Star Wars: Andor (September 21st, 2022)

[ScoutingForToys]

It's going to be odd getting back to 'silly' Star Wars again when The Mandalorian returns with his green rat.

Oh no. I can't go back man. Can't go back to that stuff now.

 

[wormlander]

I think this episode returned to Lucas' pre-Star Wars era.

The white uniformed prisoners treated as machines, and the stark white decor of the prison recalled his original depiction of authoritarian rule in THX-1138.

It's going to be odd getting back to 'silly' Star Wars again when The Mandalorian returns with his green rat.

I'll take the green rat any day of the week..

 

[chrisstbh]

A few days in that prison would be enough to break anyones spirit nevermind 6 years

 

[Random_Retard]

Back to the Force being something difficult to control and master

The OT didn't need next-level writing. It stuck to the basics, but executed them to perfection.

You say that but... that's actually something that really always bothered me about episode 5 (or 2 of the OT) The Empire Strikes Back... Luke goes to Dagobah to find Yoda and become a Jedi. He receives some training. If you look at the Yoda/Luke scenes alone, you'd think that he must have spent weeks there, a couple of months maybe. But if you look at the Han/Leia/and Gang scenes that take place simultaneously - their escape from the rebel base, their trip into the asteroid field, the escape from the asteroid field and them going to Bespin only to immediately walk into a trap - that feels to me like 2 or 3 days max have passed since they fled from the rebel base...
The moment the Falcon lands in the Cloud City, Luke immediately packs up and prepares to leave since he senses his friends are in danger and thinks they're going to die if he doesn't...
Sure, his training wasn't finished yet but still he was a force wielder now, even strong enough to face Vader in a fight... that just never felt right to me... 'cause like you said the force should be something difficult to learn and control... not something you can master during a weekend course to Dagobah...
I mean sure, we know that Luke is extremely gifted since he's Vaders son and of course, Vader wasn't going in for the kill but still... the whole timeline just doesn't feel right to me... Makes it seem too easy.

Don't get me wrong, I really like the OT. The characters, the lore it established, the music and the sound effects, the actors... it's iconic! But it surely wasn't without its flaws...

But maybe I really am just a retard and I'm just not getting it right...

 

[TheBatman]

They were really wearing Reebok Pumps in that episode.. Thats hilarious

 

[Mondragon]

This episode (8. Narkina 5), on the surface felt the most removed from Star Wars, the most like it's own separate compelling show.
Yet surprisingly at it's darkest, sometimes cruelest hopeless moments, was when it was actually pulling elements right from SW. Only now shining a light right at them. On some levels making SW the most interesting and complex it's ever been.
I hope that makes senesce.

Also this new prison (can't be by accident) is giving me straight THX 1138 vibes.

The Rebellion both at the high end (Mothma) , and at its lowest (Andor), and all the players caught between, pulling in so many detections, plus the re-introduction of Saw Guerera, makes things that were so simple B&W in the OT, incredibly complicated, almost frustratingly begging the pieces, and players to fall in the "right" place. Yet Andor the least likely chosen protagonist, is (by design) right now the absolute antithesis to that happening.
Fascinating show.

 

[ajp4mgs]

You say that but... that's actually something that really always bothered me about episode 5 (or 2 of the OT) The Empire Strikes Back... Luke goes to Dagobah to find Yoda and become a Jedi. He receives some training. If you look at the Yoda/Luke scenes alone, you'd think that he must have spent weeks there, a couple of months maybe. But if you look at the Han/Leia/and Gang scenes that take place simultaneously - their escape from the rebel base, their trip into the asteroid field, the escape from the asteroid field and them going to Bespin only to immediately walk into a trap - that feels to me like 2 or 3 days max have passed since they fled from the rebel base...
The moment the Falcon lands in the Cloud City, Luke immediately packs up and prepares to leave since he senses his friends are in danger and thinks they're going to die if he doesn't...
Sure, his training wasn't finished yet but still he was a force wielder now, even strong enough to face Vader in a fight... that just never felt right to me... 'cause like you said the force should be something difficult to learn and control... not something you can master during a weekend course to Dagobah...
I mean sure, we know that Luke is extremely gifted since he's Vaders son and of course, Vader wasn't going in for the kill but still... the whole timeline just doesn't feel right to me... Makes it seem too easy.

