Andor

(Interim review)

I’ve been getting back into season 2 of ‘Andor’ on Disney+, now up to episode 4.

I understand that it gets better from here but so far it has been a bit slow to be honest. All those tedious shots of rich people dancing, and all that time (literally) watching the corn grow… We could tell episodes ago that Bix was in danger of a sexual assault but maybe the tension was just maintained a bit too long before that story line was resolved.

What I will acknowledge is the depth and detail in every shot. These are fully realised worlds and clearly there has been a huge amount of love, care and effort that has been put into the production design. The aesthetic might be described as “1980s extreme“ and this is appropriate, given the Star Wars heritage. It continues George Lucas‘s original rather grungy feel where every apartment wall panel has its own mysteriously blinking LED and retro control panel.

Maybe things would appear to have moved faster had I’ve been binging the show, but a good show should work both binged and in weekly instalments!

(Later…)

I’ve now seen episode 5 but I’m still not enthused for the rest of the series, especially when I see that there 7 episodes still to go. I was wondering why this was? What has been done really well is the feeling of menace and foreboding that pervades every scene. Everyone is in real peril, even all those rich folk at the wedding. The Ghorman front are being manipulated by Dedra, who herself must walk a fine line with her superiors; the bugs are about to be discovered; Wilmon has effectively been held hostage for as long as he is useful; Cassian is caught up in the intrigue and Bix is just plain miserable. Absolutely no-one is happy and doom hangs over everyone. All of this is terribly well done but doesn’t make for a fun time! Yes, this is Star Wars for grown ups but maybe I’m watching it to revert to my childhood not be reminded how bleak the world is out there!