life. The heist was tense and exciting but not in any way triumphant. The viewer and the survivors are left thinking, was it worth it?

 

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Jammy

Jammy

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Posted

Nothing to add to the views above, but this has nailed everything. Maybe because Andor himself isn’t a hugely known character in the universe our expectations might have been slightly different; not lower, but more like we didn’t really know what to expect.

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scottcr

scottcr

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Posted
53 minutes ago, Pob said:

The portrayal of the Imperials is so good in this.

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No comical laughing maniacs, just that mundane evil that comes from holding dehumanising attitudes. Being that way doesn't mean you suddenly stop caring about anything at all. The commandant was concerned for the safety of his troops, the engineer risked his life to save a child. I liked that the troops didn't openly abuse the locals - that would be so hackneyed. Their militarised presence is enough. It's never been suggested that the Imperials would simply wipe out the indigenous population - that would be ridiculously over-the-top. The description of the methods used to control them was much more believable, and thus chilling. Then at the same time, we're suddenly presented with our rebel gang as robbers - threatening innocents, causing loss of life. The heist was tense and exciting but not in any way triumphant. The viewer and the survivors are left thinking, was it worth it?

 


to Darren’s point - they’re the British Empire rather than the Nazis… and I think that fits better. 

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Benny

Benny

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Posted

I like how much they pay off subtle moments and dialogue from earlier in later episodes:

 

Spoiler

Like how the tattoo guy was saying Cintra might be the harshest one of them there and sure enough she straight up mercs the Imp who drew his gun.

 

I'm hoping for a similar payoff with Mon Mothma's driver helping her out when she inevitably goes on the run or something, because unlike her husband she bothered to remember his name.

 

I reckon Mon Mothma will form the basis of the next arc.

 

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mikeyl

mikeyl

Posted
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Enjoyed the lol capitalism illusion of choice to keep the locals happy screed from the boss at the start. That and the baddies avoiding taxes kicking off the whole thing in the prequels and starting to think Lucas is some sort of subversive comrade.

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Benny

Benny

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29 minutes ago, mikeyl said:

Enjoyed the lol capitalism illusion of choice to keep the locals happy screed from the boss at the start. That and the baddies avoiding taxes kicking off the whole thing in the prequels and starting to think Lucas is some sort of subversive comrade.

 

This is a show that is streamed exclusively on the corporate monolith that is Disney Plus. It's got little to do with George Lucas anyway. Also unlikely to be able to present anything that could be considered truly subversive I would wager. But that doesn't stop the writers of this show in particular trying to say something worthwhile.

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Waggo

Waggo

Posted
Posted

Minor quibble from me & it is a more general Star Wars quibble as opposed to this week’s episode which I thought was fantastic.  But:

 

Spoiler

Why do all the Tie fighters have to explode whenever there is a Tie Pursuit filmed?

 

The previous episode went some way to redeeming how menacing a single Tie can be, so why not have just the one Tie destroyed and the other pilots realising it is getting hairy and either dropping back or bugging out.  Or a pilot banging his controls in frustration that they can’t match Andor’s piloting skills or whatever.

 

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Darren

Darren

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9 minutes ago, Waggo said:

Minor quibble from me & it is a more general Star Wars quibble as opposed to this week’s episode which I thought was fantastic.  But:

 

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Why do all the Tie fighters have to explode whenever there is a Tie Pursuit filmed?

 

The previous episode went some way to redeeming how menacing a single Tie can be, so why not have just the one Tie destroyed and the other pilots realising it is getting hairy and either dropping back or bugging out.  Or a pilot banging his controls in frustration that they can’t match Andor’s piloting skills or whatever.

 

 

I think there is an in-universe explanation for this that's developed over the years (but never been explicitly mentioned in the live action stuff) - unlike the rebels, the Empire doesn't value the lives of its pilots (or stormtroopers etc), so TIEs don't have shields or hyperdrive as the extra weight would reduce their speed and agility. Every time the pilots go into battle it's a kind of kamikaze mission: come back victorious or don't come back at all.

 

It's a bit like Space Russia vs Space Ukraine.

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Pob

Pob

Posted
Posted
12 minutes ago, Vulgar Monkey said:

I recall from an old art book that the basic ties can't even land without the big support gantries present in imperial hangar bays.

A couple of uncommon/experimental models in Rebs/Mando being the exception.

Even Lego TIEs are better than the real thing, then.

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Benny

Benny

Posted
Posted

Yeah Ties are death-traps. Deadly, but death-traps. I know this from playing the Tie Fighter game.

 

Also, it made sense for me in this case, as

 

Spoiler

I don't think the pilots were prepared for the unique challenge of all the mad meteor shit going down.

 

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MardiganX

MardiganX

Posted
Posted

Right, so this is special. 3 episodes in now and it’s so measured and confident in its approach. Luna as Andor was incredible in Rogue One but this is where that character was meant to be seen. That first meeting with

Spoiler

Rael and their exchange

carries so much weight and significance given everything that has come before this show but it’s handled beautifully. Subtle but laying the foundation for monumental events that we all know so well. So happy with this!

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The Bag

The Bag

Posted
Posted
9 hours ago, scottcr said:


to Darren’s point - they’re the British Empire rather than the Nazis… and I think that fits better. 


and ties in nicely with the allusions to Northern Ireland in the first set of episodes and the highland clearances in this set.

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christaylor

christaylor

Posted
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Excellent choice of travel mug by the Imperial officers: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Travel-Insulated-Reusable-Coffee-Stainless/dp/B07XYB8LR1/ref=asc_df_B07XYB8LR1/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=345378486644&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=8524997791220140332&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=t&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1006553&hvtargid=pla-835697253271&psc=1

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jonamok

jonamok

Posted
Posted

Wow that was tense and exciting and beautiful and fucking wondrous. This is just a masterclass on every axis. So fucking happy.

 

In fact, I’ve just had a jolly wee moment remembering when back in the Kenobi thread, after I was moaning at how fucking dogshit it was, that someone commented (paraphrasing) that they didn’t see how one can be a fan of Star Wars and not like that show. I mean… yeah.

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Jammy

Jammy

Posted
Posted
21 hours ago, Girth Certificate said:

NotTheEmporor's line about 'plans for planetary reprisals' was pretty ominous.


Yes, I picked up on that -

 

Spoiler

I think Ben Mendelsohn is cast in this , so one of those plans is likely to be the plans. You know the ones.

 

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Hamus

Hamus

Posted
Posted

I've just finished episode 5.

 

This is absolutely wonderful.

 

The pacing and feels it gives, highlights like a single Tie Fighter just resonating fear.

It also saves on the FX budget, genius!

 

The characters have had some time to breathe and to see MM involved is ace.

 

There are so many threads here that are going to come together, it feels like a proper drama. The performances are nailed on brilliant.

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Phantoon

Phantoon

Posted
Posted
23 hours ago, Darwock said:

Enjoy it while it lasts. Once Disney realize how popular it’s becoming they will shit all over it the way they did with the Mandalorian.

Alternatively they may actually make up their own characters and leave the OT the hell alone. Andor is a Disney character, and if he takes off maybe they can tell their own stories.

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