Don't get me wrong, I really like the OT. The characters, the lore it established, the music and the sound effects, the actors... it's iconic! But it surely wasn't without its flaws...

But maybe I really am just a retard and I'm just not getting it right...

I've always had the same sense that Luke's training with Yoda was only a few days at most, and not the weeks that some fans (and I believe even Lucasfilm supplementary material) have suggested. But what we saw Luke actually do in Empire Strikes Back isn't just from that training with Yoda. And after the Dagobah training (let's agree it was only a couple of days), Luke didn't really use the Force in major ways until he'd had more time to develop his skills from the fundamentals that he was taught.

When he dueled Vader, he was able to hold up well and even land a blow because we saw Obi-Wan teach him (with the training orb) how to allow the Force to help him anticipate strikes and defend himself. Then, Luke spent a year offscreen where he would've been practicing whenever possible. He figured out how to use telekinesis because we see him lift his saber from the snow before meeting Yoda. But he was shown struggling and didn't do much else with the Force that his limited training didn't account for.

The two "powers" he used in Empire after leaving Yoda were 1.) leaping from the carbon chamber to avoid being frozen and 2.) reaching out to Leia with his mind. If you want to make the case he didn't have enough time to learn those abilities from Yoda, that's fair. But I think both cases are okay and don't involve any crazy Force wielding. The duel with Vader started with Vader toying with Luke (one-handed). But when Vader decided to stop messing around, Luke couldn't keep from having his hand chopped off. And before that, he was swinging in futility at all of the junk that Vader was Force-tossing at him. It wasn't like he was using the Force to "catch" any of it.

As naturally gifted as he was, we saw him have to concentrate hard and struggle to lift a lightsaber from the snow, keep rocks levitated, and budge an X-Wing. In no way was he mastering the Force as Vader and Yoda were shown to be capable of. In fact, we were shown that Luke wasn't at their level. He got his ass handed to him because he hadn't trained enough. That was the whole point, and why Lucas wanted to demonstrate that Yoda was right that he needed to learn more before facing Vader.

In ESB, we didn't see Luke do things like tossing objects, Force choking, or doing mind tricks. We only saw him do that stuff in ROTJ after more offscreen time between movies. His masters taught him how to connect to the Force on screen, but then he had time off screen to learn how to use that. And we saw him struggle. Mightily at times. That's a contrast from the ease with which we've seen later (and much more impressive) Force powers be used. In the OT, it feels more earned to me and less absurdly overpowered.

 

[ajp4mgs]

As for Andor, Dedra is quickly becoming one of my favorite Imperials of all time. I had reservations because of a perceived likelihood that they'd make her a sympathetic figure who ends up turning on the Empire, but that's (thankfully) looking less and less likely after this episode.

She's checking off the majority of my "ideal bad guy" boxes: competent; strategic; ruthless; manipulative; has emotional control... she's basically the total opposite of Hux. No cartoonishly over-the-top rage needed. No petulant tantrums. Just effective subtlety and a great overall "presence" in every scene. Totally worthy of respect. Love this character so far.

Overall, glad to see the various characters crossing paths and gradually increasing the sense that everything is coming together after all the richly-constructed buildup. Can't wait for the last 4 episodes. But in the meantime, I'm also finding myself enjoying rewatches as much as, or more than, first viewings. Completely invested at this point. Great stuff!

 

[ZE_501]

Impressions:

The ISB is NASTY.

Like others here, immediately got THX1138 vibes from the prison. Once again, illustrating how psychotic, mechanical and inhumane Imperial doctrine is. Lucas’ original vision!!

Speaking of psychotic: absolutely loved the exchange between Luthen and Saw. The latter was a character I thought was a joke in Rogue One but he’s a dangerous,extremist revolutionary illustrated beautifully here.

Really enjoyed listening to the politicos and wealthy discussing the Emperor.

Soundtrack was on point.

I’m finding the narrative spare and tense. This show is unbelievable.

 

[jye4ever]

Great post ajp and ZE….again lol

Damn this episode kicked ass especially the music and 1138 and Rollerball 70’s vibe!

I love how Dedra’s upper lip curls in hatred.

Bix is super hot.

I’m curious with what’s going to happen with Syril he might go join the rebellion.

Amazing watching all the human movement behind the empire.

TWO TUBES!!

 

[jedibear]

TWO TUBES!!!!

We're ready for the figure now, HT.

 

[Mandible]

I'm with ajp, Dedra is superb. Amazing writing, backed up with impeccable acting.

Tarkin (Peter Cushing) has always been the perfection of an Imperial Officer for me. Krennic was a good new addition as well, but damn, this character is already up there with the best.

Personally, I hate the diversity card when pulled for no other reason - I've always judged people/characters by their actions, and I really disliked Kathleen Kennedy wanking on about how amazing the women in The Last Jedi were (Laura Darn is a great actor, but Holdo was an appallingly written, unworthy, joke of a character. And Poor Kelly Marie Tran was also a victim of vapid writing).

But this, this is how to do it... and do it with dignity, class, and wisdom. No shoving an "agenda" character in there for the sake of it, and then getting angry when people point it out as obvious pandering.

 

[Wor-Gar]

Dedra is ... basically the total opposite of Hux. No cartoonishly over-the-top rage needed. No petulant tantrums. Just effective subtlety and a great overall "presence" in every scene.

She is great. And I love the cutting and pacing of the "pre torture" moment with Bix -- made to feel just like Vader with Leia and the interrogation droid, complete with door whisking closed.

 

[Wor-Gar]

I love how Dedra’s upper lip curls in hatred.

Bix is super hot.

TWO TUBES!!

Yes! Yes!! and YES!!!!

 

[Wor-Gar]

I'm with ajp, Dedra is superb. Amazing writing, backed up with impeccable acting.

Tarkin (Peter Cushing) has always been the perfection of an Imperial Officer for me. Krennic was a good new addition as well, but damn, this character is already up there with the best.

Personally, I hate the diversity card when pulled for no other reason - I've always judged people/characters by their actions, and I really disliked Kathleen Kennedy wanking on about how amazing the women in The Last Jedi were (Laura Darn is a great actor, but Holdo was an appallingly written, unworthy, joke of a character. And Poor Kelly Marie Tran was also a victim of vapid writing).

But this, this is how to do it... and do it with dignity, class, and wisdom. No shoving an "agenda" character in there for the sake of it, and then getting angry when people point it out as obvious pandering.

AGREED!

 

[pixletwin]

Good to see I am not the only one who felt strong THX-1138 vibes. Felt like a pure and youthful Lucas was behind the cameras.

 

[Rotfish]

This is so far removed from what Star Wars has been for the last several decades and I'm all for it. Same glowing review I give every week.

 

[Mondragon]

She is great. And I love the cutting and pacing of the "pre torture" moment with Bix -- made to feel just like Vader with Leia and the interrogation droid, complete with door whisking closed.

Further flipped parallels (with this non-princess) , as that door whisks shut, there are two "Rebels" likely about to break her free. Only these two likely don't haver her best interests in mind.

 

[jye4ever]

Yes! Yes!! and YES!!!!

 

[jkno]

Is that what people want or what Hollyweird thinks people want?

Top Gun's success proves the majority of people just want to be entertained.

Hollywood has gone through many phases over the years, I just wish this phase would hurry up and **** off.

You do realize my post was ironic, don't you?